Q: What is this about? 

A: At some point in 2025 any Licensed Broker from the North Carolina or Virginia Real Estate Commissions or respective State Appraisal License will be able to join Doorify MLS. That means that Licensed Brokers and Appraisers can join without holding an Association membership. A Regional Strategy Team is meeting to work out the details and will have a plan out by early 2025. REALTOR Association Membership will remain a requirement as we start 2025.  Please plan to pay those dues as billed by your Association.

Q: When is this going to happen?

A: A Regional Strategy Team is meeting to talk about implementation and the schedule for launching the new Subscriber Type. The Team is scheduled to report to the DMLS Board in the fourth quarter of 2024 and anticipates an implementation date sometime in 2025. There will be an announcement when that work is completed so Participants and Subscribers can plan accordingly.

Q:  Why is Doorify MLS doing this?

A: First, it is a business decision to expand into new markets and grow the top line business. Moreover, MLS organizations have faced legal battles over their membership types and lost some of those cases. Similar policies exist in states such as Colorado, California, Georgia, Florida, and South Carolina.  Most MLS Boards have been exploring this option as we witnessed the results of litigation against NAR, Firms, and other MLSs in recent years. The DMLS Board believes it is unfair to expose our MLS to more legal costs to defend this rule. 

Q: If a Participant chooses to join as a REALTOR, do all of the licensees in the office have to join as well? 

A: Yes, this is an Association rule that has not changed. If the Participant joins the Association, the members of their office must join as well. In other markets, MLSs have observed that some companies choose to split into a side that offers NAR membership and a side that does not. The side that does not can have MLS-Only Subscribers.