National Association and Local Association of Realtors (Is it worth joining or just a name?)

There was this discussion on AR quite some time ago. For me it is simply because I need MLS. I would  not be a member, unles it was tied with being a member (and this is nto the same way in every state).

We need them both!

Thanks For the Post. Frankly, I find little benefit at all

Aloha

Jim

Kathleen:  As Richard states above... I believe we all need to belong to these associations.  Overall, as a group, they benefit all of us.  Just because you cannot feel that benefit personally does not mean that it doesn't exist.  I know it is an expence... but it is all part of being in our profession.  I know that personally I could use the extra money I would save by not being a member... but I belong because I feel I should.

I am torn in between on this one. I beleive as RELTORS we are held to the COE. But the cost of this is more than I want to pay to earn my rights to be called a realor.

To not belong to the NAR, the State Association and the Local Association in my area means we cannot access the MLS or have access to lockboxes. Make it a little hard to do business. Additionally, the NAR provides benefits that we may not be aware of such as:

• The NAR has been instrumental against banks getting into real estate.
  
• The COE protects both the consumer and the REALTOR® should an issue arise.
  
• The Associations allow us to arbitrate disputes without having to go to court which can get pretty expensive.
• The NAR looks out for the REALTOR® in advertising to the public and providing quality education.
  
• My State Association has a legal hotline to assist anyone who may have a real estate legal question at no charge.
  

Are these benefits worth the money we have to pay every year? We may not think so, but we use these benefits on a daily basis. I wouldn't want to think of the alternatives, if we didn't have an Association to look out for our interests.

Michael,

It was quite interesting when the debate erupted a few months ago, that there were those who have to be Member like you describe, and there are states where this is not mandatory and you still have access to MLS and keys.

We, who got used that this si a cost of doing business, were very surprised that they have a choice, and they were very surprised that we don't.

I never go to any meetings, do not participate in any activities, I find educational classes on the Internet, so I am not sure that I would lose anything by not being a part of it, but this is a personal decision. I think it wuld be fair if we had the choice, like agent in those states where MLS is not tied to membership.

The REALTOR Association is generally three pronged, National, State & Local.  You can't join one without joining the other.  Being a member of NAR is quite inexpensive at just $155 per year.  That is a pretty low cost when you consider that you have a group of lobbyist working to protect homeownership rights and the real estate industry as a whole.  Also, if you Local Association has agreed to share their MLS data with the NAR RPR, you get a wonderful resource to create powerful CMAs for your buyers and sellers that is only available to REALTORS.  Your State dues are generally about the same cost and most state associations do provide statewide contract and listing forms, legal advice, legislative updates, etc. to keep you out of hot water, so those fees are also well worth it.

My problem is with the Local Associations. They charge you membership dues, MLS dues, Lockbox dues, Education class fees, etc. in the guise of providing you with services you can't live without.  If your association runs it's own MLS, (the sacred cash cow) they have to hire a staff person to manage that, then someone else to maintain your membership data base, then an Executive Vice President (new name for Association Executive) whose job it is to tell the Board of Directors how they should do their job (or so they think).  When you add the cost of travel for your EVP to take classes at the AE Institute, Mid Year Meeting, Leadership Summit and Annual Meetings to add to their resume, then all these employees benefits amount to anywhere from 35 to 45% of your total budget, at the same time most associations are making a profit on the services being provided, instead of giving them to you at cost.

Instead of thinking you don't get benefits from the National and State Association, we should all do an audit of what our Local Associations are really providing to its members.  I am sure it will open a lot of eyes.