T
he National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported having 1,523,695 members in December, a figure that remains well above the 1.5 million threshold despite growing pushback from agents and local associations. This year's membership has been relatively stable, with some states experiencing significant growth.

    Notably, California and Texas saw increases of several thousand members each, while New York and Virginia state associations lost the most agents. However, a wave of challenges to NAR's mandatory membership requirements and traditional three-tier system is underway, with lawsuits filed in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Texas alleging antitrust violations and monopolistic practices.

    Despite ongoing DOJ scrutiny and industry-wide disputes over Clear Cooperation, NAR has maintained its overall membership count. The association saw a minor surge in new members ahead of the August deadline for industry practice changes, which some speculate was driven by agents seeking to avoid liability from copycat commissions suits.

    State-by-state data reveals varying trends: New York and Virginia experienced declines of over 1,000 members each, while Utah saw a 3.9% decline between April and December. Conversely, several state associations reported significant growth, including Massachusetts (4.9%), California (5.5%), Georgia (5.8%), Arkansas (6.0%), and Washington (6.4%). California added over 10,000 agents during this period, while Texas saw a net gain of over 4,700.

    As NAR navigates these challenges, some associations are pushing back against the traditional three-tier system. The Alabama Association of Realtors has requested optional membership, allowing agents to allocate their dues dollars among local, state, and national levels. Additionally, Phoenix Realtors unveiled its "MLS Choice" program, offering MLS access without requiring association membership.