NAR's 2026 Mid-Year Plan: What the MLS and Lawsuit Updates Mean for Sellers

The National Association of Realtors released its second-quarter update to its 2026–2028 strategic plan on July 22, laying out progress across seven priority areas: advocacy, MLS policy, litigation, broker tools, technology, governance, and education. For sellers, the most consequential pieces involve how commission lawsuits are being resolved, how listing rules may continue to shift, and what those changes mean when you're deciding how and with whom to sell your home.

The Tuccori Settlement and What It Actually Protects

One of the clearest signals in the update is NAR's handling of the Tuccori homebuyer commission case. The association reached a strategic settlement that has received preliminary court approval. If the court grants final approval, NAR says the deal would extend legal protection to its members, state and local associations, MLSs, and eligible brokerages — shielding them from potential copycat litigation without requiring any new changes to how agents conduct business.

That last detail matters. NAR is not announcing new practice rules as a condition of this settlement. Sellers who have already navigated the post-Sitzer/Burnett commission disclosure landscape won't be asked to adjust again based on the Tuccori outcome alone. What the settlement is designed to do is reduce the volume of me-too lawsuits that could otherwise drag on for years, creating ongoing uncertainty about how agents get paid and who pays them.

NAR also reported multiple court dismissals of challenges to its membership structure and MLS rules — a pattern worth watching. Courts appear to be narrowing, rather than expanding, the legal attack surface on the cooperative listing model. That doesn't mean litigation risk is gone, but it suggests the most disruptive legal scenarios are becoming less likely.

DOJ Attention on MLS Rules Hasn't Gone Away

While some legal pressure is easing, regulatory scrutiny is not. NAR confirmed it published new guidance for MLSs and their members and organized an industry coalition to send letters to the Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and the U.S. Copyright Office — all in defense of the MLS system as a transparent and pro-competitive marketplace.

The fact that NAR is coordinating those letters at all tells you something: the DOJ has not closed the book on how listing data and broker cooperation rules work. Regulators have been examining whether MLS structures limit competition or obscure pricing, and that scrutiny has real downstream effects on sellers.

If you're preparing to list, the practical implication is that your agent's obligations around how your listing is shared, how compensation is disclosed, and how buyer-broker agreements are structured may continue to evolve. The rules in place today reflect changes that rolled out in 2024 and 2025. Additional clarifications from NAR — which the update signals are coming — could refine them further. Ask your agent or brokerage what their current compliance posture looks like and whether they expect any near-term adjustments.

Federal Housing Legislation and the Inventory Picture

NAR framed one of its advocacy wins as helping pass what it called the most significant federal housing package in roughly two decades. The legislation is aimed at supply and affordability — two forces that directly shape what sellers can expect from the market.

More supply, if the legislation spurs construction, eventually means more competition for sellers. That doesn't happen overnight; permitting, financing, and building timelines stretch across years. But sellers planning a sale 12 to 24 months out should factor in the possibility that new inventory — especially in suburban and exurban markets where land is available — could soften demand relative to today's constrained conditions.

For sellers in the near term, today's inventory shortage still works in your favor in most markets. Buyers have limited options. That dynamic won't flip quickly, but the legislative groundwork being laid now is worth tracking.

What Sellers Should Actually Do Right Now

The NAR update is largely an internal industry document — it's about how NAR is spending its resources and positioning its members. But several threads connect directly to decisions you'll make as a seller.

Verify your agent's compensation disclosures are current. The post-settlement rules on buyer-broker agreements and seller-paid compensation transparency are still being internalized across the industry unevenly. NAR's continued investment in compliance education suggests some agents are still catching up. Before you sign a listing agreement, ask specifically how your agent handles buyer-broker compensation conversations and how that's disclosed to prospective buyers.

Don't assume commission structures are settled. The Tuccori deal reduces legal chaos, but it doesn't lock in a permanent compensation model. Seller-paid buyer-agent compensation remains negotiable, not mandated. Know your options before you list.

Watch for NAR's updated MLS guidance. The Q2 update signals more policy documentation is coming, particularly around how listing data is shared and how local MLS rules align with federal regulatory expectations. If your agent or MLS changes any listing procedures between now and your close, those updates are likely connected to this ongoing compliance work.

If you want a baseline sense of what your home is worth before the next policy shift lands, running a quick estimate through an instant-offer tool can give you a number grounded in current market data — no commitment required.