The REALTOR® association model is one of the most powerful professional networks in the country. Local, state and national associations each bring unique value to the table, and together they create a strong foundation of advocacy, professionalism, education, business support and consumer trust.
The three-way agreement does not always feel as seamless as it should, however.
In many markets, there is tension between local, state and national associations. Services can overlap. Education, CE, events and non-dues revenue programs can sometimes feel competitive instead of complementary. Even though many volunteer leaders serve at all three levels over time, collaboration and trust are not always as strong as they need to be.
This dynamic can be especially challenging in states where one large local association represents a significant percentage of the state’s overall membership. When the lines of responsibility are not clearly defined, or when associations believe they are competing for the same audience, the member experience can become confusing, duplicative and less valuable than it should be.
The good news is that there are inspiring examples across the country of local and state associations finding better ways to work together. These collaborations strengthen every level of the REALTOR® organization and give members more reasons to see the value in paying local, state and national dues.
Collaboration Works When Each Level Leans Into Its Strengths
The Indiana Association of REALTORS® is a great example. The state association is offering an AI-based tool designed on its Housing hub called “Spark” to help members and consumers better understand market performance by leveraging data provided by associations across the state. Rather than each local association trying to build or promote a separate solution, Indiana is using the strength of statewide collaboration to deliver a more powerful, consistent resource.
Many state associations already provide forms and legal hotlines , but there are many other ways local and state associations can create unique partnerships that reduce duplication and improve service.
Some state associations are taking on advocacy support for their local association partners. Others are helping with professional standards administration, creating efficiencies and removing a significant burden from local staff and volunteer leaders.
The Texas Association of REALTORS® is providing quarterly WAVes of Change™ industry education updates delivered by WAV Group to local association leadership, staff and brokers. This helps ensure that everyone is better informed about the major changes evolving in the industry today and gives local associations valuable content they can use to make more well-informed decisions about how to serve the unique needs of their members.
The Indiana Association of REALTORS® is also providing a WAV Group-led year-long training program for local association executives and board presidents focused on effective performance reviews. This is the kind of practical, high-impact support that helps strengthen the leadership and governance capacity of every local association.
Statewide Services Can Reduce Burden and Improve Consistency
Some state associations have taken collaboration even further by providing statewide MLS services.
The Maine and Rhode Island state associations provide statewide MLS services that make it easier for brokers to promote listings across the state. the state of New Mexico provides MLS services for several of its smaller markets as well. This approach can help remove the burden from local associations of continually upgrading MLS technology, support, training and data services on their own.
Statewide services are not the right answer everywhere, but they do provide a powerful example of how associations can think differently about shared infrastructure, member value and operational efficiency.
When state associations help relieve administrative, technology, compliance or training burdens, local associations can spend more time doing what they do best: building relationships, supporting members in their communities, developing local leaders and responding to local market needs.
National Resources Also Need to Be Better Leveraged
The National Association of REALTORS® offers a wide range of tools, programs and resources that can benefit local and state associations. As we head into the RLM meetings next week, it is a great time to learn more about NAR’s latest offerings and think about how they can be promoted more effectively to local members.
Too often, national benefits are underutilized simply because members do not know they exist or do not understand how to apply them in their businesses. Local and state associations can play a critical role in translating national resources into practical, relevant value for members.
The Opportunity: Turn the Three-Way Agreement Into a Three-Way Advantage
The future of the REALTOR® association model depends on stronger alignment. Members do not care which level of the organization provides a service. They care whether the service helps them run a better business, stay compliant, serve consumers, protect homeownership and remain relevant in a changing market.
That means the real question for association leaders is not, “Who owns this program?”
The better question is, “How can we work together to deliver the best possible outcome for our shared member?”
If you are a state association conducting strategic planning this year, now is the perfect time to think creatively about how you can deepen your relationships with local associations. Look for ways to relieve administrative burden, reduce duplication, strengthen governance, expand education, improve advocacy support and free up local associations to serve members more effectively in their own markets.
The strongest associations of the future will not be the ones that protect their turf. They will be the ones that build trust, share resources and create a more seamless member experience across all three levels of the REALTOR® organization, recognizing we are all on the same team.
At WAV Group, we are seeing more associations think creatively about these partnerships, and we would love to see even more. The more local, state and national associations work together, the stronger the entire REALTOR® organization becomes.
If you need help thinking through creative ways to bring your local and state associations together via your strategic planning efforts, we would love to assist. Please fill out the form below and we will be happy to get together.
