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An Overview of Who We Are & What We Are About
The Board of REALTORS is a professional affiliation of licensed real estate agents and appraisers, who indicate dedication to their work and the industry by ascribing to and working in accord with a structure of Professional Standards, governed by a strict REALTOR Code of Ethics, for conducting business with fellow REALTORS, customers and clients, and the general public. Membership is by choice, with local affiliation establishing membership at the state and national levels. NC Licensing law requires that broker licensees (who have not established themselves as Broker-in-Charge or sole-proprietor), who wish to be active in real estate, be supervised by an overseeing broker, who assumes ultimate responsibility for the agent�s conduct and fiscal obligations, in accordance with state real estate laws. Likewise, the REALTOR associations require that all brokers, affiliated with a member broker (firm principal), accept the same standards of practice by joining the local Board, performing required membership responsibilities, and paying necessary dues. The principal broker, who has elected to associate the firm with the REALTORS association(s), should bear the responsibility of communicating this aspect of the profession to all who work in the firm.
The use of the term, REALTOR, is limited to real estate professionals, who are members of a local and/or state and nationally compliant association. Unfortunately, the general public thinks the term is synonymous for any licensed real estate agent, which reflects negatively on all REALTORS in instances where non-member agents do not ascribe to the same high professional standards.
In addition to the use of the time-honored designation, REALTORS receive a number of benefits through the associations. Members are provided valuable information and opportunities for education, from the local, state, and/or national associations, which can assist in day-to-day endeavors and pave the way for greater success in your chosen field. Your local Association has publications and training videos available to you as well as on-going real estate and Multiple Listing Service training courses. The Haywood Co. Board of REALTORS offers NC Real Estate Commission mandated continuining education classes and various REALTOR designation courses.
As to the cost for membership, it is very reasonable, less than $25.00 a month for all three associations, billed and collected at the beginning of each year, with funds disbursed as local-32%, state-37%, and national-31%. NAR assesses an additional $20.00 fee for its annual advertising campaign of radio and television spots, which promotes the benefits of working with a REALTOR. Comparatively, this investment in your profession is nominal, especially considering the extensive, strong support base and the networking opportunities provided by the affiliation.
An integral part of our Board is the Haywood County Multiple Listing Service, which is a separate organization with its own Directors and Officers. Just as membership in the Board is elective, a principal broker (or firm) chooses to participate in the MLS. Though it is possible to be a REALTOR without being a participant in the MLS, it is not possible to participate in the MLS without being a REALTOR. The actual members of the MLS, referred to as Participants, are the Brokers in Charge, who attend MLS meetings and have voting privileges. As with REALTOR Association membership, if a Broker elects to participate in the MLS, it is with the understanding that every licensed agent, under his/her supervision must pay quarterly agent dues. Other Boards have different policies, which may allow MLS waivers; however, Haywood County�s Bylaws are in accordance with NAR's model policies. (Note: MLS membership may be granted through "Board of Choice", which means an actively licensed broker may join the Haywood County MLS, using his REALTOR status from a different Board.)
The Haywood County MLS has joined the Asheville, Hendersonville and Brevard Board of REALTORS to form the Western North Carolina Regional Multiple Listing Service (WNCR MLS). Again, the fees are very reasonable, when placed in perspective of benefit derived. For a little more than a dollar a day, each participating agent has available over 15,000 properties to present to prospective buyers. From the listing viewpoint, each can claim direct marketing to over 3500 licensed agents, can afford extended national marketing through optional inclusion of property in an Internet Data Exchange with other local MLS member firms, and international marketing potential as a result of MLS listings placed on realtor.com. and other nationally recognized websites. Throw in the convenience of the lockbox system, which can save a lot of time and gas money (not having to drive to another firm to pick up a key), and you've got a true bargain.
In addition to our real estate agent and appraiser membership, we have the added pleasure of our Allied membership. These are local community members or businesses, whose work or services relate to yours. Never forget that these fine folks are as important to us as we are to them. The rest of the Board/MLS family is comprised of unofficial members, various office and staff personnel, who assist all of us in day-to-day activities.
Whether you're an independent broker working on your own, part of a small team in a growing office, or one of many in a productive, larger firm, your decision to join your local Board and/or the MLS and to work cooperatively with other members makes you an important part of a bigger picture. We are connected to one another through our local association; this locale is joined with others in the state through NCAR; North Carolina unites with all the other states with NAR; and we all reach out to the world through the Internet. What a force! What a future! REALTORS are professional members of the real estate community and are committed to the dream of individual home-ownership.
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