Listings display changes, dues news and more from NAR in DC 

The National Association of Realtors wrapped up its annual gathering in Washington, D.C., with fiery speeches and significant rule changes. Here's what you need to know.

Policy updates: Commingling and speech code

During a closed meeting on June 5, NAR's Executive Committee revisited two controversial policies, eliminating one and modifying the other.

Mixing listings is now allowed: Say goodbye to the "no-commingling" rule, which required MLS listings to be displayed separately from non-MLS listings (including rentals and new construction). The Executive Committee decided to allow the practice, which had led to lawsuits and changes on the Zillow site and are now being phased out.

"This decision was based on feedback about the rule's declining usage and relevance in local marketplaces," NAR said in a statement first reported by Inman. Zillow had a statement as well, telling Real Estate News that home shoppers "want to see all available homes in one place. Removing the outdated no-commingling rule is a meaningful step toward ensuring the home search process reflects the way people actually shop for homes today."

Speech code revisions: After some impassioned testimony, the NAR Board of Directors voted to tighten the focus of its controversial speech code and limit it to conduct that occurs when Realtors are on the job. The decision, which some characterized as a step backward, was a response to "some pretty unpleasant legal liabilities" and took effect immediately.

NAR dues unchanged in 2026 — but there's a catch

NAR also voted on June 5 to keep Realtor dues at $156 per year. However, the organization has big bills to pay related to its $418 million commissions settlement, and to do that, it is making a "strategic reallocation" of some funds previously earmarked for advertising.

Realtors pay an additional $45 per year for consumer advertising, and NAR will use $35 of that to give itself "the flexibility to make the next $72 million settlement payment without raising total dues," the organization's treasurer, Craig W. Sanford, told assembled board members. The remaining $10 "will ensure the efforts to increase consumer awareness remain nimble and targeted, deploying impactful Realtor-branded efforts in our most critical markets while also measuring for their effectiveness," he added.

Sanford also reported that Realtor membership came in over the forecast of 1.4 million this year (1,453,690, to be precise). However, it is expected to drop to 1.2 million in 2026.

Trump's message to Realtors

The NAR gathering in D.C. has a proud history of attracting in-person appearances from the Commander in Chief, but this year Trump addressed the Board of Directors on June 5 via a video recorded the day before — a sign of the "respect and recognition Realtors have earned here," NAR President Kevin Sears said.

President Trump proclaimed his love for people who are in the real estate business. "I have a little bit of a proclivity for it," he added, a nod to his own dealings in the space.

"You play a vital role in helping Americans achieve the dream of homeownership and together we will make the American dream more attainable than ever before," he added. "We are working to rapidly defeat inflation which will bring down interest rates and put homeownership within reach of millions and millions for the first time in years."

CEO promises a 'nimble and competitive' association

NAR CEO Nykia Wright earned enthusiastic applause for her update on the work she and her leadership team have done since she addressed the board last November.

"NAR is committed to evolving alongside our members, emerging as a nimble and competitive force delivering the value our Realtors deserve," Wright said. 

Through surveys, interviews and focus groups with more than 70,000 people, Wright and her team have landed on nine initiatives designed to elevate the brand, from "delivering market-leading research" to rebuilding relationships with brokerages large and small to auditing its products and services. "Many of them need to be sunset just based upon usage to create more opportunity for us to invest in the new things of the future," Wright said.

Another priority is storytelling, emphasizing the value of Realtors, fighting for issues that matter to the industry and becoming the "first voice of real estate" in a world where there are endless voices weighing in on the topic.

"We understand that we have a tough row to hoe and that there's a lot more that we need to do, and we are up for the challenge," Wright said.