NAR unveils 3-year plan aimed at proving its value to members 

HOUSTON — The National Association of Realtors' leadership has acknowledged that the organization needs to make significant changes to evolve with the real estate industry. To accomplish that, they are focusing on 75 projects — all of which they intend to complete over the next three years.

In an address before members at the NAR NXT Leadership Scoop session on Nov. 13, CEO Nykia Wright and President Kevin Sears rolled out a strategic plan that they said will focus on a variety of issues, including improving NAR's market insights, "transforming" its budgeting process, modernizing the association and elevating the brand.

NAR's executive committee is expected to vote on the proposed budget and strategic plan in the coming days.

Boosting transparency: NAR aspires to be more transparent with its members, according to Wright and Sears. As part of that goal, NAR plans to release its first annual report in Q1 of 2026. The report will focus on what members are getting for being part of the organization.

"It's our job to show you that — and since we haven't shown you that, I can understand why people are saying, 'What is the value?'" Wright said. "At the end of the day, when you see the value, I hope that you will be able to understand that this is a significant return on the investment that you are giving NAR each year to help you get to your next transaction."

Improving member satisfaction: Wright and Sears acknowledged that they have work to do when it comes to providing member value. NAR's own survey found that only 49% of member respondents were somewhat or very satisfied with NAR, while 28% were not at all or not very satisfied.

The survey's results indicate that the steady drumbeat of NAR's legal challenges and other controversies over the past three years have taken a toll. In addition to the commissions lawsuits, the association has faced accusations of sexual harassment and a "culture of fear" that made speaking out against wrongdoing difficult.

NAR leaders also asked for member feedback on a variety of priorities they said they want to address. Cultivating trust in the brand and protecting members' interests received the highest marks, along with recommitting to professionalism and helping members thrive in their day-to-day business.

Preventing history from repeating: As NAR continues to confront lingering commissions cases and mandatory membership lawsuits, Wright said the association is "going to listen to other people's legal perspective to continue to make sure that we never have in our future a history that we have had the last few years."

Getting it done: If all 75 projects are completed, the total might represent NAR's largest turnaround ever. But Wright said this is manageable, as some tasks are expected to take four weeks to tackle while others could take up to 18 months.

"We are transforming this industry from the bottom up, ensuring that we are continuing to meet people's needs," Wright said.

Entering a new phase: After about 14 months of listening to members while touring around the country, NAR leaders say they are now in the next phase of implementing changes based on that member feedback. As for NAR's strategic plan? Leaders say it'll set up the organization for the next 100 years.

"I've never asked you in my time as president to trust me. Instead, what I asked for was patience and grace," Sears said. Now that NAR is rolling out changes, he said it's time to hold him and the rest of the association's leadership accountable.