Imagine a neighborhood where residents can walk to a coffee shop, grab dinner at a local restaurant, bike to a nearby park or safely send their children to school on connected sidewalks. According to a first look at NAR's 2026 Community and Transportation Preferences Survey, that's still the type of community Americans want—and many are willing to pay more to live there.
That vision was front and center at Sunday’s Smart Growth Advisory Board meeting at the 2026 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings, where members reviewed preliminary survey findings showing continued demand for walkable communities and discussed how real estate professionals can help bring those preferences to life through local advocacy and development initiatives.
Board Chair William Doerlich, broker-owner of Realty ONE Group TODAY in Pleasanton, Calif., updated members on several ongoing efforts, including NAR Smart Growth Grants, the NAR Transforming Neighborhoods program, NAR's Land Use Initiative, and state and local growth polling efforts. Much of the conversation focused on expanding housing opportunities—particularly “missing middle” housing—and helping state and local associations play a larger role in shaping community-driven development decisions.
Two presentations highlighted how REALTOR® associations are already putting those ideas into action.
In Plattsburgh, N.Y., Michael Coughlin, RCE, C2EX, CEO of the Adirondack/Champlain Valley REALTORS®, shared how a conversation between local real estate professionals and community leaders evolved into a years-long smart growth initiative. Supported by NAR grants, the effort helped create a community vision, develop new planning resources and attract investment.
The association earned a seat at the table during local planning discussions and helped advance mixed-use development projects designed to strengthen the community and create more housing opportunities. His message was simple: Meaningful change often starts with a conversation and a willingness to get involved locally.
Ryan Adcock, government affairs director for Greater Nashville REALTORS®, shared another example. Through a coordinated effort involving NAR Smart Growth Grants, polling and issue mobilization funding, members helped support Nashville's successful "Choose How You Move" transit referendum.
Approved by voters in 2024, the initiative created dedicated transit funding that is now helping expand sidewalks, improve traffic signals and enhance transportation options throughout the city.
Throughout the discussion, advisory board members emphasized the importance of bringing smart growth conversations back home. Several members encouraged local and state associations to engage more deeply in planning, transportation and housing discussions, arguing that commercial and residential real estate agents can play an important role in advocating for walkable communities, infrastructure improvements and housing choices that better reflect how people want to live today.
The common theme throughout the meeting: smart growth isn't just a national conversation. It's happening neighborhood by neighborhood, city by city, with NAR members helping shape the future of their communities.
