Benefits
Why Do You Join An Association?
You don’t buy a newspaper, you buy news.
You don’t buy life insurance, you buy security.
You don’t buy glasses, you buy vision.
You don’t buy awnings, you buy shade.
You don’t buy membership in an association...You buy the cooperation of people in the same profession
with whom you can join hands to do the things you can’t do alone.
Trademarks are useful tools. They help us distinguish between products, between services
and sometimes between people. When we ask for a Pepsi, we know we won’t get a Coke.
Similarly, when potential customers ask for a REALTOR®
they need to know they’re getting more than a real estate licensee –
they’re getting a member of the National Association of REALTORS®.
When you tell someone you’re a REALTOR®, you are saying you are well informed about the real estate business, you’re a member of the largest trade association in the United States,
and you subscribe to a strict Code of Ethics.
The REALTOR® Organization is a three-tiered structure (local, state and national), bringing you an array of benefits from each level. When you join your local REALTOR® association, you automatically become a member of the state and national associations as well. The diagram below provides an illustration of the basic (not complete) programs and services provided by the REALTOR® organization.
Your LOCAL Board
Greater Allegheny-Kiski Area
- Enforcement of the Code of Ethics including arbitration & mediation
- Home Buyer/Home Seller Dispute Resolution
- Education, professional development & net working
- Advertising through the “Homes Digest”
- gakarealtors.com - Membership Directory & Municipal Guide and more now online
- Saving you time everyday with quick, easy and reliable communications that help you stay on top of industry news and gain business tips
Your STATE Association
- Legislative and political affairs
- Education including professional designations including the GRI, CRS, CRB courses
- Convention, Trade Show and networking opportunities
- Advertising through the “Homes Digest”
- Print & electronic communications including the PA REALTOR® and www.parealtor.org
Your NATIONAL Association
- Industry Standards such as the Code of Ethics
- Public policy and legal advocacy
- Access to print & electronic information such as www.realtor.org and the REALTOR® Magazine
- Saving you money on products & services with REALTOR® Rewards and REALTOR® Benefits Plus
- Giving you visibility to consumers through a national television & radio advertising campaign
What is RPAC and why should I contribute?
The REALTORS® Political Action Committee
or
Real Power to Affect Change
The Government Affairs arm of your association is looking out for you and your lively-hood in Washington D.C., Harrisburg and the communities where you live & work
RPAC dollars at work
- Helped pass the Taxpayer Relief Act affecting capital gains exclusions on the sale of principal residences
- Helped hold the line at 1% on the State real estate transfer tax
- Just now helped secure the passage of the American Dream Down payment Act which will provide $200 million in grants – averaging $5,000 each to low-income first-time home buyers to help with down payment & closing costs
- Secured a stay in the Federal Do Not Fax legislation until 2005 that would have greatly hampered your lines of communication with buyers & sellers
- Thanks to lobbying efforts HUD is rethinking its proposed RESPA reform program which would significantly affect members’ ability to competitively offer real estate settlement services such as mortgage, title and closing to their clients
- National & State Associations have met recently with legislatures on such pertinent issues in our industry today as Fair Credit Reporting Act Reform and the Insurance Industry Regulatory Panel
- Assisted many municipalities in curtailing local real estate sign ordinances
