NAR reflects on 2025 – and prepares the way for 2026 – in new report
The National Association of Realtors released its 2025 annual report Tuesday, reflecting on industry pressure points and how NAR is refocusing on helping real estate agents “thrive in their daily activities.”
In the wake of a difficult several years, the National Association of Realtors released a new report Tuesday outlining its efforts to cut millions from its budget, streamline its workforce and respond to member feedback.
The report begins with letters from NAR leaders, including CEO Nykia Wright, who focused on “transformation” and efforts to increase member satisfaction by 2025 after the association weathered the fallout from a $418 million buyer-broker commission settlement, the lingering fear of being in the crosshairs of the Department of Justice, and a controversial change to its Clear Cooperation Policy.
NAR CEO Nykia Wright | Credit: NAR
“Over the past year, the National Association of Realtors initiated the most significant transformation in real estate history,” NAR CEO Nykia Wright said in the report. “NAR – with a legacy spanning more than a century – is on the cusp of a new era, one defined by transparency, innovation and unwavering service to agents and the broader real estate industry.”
The report describes NAR’s strategic plan for the coming years, which addresses three key issues: industrial and economic factors; varying expectations from consumers, brokers, regulators and other industry members; and organizational constraints.
The Association said it has made significant progress in alleviating these pressure points by expanding the market research tools and educational opportunities offered to brokers, deploying artificial intelligence, restructuring its legal department to mitigate legal and regulatory risks, strengthening its advocacy work and renewing its focus on industry relations, among several other actions.
The main goal, however, NAR said, has been to refocus its efforts on helping brokers thrive in their day-to-day operations as the market continues to evolve into a new – and often unpredictable – normal.
“NAR empowers brokers by helping them thrive in their businesses,” Wright said, citing the association’s 2026-2028 value proposition. “It achieves this goal by advocating on their behalf, providing market information and research tools, providing professional development and education, maintaining high standards and elevating the Realtor brand. By supporting Realtors, NAR protects and advances Americans’ right to own real estate.”
Wright said the value proposition was shaped by a broker survey, in which 79 percent of members said “helping brokers thrive in their daily activities” was a “somewhat or very valuable” part of what they wanted to see from NAR.
Cultivating trust in the broker brand (83 percent), protecting and advancing brokers’ legal interests (83 percent) and recommitting to professionalism (81 percent) also topped brokers’ priority lists.
The report outlined the 2026 playbook, with leadership promising further progress, especially on financial transparency and stewardship. The Association said it will adopt a “zero-based budgeting practice” to ensure “every dollar is justified and aligned with strategic goals.”
“Under this approach, every budget starts from zero, with cost justification required for every expense,” the report said. “Each department is responsible for aligning each line item with the organization’s mission. Furthermore, NAR Finance will establish consistent budgeting guardrails that enable budget holders across the NAR staff and committees to be accountable and agile.”
NAR President Kevin Brown said he is excited about 2026, when Wright and Immediate Past President Kevin Sears laid the foundation for a NAR ready to tackle the future of real estate. The
“In 2026, we’ll take NAR to the next level by getting back to business. Our organization has been serving real estate agents for more than a century, and I see this strategic plan as the first three years of our next 100 years,” he said. “What does this mean? We help our members navigate the issues that impact their daily operations, such as financing, inventory, insurance, zoning restrictions and other barriers to home and real estate ownership.”
“It means elevating areas that members already find valuable, such as our advocacy, research and technical tools,” he added. “And it means finding new ways to help our members reach and execute their next transaction.”
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