After months of debate, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) has made a decision about its contentious Clear Cooperation Policy. In an announcement on Tuesday, the trade organization unveiled its new Multiple Listing Options for Sellers policy.
According to the release, this new policy compliments NAR’s existing MLS policies and that it will exist in conjunction with CCP. The trade group feels the policy provides sellers and their agent more options and choice when marketing a property.
NAR noted in the release that the policy was developed after “many months of consultation with MLS and association leadership, brokerages, agents, multi-cultural organizations, and industry experts.”
Under the new policy, NAR has created a new category of exempt listings known as “delayed marketing exempt listings.”
“The exemption will allow a seller the option to instruct the listing agent to delay marketing a listing through Internet Data Exchange (IDX) and syndication for a period of time,” NAR noted in its release.
According to NAR, each MLS will have the ability to determine its own delayed marketing period. During this time period, the seller and the listing agent will be able to “market the listing in a manner consistent with the seller’s needs and interests.” However, during this period, the listing will still be able to be seen by other MLS participants through their MLS platform.
Additionally, NAR noted that listing agents representing sellers who choose to delay the public marketing of their listing must obtain a signed disclosure “documenting the seller’s informed consent to waive the benefits of immediate public marketing through IDX and syndication.”
“Seller disclosure is required for both delayed marketing exempt listings and office exclusive exempt listings,” the release added.
The new policy is effective immediately and it must be implemented by all NAR affiliated MLSs by Sept. 30, 2025.
“NAR continually reviews its MLS policies to ensure they best serve its members and their consumers while also mitigating and avoiding potential legal risks. As such, NAR undertook a comprehensive review of CCP as part of our efforts to ensure home sellers and home buyers have the information and flexibility they need to make decisions that work for them,” Kevin Sears, NAR’s president, said in a statement.
“These policy changes allow for greater choice for sellers in marketing their properties while considering buyers’ need to access information through MLSs. NAR is grateful for our members’ engagement throughout this process, and we are pleased to have reached an outcome that balances the needs and perspectives of our diverse membership.”
