How NAR is Helping Your Business

Become a Pricing Expert

Determining a property’s value depends more than ever on professional expertise and competence, the best use of technology, and viewing the pricing assignment from various perspectives. Value is much more than a computer algorithm. That’s why the National Association of REALTORS® is introducing a new official certification program, the Pricing Strategy Advisor. This program will enhance your skills in pricing properties, creating CMAs, working with appraisers, and guiding clients through the misperceptions they often have about home values.

In the required course, “Pricing Strategies: Mastering the CMA,” you’ll learn how to select appropriate comparables and make accurate adjustments, interact effectively with appraisers, and guide sellers and buyers through the details of CMAs including the underlying pricing principles that inform them. The course is available online or in a classroom setting. To learn more, visit pricingstrategyadvisor.org.

Find Your Tech Edge

Seeking insights about the newest technology tools and trends that can keep your business moving forward? NAR’s  nationwide tour of one-day tech conferences is back for 2016.

The information-packed NAR Tech Edge events will take place in cities across the country and feature speakers and local technology experts. Session topics include mobile marketing, online reputation management, content strategy, photo and video tips, and more. NAR Tech Edge is a great way to improve your tech business practices and connect more effectively with your tech-savvy clients.

Presenters and emcees for NAR Tech Edge’s 2016 tour include REALTOR® Bill Lublin, CEO of the Social Media Marketing Institute and Century 21 Advantage Gold; Nobu Hata, NAR Director of Member Engagement; and Jeff Chalmers, a 20-year industry veteran and branch manager and vice president of productivity for Ross Mortgage Co. For more information and to register, visit NARTechEdge.com.

The Ethics Countdown

REALTORS® are required to take a refresher course on the REALTOR® Code of Ethics every four years. Meeting this membership requirement is easier than ever and, in many states, the training can be counted as three credit hours of continuing education. NAR’s new online Code of Ethics training course ($29.95) offers a highly engaging, interactive experience.

An enhanced and free non-CE course will be available later this year. This version includes customized electives to create training based on your interests. It also offers specialized content available for commercial, appraisal, and residential practitioners.

If you haven’t taken Code of Ethics training since 2012, you’ll need to do so this year. The deadline for the current training cycle is Dec. 31, 2016. Training must include at least 2.5 hours of instruction.

Additional enhancements to NAR’s online ethics training offerings are on the way. Stay up to date at realtor.org/code-of-ethics/training.

The Latest Home Ownership Trends

Gain invaluable insights into how renters and home owners feel about home ownership through a new NAR quarterly research report called Housing Opportunities and Market Experience. The survey will track consumers’ perceptions about whether or not it’s a good time to buy or sell a home and their expectations and experiences in the mortgage market and difficulties obtaining a home loan. Questions are added to the survey each quarter to reflect timely topics affecting the real estate marketplace.