The National Association of Realtors is leaving some of its long-held rules to the local powers that be.
The trade group announced it will no longer require membership to access its Realtor-affiliated multiple listing services, and access will be determined by local discretion. The update came as part of an overhaul of its MLS Handbook following an antitrust risk assessment of its policies.
The updates consisted of 18 policy changes, the most noteworthy of which was the repeal of language that stated that “the National Association remains firmly and unequivocally committed to the principle that association membership is a reasonable condition of participation in the association’s multiple listing service.”
The changes were proposed by an advisory group established by NAR, which were approved by the MLS Committee and the Executive Committee.
In a note on the proposed changes, the advisory group recommended continued education for local MLSes that will “seek assurance that they can still require association membership locally and deem it a reasonable requirement.”
Other updates included repealing language of policies deemed ambiguous or policies that weren’t enforced, such as requiring local Realtor associations to inform state and national associations if somebody requested access to the MLS but isn’t a member.
The change comes after NAR has seen its authority over the industry fading in the wake of a series of antitrust lawsuits that deemed NAR’s policies around broker commission were anticompetitive.
In March, NAR loosened restrictions around Clear Cooperation Policy, which had required brokers to upload listings to the MLS within 24 hours of publicly marketing them.