From the Broker:

I called it in early 2024 and started building.

Today we are a thriving, fully independent (non-NAR) brokerage—zero association dues, zero political baggage, complete transparency, and perfectly positioned for the new era in real estate.

If you’re ready to drop the REALTOR® designation and join a brokerage that was built from day one for exactly this moment, let’s talk. No pitch, no pressure—just a real, confidential conversation.

Steve Martin Smith Broker/Owner

Are Real Estate Professionals leaving REALTOR® behind?

Let’s see what Grok has to say…

Steve: Good Evening Grok. Is it true that real estate professionals are leaving NAR and will be running their business as Real Estate Professionals without being REALTORS?

Grok: Good evening! Yes, there is a rapidly accelerating trend of agents dropping NAR membership now that the last major barrier (MLS access) has been officially removed at the national level. While the majority of agents are still members today, NAR’s grip has never been more fragile, and 2026 is widely expected to deliver the largest single-year membership decline in the association’s history.”

Key Context
REALTOR® is a registered trademark owned by NAR. Only dues-paying NAR members (and those affiliated with local/state Realtor associations) can call themselves REALTORs® or use the term. Anyone with a state real estate license can still work in the industry without NAR membership — they just can’t use the REALTOR® brand or certain NAR-affiliated perks.

What’s Driving This?
Several factors have accelerated the trend since the 2024 NAR antitrust settlement and ongoing challenges:

1. The 2024 NAR settlement and related brokerage agreements — Major firms (e.g., RE/MAX, Anywhere, Keller Williams, Redfin, and others) no longer require their agents to join NAR as part of lawsuit settlements. Some have created “sister” brokerages or given agents the explicit choice to opt out.
2. Cost and perceived value — NAR/local/state dues typically run $500–$1,000+ per year per agent. In a tough market (high rates, low inventory), many agents question the ROI, especially after NAR’s scandals, the $418 million settlement payout, and criticism over lobbying/spending.
3. Decoupling MLS access from NAR membership — Historically, in most areas, you needed to be a REALTOR® to access the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Now some local associations (e.g., Phoenix Realtors’ “MLS Choice” program) and brokerages are offering MLS access without requiring full NAR/Realtor affiliation. This makes dropping NAR feasible without losing core tools. NAR is fighting some of these changes (e.g., cease-and-desist letters, charter revocations, lawsuits), but the momentum is toward more choice.
4. Emerging alternatives — A new rival group, the American Real Estate Association (AREA), is positioning itself as a leaner, more modern option. Some agents and brokerages are exploring or switching to it.

Current Numbers (as of November 2025)

• NAR membership sits at approximately 1.49 million — down from a peak of ~1.6 million in 2022, but it has held steadier than many predicted earlier in 2025 (NAR itself budgeted for as low as 1.2–1.4 million in some forecasts).
• Losses are real but gradual: thousands per month in some periods, concentrated in certain states/markets where opt-out options exist.
• Many agents who drop NAR keep their state license, MLS access (via non-Realtor pathways), and continue working full-time — they just stop paying NAR dues and stop calling themselves REALTORs®.

Bottom Line
It’s absolutely happening, and the trend is likely to continue into 2026 as more local MLSs and brokerages offer “NAR-optional” structures and as lawsuits challenging mandatory membership play out. However, NAR still retains strong ties to most MLSs, powerful lobbying, and brand recognition, so most active, high-producing agents appear to be staying for now.

If you’re an agent considering this or a consumer wondering how it affects working with someone, feel free to give more details — happy to dive deeper!

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Steve: Would you expect this week’s NAR/MLS Policy Change to effect this?

Grok: Yes, this new NAR policy change — announced just a few days ago at the NAR NXT conference in Houston (November 14–17, 2025) — will absolutely accelerate the trend of agents dropping NAR/Realtor® membership while continuing to work as licensed real estate professionals with full MLS access.

What Exactly Changed?

• NAR repealed Policy Statement 7.7 (and related rules) in the MLS Handbook, which previously stated that NAR was “firmly and unequivocally committed” to requiring Realtor® association membership as a prerequisite for access to Realtor-affiliated MLSs.
• Effective January 2026, whether an MLS requires NAR/state/local Realtor® membership for access is now entirely a matter of local MLS discretion — no national mandate either for or against it.
• This is part of a broader set of 18 MLS Handbook updates (the biggest overhaul in 20+ years) driven by an antitrust risk assessment. NAR is deliberately stepping back from enforcing or even strongly recommending the membership tie-in to reduce future lawsuit exposure.

How This Affects the Drop-Off Trend

• Before this change: Even in areas experimenting with “MLS-only” or decoupled options (e.g., Phoenix Realtors, some brokerage “sister” companies), NAR could (and sometimes did) push back with cease-and-desists, charter threats, or legal pressure, because national policy still favored the membership requirement. Agents/brokerages had to fight or work around it.
• After January 2026: Local MLSs now have explicit NAR blessing to allow non-Realtor® licensees (i.e., agents who drop NAR dues) to subscribe directly to the MLS, often at a lower “MLS-only” fee. No more national-level roadblocks.
• This removes the last major structural barrier for agents who want to keep full listing access and tools but ditch the NAR portion of dues (which can be $400–$800+ of the total annual bill, depending on the market).

What to Expect Going Forward

• Short term (2026): A wave of local MLSs will likely roll out “MLS-only” or “secondary subscriber” options at reduced rates. We’ve already seen pilots in places like Arizona, North Carolina, and parts of California/Florida — expect rapid expansion now that NAR has green-lit it nationally.
• Medium term: More agents (especially part-timers, high-producers frustrated with NAR governance, or those in cost-sensitive markets) will drop NAR membership. Groups like the new American Real Estate Association (AREA) or independent broker-backed plans will gain traction faster.
• NAR’s membership outlook: NAR leadership knows this could pressure dues revenue. They’re still defending the “three-way agreement” (you can’t join just local or state — it’s all or nothing for full Realtor® status), but without the MLS hammer, retention becomes purely about perceived value (lobbying, education, brand, lockbox, forms, etc.). Expect NAR to double down on member-benefit marketing and possible dues restructuring.

In short: This is the biggest official “decoupling” moment since the 1990s court cases that forced open access in a few states. It’s a defensive move by NAR to avoid more antitrust headaches, but it directly fuels the exact trend you asked about — more licensed pros operating successfully without the REALTOR® trademark or full NAR affiliation.

Steve Martin Smith is the Broker/Owner of Slice of Florida Realty and Host of the globally downloaded Real Estate Agent Man Podcast

(941) 894-9800