Membership Value
“A REALTOR®® Is A Special Person”
You are a member of “the Voice for Real Estate”
--- the National Association Of REALTOR®s” - which is
the LARGEST trade association in the world representing
more than 760,000 members in involved in all aspects of the real estate industry. Only members
of NAR can use the registered collective membership mark. The public doesn’t know the difference
between a REALTOR® and a real estate licensee”. It is
up to us to educate them.
When is a real estate agent a REALTOR®? When they
are a member of the National Association of REALTOR®S. The term
REALTOR® is a registered
collective membership mark that identifies a real
estate
Professional who is a member of the National
Association of REALTOR®S and subscribes to a strict
code of Ethics. The National Association of REALTOR®S
adopted the Code of Ethics in 1913 following the Professions of medicine, law and engineering.
Working for America’ property owners, the
National Association provides a facility for
professional Development, research and exchange of information
among its members and to the public and government for the purpose of preserving the free enterprise
system and the right to own real property.
In a recent member profile done by the National
Association of REALTOR®S, it was found that experience
continues to be one of the greatest assets that a REALTOR®
can bring to real estate transactions. Today’s
real estate professionals have twice as many years of
experience than they had in the 1970’s. With this
experience, real estate professionals are best able to
guide their customers through the home buying and
selling processes. In addition to experience, REALTOR®S
better serve their clients though the use of
technology, including the internet. REALTOR®S
communicate with their customers with E-mail and place
their listings on a variety of Web sites. “More then
75 percent of REALTOR®S use E-mail and the Internet for
business purposes and four out of ten REALTOR®S have a
World Wide Web page.
The typical REALTOR®:
has a gross personal income of $47,700
works 43 hours a week
is a sales agent who has been in the real
estate business for 13 years
has been with the same firm for five years and
has worked for only one other firm
owns or leases a computer
does not hold any ownership interest in her
firm
is affiliated with an independently owned
non-franchised firm
is associated with a firm that has just one
office
is a 52 year old married female
lives in a household with three people
“The median age of REALTOR®S has remained
unchanged for the last two years - at an all time high
of 52.
The gross income she makes of $47,700 has increased
ten percent since 1998. She believes in the product
she sells. The typical REALTOR® is a homeowner; nine
out of ten REALTOR®S own their own home.
Also the typical REALTOR® with 11-15 years of
experience earns almost $41,000 more a year than a
real estate professional with one to five years of
experience.
As you are aware, when you pay your dues to “the
local Association” you are also paying dues to
belong to the state and national association. Part of
those dues dollars is paying for the “Public
Awareness Media Campaign” - “You’ve Got a Life -
We’re REALTOR®s We Let You Live It”. The Public
Awareness campaign began in 1998 with the goal to
promote the REALTOR® brand in the real estate
marketplace. In addition to network radio and
television advertisements, the campaign includes print
advertisements that state and local associations can
use in their market. From time-to-time, you will see
the ad on the back of the “Home Spotter” magazine.
Also, for 2002 the updated theme is “Work with
someone who’ll work with you. We’re REALTOR®s “Real
Estate is our Life”. You can visit the Public
Awareness Campaign Web site to access valuable tools
and resources that enable you to leverage these
advertising themes and get your message out.
Benefits of NAR Membership
Membership in the National Association of REALTOR®s
has its strengths and advantages. NAR is committed to serving the diverse interests of real estate
professionals by:
helping you keep what you earn
helping you become even more professional at
what you do
promoting your reputation and interests
keeping the REALTOR® central to the real estate
transaction
Whether you are a New Agent, A Specialty
Practitioner, Broker/Owner, NAR works for you. REALTOR®s are “the” voice for NAR - it is your association
and its exists to help you increase your business
opportunities.
Information Services and Business products -
through REALTOR®.org - you access the single largest
source of online real estate information available and
participate in this online community that includes
online discussion for networking and information sharing,
24 hours a day. REALTOR®.org is opening communication lines between members, state and local associations
and the national association by providing instant
access to key information whenever the information is
needed.
The REALTOR® VIP Program is designed to help you
gain the advantages of group buying power, plan for
the future and expand your professional knowledge. The
products and alliance partners in this program have
been carefully chosen to help you achieve your own
level of financial, incentives, insurance, Office
Management Solutions, Publication, Technology
Solutions, and Automotive/Travel Solutions.
NAR boasts the world’s largest library, the REALTOR®
Information Center. A variety of information
is available for loan to members for a nominal fee.
NAR has many real estate specialty organizations to
join and participate in a unique community of
specialists. Whatever is your specialty there is a
section, professional affiliate or program at NAR to
aid you in perfecting your skills. CCIM Institute “Commercial
Industrial Management”; Council of Real Estate
Brokerage Managers; Council of Residential
Specialists; Councelors of Real Estate; Institute of
Real Estate Management; Real Estate Buyers Agent
Council; REALTOR®s Land Institute; REALTOR®s National
Marketing Institute; Society of Industrial and Office REALTOR®s; Women’s Council of
REALTOR®S; Appraisal
Section and International Section; Education and
certification in these specializations enable members
to receive professional designations, marking them as
highly-qualified specialists to business associates
and the public.
The REALTOR®S National Conference and Expo - offers
REALTOR®S an opportunity and network for personal
development and growth. The meetings are designed to
provide REALTOR®s and those active in related industry’s
with information and education on timely topics, trade
expositions that showcase and demonstrate the most
innovative produces and services, forums for sharing
ideas and business development opportunities.
Legislative Lobbing - Making a Difference!
The National Association of REALTOR®s has been
recognized in Fortune magazine’s list of America’s
25 more powerful lobbying organizations for four
consecutive years. Something to brag about? You bet
A large geographically dispersed and politically
active membership: Of all the factors which make an
organization powerful in Washington, nothing is more
important than a large politically active membership.
NAR has 760,000 members nationwide. There are REALTOR®s
in every congressional district, county and town
throughout this country. And these aren’t just
businesspersons, these are community activist who
truly care about the neighborhoods in which they live
and do business. The core of NAR's lobbying clout is
our members’ passion for political involvement and
dedication to make each and every neighborhood a
better place to live and work.
Legislative and Regulatory Campaigns - Your voice
is heard at all levels of government: local, state and
national. NAR protects the real estate industry from
cumbersome legislation and undue regulation, and
advocates legislative and regulatory changes that
enhance your ability to conduct business. At the
national level, the Government Affairs Group analyzes
federal issues and promotes NAR’s policy objectives
through Congress and the regulatory agencies.
Since its inception in 1908, the National
Association of REALTOR®S is widely recognized as one of
America’ strongest, most effective lobbying
organizations. With members representing every city,
township and community across America, NAR is the “Voice
for Real Estate” in the nations capitol and a
lobbying group to be reckoned with. In fact, Fortune
Magazine has ranked NAR among the 25 most powerful
lobbying groups in the nation four years in a row. REALTOR®s like you are the reason we’ve had so much
success. The REALTOR®s presence is strong and growing
in the halls of Congress, the White House and the
Federal Agencies. You can, and do, make a difference!
REALTOR®s Political Action Committee - (RPAC)
RPAC encourages individual participation in the
political process to ensure the REALTOR®’s viewpoint
on industry issues is heard at all levels of
government. Support is supplied to federal candidates
at the local, state and national levels through
various NAR and RPAC Committee programs that encourage
volunteerism in campaigns, educate voters on issues
important to home ownership and real estate.
RPAC - “REALTOR®” Pac remained the nation’s
largest business trade association PAC with
disbursements of $3.7 million dollars to the federal
candidates and national political committees in the
2000 election cycle. 100% of your contribution is used
to elect pro-REALTOR® Candidates:30you’re your
contribution will be forwarded to the national RPAC to
fund key US House and Senate races; 70% remains in the
state to be used in state and local elections. RPAC is
neither a Republican nor a Democratic organization.
Your contribution to RPAC is a vote for a pro-REALTOR®
congress, regardless of political party. RPAC
represents 200,000 politically active REALTOR®S that
members of congress want as their friends.
History of a PAC?
PACs have been around since 1944, when the Congress
of Industrial Organizations (CIO) formed the first one
to raise money for the re-election of President
Franklin D. Roosevelt. A political Action Committee is
a popular term for a political committee organized by
like-minded people for the purpose of raising and
spending money to elect and defeat candidates. PAC’s
money must come from voluntary contributions from
members. PAC’s represent business, labor or
ideological interests
Legal Updates - You reap the benefits of NAR’s
legal advocacy efforts. Through the Legal Action
Committee, NAR provides financial support to legal
cases that will establish a favorable precedent for
real estate brokerage, or which preserve the rights to
own, use and transfer real property.
REALTOR® VIP ALLIANCE PROGRAM
With the REALTOR® VIP Alliance Program, NAR has
rolled out the red carpet for its members. The REALTOR®
VIP Program saves you both time and money as well as
provides you peace of mind in securing your future.
The program is an automatic benefit of your NAR
membership enabling you to take advantage of group
buying power. In the areas of, Automotive - Chrysler-Jeep; Hertz ; Financial
Solutions - Charles Schwab & Co.; Technology
Solutions -
AT&T Wireless, Dell computer, Gateway,
Hewlett-Packard Company, IBM Corp.,Internet Crusade, REALTOR®.Com.; These discounts are available to all of
you. Please check them out at REALTOR®.org when you are
in the market for these services or products.
THE NORTH CAROLINA ASSOCIATION OF REALTOR®S -
As part of the Voice for Real Estate and NAR, you
are also a member of NCAR. The North Carolina
Association of REALTOR®S, Inc. is one of the largest
and oldest trade association in North Carolina.
Founded in 1921, NCAR represents nearly 25,000 REALTOR®S who are involved in all aspects related to
the sale, purchase lease of real property in North
Carolina.
All NCAR members belong to one or more of the 68
local REALTOR® Associations statewide and the National
Association of REALTOR®S. As a member of organized real
estate, you have access to numerous services and
programs to enhance your professionalism.
Their preventative risk management programs provide
members with the latest in legal information and our
extensive legislative advocacy program means members
are represented on local, state and federal issues.
These educational programs help you, the member, gain
new sills and professional designations like the
prestigious Graduate REALTOR® Institute. (GRI)
In addition to these programs, NCAR offers you its
members a variety of business tools from research data
to cutting edge technology and top notch publications.
All these and other programs and services are designed
to increase the professionalism of members and give
them the tools they need to better serve their clients
- the consumer.
As members of NCAR you have at your disposal
extensive legislative resources. NCAR’s Legislative
Department advocates for prohousing public policy
initiatives before the NC General Assembly and State
agencies. It also manages NCAR's grassroots programs
and REALTOR® political Action Committee (RPAC). This
department is the REALTOR®’s voice in government. A
few of the government issues NCAR has information
about are Transfer Tax, Smart Growth Guiding
Principles, Smart Growth Study and Homeowners’ Bill
of Rights and 2001 General Assembly Highlights. Check
these highlights under the Legislative Link on the
NCAR website, NCREALTOR®.org.
As a member of NCAR, NCAR help’s you the member
save time and money! To start your savings just
contact REALTOR® partners listed on their Web Site.
The list includes Adams-McCall, the REALTOR® resource for insurance and investment products;
Affordable HealthCare solutions which has a variety of
health care plans available; Bizplan, with Bizplan
losing out on medical deductions and tax savings are a
thing of the past. Small Business owners and
self-employed individuals can deduct 100% of their
families health costs; BTI Telecommunication Services,
take advantage of the latest technology and savings
for all of your telecommunication needs. Services
include local and long distance phone service;
Formulator - Creates professional forms quickly and
cost effectively with Formulator software; and MBNA
America Bank, MasterCard with the NCAR and REALTOR® logos prominently displayed and offers a low
introductory annual percentage rate, no annual fee;
Out staffing - handle your staffing needs the smart
way; John P Pearl & Associates - Pearl &
Associates offers errors and omissions insurance
coverage that is unmatched in today’s marketplace;
Protective Dental Plan, which is underwritten by
Protective Life, program offers two plan options and
your choice of dentists and a vision plan at no extra
cost.; Real Fast, forms is the national leader of
computer generated real estate forms.; Systel - Office
Automation, As the largest dealer of Panasonic and
RICHOH office equipment in the state. Systel offers
significant savings on the purchase or lease of
copiers, printers and fax machines; UPS Package
Delivery - UPS offers the most reliable express
service available today and savings you can count on;
RE Forms Net - ZipForms software offers e-mailing of
contract and integration between contact managers and
other service providers.
And now the “Winston-Salem Regional REALTOR®s
Association” - your Association. Who are we? We are
a trade association that binds together members who
have the same business needs. We are the largest trade
association in Winston-Salem, with over 1100 members.
We are the 5th
largest Association in the state,
following behind Raleigh, Charlotte, Wilmington,
Asheville. Yes, we are larger than Greensboro and have
the largest geographic jurisdiction. The jurisdiction
for our Association, “jurisdiction means the area
that is outlined in our Charter”, is quite large. We
have all of Forsyth, Stokes, Davie and parts of
Davidson in our jurisdiction. Our Association is
responsible for enforcing the code of ethics and also
responsible for making sure the R trademark is not
misused in any way within our boundries.
Our Association is 85 years old. We were founded in
1917 as the Winston-Salem Board of REALTOR®s. We are
older than the state association and in fact, some of
our members actually help start the state Association
- NCAR. We will hold our 85th Anniversary Celebration
this year in November during our Hall of Fame Awards
and Celebration.
The mission of the Winston-Salem Regional
Association of REALTOR®S is to unite individuals who
provide professional services in the transfer, use,
enjoyment, and ownership of property.
Under the umbrella of the Winston-Salem Regional
Association are the Multiple Listings Service,
Commercial & Industrial and Property Management
Divisions.
So when you think of us, think beyond the Multiple
Listing Service. Yes, we do have that and actually are
part of a regional MLS (The Triad) and have over 11
counties represented in our regional database. As part
of our Charter and part of being a trade Association,
we undertake other activities besides MLS. We are very
involved in the Community and have a long history of
many awards in the area of Community Service. Our
Community Service Committee is very active.
We have for 11 years, held an annual SCAN “Stop
Child Abuse Now” Golf Tournament and have raised
$167,000.00 for this worthwhile cause. In 2002,
proceeds from the Stop Child Abuse Now Golf Tournament
totaled over $21,500.00 which was our largest
contribution made to SCAN in single year.
We also have been very active in the, Children’s
Center School for Physically Handicapped” which is
part of the Forstyh School System.. These children
have special needs. The Braces, wheelchairs, head
gear, etc. are very costly to the parents of these
children. Our Association through this committee and
with the help of our members such as “you” - host
an Easter Party complete with Easter Bunny and an Egg
Hunt and also host a Christmas Program with Santa
arriving and giving out gifts to the children each
year. These two events are open to all of our members,
if you have not attended one of these special events,
please do so. Many children and their parents have
written us notes expressing their thanks and saying
with out us “their REALTOR® Family” there would
have not been an Easter Basket or a lot of Toys for
their Children at Christmas without us. Making housing
affordable is the one area that our Association and
the National REALTOR®s Association feel very strongly
about. Since 1997, we have participated in Habitat. We
have participated with money and volunteers who work
on “our” REALTOR® house during “The Labor of Love
Habitat Build” each year in September over Labor Day
Weekend. We have partnered with Congressman Richard
Burr, in “Habitat Houses for Congress Built” and
we have partnered with the W/S Home Builders
Association in building Habitat Houses. This year we
are going to contribute $$ and labor to the Home
Builders Apprentice House. This program helps Habitat
build houses and also helps every one by teaching
building skills to apprentices in the Forsyth Tech’s
Building Apprentice Program. Watch for information
this fall, and sign up to help …It is fun, and helps
our community by giving a deserving family “a new
home and a new start”. “For more information,
please call Stephanie Hamberis, at our office.”
The Benefits of belonging to our Association are
many. The monthly membership meetings that are held at
the Benton Convention Center besides having a free
dinner or lunch offer an excellent opportunity to
network with your peers and met many of the Affailiate
Members who are from banking, mortgage lenders, home
inspectors, etc. These members are your potential
business associates who will help you find that “special”
loan, or that home inspector who just happens to be
available the next day for a home inspection.
The Association through its Equal Opportunity
Committee works closely with the Human Relations
Commission and is a partner in the April Fair Housing
Month Kickoff program which is hosted at the
Association office. This past April, the mayor, Allen
Joines, officially cut the ribbon signifying the start
of the Fair Housing Month Celebration. The MLS
Meetings held at the Association office every other
Friday are excellent ways for you to get to know your
peers in the Association. The programs are varied. But
some this year have been “How to Use a PDA” Palm
Device; Downtown Development; to name a few.
The newsletter for the Association “The
Eprofessional Edge” is emailed to you each month.
This is real news in real time. It is what’s
happening now. Please be sure to read this
publication. It contains articles by the President,
gives news from NCAR, NAR, Triad MLS, we well as news
about Association activities.
The Association has a professional staff to assist
you . The staff at the Association office consists of
7 key people; office administrative assistant who
answers the telephone, direct calls, greets visitors,
handles sales for the REALTOR® store and assists with
Supra questions; an MLS & C&I Administrative
Assistant who is the Administrator and Trainer for the
Supra Display Key and Ekey, point of contact for new
agents regarding MLS, assists members with MLS or
C&I (Commercial) questions, and serves as the
Operational Assistant to the MLS & C&I Boards
of Directors;
Continuing Education Director - who works with
Education Committee in providing quality Continuing
Education Courses for our members and other Real
Estate Licensees and is the Events Planner for the
Associations Membership Meetings and Social functions,
as well as staff liaison to the Membership
Development and Orientation Committees;
Marketing Director who coordinates the joint
publication with the Journal, “Homespotter”, Golf
Tournament for SCAN, Editor Eprofessional Edge
newsletter, website administrator, and oversees the
Internal and External Marketing and Communication for
the Association and its Divisions;
Finance Director who serves as the Chief Financial
Officer. Her responsibilities include bookkeeping
functions, and operational support to the Association
Board of Directors and the PMD Board of Directors;
And operational liaison to the Budget & Finance
Committee.
Governmental Affairs Director who serves as joint
lobbyist for the Association and the Home Builders
Association and serves as staff liaison to the Joint
Legislative Committee of the Home Builders and REALTOR®s.
Our Executive Vice President has over 20 years
experience in Association Management. She manages the
staff and the affairs of the Association.
The highly trained and motivated staff serves to
assist our volunteer leaders and our standing
committees and task force committees. The program of
work is dictated by the Association’s Strategic Plan
which includes a yearly plan of action to accomplish
the goals and objectives set forth in the plan.
To accomplish the goals and objections and carry
out the work, we need “YOU” the members to be
engaged in this Association. We need interested
volunteers to serve on our committees and lead our
Association. The one constant with the real estate
business is CHANGE. What’s happening is the real
estate business is changing and evolving. Real estate
practice today requires technical skills. The Internet
has changed the way we research and how we
communicate. E-mail is changing how we reach our
members. We now have IDX and virtual office Web sites.
We need you the “member” to participate and to
help us continue to redefine the services we provide.
In summation, we have talked about the National
Association of REALTOR®s, the North Carolina Association
of REALTOR®s, and the Winston Salem Regional
Association of REALTOR®s. We have talked about the
benefits of membership in each organization.
Hopefully, you can understand the importance of this
organization and what it stands for and what it means
or should mean to you the “REALTOR®”. Please call
on the Association and let us know how we’re doing.
And what we need from you is “ to be actively
engaged in your Association”, it is your livelihood,
your career. By joining together we can make a
difference. The ultimate goal of the Association is
“to keep you “the member” the center of the
transaction, and provide the services that you--- “The
REALTOR®” need to compete in today’s competitive
market.
Thank you and have a good day.
