The importance of the National Association of Realtors

What is the National Association of Realtors?

Whether you are a new real estate agent, an experienced agent who is interested in advancing your career, or a buyer/seller curious about the organization, the National Association of Realtors is an important organization that not only serves the community of real estate professionals around the country but also provides significant support to consumers.

Originally established as the National Association of Real Estate Exchanges, the NAR now serves more than 1.5 million members and functions in conjunction with approximately 1,400 state and local associations. With a closer look at what the National Association of Realtors does for the real estate industry and its members, you can confidently decide if a NAR membership is aligned with your professional goals.

What Does the National Association of Realtors Do?

The NAR is actually the country’s largest trade organization, and it serves both residential and commercial real estate professionals. The membership base includes agents as well as real estate industry professionals, including appraisers, property managers, and other service professionals in the industry. 

While the terms real estate agent and Realtor are often used interchangeably, Realtor is a professional, registered trademark that only applies to NAR members. NAR members uphold the highest professional standards and adhere to the association’s Code of Ethics. This code mandates honesty, integrity, and professionalism from its members. It also focuses on serving clients through the agents’ competency and real estate market knowledge.

The NAR advocates on behalf of its members at the local, state, and national levels. Each year, the organization hosts legislative meetings to address developing issues and concerns in the industry, and it holds critical conferences with legislators and other leaders. In addition, the NAR hosts other key events, including the Sustainability Summit, the National Association of Realtors Conference, the iOi Summit, and others. 

It also provides numerous real estate education opportunities for its members’ continued professional development. Additionally, it serves as an advocate for homeownership and educates buyers and sellers on the difference that working with a Realtor can make in their transactions.

The NAR creates significant stability in the industry by enhancing the quality and education of real estate agents which then translates into a safer and higher-level consumer experience. 

Why Join the National Association of Realtors

Often, new real estate agents ask, “Do I have to join the National Association of Realtors?” Generally, membership is optional. However, some real estate brokers require their salespeople to join. In addition, you can also use the Realtor designation if you are a member. If you decide to join the Realtor Association, you can take advantage of numerous opportunities for networking and real estate education. 

There are many additional benefits, such as discounts on insurance, rental cars, home appliances, business services, computers, and more. In addition, the National Association of Realtors does an excellent job of touting the difference that its members can make in property transactions. Because of this, most people will actively seek out a Realtor for their home-buying and selling plans.

How to Join the National Association of Realtors

Real estate professionals who are interested in joining the National Association of Realtors can do so easily. In order to be a NAR member, you must join your state’s real estate association. The Hawaii Association of Realtors offers its own localized events, including educational opportunities, networking functions, and more.

To join the Hawaii association, your license must be placed with a local broker. You can then request membership through a local association, such as the Realtors Association of Maui. State-level membership comes with access to real estate contract forms, numerous advanced tech tools, local discounts, real estate advocacy at the local level, access to outreach programs, and other notable benefits.

About the Realtors Association of Maui

The Realtors Association of Maui has been serving the Maui community since 1968 and currently has more than 2,000 active members. The association upholds NAR policies and the Code of Ethics. By doing so, and by focusing on advocacy within the local community, its members actively protect homeownership rights.

Homebuyers and sellers can conveniently search for a local Realtor through the association’s website. The website also has a link to the MLS multiple listing service, which can be viewed by both agents and clients.

If you choose to join the association, you will automatically benefit from membership in the National Association of Realtors and the Hawaii Association of Realtors. The memberships offer real estate agents invaluable opportunities for professional development, financial savings, and other benefits. At the local level, association members can benefit from a wide range of helpful tools for showings, market data, property tax data, and more.

To join Maui’s association, you must hold an active license with the Hawaii Real Estate Commission. Your license must also be held by a broker who is a member of the association. When applying, you must provide a letter of good standing. After joining the association, new members have 10 days to complete training on the NAR’s Code of Ethics and 60 days to attend a mandatory New Member Orientation.

Members can access the MLS through their broker. The broker will request access and pay the associated fee, which extends access to all members in the office. Members also have access to HomeSnap Showings. This feature is integrated with the MLS and enables members to simplify the process of scheduling a showing. Homesnap Pro is also available to members. Through this tool, members can prepare CMAs quickly through a mobile app, monitor transactions in the local market, identify prospects, and more. 

The Realtors Property Resource, or RPR, is also a mobile tool that provides convenient access to a complete professional platform. Members can also participate in Caravans, which enable real estate agents to preview new listings and show members their own new listings.

In addition, members can utilize multiple transaction management resources. These include standard, updated contract forms prepared by the Hawaii Realtor Association, e-signing functionality through zipForm, and a similar function through zipLogix Digital Ink. In addition, access to InfoSparks is available, and it offers detailed charts on market data that can be shared with clients.

Learn More Today

Real estate professionals on Maui can take advantage of extensive benefits by joining Maui’s real estate association. Joining the organization provides automatic membership to the state and national associations as well, and these offer additional benefits. Collectively, these benefits facilitate simplified transactions and allow agents to better serve their clients. To get started, discuss membership with your broker today.

Get In Touch With Evan!

Evan Harlow is an award-winning Realtor on Maui ranking in the top 1% of Coldwell Banker agents worldwide. Evan has the expertise, experience, and work ethic to help you achieve your real estate buying and selling goals. We promise exceptional service and support from the beginning of the process through closing and beyond. See what our clients are saying on Google.

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