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FOR REALTORS®

The Reality of Real Estate

HAR.com is your home for the facts
The reality of real estate is that the market is always evolving. HAR is here to support you, get the facts out to the public and communicate the value of using a REALTOR®.

HAR MLS ''Coming Soon'' Updates

HAR is introducing a new feature that gives HAR MLS subscribers more control over how their Coming Soon listings are seen. MLS subscribers now have the option to showcase their Coming Soon listings to a broader audience across HAR.com, IDX websites and participating real estate portals.

 

 

How It Works

  • When entering a listing in Matrix, agents can choose whether to market their Coming Soon listing to all consumers or keep it limited.
  • This expanded visibility helps agents build interest and generate demand before their listing goes active.
  • Use Coming Soon to create early momentum and position their listings for a stronger launch.

 

Coming Soon listings are not active listings, and showings are not permitted while a property is in Coming Soon status, according to HAR MLS rules. 

3 Ways the Settlement Impacts Homebuyers
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3 Ways the Settlement Impacts Home Sellers
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3 Ways the Settlement Impacts Homebuyers
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3 Ways the Settlement Impacts Home Sellers
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Updates from HAR

HAR is committed to keeping you informed. Below you’ll find all communications sent to members regarding Coming Soon listings.

 

March 26, 2026 | Reminder About “Coming Soon” Listings and MLS Rules

April 28, 2026 | NEW: More Exposure for Your “Coming Soon” Listings

Frequently Asked Questions

Your listings will be shown on HAR.com, IDX websites and participating real estate portals.
When changing your listing status from Incomplete to Coming Soon in Matrix, look for the field labeled “Coming Soon Public Display?” and select Yes to showcase your listing to consumers. Selecting No will make it visible only to agent-connected buyers.
Yes, it will still appear on HAR.com, but it will only be visible to agent-connected buyers.
Yes, everything that is added to the listing is visible just like Active listings.
Yes, you can accept offers during the Coming Soon period.
Coming Soon listings can remain in that status for 21 days. Once that timeframe expires, the status will automatically be changed to Active.
No, open houses are not permitted during the Coming Soon period since showings are not allowed.
No, Days on Market does not begin until the listing is moved to Active status.

Resources

              Matrix “Coming Soon” Rules

           NAR “Coming Soon” Checklist

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NAR Guidance on Pre-Marketing Activity

NAR Settlement Impacts

Effective August  17, 2024

3 Ways the Settlement Impacts Homebuyers
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3 Ways the Settlement Impacts Home Sellers
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Click here to share the Reality of Real Estate
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REALTOR® Toolkit

Showcase Your Value as a REALTOR®
The HAR REALTOR® Toolkit is packed with assets highlighting the benefits of working with a REALTOR®. Download the assets and customize them with your branding then share with your clients, on your social media pages or in your listing presentations.
Access the REALTOR® Toolkit

Frequently Asked Questions

3 Ways the Settlement Impacts Homebuyers
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3 Ways the Settlement Impacts Home Sellers
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Effective August 17, 2024, NAR put in place a new rule prohibiting offers of compensation on the MLS. Brokers and agents now have to negotiate compensation directly with their clients. Additionally, NAR requires agents to enter into written buyer agreements with their buyers before touring a home.
According to NAR rules under which we must operate, being a REALTOR means joining the national, state, and local associations. REALTOR® means member of the National Association of REALTORS®. Therefore, all REALTORS® belong to the National Association of REALTORS® and agree to abide by our Code of Ethics. In order to maintain REALTOR® membership, members must pay local, state, and national association dues and assessments. There is no ability to bifurcate membership between local, state, or national associations.
HAR dues will remain unchanged as they have for the last 20 years. When it comes to NAR dues, NAR says its dues will not go up in 2024 and 2025 because of the payment that is being made as part of the settlement.
Yes. Offers of compensation can continue to be an option consumers can pursue off-MLS through negotiation and consultation with real estate professionals. According to NAR, listing brokers could display an offer of compensation to a buyer agent on their own website or on social media. However, sellers can still offer buyer concessions (i.e. buyer closing costs) on the MLS.
Offers of compensation cannot be displayed in ShowingSmart since it is affiliated with HRIS.
According to NAR, offers of compensation cannot be communicated through the MLS.
No. That would not be allowed as that is still an offer of compensation being made through the MLS.
Only if it is outside the MLS.
The types of compensation available for buyer brokers continue to take multiple forms, depending on broker-consumer negotiations, including but not limited to:

-Fixed-fee commission paid directly by consumers

-Concession from the seller

-Portion of the listing broker’s compensation

Yes. Compensation is currently negotiable and will continue to be negotiable. Compensation should always be negotiated between agents and the consumers they serve.
This new field was added to the HAR MLS on July 9, 2024. You may include in it any dollar amount the Seller wants to indicate they may be willing to contribute toward Buyer expenses. The amount is an indication of the willingness of the Seller to offer something toward the Buyer expenses. Any amount would need to be negotiated as part of the final contract.
This settlement preserves the choices consumers have regarding real estate services and compensation.

-Under the new rules, listing brokers and sellers can continue to offer compensation for buyer broker services, but such offers cannot be communicated via the MLS. The settlement expressly provides that sellers may communicate seller concessions — such as buyer closing costs — via the MLS provided that such concessions are not conditioned on the use of or payment to a buyer broker.

-MLS participants working on behalf of buyers are now required to enter into written agreements with their buyers before touring a home. These agreements can help consumers understand exactly what services and value will be provided, and for how much.

Texas REALTORS® released updated and new forms in the Forms Library on June 24, 2024. These updates will ensure you comply with MLS policy changes when using Texas REALTORS® forms, increase transparency and clarity regarding broker compensation and provide flexibility for use with various business and compensation models. For an in-depth look at the forms, you may watch a recording of the Forms You Need to Know course HERE.
On June 11, 2024, the VA announced a temporary policy allowing VA buyers to compensate their buyer broker directly while determining when a formal rulemaking process is necessary. NAR will continue to monitor and provide updates as they occur. The VA home loan guaranty program is a vital homeownership tool that provides veterans with a centralized, affordable, and accessible method of purchasing homes as a benefit they earned for their service to our nation. Under previous VA policies, veterans using the home loan benefit were prohibited from compensating their professional representative directly. This policy put VA buyers at a disadvantage in situations where offers of compensation are not offered from a seller, potentially forcing them to forego professional representation, choose a different loan product, or exit the market entirely.
The MLS rule changes do not impact leases.
Offers of compensation could continue to be an option consumers can pursue off-MLS through negotiation and consultation with real estate professionals. And sellers can offer buyer concessions on an MLS (for example—concessions for buyer closing costs).
Yes. It is a contract, so it is enforceable.
Bonuses will not be able to be expressed in the MLS based on the terms of this settlement.
No because there will be no information in the feed to display.
You can find more information as well as FAQs on NAR’s website.

HAR Resources

Ready or Not, Change Is Coming - What You Need to Know (Webinar Recording)

The Forms You Need to Know - Guide to New & Updated Forms (Course Recording)

NAR Settlement Fact Sheet
Access facts about the NAR settlement and how it will impact HAR members/subscribers as well as home buyers and sellers HERE.

Houston Housing Reports
The HAR Newsroom is the go-to source for news and information about the real estate market. Access weekly, monthly and quarterly housing reports published by HAR HERE.

Press Releases
Access all press releases issued by the HAR Communications Department HERE.