REMAX aligns with American Real Estate Association 

The American Real Estate Association announced a major growth move this week as REMAX President Chris Lim joined its board of directors.

The move aligns the franchise giant with the organization — a potential competitor to the National Association of Realtors — that was co-founded in 2024 by Compass agent Jason Haber and The Agency Founder and CEO Mauricio Umansky.

Lim 'proud' to join board: Lim, who was appointed president at REMAX earlier this year after joining the company as chief growth officer in early 2025, praised the ARA's "commitment to creating the best-informed and best-trained agents in the country" in a news release, declaring that this commitment "is exactly what the market demands right now."

As a member of the board, Lim said he looks forward to helping "shape an elite educational framework that elevates the ARA's standing with the public and ensures members are viewed as the indispensable, highly skilled advisors they are."

In a social media post, Lim added that he is "proud" to join the ARA, writing, "Agents deserve to be heard, and if we want the industry to move forward, we have to be willing to help shape it."

Another new member adds 'diversification': The ARA also welcomed investor Andrew Dodge to its board this week. In the announcement, Dodge said he views his participation as "an opportunity to bring a true outsider's perspective to a passion I've held my entire life."

Dodge further suggested that the ARA "can be that trusted, apolitical voice" in a time when "there is so much negative rhetoric around housing that has been weaponized politically."

The association said Dodge's addition will bring "a layer of cross-industry diversification" to the board. Previously, Douglas Elliman President and CEO Michael Liebowitz and Elliman's general counsel, Deva Roberts, joined the ARA's board, as did RLTYco CEO and Co-founder Briggs Elwell.

REMAX agents gain ARA membership: As part of the new alignment, all REMAX agents are being offered a complimentary one-year ARA membership. REMAX agents who have already paid membership dues can use their credit toward next year, Lim said.  

With REMAX reporting over 149,000 agents globally at the end of March, its new partnership has the potential to significantly increase the ARA's membership total. The organization had an estimated 16,600 members last fall following the addition of Douglas Elliman's 6,600 real estate professionals.

REMAX serves as the ARA's first major franchise partner. The alignment comes at a time of change for the company, which announced two months ago that it is being acquired by The Real Brokerage. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026, pending regulatory and shareholder approval.