The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) announced Friday that it has reached a proposed settlement to resolve nationwide homebuyer claims tied to buyer-agent commissions.
The case, Tuccori v. At World Properties, is one of several antitrust lawsuits focused on how commissions are handled in real estate transactions.
If approved by the court, NAR will pay $52.25 million into a settlement fund over the next several years. The payments will be made over a multi-year period, with the majority scheduled after June 2028, following the final payment tied to the $418M Sitzer/Burnett settlement, which is set for early 2028.
What the Settlement Covers
NAR stated that the settlement is structured to provide protections across a wide portion of the real estate industry, including:
- REALTOR® members
- State and local REALTOR® associations
- Multiple Listing Services (both REALTOR®-affiliated and independent)
- Brokerages with a REALTOR® principal that meet specific eligibility criteria
To qualify for coverage under the settlement, entities must comply with NAR rules and policies and refrain from pursuing claims that conflict with the agreement.
NAR also plans to ask the court to pause the related Batton v. NAR case, citing similar claims that are expected to be addressed through this agreement.
No New Rule Changes
One of the most important points: this settlement does not create any new rules for agents.
Instead, it reinforces the changes already put in place from the Sitzer/Burnett settlement. So for agents and brokerages, this specific agreement does not include any additional rules or guidelines.
NAR’s Broader Legal Strategy
The announcement comes as NAR continues its 3-year strategic plan, including a renewed focus on legal risk management under its current leadership team.
While NAR was not originally named as a defendant in the Tuccori case, it is participating through an opt-in structure within the broader settlement. In its announcement, NAR stated this “reduces the uncertainty and potential financial exposure associated with continued litigation, protecting its members and the industry as the association continues its multi-year transformation.”
In a statement, Nykia Wright, CEO of NAR, said:
“In NAR’s 2026-2028 Strategic Plan, we committed to the industry that we would protect and advance the legal interest of REALTORS®. This settlement is a part of our efforts to fulfill that commitment and will promote a more resilient industry. This outcome, which provides a broader level of protection and release for the industry than has been secured in any previous NAR settlement, is a result of NAR’s new legal team’s diligent approach to addressing legal risk and reinforces our commitment to delivering greater value and stability for our members, so they can remain focused on their clients and getting to their next transaction.”
Jon Waclawski, General Counsel of NAR, added:
“This outcome is a direct result of the more diligent and strategic legal approach our team has adopted. We sought this settlement to secure meaningful protections for our members and the industry. We moved decisively to resolve these claims in a way that avoids significant potential liability and positions NAR more effectively going forward, ensuring our members can continue unlocking the American Dream for generations to come.”
A Continuing Shift in the Legal Landscape
This settlement is the latest in a series of legal developments for NAR, including the dismissal of multiple antitrust cases in recent months.
Together, these outcomes signal an ongoing effort by the association to address commission-related challenges while providing clearer guardrails for agents and brokerages.
