H
omeSmart, a Scottsdale-based brokerage with 26,000 agents across 47 states, is giving its Arizona agents the option to opt out of National Association of Realtors (NAR) membership starting January 1. This move follows Realty ONE Group's announcement earlier this week that its Phoenix-area agents will have the same choice in the new year.

    HomeSmart's decision was announced via email, stating that agents can "remain a National Association of Realtors member or opt-out." The brokerage has been ranked as one of the largest in the country, with sales volume ranking it tenth-largest in T3 Sixty's 2023 Real Estate Almanac.

    This development is part of an emerging trend. Phoenix Realtors introduced its MLS Choice program earlier this year, offering a lower-cost alternative to traditional NAR membership. The program includes access to the MLS, legal forms, and training for $249 annually, less than half the cost of the traditional option.

    Phoenix Realtors CEO Andy Fegley described the MLS Choice program as a "welcome option" that allows brokers to choose how they run their business. Local market expert John Wake called this move a "monumental change" in the brokerage world, noting that Phoenix often serves as a proving ground for new ideas and business models due to its active market and high volume of new residents.