NAR supports a more profitable and sustainable real estate industry
The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.5 million members, and is becoming the driving force behind sustainable real estate.
NAR members are involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries. Membership is composed of residential and commercial brokers, salespeople, property managers, appraisers, counselors, and others who have engaged in the real estate industry. Members belong to one or more of approximately 1,200 local associations/boards and 54 state and territory associations of NAR.
Sustainability lies at the heart of the NAR association. They’ve listened to their members and identified a pressing need for climate change mitigation and environmental protection. By providing educational resources, investing in an extensive tree planting program, and financially supporting the sustainability goals of state and local NAR associations, NAR is driving a purposeful and profitable course that’s creating a greener real estate industry.
The National Association of REALTORS® is a recognized leader in driving ethical and sustainable real estate practices
NAR was founded in Chicago on May 12th, 1908, with 120 founding members, 19 boards, and one state association. Established as the National Association of Real Estate Exchanges, the objective was to:
“Unite the real estate men of America for the purpose of effectively exerting a combined influence upon matters affecting real estate interests.” – NAR REALTORS®, About NAR
The National Association of REALTORS® strives to be the collective force influencing and shaping the real estate industry. Advocating the right to own, use, and transfer real property, NAR is the acknowledged leader in developing standards for efficient, effective, ethical, and sustainable real estate business practices. As such, NAR is valued by highly skilled real estate professionals and viewed by them as crucial to their success.
Creating a robust and thorough sustainability plan
NAR is taking a leadership role to drive sustainable real estate, prioritizing transparency and open two-way communication with members. As the National Association of REALTORS’® Code of Ethics preamble states, “Under All is the Land”, NAR works to champion environmental stewardship and promote market-based approaches that benefit both the homebuyer and the planet.
Thinking about this aim, NAR’s 2022 sustainability initiatives include:
- Launching a 1-hour sustainability course for all members to access and learn about the intersection of sustainability and real estate.
- Planting 1.575 million trees to represent one tree per member of the association.
- Creating resources for state and local REALTOR® Associations, including a sustainability grant to support their own sustainability goals.
- Conducting industry research on the impact of extreme weather on the real estate profession.
The Green Business Bureau platform supports NAR’s resilience and sustainable real estate plan
NAR signed up for the Green Business Bureau to continue their sustainability and resilience plan and implementation. Through collaboration and by using the GBB platform, NAR aims to provide leadership and strategies on sustainability topics that will benefit members, NAR associations, and communities.
Using a data-backed approach to sustainable development
NAR collects primary and secondary data, alongside qualitative research, to inform their sustainability strategy. For instance, the 2022 REALTORS® and Sustainability Report notes that 50% of NAR members have worked with a green listing in the past 12 months, representing a 32% increase from 2021. Clearly, real estate sustainability is more important than ever. With this in mind, NAR developed a new one-hour sustainability course to meet the educational need that has come with this market shift.
Thinking back to that 2022 REALTORS® and Sustainability report, results also indicate that one-third of respondents share a concern about the impact of extreme weather on housing. Research in this area will inform NAR members on the steps they can take in their market to mitigate risks related to these concerns.
NAR’s approach encourages an understanding of sustainability, which creates added value for clients and the REALTOR® relationship with them, while positively impacting the communities they serve. NAR is uniquely positioned as a powerhouse brand for creating positive and sustainable change.
NAR is a powerhouse brand driving positive change to create sustainable real estate
“Leading by example, NAR is driving the real estate industry towards a more efficient and sustainable future. As part of this responsibility, we are strengthening the association’s support of sustainability efforts and increasing engagement on policies and programs that prioritize viability, resiliency, and adaptability. We are working to generate meaningful, lasting change that will benefit both current and future generations.” – Bob Goldberg, Chief Executive Officer of NAR
