Bayleys Masterton owner Mark Morison said the authority was having good results.
"[The REAA] is good because it's tightening up the industry and it's going to get rid of the cowboys."
REAA's "annual perception" research found 33 per cent of New Zealanders were confident in the professionalism of the real estate industry, Mr Morison said.
However, a small number of agents gave the whole industry a bad name.
"Across the country, there have been thousands [of complaints]. And there's actually an incredibly small minority that have been followed through."
Many of the complaints could be attributed to clients who didn't understand the industry, Mr Morison said.
Wairarapa had a "pretty clean slate" when it came to dodgy agents.
The REAA regulates real estate agents, branch managers and salespersons under the Real Estate Agents Act 2008.
The authority was formed in 2009 amid growing consumer discontent about bad agent behaviour and a lack of confidence in the industry's in-house body that previously dealt with complaints.
Complaints about agents are now first lodged with REAA, with the more serious referred to the Real Estate Agents disciplinary tribunal.
In 2012, a prominent Hawke's Bay real estate agent was caught rifling through a client's lingerie draw at an open home.
The man, in his 70s, was dismissed from his job and surrendered his licence after the complaint.
The tribunal cancelled his licence for six months, fined him $1500 and ordered him to pay $1000 in costs.
Another real estate agent was jailed this year for fraud after she tried to dupe an elderly widower out of his home.
Nationally, the highest number of complaints against agents were for incompetency and negligence, followed by misleading behaviour, failing to disclose information and trading without a licence. APNZ
