NAR in 2026: A new plan, new leaders, fewer members
On his last day as NAR president, Kevin Sears was lauded for “doing the things no one else would have wanted to do” and readying the association for the future.
Key points:
- On his 679th day as president, Sears presided over the board meeting at NAR NXT, receiving several standing ovations and a moving tribute from CEO Nykia Wright.
- The meeting reflected a sense of relief and accomplishment as the organization transitioned from the listening stage to implementing a three-year strategic plan.
- In other business, the delegate body voted against a proposal to disclose referral fees, the new leadership team was installed, and member dues were unchanged.
HOUSTON — As outgoing National Association of Realtors' President Kevin Sears presided over his final Board of Directors meeting on Nov. 17, a sense of relief, accomplishment and gratitude appeared to permeate the room.
The last day of NAR NXT represented Sears' 679th day on the job — nearly twice the typical term of a NAR president — and his lengthy commitment was highlighted several times throughout the day. Sears took on the role in January 2024 following the resignations of Tracy Kasper and Kenny Parcell, and spent much of his tenure traveling across the country to meet with members and leaders in an effort to repair the damage to the organization's reputation.
The attendees seemed to recognize both the challenges Sears faced and the successes he achieved over the past two years.
In a lighthearted demonstration of appreciation, audience members tested the push-voting system by indicating whether Kevin Sears deserved a vacation (they overwhelmingly voted "yes"). The more than 2,000 members in attendance also gave numerous standing ovations to Sears and others throughout the meeting, which lasted about 90 minutes.
A guide through NAR's 'most turbulent and darkest period'
Perhaps the most moving tribute came from NAR CEO Nykia Wright. When sharing her experience of coming into her role at the association as an outsider, Wright said Sears' words of encouragement and advice helped her get through the first year.
"People will properly remember [Sears] for helping stave off bankruptcy, managing the settlement decision, managing the transformation of the member experience, balancing two budgets, getting the strategic plan passed to lead us into the next three years and beyond, and so on," Wright said in her address.
"However, I will remember him and the team he chose for carrying the association through its most turbulent and darkest period, through his actions and sincerity and doing the things no one else would have wanted to do," Wright continued.
"Kevin made the load easier to carry, and I will forever be grateful for his leadership and partnership. He's an extraordinary man and citizen and I am grateful to have had him along with me on this journey."
Getting down to business: Policies, dues and advocacy
The board also had some business to take care of at the meeting, including the installation of the new leadership team, with Kevin Brown taking on the role of 2026 president and Kristine Hansen moving into the position of president-elect.
Policy changes: Most policy discussions were relatively brief since the major initiatives — including the three-year strategic plan — were passed on Nov. 16. But during the delegate body meeting, there was some vigorous debate over a proposal to disclose referral fees to clients and customers.
While many of the members who spoke ahead of the vote said they favored greater transparency, they also expressed concern that the referral fee proposal was being rushed through and could result in unintended consequences.
Those reservations may have swayed some members — the proposal needed a two-thirds majority to pass but was very narrowly defeated, garnering 66.3% of the vote.
Dues and membership: NAR Treasurer Craig Sanford noted that annual membership dues would, once again, remain at $156 for 2026. Two additional fees — $35 for NAR's operating budget assessment and $10 for its consumer advertising campaign — bring the annual total to $201.
The association was using a baseline of 1.2 million members to determine its budget — well below its current member count of 1.491 million. Sanford projected a reduction of $41 million in expenses for 2026.
Advocacy: In a report updating members about the Realtors Political Action Committee fundraising, Party Director Zeke Morris said that as of the end of October, $38.97 million had been raised this year, which is 86% of RPAC's $45.5 million goal.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include information about two additional NAR membership fees.