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If 2024 was a year to reset, 2025 is a year when the National Association of REALTORS® works to move beyond the Sitzer-Burnett settlement and create opportunities for members to thrive in what’s expected to be an improving real estate market.
Brokers’ contracts, agreements, forms and office policies changed in 2024 to adapt to the practice changes implemented in August. But the connection between agents and their buyer and seller clients has remained steady; NAR’s 2024 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, released in November, showed that 90% of recent sellers and 86% of recent buyers worked with a real estate professional.
NAR’s Leadership Team last year worked to rebuild trust with members through transparent, timely communications about the settlement, the practice changes and other association news. In November, the Board of Directors approved the first balanced budget in at least 10 years. And in December, the association furthered the process of defining its value, sending out a survey to gauge how members value benefits such as research, industry news, professional development, business-centric tools, advocacy and the REALTOR® brand.
“The NAR of tomorrow must meet our members’ modern-day needs,” says CEO Nykia Wright. The association’s key priority will be to “redefine what member experience means by dissecting the REALTOR® journey and articulating needs for the future. Our focus must be helping REALTORS® thrive in their day-to-day business. This survey will help guide that vision,” she says.
Wright is also making immediate moves to build the NAR of the future. In January, former Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate CEO Sherry Chris joined NAR as a special advisor, with a focus on building trust with brokerage leaders. On March 3, New Jersey REALTORS® CEO Jarrod Grasso steps into the new role of NAR senior vice president of industry relations, with an emphasis on state and local associations.
Guiding NAR’s strategic direction and policymaking in such areas as legislation, professional standards, and business services is a 2025 NAR Leadership Team with three continuing members and four new members. Kevin M. Sears of Springfield, Mass., stays on as president through the 2025 term. Kevin C. Brown of Oakland, Calif., is president-elect, and former NAR President Vince Malta of San Francisco remains as an appointed Leadership Team member. New Leadership Team members for 2025 are Christine Hansen of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., first vice president; Craig Sanford of Phoenix, treasurer; Sara Lipnitz of Birmingham, Mich., vice president of advocacy; and Jennifer Branchini of Pleasanton, Calif., vice president of association affairs. Wright serves as a non-voting member of the team.
“I’m excited to continue to lead NAR into this new mission-driven era,” Sears says, “with a focus on being your advocate and a partner in your business success.”
