The National Association of Realtors (NAR) announced that Tracy Kasper resigned as its 2024 President after being targeted in a blackmail attack.
NAR issued a statement that Kasper “recently received a threat to disclose a past personal, non-financial matter unless she compromised her position at NAR. She refused to do so and instead reported the threat to law enforcement.”
While the organization did not offer specifics on the nature of the blackmail, it added that Kasper believed “in the circumstances, it was best for the organization that she step down.”
“As president and a long-time member of NAR, I always have put the interests of NAR first,” Kasper said in the NAR statement. “As a result of the recent threat and given the significance of this moment for myself, my family and the organization, it is again time for me to put the interests of NAR first. So, it is with a mix of gratitude and a heavy heart that I submit my resignation as your president effective immediately. In doing so, it gives our Leadership Team the ability to take the reins and forge forward in effecting the change that we all have worked so hard over the past few months to begin. I know I leave our members, our staff and our association in good hands.”
Kasper assumed the leadership role at NAR last August when 2023 President Kenny Parcell resigned following a New York Times article where he was accused of sexual harassment against NAR staff and members. Kasper, who was scheduled to become 2024 President in November, is the broker-owner of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Silverhawk Realty in Idaho’s Boise Valley and a majority owner in two other Idaho real estate companies. She served on the NAR board of directors since 2016 and was president of the Idaho Association of Realtors in 2016.
NAR President-elect Kevin Sears has been appointed as Kasper’s successor, effective immediately. He is a broker/partner of Sears Real Estate of Springfield, Massachusetts, which specializes in single-family brokerage and property management.
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My heart goes out to Tracy and her family. She is a wonderful agent and I pray protection over she and her family and her business in this difficult time.
Very sorry Tracy that you choose to allow a Black Mailer to get away with such non sense !! No matter the situation I am certain that your family, friends, loved ones and business associates would have rather you stood up for yourself than give the culprit the satisfaction of defeat.
Nothing that you could have done other than murder is worth letting this person win by defeat !! I am confident that your loved ones would agree..
I wish you well no matter what you do. DO NOT LET THIS GET YOU DOWN !!
When it comes to the safety of her family I believe she did the correct thing
Nasty politics has entered the real estate industry. I wonder if the resignation is connected to these socialist-like lawsuits against NAR!
“Entered” real estate? Politics has been a cornerstone of real estate since individuals had to be property owners to be able to vote.
And what makes the lawsuits “socialist” — people are afraid of competition?
Yes to your comments. who knows what is going on with her. She did the right ting and fell on her sword. Best wishes Tracy
With respect. Lawsuits have nothing to do with Socialism. Lawsuits like the one we are facing have everything to do with Greed, which knows no politics.
Greed? Maybe, but Most often I hear aversion to the cost of a realtor. The middle class is shrinking today. More education is needed, for sure. We need to go beyond the just feel good adds, of how Realtors are helpful. Tell America why.
This is sad for Tracy and her family and sad far NAR. Hopefully Kevin Sears can bring integrity and a positive direction back to NAR.
No need to resign if you have not done anything wrong, just saying
a whole
delete this defamatory comment
Safety for family is 1 thing. But, the threat was to come clean and admit something from her “personal” past, not business or financial. So, as you stated. no need to resign if you are not involved in something compromising.
Define wrong please. I’m sure all of us have at some time in our lives done things that were embarrassing, or a breach of personal standards. Let’s not judge a person in a circumstance like this. She said why she was doing it and that’s good enough for me.
define wrong?
I agree.
What the Hell is going on at NAR? Seems like there is a black cloud over the management of this Organization!
The nail on the coffin for NAR
The public does not care about NAR. This affects nothing. NAR is nothing but an organization seeking to perpetuate it’s existence. What changes if they go away?
Giorgio: Without NAR an Individual’s rights to their property would erode. Capital gains tax on investment real estate will increase. The exemption of up $500,000 of capital gains for selling your personal residence would go away. tax income tax deduction for the interest you pay on a home loan would most likely go away. Most importantly big corporations and big banks would not have to compete with what is currently the largest lobbying group in the nation and have greater influence of the elected officials they buy off. Big corporations get more, ordinary people get less.
It is too bad. Tracy is an amazing person and an amazing leader. She would have been a huge asset to NAR. It is too bad she was put in that position. Although I am bummed, I would have made the same choice she did. NAR is such a wonderful organization and does so much for our industry, our communities, and our clients. It is too bad it is under such malicious attack and all of this has to go on.
I was a Director when Tracy was President of the Idaho Realtors. We worked together. She has high integrity and is the embodiment of NAR ethics. When she says she puts NAR first it is not rhetoric. Loosing her leadership is a tradgedy for NAR and for each of us. Godspeed Tracy and be proud of your accomplishments.
I wish you the very best with your family and future endeavors.
Having said that, who is this black mailer? We would all like to know who this ugly person is and the consequences they are facing. Destroying someone’s life and career should not be taken lightly. It make us all vulnerable, whether is is true or not.