This Week, the National Association of REALTORSĀ® (NAR) announced the approval of comprehensive updates to modernize the MLS Handbook.
These updates represent the first major revision in 20 years and mark the start of NAR’s broader efforts to modernize MLS policies and mitigate potential legal risks across the industry.
Why Now? A Commitment to Modernization & Risk Mitigation
In 2025, NAR undertook its first comprehensive antitrust risk assessment of all MLS policies. This rigorous review was led by Sullivan & Cromwell, a nationally renowned law firm with preeminent antitrust experts.
To act on these findings, President Kevin Sears appointed an MLS Policy Risk Assessment Presidential Advisory Group (MLS PAG), a diverse assembly of brokers, association/MLS executives, and industry partners.
The MLS PAG met four times to thoroughly review the assessment and propose crucial policy changes.
These 18 recommended updates have been approved by the MLS Technology and Emerging Issues Advisory Board, the MLS and Executive Committees, and were shared with the Board of Directors.
Key Focus Areas of the 18 Updates
The modifications to the MLS Handbook policies are designed to ensure that the document accurately reflects how MLSs and agents operate today, minimizing legal risks for all parties.
The 18 recommendations primarily focus on three areas:
7 recommendations on Local Discretion, with the goal to reinforce the ability of local MLSs to make critical governance decisions.
6 recommendations on Administration and Operations, with the goal to modernize how MLSs manager their day-to-day functions.
5 recommendations on Enforcement and Outdated Practices, with the goal to streamline the rules enforcement process and eliminate legacy practices.Ā
The Impact: Better Support for Members
These updates are critical to ensuring the MLS Handbook continues to:
Support Members: Ensure policies continue to support REALTORĀ® members in serving their clients’ best interests.
Minimize Risk: Mitigate and avoid potential legal risks for NAR, REALTORĀ® association MLSs, and members.
Reflect Reality: Accurately reflect the way MLSs and agents operate in the current real estate environment.
Moving Forward
These recommendations are the first outcome of NAR’s ongoing risk mitigation and modernization efforts. NAR will continue to pursue opportunities to:
Further modernize MLS policies.
Mitigate potential legal risks.
Better serve MLSs, members, and the entire industry.