NAR Is Set To Make Major Changes to MLS Handbook—and Lays Out 3-Year Member Road Map

The National Association of Realtors® has announced it has approved a series of updates to the Multiple Listing Services Handbook. This comes after NAR reviewed the current MLS policies.

The recommendations will be reflected in the 2026 MLS Handbook, which is scheduled to be published in January 2026.

NAR completed an antitrust risk assessment of all MLS policies. To review the findings and propose updates, immediate past NAR President Kevin Sears appointed an "MLS Policy Risk Assessment Presidential Advisory Group,” which was made up MLS executives, brokers, association executives, and industry partners. 

This is the first time in NAR's history that the association conducted the comprehensive review. The advisory group proposed a total of 18 recommendations to update the MLS Handbook focusing on:

• Reinforcing matters of local discretion, such as nonmember access to MLS
• Modernizing administrative, operations, and enforcement rules
• Removing outdated MLS enforcement practices

"These updates to the MLS Handbook strengthen and modernize NAR’s policies and reflect our efforts to align MLS policies with how real estate professionals do business today,” said Sears.

NAR commitments

The MLS changes recommended by NAR come on the heels of the Executive Committee unanimously approving a road map to modernize the association.

What's being called the Strategic Plan is set to be rolled out over the course of three years, starting Jan. 1, 2026. The goal is to deliver greater member value, respond to the changing industry, and provide transparent metrics to hold NAR accountable.

The plan was developed based on feedback NAR received from members. In turn, the association crafted a road map that identified 24 initiatives that members should find valuable to their membership experience.

Each of those initiatives will have a related "to do" list or “projects." Each one will also have a staff member overseeing its progress, as well as a target timetable for milestones and completion.

"NAR is rebuilding trust by executing the largest transformation in real estate history, and this Strategic Plan will be our road map," said Nykia Wright, NAR CEO. "The plan is data-informed to ensure that NAR is investing in initiatives that members and the industry find most valuable. It also includes success metrics so our members and the industry can hold NAR accountable to the commitments we are making."

NAR wants to build the future member experience. It plans to do this by:

• Commitment to members: NAR will help real estate agents be successful in their day-to-day business. NAR plans to enhance the tools, training, and support that members can rely on. It also plans to evolve financial and operational systems and structures to deliver smarter and faster support.
• Commitment to partners: NAR plans to do this by driving collaborative solutions and impact, co-create programs, share resources, and align messaging to enhance a real estate agent's value. It plans to foster partnerships and shared goals that deliver value to real estate agents and stakeholders.
• Commitment to the real estate industry: NAR is committed to protecting and advancing the legal interest of real estate agents. NAR plans to proactively shape legal protections that represent the priorities of agents and to promote a resilient industry. It's committed to the ethical standards and wants to cultivate technical knowledge and support current and emerging leaders.
• Commitment to consumers: NAR promises to advocate for property ownership for all advance policies at all levels of government to support the real estate economy. It will position the real estate agent brand as a trusted symbol of expertise, integrity, and reliable service for customers.

Moving toward the future

As part of the three-year road map, NAR's Executive Committee adopted the plan to ensure that the association continues to move in a positive direction.

The plan was developed after receiving feedback from its more than 150,000 members. NAR identified what members would find most valuable to their membership experience.

Realtors® were asked to rate how valuable a certain strategic priority would be to them. Choices ranged from "thriving in their day to day business" to "advocating property ownership for all" to "cultivating trust in the Realtor brand."

NAR's plan is to serve its stakeholders, which include members, partners, the real estate industry, and consumers.

Wright said NAR's plan is different from other strategic plans because she is holding the association staff accountable.

"It's not just how we're modernizing the enterprise or transforming the organization, but am I holding internal NAR staff accountable for actually delivering on those results?” Wright said.

“So that's really a different piece from before. We used to have a strategic plan, but we weren't necessarily following that internally."