22 Benefits of Membership for Your Value Statement

These 22 benefits are provided by the National Association of REALTORS® to all members.

Combine these with specifics about your association’s unique benefits, charity work, discounts, and services, including home tours, state-run legal or technology hotlines, your homes magazine, the REALTOR® member roster, and the public side of your MLS, to create a convincing value statement.

1. Learn from fellow REALTORS® through local, state, and national conferences, networking sessions, and social events. The REALTOR® association—some million members strong—enables you to learn from peers locally, nationally, and internationally.
    
2. Know more to sell more: NAR offers an array of resources—online, in print, and in person—that provide all the important local and national news, research, useful tips, sales strategies, and hot trends you need to best benefit your business.
    
3. Whether they’re fighting against taxes on your commission or lobbying for better health insurance for the self-employed, REALTOR® associations’ skilled lobbyists are hard at work every day keeping laws and regulations real estate-friendly thus protecting your livelihood.
    
4. Protecting the rights of homeowners to ensure a sound and affordable housing market is key to members’ business success. That’s why we work with local, state, and national lawmakers to ease property taxes, protect the federal mortgage interest deduction, ensure affordable homeowner’s insurance, and stay involved in a wide range of issues affecting the market.
    
5. Whether sending aid to hurricane-devastated communities, building homes for low-income families, or recognizing individual members’ contributions through Good Neighbor Award grants, caring for communities is an important part of the REALTOR® association mission you can become a part of.
    
6. We give you a voice to make a difference in your community. By volunteering to serve on local, state, and national REALTOR® committees and workgroups, you’re involved in directing legislative, charity, and business activities. Plus you’re eligible for specialized leadership training that will not only supplement your leadership skills but also further your professional growth.
    
7. Every day NAR works to let consumers know you’re the best in the industry by communicating value of the REALTOR® brand and the importance of choosing to work with a REALTOR®.
    
8. Take courses and earn continuing education credits online through REALTOR® University because the more you learn, the more you earn. Coming spring 2012, subject to regulatory approval, REALTOR® University plans to offer a Master of Real Estate degree through its global on-line campus.
    
9. From national partners—including FedEx®, Dell, Budget, and Hertz®—your REALTOR® membership ensures special offers and savings on products and services through NAR’s REALTOR Benefits® Program.
    
10. Through the REALTOR Benefits® Program, members receive exclusive programs and pricing covering a variety of insurance options and financial services (from REALTORS® Core Health Insurance to REALTORS® Federal Credit Union) that can save hundreds of dollars annually.
     
11. Of special interest to new and young real estate professionals is the national Young Professionals Network, which enables you to connect with other young and new real estate professionals.
     
12. NAR’s national media outreach program promotes you and home ownership. Not only does NAR provide media outlets with accurate housing data and forecasts, we also dispel myths about the housing industry, and respond to negative reports.
     
13. Free content for your Web site, e-mail, blog, or social media presence, covering mortgages, home inspections, taxes, remodeling, and much more from the REALTOR® Content Resource area at NAR’s HouseLogic.com.
     
14. Earn national recognition for your work. In addition to the local and state award programs that honor your hard work in your community and the industry, members are eligible to enter National Association of REALTORS® Good Neighbor Awards and the HOPE Awards, which recognize and reward members’ community dedication.
15. NAR offers legally binding dispute resolution mediation and arbitration services to settle business disputes between members, which can save you thousands in legal fees. We also offer members and consumers the opportunity to address complaints.
     
16. NAR works to make the global market accessible to and profitable for all REALTORS®, and offers a wide variety of programs and services to help REALTORS® succeed with international buyers and sellers at home.
     
17. Stay up-to-date on real estate industry news and trends through a variety of print publications, web sites, blogs, and customizable email newsletters. In addition to your local and state communications, you’ll receive the award-winning REALTOR® Magazine.
     
18. Find your profitable niche by pursuing a specialized designation or certification that sets you apart, such as in green and environmental real estate, working with seniors, working with international buyers, buyer representation, relocation, resorts and second homes, property management, and commercial real estate.
     
19. Technology services through NAR’s Center for REALTORS® Technology, include products (like free iPhone apps) and training to help you get the most out of the latest technology.
     
20. Part of the No. 1 Real Estate Web site, realtor.com® is the most visited homes-for-sale site, with more than 12 million consumers visiting each month. All REALTORS®’ listings are automatically posted, and include four free photos, open house data, and more. Every member and office also have a free profile page in Find a REALTOR®. Get free marketing tips, access how-to videos, and more at www.marketing.realtor.com. (To receive this benefit, you must be an MLS participant and your MLS must be a realtor.com® data content provider.)
     
21. The annual REALTORS® Conference & Expo is where you’ll find money-making new ideas and the right tools from more than 100 programs and 400 exhibitors.
     
22. Never again be without the answers, thanks to the REALTOR® University Library, which serves as your lifeline for all questions related to the real estate industry (800-874-6500).