United States’ NAR drafts REIA president into the fold

The Real Estate Institute of Australia (REIA) president said the move to join the National Association of Realtors (NAR) continues the pair’s longstanding bilateral agreement. 

“Though distance separates us, we share common goals for both our organisations and our members. This opportunity to discuss those issues and share new perspectives is critical to moving our industry forward and improve the experience of our members,” Mr Groves said.

Founded in 1908, NAR aims “to empower realtors as they preserve, protect, and advance the right to real property for all”, according to its website. The association comprises over 1,000 directors and represents approximately 1.6 million realtors throughout the United States and a catalogue of additional international nations; it invites five international directors to form part of its board.

Mr Groves — the first Australian to hold position on the board since former Real Estate Institute of the ACT (REIACT) president Michael Wellsmore eight years ago — expressed his humility at his appointment, firming his belief that “the decision to add an Aussie to the NAR board of directors was based on the value of the partnership that we’ve developed over the past 25-plus years”. 

NAR’s Australian activity extends beyond its invitation for Mr Groves to join its board of directors, with REACH Australia — a proptech company backed by the association’s venture arm — inking a deal with the Real Estate Institute of Queensland (REIQ) in July, which aimed to “amp up support of emerging proptechs”.