Why I left NAR (but not the industry) 

The direction of your business depends on decisions you make every day. Agents Decoded can help you by presenting the perspectives of seasoned pros who have been there, made mistakes, and found success.

The views expressed in this column are solely those of the author.

On January 1, a 22-year chapter of my real estate career quietly closed.

For the first time since 2004, I'm no longer a member of my local, state or national Realtor associations. There was no resignation letter, no dramatic exit, no protest posturing. Just a decision that came down to alignment and math.

I still hold an active broker's license. I still write, speak, consult and stay deeply involved in the industry. What changed is pretty simple: My role evolved, and my value equation changed with it.

Not driven by headlines — but not immune to them

Would I have made this same call 5 years ago? Probably not.

At that time, the Realtor brand felt more stable, less contested and more universally beneficial as an affiliation signal. 

Since then, the national association has faced lawsuits, settlements, leadership turmoil and increased public scrutiny — issues that would make even longtime members pause and reassess. 

It would be unrealistic to say the events of the past few years didn't factor into my thinking, but they didn't cause my decision. They simply removed the autopilot.

When institutions go through stress, members tend to ask a basic question: "Is this still delivering value for where I am today?" I did exactly that.

When your role changes, so does your ROI

I haven't sold a home or brokered a transaction since 2012.

I don't depend on MLS access or use association forms — my work in real estate today runs through writing, consulting, speaking and advisory work.

For active agents and brokers, association dues are a straightforward business expense. The return is clear: tools, access, advocacy, education, credibility and cooperation frameworks.

For someone like me, however, the benefits narrow quickly. Yes, the Realtor designation still carries value in some rooms. But at this stage of my career, paying dues primarily for optics isn't a compelling investment. That's not rebellion — it's just honest bookkeeping.

What associations get right

Let me be equally clear about something else: I am not anti-association.

Realtor associations, especially at the national and state levels, play an important role in legislative advocacy around homeownership and private property rights. I've seen that work up close. It matters. Consumers benefit from it whether they realize it or not.

There are smart, committed people inside these organizations doing difficult, often thankless work, and they deserve more credit than they usually get. Reform is not only possible. It's already underway in meaningful ways.

The overlooked middle: Non-practicing contributors

There's a growing slice of the real estate ecosystem that doesn't fit neatly into the traditional member box:

• Industry educators

• Writers and analysts

• Consultants and technologists

• Advisors and trainers

• Non-selling licensed professionals

We're not closing transactions, but we're still engaged, contributing and paying attention.

For example, one thing I will miss immediately is access to the eight major profiles and trend reports published by NAR each year — some of the most data-rich resources in housing. I read them closely and cite them often in my writing and speaking.

For members, the full bundle costs just $20. For non-members, the price tag is about $5,400 — a clear signal that membership is an all-or-nothing proposition built primarily for active practitioners. 

Another area where that binary structure shows up? Non-members generally can't contribute to the Realtor Political Action Committee (RPAC), even if they remain licensed. For those of us who still want to support property-rights advocacy but don't need full practitioner benefits, there's currently no middle lane.

A limited non-practitioner membership tier — offering partial research access at an intermediate price and eligibility to support RPAC — could help close that gap and keep more longtime industry contributors connected and invested.

If associations are serious about expanding relevance and rebuilding trust, exploring more flexible participation models would be a smart place to look.

What I hope NAR takes from decisions like mine

My membership expiration is not a trend, just a data point. But it's an honest one.

When longtime members who still care about the industry choose not to renew — not in anger, but in practicality — that's feedback worth listening to.

NAR has said it intends to regain trust and prove its value in the years ahead. I believe that's both necessary and achievable. But trust isn't rebuilt through messaging campaigns. Value isn't proven through slogans.

It's demonstrated through usefulness, clarity of purpose, flexibility of model and unambiguous outcomes.

I'm still rooting for the organization. I'm just no longer on the dues roster.

Sometimes stepping back is not a rejection, but simply a recalibration of where you are — and what you need.

Jay Thompson is a former real estate agent, broker-owner and industry outreach director. He is currently an industry consultant and sits on several boards.