NorthstarMLS Decision on NAR’s Multiple Listing Options for Sellers Policy

On March 25, 2025, the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) introduced a new MLS policy, Multiple Listing Options for Sellers, designed to complement the Clear Cooperation Policy (CCP) and provide sellers with additional marketing options. NAR set a September 30, 2025, deadline for MLSs to implement this policy, with discretion to adopt the optional Delayed Marketing Exempt Listings category.

After thorough review, the NorthstarMLS Board of Directors voted to adopt NAR’s mandatory policy but NOT implement the optional delayed marketing exempt listings category or limit IDX/syndication feeds.

This decision means there is no change to NorthstarMLS as our current system already provides sellers with options that comply with NAR’s policy.

We will continue to rely on these existing tools and statuses to provide multiple options for listing brokers working with sellers, while maintaining transparency and simplicity for our subscribers.

Why is NorthstarMLS Choosing Not to Adopt the Delayed Marketing Portion?

Simply put, there is no need. Implementing this optional category would be a disservice to our subscribers due to:

• Increased compliance confusion for agents and brokers.
• Potential for redundant or overlapping listing statuses.
• Additional operational hurdles in daily business activities.
• Lack of clear communication to clients about where their listings appear online.

NorthstarMLS’s current Active status already supports the spirit of NAR’s policy, allowing sellers to opt out of IDX and syndication at the office level while ensuring listings are available for cooperation within the MLS. Our system balances seller preferences with the need for a transparent, consumer-friendly marketplace.

What will NorthstarMLS do Instead?

NorthstarMLS is already in compliance with NAR’s mandatory policy requirements, including ensuring proper seller disclosures for exempt listings, without introducing new statuses. We will continue to use the Active status, which meets the policy’s core objectives:

1. Listings are placed in the MLS for cooperation.
2. Listings are searchable by MLS users and shareable with clients.
3. Listings are available for showings and offers.
4. Listings are included in the VOW data feed.

We will continue to consider and explore enhancements to further support seller preferences while preserving the integrity of our platform. Any future enhancements would align with our commitment to providing reliable, standardized listing data to real estate professionals.

What Led to the New NAR Policy?

To provide context for our decision, here’s why NAR introduced this policy:

• NAR faced pressure from large, national brokerages to relax or eliminate the CCP, which requires listings to be submitted to the MLS within one business day of public marketing.
• Dropping CCP could enable brokerages to create private listing networks, limiting listing visibility and undermining market transparency.
• To preserve CCP and address brokerage concerns, NAR developed the Multiple Listing Options for Sellers policy, introducing the Optional Delayed Marketing Exempt Listings category as a compromise.

What does the NAR Policy Entail?

The NAR policy mandates certain requirements, such as seller disclosures for exempt listings. It also offers an optional delayed marketing exempt listings category that would:

1. Be listed in the MLS for cooperation.
2. Be searchable by MLS users and shareable with clients.
3. Be available for showings and offers.
4. Appear in the VOW data feed.
5. Be excluded from IDX and syndication feeds for a specified period.

NorthstarMLS’s Active status already satisfies the first four requirements and allows office-level opt-outs from IDX and syndication, meeting most of the policy’s goals. The delayed marketing category, however, is ineffective in practice because major portals like Zillow, Redfin, and large brokerage websites use VOW feeds, which include all listings. As a result, listings would still appear on these platforms but not on the thousands of NorthstarMLS IDX websites or Realtor.com, which does not use a VOW feed. This outcome could confuse sellers and frustrate consumers who would need to register on multiple VOW platforms to view all active listings.

Why does this Matter?

NorthstarMLS is committed to fostering an equitable, transparent marketplace that benefits both real estate professionals and consumers. The delayed marketing option risks creating information silos and reducing listing accessibility, which conflicts with our mission to provide accurate, reliable data to all participants. Our existing system, refined through years of collaboration with subscribers, already balances seller privacy with market efficiency.

We believe it’s time to focus on empowering our subscribers to serve their clients effectively, not on implementing complex rules that add little value. NorthstarMLS will continue to monitor industry developments and provide updates as needed. Thank you for your support as we navigate these changes together.

Stay tuned for further announcements and resources on our website, northstarmls.com, and through our newsletters.