The National Association of REALTORS® announced a sweeping set of changes to its Multiple Listing Policy Handbook at its annual NAR NXT conference in Houston, including ceding control over many policies to local MLSs. 

Among the most significant changes, NAR will no longer require real estate agents to be members of Realtor associations to access their local MLS. Instead, that will be up to the MLS, which will decide whether or not non-Realtors can access their platforms. 

Local MLSs are also now in charge of deciding whether to accept open listings and whether they transmit listings to third-party aggregators or display their listings on a public website. 

“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,” outgoing NAR 2025 President Kevin Sears said.  

Altogether, NAR repealed 16 and amended two policies in its MLS handbook. The changes were recommended by a Presidential Advisory Group that Sears appointed earlier this year to review an antitrust risk assessment of NAR’s MLS policies.  

NAR settled the so-called Sitzer/Burnett antitrust case for $418 million in 2024 after a Missouri jury found its rules forced sellers to pay buyer agent commissions in violation of antitrust law. Under the settlement, the association agreed to bar offers of broker compensation on MLSs and require buyer agents to sign written buyer agreements before touring a home.  

NAR said the changes, which will take effect Jan. 1, 2026, are the most extensive update to its handbook in 20 years.