The American Real Estate Association Expands Board of Directors with Appointment of REMAX President Chris Lim and Prominent Investor Andrew Dodge

The agent-first trade organization strengthens its leadership to champion higher industry standards, consumer education, and housing affordability across America

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The American Real Estate Association (ARA), a rapidly growing national trade association built for real estate agents, by real estate agents, today announced the appointment of two new members to its Board of Directors: Chris Lim, President and Chief Growth Officer of REMAX, and Andrew Dodge, a prominent investor and businessman. ARA will provide all REMAX agents in the United States with a complimentary first-year membership.

The expansion of the board marks a pivotal moment for the ARA as it scales its mission to elevate industry standards, provide essential advocacy for agents, and launch public education initiatives aimed at demystifying the homebuying process.

"The stakes right now for the American public and the real estate industry are enormous," said Jason Haber and Mauricio Umansky, co-founders of the ARA, in a joint statement. "We launched the ARA to provide a unified voice of reason at a time of immense transition. The backbone of the American path to homeownership is the full-time real estate professional. By bringing Chris’s deep industry acumen and Andrew’s vital outside business perspective to the table, we are building a diversified board that can strategically guide our industry forward and fiercely support the nearly two million full-time agents working hard every single day."

Chris Lim of REMAX—one of the world’s leading franchisors in the real estate industry—brings decades of high-level brand building and industry innovation to the board.

"Real estate is an industry for true professionals who are relentlessly dedicated to servicing their clients," said Chris Lim. "The ARA's commitment to creating the best-informed and best-trained agents in the country is exactly what the market demands right now. I am thrilled to join the board to help 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."

While the ARA remains an organization run by peers, the addition of Andrew Dodge introduces a layer of cross-industry diversification. A seasoned businessman, Dodge brings a deep appreciation for the foundational values of America—hard work, small family businesses, and the pride of property ownership.

"When the founding partners invited me to join, I saw an opportunity to bring a true outsider’s perspective to a passion I’ve held my entire life," said Andrew Dodge. "Real estate is the ultimate cornerstone of this country—it is the greatest asset most Americans will ever work for. Right now, there is so much negative rhetoric around housing that has been weaponized politically. The ARA can be that trusted, apolitical voice—like a wise family member or friend—reminding people of the enduring value of ownership."

The appointment of Lim and Dodge comes amid a massive wave of institutional momentum for the association, which has rapidly unified major independent brokerages and elite agent networks nationwide. Notably, luxury powerhouse Douglas Elliman recently aligned with the ARA, integrating its premier network of over 6,600 agents into the association's ranks. Douglas Elliman’s President and CEO, Michael Liebowitz, and General Counsel, Deva Roberts, both serve on the ARA Board of Directors as does Briggs Elwell, CEO and co-Founder of RLTYco.

"The rapid convergence of luxury networks and global giants under the ARA umbrella proves the industry was starving for modern, agent-first leadership," said Briggs Elwell. "By giving professionals the tools and advocacy they actually need, we are fundamentally changing the trajectory of American real estate. I’m thrilled to welcome Chris and Andrew to the team as we accelerate this momentum."

This corporate expansion builds upon the ARA’s successful structural integration of the New York Residential Agent Continuum (NYRAC), a prestigious organization representing New York City’s most elite residential producers. By absorbing NYRAC as its foundational local chapter, the ARA secured a powerful operational foothold in the country's most competitive market, establishing immediate alignment with top-producing agents across dominant firms.

With a footprint that now bridges elite independent luxury networks, regional powerhouses, and global franchise giants like REMAX, the ARA’s dual-pronged approach—simultaneously sharpening agent skill sets while funding community programs to enhance public housing literacy—solidifies the association as the premier, modern advocate for the American housing market.

About the American Real Estate Association (ARA)

The American Real Estate Association (ARA) is a modern trade association built for real estate agents, by real estate agents, for the real estate industry. Acting nationally and thinking locally, the ARA educates policymakers and the public on critical housing issues while providing relentless organizing and unflinching advocacy on behalf of its members. Through cutting-edge professional education and community-facing literacy programs, the ARA is dedicated to raising industry standards and protecting the American Dream of homeownership. For more information, visit americanrea.org.