This
has been an interesting couple of week for many of us; between the partial shutdown
of the Government, and whatever personal things we have all had to deal with… in
my own life that has been my beautiful grandson who is 2.
Yet
this past couple of weeks I have been trying to figure out what best to write
about in this blog … I finally decided that many people seem to think that
everyone who holds a real estate license is a Realtor. Not true … even though
we all may hold real estate licenses in the states we work in we do not all
hold membership in the National Association of Realtors. Personally I have
chosen from the beginning of my journey in real estate to make it a priority to
gain membership and maintain my membership in NAR.
The
following is taken from Realtor.org
Isn't the definition of REALTOR® anyone who
has a real estate license?
No. The definition of a REALTOR® is a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. The marks should not be used inadvertently and improperly to denote a vocation or business. A good rule to follow is if the term “Member” cannot logically be substituted for the term REALTOR®, then the term should not be used. Appropriate substitutions might include the phrases “real estate broker,” “real estate agent,” “real estate salesperson,” “property manager,” etc.
What is NAR?
The
following is copied from thefreedictionary.com
National
Association of Realtors
The
National Association of Realtors (NAR) is made up of residential and commercial
realtors who are brokers, salespeople, property managers, appraisers, and
counselors, and others working in the real estate industry. NAR began as the
National Association of Real Estate Exchanges in 1908 with a membership of 120.
In 2003 its membership numbered over 840,000, making it the world's largest
professional association. Members belong to one or more of 1,700 local real
estate associations and boards and 54 state and territory associations. NAR
headquarters are in Washington, D.C.
NAR
provides a national facility for professional development, research, and
exchange of information among its members, the public, and government. More
importantly, it plays an influential role in shaping public policies at the
local, state, and national level that affect real property. Through its
legislative and Lobbying efforts, NAR seeks to protect the real estate industry
from what it considers burdensome legislative and regulatory changes and to
advocate for legislative and regulatory changes that enhance the conduct of
real estate business. At the national level, NAR analyzes federal issues and
lobbies Congress and regulatory agencies.
The
1998 NAR legislative agenda included rewriting federal law that governs the
disclosure of closing costs at the time a real estate purchase is completed. In
addition, NAR supports federal legislation that would give persons more rights
to contest a government "taking" their property through the power of Eminent Domain.
NAR
also participates in the political process through its Realtor Political Action
Committee (RPAC). This committee, currently one of the largest trade
association PACs, contributes campaign funds to federal political candidates
and encourages members to volunteer for candidates. The committee also educates
voters on issues that affect home ownership and real estate.
Apart
from political involvement, NAR seeks to make its viewpoint known through legal
advocacy. The NAR Legal Action Committee provides financial support to legal
cases that seek establish a favorable precedent for real estate brokerage or
that seek to preserve the rights to own, use, and transfer real property. The
NAR also participates in lawsuits involving real estate by filing Amicus Curiae (friend of the court) briefs in cases that will
set legal precedent.
The
NAR has established a code of ethics to enhance the professionalism of its
members. In addition, it has created NAR sections, professional institutes,
societies, and counsels that allow members to communicate with others in their
particular real estate specialty. These specialty groups include Counselors of
Real Estate, the Commercial Investment Real Estate Institute, the Institute of
Real Estate Management, the Real Estate Brokerage Managers Council, the
Residential Sales Council, the Real Estate Buyers Agent Council, and the
Appraisal Section. Education and certification in these specializations enable
members to receive professional designations, identifying them as highly
qualified specialists to business associates and the public.
In
1998 NAR launched a national consumer education initiative called the
"Public Awareness Campaign" to inform the public about the
significant role played by realtors in real estate transactions. Also, in 1998
NAR created the National Realtors Database System (NRDS), an Internet database that gave members the opportunity to
update their own records online. In 1997 the NAR established REALTOR.com, its
official Internet site. In 2003 REALTOR.com featured more than 1.5 million
property listings that were viewed by millions of consumers.
What makes
Realtors so different?
The
Difference is simple we have sworn to follow the code of Ethics below I have
included two brief sections from the code and a link to the complete code of
ethics that we adhere to.
Duties
to Clients and Customers
Article
1
When representing a buyer, seller, landlord, tenant, or other client as an agent, REALTORS® pledge themselves to protect and promote the interests of their client. This obligation to the client is primary, but it does not relieve REALTORS® of their obligation to treat all parties honestly. When serving a buyer, seller, landlord, tenant or other party in a non-agency capacity, REALTORS® remain obligated to treat all parties honestly. (Amended 1/01)
When representing a buyer, seller, landlord, tenant, or other client as an agent, REALTORS® pledge themselves to protect and promote the interests of their client. This obligation to the client is primary, but it does not relieve REALTORS® of their obligation to treat all parties honestly. When serving a buyer, seller, landlord, tenant or other party in a non-agency capacity, REALTORS® remain obligated to treat all parties honestly. (Amended 1/01)
Duties to the Public
Article 10
REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, or sexual orientation. REALTORS® shall not be parties to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin or sexual orientation. (Amended 1/11)
REALTORS® shall not deny equal professional services to any person for reasons of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, or sexual orientation. REALTORS® shall not be parties to any plan or agreement to discriminate against a person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin or sexual orientation. (Amended 1/11)
REALTORS®, in their real estate employment practices, shall not
discriminate against any person or persons on the basis of race, color, religion,
sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, or sexual orientation.
(Amended 1/11)
I hope this information is beneficial to those who have taken the time to read it. My goal is to always bring information to those wanting to stay informed.
Thank you for Reading;Tami Lee Merriam
BRE# 01936304
707-603-5348
High Ground Real Estate
Tami.Merriam@gmail.com
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