NAR Offers Clear Cooperation Clarifications

From Staff Reports

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has announced a new policy, “Multiple Listing Options for Sellers,” which introduces a new category of exempt listings called “delayed marketing exempt listings.” This decision follows an extensive review of NAR’s Clear Cooperation Policy (CCP) and aims to provide sellers with greater flexibility while maintaining transparency in the marketplace.

The new policy, effective immediately, allows sellers to instruct their listing agents to delay marketing their properties through Internet Data Exchange (IDX) and syndication for a set period. However, each Multiple Listing Service (MLS) will determine the length of this delayed marketing period based on local market needs. MLSs have until Sept. 30, 2025, to implement the policy.

During this delayed marketing period, listings will still be accessible to MLS participants and subscribers but will not appear in IDX feeds or syndicated platforms. Sellers who choose this option must sign a disclosure acknowledging their decision to waive immediate public marketing benefits. This disclosure is also required for office-exclusive exempt listings — those that remain within a brokerage and are not publicly marketed.

NAR President Kevin Sears emphasized that the policy change is a result of extensive consultation with MLS leadership, brokerages, agents, and industry experts. The goal is to balance seller control with fair access to information for buyers and their agents. “These policy changes allow for greater choice for sellers in marketing their properties while considering buyers’ need to access information through MLSs,” Sears said.

Additionally, the new policy clarifies that one-to-one communication between brokers about a listing does not trigger CCP requirements. However, multi-brokerage communication about a listing is considered public marketing under CCP guidelines.

Difference Between Office Exclusive and Delayed Marketing

Delayed Marketing Exemption

• Listings are placed in the MLS for other Participants to view but are not distributed via IDX or syndication for a specified period (determined by local MLSs).
• Other brokerages and agents will see the listing on the MLS but it won’t be further disseminated via IDX until the exemption period expires.
• The seller must sign a disclosure consenting to this designation.
• Sellers and agents can market the property publicly during this period, but it won’t appear on other brokerages’ websites via IDX.

Office Exclusive

• Remains unchanged.
• Rule clarified to note that a listing agent one-on-one communicating to another agent about the listing does not trigger CCP – however a multi-broker communication would trigger CCP and the one day rule to advertise in the MLS.
• Listings are not shared on the MLS, not publicly marketed, and may not be advertised outside the listing brokerage.
• Requires a signed disclosure from the seller consenting to this designation

NAR has launched educational resources on facts.realtor to help members understand and implement the changes. MLSs are encouraged to engage with local brokers and stakeholders before finalizing their delayed marketing period policies.