This past week, I attended the NAR Influencer Summit — though I’ll admit, I almost didn’t go. My speaking schedule made it difficult, and given my history of publicly calling out NAR’s shortcomings, I wasn’t sure I’d be the most welcome voice in the room.
But when I realized I might be the only listing and selling coach there with a direct line to working agents like you, I felt I needed to show up. Someone had to ask the questions agents would want asked.
I’m fiercely pro-Realtor. I’ve also been outspoken about NAR’s failures over the years. To be candid, the tenure of former CEO Bob Goldberg did lasting damage to the organization’s credibility, and I’ve felt an obligation to call out the effects where I see them. That history meant I walked into the summit with healthy skepticism.
What I saw — and heard in the hallways — confirmed what agents have been telling me for months.
One topic continues to stir emotion, frustration, and division across the country: Whether or not being a member of NAR is worth it, especially in the wake of the class-action lawsuit settlement.
Some agents are still angry — angry at NAR for settling, angry about the changes that followed and angry about what they believe was “lost” in the process. I understand those feelings. But what concerns me most is how some are responding to them.
Not only are certain Realtors complaining that NAR is “useless,” but some are choosing to ignore the new rules altogether and continuing to practice real estate the old way, as if nothing has changed. That’s not just unwise, it’s dangerous. Doing so puts individual agents, their brokers and, ultimately, our entire profession at risk of the next wave of lawsuits.
That’s why I’m writing this open letter. Because while it’s easy to point fingers at NAR, the truth is this: we are NAR.
You are NAR
Every single member from broker, to agent, to affiliate — collectively is the organization. So, when someone says, “NAR doesn’t represent me,” what they’re really saying is, I don’t represent me.
Think about that for a minute. Whether we like it or not, we are all part of the same body. NAR is not a faceless entity sitting in an office in Chicago. It’s us — the Realtors in every town, city, and state across America who pay dues, follow the Code of Ethics, and serve clients every day.
When something frustrates you about NAR, the solution shouldn’t be to throw stones at the house you live in, but rather, pick up a hammer and help fix what’s broken.
The 3 choices when you’re unhappy
In life and business, when you’re unhappy with a situation, you have three options:
- Leave it.
- Accept it.
- Change it.
Leaving means walking away from your membership, your board and your seat at the table. Accepting it means resigning yourself to the status quo — grumbling under your breath, frustrated with the direction things are going, but telling yourself it’s not your fight and there’s nothing you can do about it anyway.
It’s the “I’ll just live with it” option. And while that’s understandable, it’s also the choice that changes nothing.
But there’s a third — and more powerful — choice: Change it.
If you don’t like the direction, steer the ship
If you believe NAR has lost its way, don’t stand on the dock yelling at the boat — get on board and grab an oar.
Change doesn’t come from Facebook rants or office gossip. It comes from actions such as joining the leadership at your local board, running for committees, attending meetings and petitioning for reform.
If you believe corporations like Zillow have grown too powerful, the answer isn’t to complain online; it’s to influence the policies and data-sharing practices that allowed it. Real change will only come from Realtors who step into the arena and lead.
We are essential — so let’s act like it
We are not powerless. We are essential to buyers, sellers and communities everywhere. Every day, we guide families through one of the biggest financial and emotional moments of their lives. For most, that’s not just a job, it’s a calling.
If we believe in the value of what we do, we must also believe in the value of the organization that represents us. NAR’s strength comes from its members, and its future depends on our collective leadership.
Don’t just complain. Contribute
Complaining doesn’t change policy or improve professionalism. It drains energy and erodes credibility.
Every minute spent blaming instead of building gives more power to those who want to see Realtors weakened or replaced. And with everything our industry has been through — the lawsuits, the media scrutiny, the shifting consumer perception — we can’t afford to keep tearing ourselves down from within.
The settlement may have reshaped how we operate, but it did not erase who we are. We are still fiduciaries. We are still advocates for homeownership. We are still the professionals who make the American dream possible.
The bottom line
If you don’t like the direction NAR is heading, become part of committees that make change. If you don’t like the rules, get involved in writing better ones. If you don’t like how the public sees Realtors, help change the narrative.
Because, again, the truth is: We are NAR, and if we want it to be better, stronger, and more trusted, then it starts with us.
So, I urge complainers to stop complaining and start being the change you want to see happen. Together, let’s make sure our next chapter isn’t written in a courtroom — but by Realtors who care enough to create the change our profession deserves.
Darryl Davis is the CEO of Darryl Davis Seminars. Connect with him on Facebook or YouTube.
