Realtors® Foot The Entire Bill. Others Get a Discount.
Members pay full NAR dues every year, follow the rules, support lobbying and maintain ethical practices. Then, a non-member agent gets full MLS access to listings, lock boxes and market data for a smaller fee. Doesn’t feel right.
NAR loosened the old rules so local Multiple Listing Services can let non-Realtors in easier. The goal was to lower legal risks but for paying members it looks like outsiders are getting the best offerings for less.
It's Unfair:
We pay while they get discounted play. Our money helps fund NAR’s fights in Washington, legal defenses while promoting higher industry standards.
Diluted Value:
Non-members can also use the MLS, the biggest tool in real estate practices. Membership feels less valuable when a main perk gets shared.
Lost Edge:
Full paying members are beholden to higher standards and contribute to collective bargaining power. Non-members cherry-pick those advantages.
NAR’s argument:
Members get the official Realtor® name that clients trust, (most consumers are unfamiliar w/the word), national advocacy on taxes & housing laws, training, research tools and backup when things go wrong. It helps serious agents stand out.
Why bother being a NAR member when it feels like paying for the full Netflix account when the neighbor uses your password and brags about access to all shows too? Nice setup for them, right? Except we foot the entire bill.
I’m just not feeling it, especially after researching NAR’s exorbitant salaries, retirement benefits for past presidents, frivolous spending on marketing/advertising and sexual harassment lawsuits within the organization.
Hey NAR members, how do you feel about this subject?
*This is solely my opinion, based on researching the subject and no one was hurt during the writing of this post.
Feature pic by Grok with prompts.
Comments(12)