NAR outlines strategic plan progress: 'The goal is simple' 

Making good on its promise to keep members informed, the National Association of Realtors has released a new update to its three-year strategic plan that outlines seven initiatives the organization prioritized in Q2. NAR previously released a report in April detailing its Q1 activities.

Lobbying, collaboration, modernization: In the update, NAR outlined its areas of focus for the quarter: amplifying its lobbying, collaborating with MLSs, gaining legal momentum and elevating brand protection, strengthening broker engagement, modernizing tech infrastructure and data capabilities, modernizing governance through reform, and evolving education.

"NAR's responsibility, executed through our Strategic Plan, is to deliver strong advocacy, clear guidance and applicable tools to help you serve your clients, grow your business and lead in your communities," NAR CEO Nykia Wright said in a statement.

"The goal is simple: clearer information, more useful resources and stronger support to help you run your business and serve your clients in today's market."

An advocacy win: The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act's passage is evidence of NAR's advocacy efforts at work, the association said. In addition to the landmark legislation, NAR said it has provided lawmakers with evidence that a home sale tax fix is needed, grew the bipartisan Congressional Real Estate Caucus to 150 members and helped spread its message nationally through videos and other content.

Working with MLSs and updating tech: On its collaboration with MLSs, NAR pointed to its new policy guidance on "objective criteria" and the filtering of listings on IDX or VOW displays, its clarification surrounding one-to-one broker-to-broker communications and its guidance on office exclusives and pre-marketing.

NAR added that it established risk management frameworks with legal risk strategies for MLSs in Q2, partnered on a letter submitted to the DOJ and Federal Trade Commission arguing that MLSs are important for market competition, and restructured the MLS Executive Advisory Group to include direct feedback from select MLS CEOs.

Modernizing tech infrastructure, data capabilities, governance through committee reform and educational programs were additional areas of focus for NAR over the past few months. The association said it launched new market intelligence tools in Q2 and strengthened member data to help members stay competitive amid the slow housing market.

NAR also continued to streamline governance by implementing a new application process for committees and created curriculum improvements to Realtor education programs through a new learning management system and more accessible professional development opportunities. 

Legal momentum and more: NAR said it has made progress on protecting members and reducing uncertainty through its clear and disciplined legal strategy.

The association highlighted its opt-in to the Tuccori settlement in April. If approved, NAR said the settlement will protect members, associations, MLSs and some brokerages from potential copycat lawsuits. NAR has also strengthened its footing in MLS and association access cases by fighting for courts to dismiss several lawsuits that challenge NAR's membership and the MLS structure.

Other legal highlights, NAR said, include its protection of the Realtor trademark through media monitoring and correction, the launch of a cross-departmental brand protection team and the  onboarding of a brand protection vendor.

Further, NAR said it worked to strengthen broker engagement via a new lead generation tool that can be embedded into broker websites and deepen connection through 17 in-person events across the country. NAR also established the first Broker Policy Forum at its Realtors Legislative Meetings in June.

Progress on the strategic plan will continue, NAR said, through role-specific programming at NAR NXT, the launch of a new learning management system and a renewed commitment to professionalism.