Why It Matters
The American Real Estate Association has entered the federal lobbying arena as Congress considers major housing legislation and the real estate industry faces changes involving housing affordability, institutional investment and federal land policy. The group registered Blount Strategic Initiatives LLC as its lobbying firm Aug. 13, with the filing listing real estate, land use and conservation issues.
The American Real Estate Association was founded in 2024 by Jason Haber and Mauricio Umansky as an alternative to the National Association of Realtors. Its launch followed turmoil at NAR involving sexual harassment allegations, leadership turnover and antitrust litigation over real estate commission and listing practices.
By the Numbers
John Blount, founder and CEO of Blount Strategic Initiatives LLC, is the registered lobbyist for the American Real Estate Association. Blount also represents clients including Myriad Genetics Inc., the National Sheriffs’ Association, Exotic Wildlife Association and Animal Wellness Action.
The National Sheriffs’ Association paid Blount Strategic Initiatives $96,000 across four filings, according to the lobbying records cited in the registration data.
The new registration does not identify specific legislation. That leaves the immediate focus of the association’s federal advocacy unclear beyond the broad real estate, land use and conservation categories listed in the filing.
Broader Context
Housing policy has become a major congressional issue. H.R. 6644, the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, included restrictions on purchases of single-family homes by large institutional investors and broader provisions intended to increase housing supply and affordability. Congress passed the measure, and it became law July 11.
The institutional investor provisions generated opposition from some members with ties to the real estate industry. In April, Rep. J. Luis Correa (D-CA) and other members of the Congressional Real Estate Caucus urged House leaders to revise language they argued could reduce the supply of rental housing. Correa’s office said 76 members joined the effort.
Federal tax policy also affects the industry. P.L. 119-21 temporarily increased the state and local tax deduction cap to $40,000 for tax years 2025 through 2029, subject to an income-based phaseout, before the cap is scheduled to return to $10,000 in 2030.
New York City tax policy has also drawn attention from the association. ARA co-founder Jason Haber has argued against proposals to increase taxes on high-value second homes, contending that policymakers should encourage more real estate transactions because greater transaction volume can generate additional tax revenue.
Federal land policy presents another potential area of interest. The Trump administration rescinded the Bureau of Land Management’s 2024 Public Lands Rule in May. The rule had established conservation leasing as one tool for managing BLM lands. The administration said rescinding it would restore greater emphasis on multiple-use activities including energy development, grazing, timber production and recreation.
Between The Lines
The association’s lobbying registration comes as real estate groups engage Congress on several overlapping policy debates. Correa and other Congressional Real Estate Caucus members opposed portions of the Senate-passed housing bill involving institutional investors before lawmakers reached a final agreement.
Insurance policy also remains important to commercial real estate. Sen. Dave McCormick (R-PA), Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN), Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) introduced bipartisan legislation April 27 to extend the Terrorism Risk Insurance Program for seven years. Their offices noted that terrorism insurance is often necessary for commercial lending and real estate transactions.
The Bottom Line
The American Real Estate Association’s decision to hire Blount Strategic Initiatives gives the NAR alternative a federal lobbying presence as Congress considers policies affecting housing supply, institutional investors, taxes and land use.
The registration does not yet identify specific bills or regulatory proposals, so the association’s precise federal agenda remains unclear. Its first quarterly lobbying disclosure should provide more detail about which policies Blount Strategic Initiatives is pursuing on its behalf.
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