Deals & development · 10/20/2026
Real estate agents launch Built for New York political group
Compass agent Jason Haber and the team behind the American Real Estate Association are starting Built for New York, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit. It aims to register and mobilize real estate professionals across the five boroughs in a year-long effort. It also plans to reach co-op and condo boards, homeowners, tenants and NYCHA leaders.
Reported by The Real Deal · New YorkRead the original ↗
What happened
Jason Haber, a Compass real estate agent and industry activist, is launching a nonprofit political advocacy group in New York City called Built for New York. The Real Deal reported the news on October 20, 2026. Haber is setting up the group with the team behind the American Real Estate Association (ARA), the trade group he co-founded with Mauricio Umansky of the Agency. Built for New York is a separate entity from ARA.
The group is a 501(c)(4) organization. Its stated aim is to unite real estate professionals across the five boroughs and get them to vote. Haber described it as a "year-long effort, agnostic to who is on the ballot." He said the industry usually rushes in with money in the last 30 days before an election and loses, and that the group wants to "invert that whole process." The group also plans to push for an open primary. Haber said many people he urges to vote in the June primary tell him they cannot because they are registered independents.
Haber said the group is "very well-funded coming out of the gate." He told the New York Times it had about $500,000 pledged. As a 501(c)(4), it is not legally required to disclose its donors' names, though it must report other details of its finances. Haber called the launch a "rolling start" that began the week before the report, when he announced the group to agents. The next step is to hire a political director and other staff.
Beyond agents, the group plans to reach condo and co-op boards, homeowners, tenants and NYCHA leaders. It plans to host educational events, register agents to vote, keep an active voter database, and name "office captains" in every real estate office in the city, similar to block or precinct captains.
Key facts
- Organization
- Built for New York, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit political advocacy group
- Founder
- Jason Haber, Compass agent and co-founder of the American Real Estate Association
- Related group
- American Real Estate Association, co-founded by Haber and Mauricio Umansky in January 2024; Built for New York is a separate entity
- Pledged funding
- About $500,000, per Haber's comments to the New York Times
- Donor disclosure
- Not legally required to disclose donor names; must report other financial details
- Policy goal
- Advocate for an open primary
- Targets
- Real estate agents, condo and co-op boards, homeowners, tenants and NYCHA leaders
- Reported
- The Real Deal, October 20, 2026
What it means
Landlords
Small landlords who work with brokers may see voter registration drives, events and outreach through real estate offices. The group says it will not back candidates based on who is on the ballot, but its donors will not be public.
Tenants and voucher holders
The group says it plans to reach tenants and NYCHA leaders, so tenant associations may be contacted. It has not said what housing positions, if any, it will push beyond an open primary.
Buyers and owners
Condo and co-op boards and homeowners are on the group's outreach list. Owners may be asked to join events or register to vote as part of the effort.
The highlights
- The group says it has about $500,000 pledged, and donor names need not be disclosed.
- It will push for an open primary so registered independents can vote in June primaries.
- It plans office captains in every NYC real estate office, plus outreach to NYCHA leaders.
Why it matters
A new, well-funded real estate voting bloc could shape NYC races and housing policy debates that affect owners and tenants.
Not known yet
- Who the donors behind the roughly $500,000 in pledges are
- What specific open primary change the group will seek and how
- Whether the group will take positions on rent, tenant or housing policy
- When it will hire a political director and begin outreach to tenants and NYCHA leaders
Background
New York holds closed party primaries, which means only voters enrolled in a party can vote in that party's primary. Voters registered with no party, often called independents, cannot vote in those primaries. In a city where one party dominates, the primary often decides who wins local office. Groups organized under section 501(c)(4) of the tax code are social welfare nonprofits. They can do some political advocacy and generally do not have to publicly name their donors, though they file financial reports.
Summary written by Bulwark from The Real Deal · New York’s reporting. The original story is at therealdeal.com. This is general information, not legal advice.
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