After years of major developments, the real estate landscape appears poised for more major shifts in the coming year. Everything points to current trends continuing unabated in 2026.

Once mostly dominated by mom-and-pop shops, the brokerage landscape will see more consolidation — what first occurred locally and regionally increasingly is becoming national. At the same time, we will witness a widening divide between privately held brokerages and publicly traded companies beholden to shareholders.

As the industry’s flagship industry association wraps up its internal analysis, it is poised to transform its finances, de-risk its program and policy portfolio and reform its governance while doubling down on advocacy efforts and dissemination of research. NAR making its value proposition case – at all three levels – should continue to play out in the coming months as well. MLSs, meanwhile, will work to stake out their new role as brokers contemplate changes in every aspect of the framework that supports our industry.