National Association of Realtors membership reaches 1.47 million in 2026

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported having 1,469,127 members by late September 2026, which is 22% higher than its budgeted figure of 1.2 million, according to HousingWire. This membership count is only 1.5% lower than the previous year, showing resilience despite recent challenges faced by the organization.

NAR's Treasurer Craig Sanford shared at the 2026 NXT Board of Directors meeting that membership renewals for 2027 are tracking similarly to 2026. Revenue from membership dues contributed approximately $220 million to the over $250 million total revenue reported by the end of September.

Expenses were about $7 million under budget as of late September, although some of these savings may be offset by increased advocacy spending in the fourth quarter due to recent midterm elections. Nonetheless, NAR's cash and investments remain strong, enabling it to meet settlement payments and invest in new member products and services.

Sanford highlighted significant financial modernization efforts within NAR, including implementing a new accounting system, adopting monthly accrual accounting, zero-based budgeting, and onboarding a new auditor. He noted that the organization is close to approving its third consecutive balanced budget.

Despite these financial improvements, Sanford emphasized that the work of transforming NAR is ongoing and just beginning.

HousingWire reported these developments, reflecting NAR's progress in managing its financial and membership challenges in 2026.