When Kevin Sears took on the role, National Association of Realtors He took over as chairman on Monday following the resignation of Tracy Kasper, making him the trade group’s third president in just over four months.
The revolving door saga of NAR’s president began in late August 2023, when the New York Times published an exposé revealing a “culture of fear” and widespread sexual harassment at the trade association. NAR’s then-president, Utah broker Kenny Purcell, was named in the Times article as the perpetrator of sexual harassment. Within days of this article’s publication, Purcell announced his resignation and Tracy Kasper, NAR’s 2023 president-elect, became the industry group’s president.
But Kasper’s more than 100-year tenure at the helm of the trade group came to an abrupt and unexpected end on Monday. In the release, NAR announced Kasper’s resignation, stating that she had recently informed NAR management that she had received threats to expose past personal, non-financial matters unless she compromised her position at NAR. Ta. Although Ms. Kasper reported the incident to law enforcement, she ultimately felt it was in the best interest of the industry association for her to resign given the circumstances.The industry group did not say who made the alleged threat or what it contained.
Shortly after Kasper’s resignation, NAR announced that Sears would take the position.
“While this title has come sooner than expected, please know that I am ready, willing and able to lead this association as president,” Sears said. Video published by NAR on Thursday. “I think you will agree that our main focus is to advance the business of the association. It means we are fully committed to business and advocacy issues.”
Although Sears and other industry insiders may be surprised to find himself in the role nearly a year before his term was scheduled to begin, Sears’ road to becoming NAR chairman has been a long one. there were.
A licensed agent since 1994, Sears is a second-generation real estate professional. He is currently the broker-owner of Sears Real Estate based in Springfield, Massachusetts. The company was founded in 1971 by his father, Paul Sears.
Just six years after entering the industry, Sears Massachusetts Association of Realtors (MAR) Board of Directors. In addition to serving as president of the local Realtor organization, he served as president of that organization in 2010. Pioneer Valley Association of Realtors (RAPV) 2005.
“We are extremely proud of Kevin and wish him the best of luck in his role as president of the National Association of Realtors,” RAPV 2024 President Peter Ruffini told Housing Wire in an email. wrote. “We believe he will provide steady leadership and is the perfect person to guide NAR through its current challenges.”
Sears has political problems. He has twice served as chairman of the Real Estate Broker and Salesperson Registration Board in his home state of Massachusetts, having been appointed to the role by Governor Deval Patrick in 2011 and again in 2019 by Governor Charlie Baker.
In addition to serving local and state realtor organizations, Sears has served NAR in various roles over the years. He has been a major investor in his RPAC since 2004 and he has been inducted into NAR’s RPAC Hall of Fame twice. Throughout his career, Mr. Sears has served on the RPAC Board of Directors in 2011 and 2015, as the Realtor Party Director for the State and Local Elections Service Commission in 2013, and as the Future Realtor Party Strategic Planning Working Group in 2016. He has chaired many of his NAR committees. .
Mr. Sears was promoted to a higher level leadership role within NAR in 2016, serving as NAR Vice President for Region 1, serving as Vice President for Government Affairs in 2017 and Presidential Liaison in 2019. Ta. In 2022, Sears Elected as 2023 First Vice President of NARputting him on the ladder to become NAR president in 2025.
For Sears, his term as president comes at an increasingly difficult time for industry groups. The industry group has not only faced a recent wave of president resignations and the departure of longtime staffers, but also a growing number of committee lawsuits and up to $5.3 billion in damages. From the Sitzer/Barnett Commission Case.
Despite these hurdles, industry experts believe Sears has what it takes to lead NAR.
“Kevin is very well-respected in the real estate agent community, especially in the national association where he has served in many volunteer positions over the years,” said Ken Trepeta, president. ResproIt was written in the email. “He is a wise and thoughtful leader who will serve real estate agents well.”
