T
he National Association of Realtors (NAR) has overhauled its Multiple Listing Services (MLS) Handbook, issuing 18 new rules after a first‑time, comprehensive antitrust review. The most sweeping update in two decades will appear in the 2026 edition, slated for January release.
Key changes target MLS access. Several provisions that previously required Realtor membership for non‑member applicants have been eliminated. Local MLSs are now free to decide whether to grant access, how to vet applicants, and whether to notify state or national bodies. NAR’s rationale is that membership requirements are a local decision and that removing rigid rules will empower MLSs to act independently. This shift follows a series of lawsuits over mandatory membership, a concern voiced by Canopy Realtor Association CEO Anne Marie DeCats, who warned that tying MLS access to Realtor affiliation creates “liability risk” and can entangle the industry in legal disputes.
Other updates strip out policies that were either unenforced or outdated. Rules on establishing MLS service areas, forming reciprocal agreements, and naming conventions were removed because NAR never set up enforcement mechanisms. A lengthy security‑key policy was repealed as it no longer reflected current practices, and a fine‑amount guideline was dropped for being arbitrary. In each case, NAR directed individual MLSs to determine their own procedures.
The handbook also shed an entire section on disciplinary guidelines, labeling it purely informational and better suited for local management. The overall modernization effort, according to former NAR president Kevin Sears, aligns MLS policies with contemporary real‑estate practices and positions the industry to move forward without the burden of legacy rules.
These revisions underscore NAR’s focus on risk mitigation after years of costly litigation, aiming to reduce liability while granting MLSs greater autonomy in decision‑making.
