Umansky and Haber Launch ARA Talks Podcast on Housing

Lucía Torres · 2026-05-21

The American Real Estate Association (ARA) just dropped a new podcast called ARA Talks, and it's co-hosted by two pretty big names in the industry: Jason Haber, who co-founded ARA, and Mauricio Umansky from The Agency. The whole point? To bring together policymakers and thought leaders to tackle what might be the biggest headache for American families right now -- housing affordability. ### A Big Opening Act: Governor JB Pritzker The debut season kicks off with a real heavyweight: Governor JB Pritzker of Illinois. He sat down with Umansky and Haber for a no-frills chat about his BUILD Plan (Building Up Illinois Developments). This isn't just some small tweak -- it's one of the most ambitious state-level housing reforms we've seen in years. We're talking major changes to zoning laws, permitting processes, and capital investments, all aimed at flooding the market with more affordable and middle-income housing.  ### Why This Matters Now Here's the thing: home prices have shot up nearly 50 percent over the last five years. Rents are climbing faster than paychecks, and inventory is scraping historic lows. It's a brutal combo. ARA Talks wants to cut through the noise and have direct, honest conversations with the people actually driving change. As Umansky put it, "No filter. No spin. Just the real conversation." ### What Makes This Podcast Different For Haber, starting with Governor Pritzker sets the tone perfectly. ARA Talks isn't about polished talking points -- it's a space where bold, comprehensive policy gets a real, honest look. Haber explained, "He sat down with us and walked through what it takes to move legislation like this, what the resistance looks like, and why he believes Illinois can be a model for the country. That's the episode you want to hear first." ### What's Coming Next If you're in the real estate world or just care about where housing is headed, this podcast is worth your time. Future episodes will likely dive into more policy debates, industry trends, and the nitty-gritty of what's working (and what's not) across the country. - **Real talk, no spin**: Every episode aims to be a straight-up conversation without the usual PR fluff. - **Actionable insights**: You'll hear from people who are actually shaping housing policy, not just talking about it. - **Timely topics**: With affordability crises in nearly every major metro, this couldn't be more relevant. ### Where to Listen ARA Talks is available to stream right now on Spotify and YouTube. So if you're tired of the same old industry chatter and want something that actually digs into solutions, give it a listen. It's a breath of fresh air in a conversation that desperately needs one.