A Breakdown of Member Benefit for Nar, Tar and Har.
In our recent HAR member survey, many of the comments stated that they didn’t know what benefits they received from NAR, TAR and even HAR. We wanted to make sure you know what value you get from being a REALTOR® and what you receive from each of the three levels – national, state and local.
The following pages have the benefits from each of our associations. The NAR and TAR benefits were provided by those organizations.
We also wanted to make sure you knew what benefits you receive as an MLS Standard or MLS Platinum subscriber. Plus, our Commercial Gateway division has amazing things happening, so it is a great time to join CommGate as well.
As the saying goes, “Membership Has Its Benefits!”
2019 NAR Dues
The NAR Board of Directors approved its 2019 budget, which increased 2019 NAR dues by $30. The additional $30 per member has been allocated as show in the adjacent graphic. Please note that this increase will be reflected in your 2019 dues bills that you will receive late this year. HAR collects the dues on behalf of TAR and NAR but passes these amounts through to those associations. HAR only keeps the portion that is HAR dues, which is $132 per year.
HAR Member Benefits
REALTOR® Promotion
The public relations and promotional resources of HAR are impressive. HAR puts out press releases throughout the month that generate millions of impressions on TV, radio, online and in print. This PR effort has the sole focus of making consumers aware of the value that REALTORS® bring to a transaction. There is also a weekly real estate column in the Houston Chronicle that focuses on topics of interest to homeowner, buyers, sellers or renters. HAR also has a substantial advertising program that includes billboards across the region; print ads in the Houston Chronicle, Time, Food & Wine, Entertainment Weekly, People, Real Simple, Cooking Light and Instyle; online ads; video ads; ads in the hotel books and all relocation guides; digital ads in Hobby Airport and more.
HAR.com
As an HAR member, you are included in the HAR.com member directory and have a profile on the site that you may use to promote you and your business. The HAR website is drawing an ever-increasing audience of homebuyers in Houston and beyond. Consumers are generating an average more than 75 million page-views per month on the site to find information about you.
Communications
The HAR Communications Department helps keep you informed about all the latest association and industry news through a variety of products such as the Houston REALTOR®, HARConnect.com, 5MR and The Edge. We also work to promote the various professional development classes and events that will help you in your business. The HAR Communications Department is also the go-to source for local, regional and national media regarding all matters real estate.
Political & Governmental Affairs
HAR’s Governmental Affairs department works to protect your business and make sure your voice is heard at all levels of government. The Governmental Affairs Department is comprised of two branches, Governmental Affairs and Political Affairs. Both work together to serve as the eyes and ears of the organization. The real estate industry faces constant legislative and regulatory proposals which can negatively impact your success by raising the cost of doing business or adding barriers to property ownership and real estate transactions. HAR represents you with a strong, powerful political voice at the local, state and national level and has consistently been successful in protecting the interest of REALTORS®, private property rights and other issues that impact consumers such as tax reform, flood mitigation and eminent domain.
HAR Events
HAR provides opportunities for its members to come together and learn, meet contemporaries with similar business interests and reconnect with longtime friends. Several of HAR’s special events include the HAR ENGAGE Conference and REALTOR® Celebration. HAR ENGAGE is every fall and is an all-day conference with industry experts sharing their inside knowledge with you. REALTOR® Celebration is a celebration about the HAR member, providing a chance to congratulate the incoming leadership of HAR, honor two industry award recipients and enjoy a holiday reception. This event is held in early December.
Professional Development
The HAR Professional Development Department’s mission is to provide educational opportunities for our members which help them to grow professionally and to increase profitability. HAR hosts a variety of courses in classroom, hands-on and online formats. Some of the most popular courses are HAR Realtor® Launch (New Agent Training), Certified Strategic Marketing Specialist (CSMS) Certification, Social Media Pro Boot Camp (SMP) and HAR Contracts Pro (HCP). Each year HAR hosts more than 1,600 classes at our four locations. We also oversee the tremendously successful Texas REALTOR® Leadership Program (TRLP) and coordinate the broker office visits, which totaled about 400 visits to members’ offices last year.
HAR International
HAR offers educational classes and networking opportunities for our members interested in learning more about global real estate. The Certified International Property Specialist designation, or C-I-P-S for short, is offered annually at the association main office. We have an international advisory group made up of member volunteers as well as an honorary advisory board of global specialists involved in international business transactions. HAR members can indicate in their member profile if they speak another language or specialize in another culture and by doing so, become a member of HAR International and receive information via email on upcoming global courses.
NAR Member Benefits
Realtor Brand
Trademarks – The REALTOR® brand is one of the strongest brands in the world. Leverage its power to distinguish yourself to both buyers and sellers by using the REALTOR® trademark properly.
Code of Ethics – Adhering to the REALTORS® Code of Ethics, the cornerstone of the REALTOR® organization, is a distinguishing characteristic of your membership.
Consumer Advertising Campaign – NAR’s Get REALTOR® Campaign communicates REALTOR® brand value to consumers, targeting up-and-coming generations of home buyers, sellers, owners and investors.
Professionalism- NAR has created a host of resources for members on how to conduct themselves professionally and show respect for property, the public and peers.
Savings
Member Value Plus Program (MVP) – Earn free rewards that help your business with NAR’s Member Value Plus (MVP) Program. Earn free products, gift cards and course discounts by taking part in simple actions that non-MVP participants miss out on.
REALTOR® Benefits Program – Discover savings and special offers from more than 30 carefully selected industry-leading partners, including REALTORS® Insurance Marketplace, FCA US LLC (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles), FedEx, Liberty Mutual, Dell, Placester®, Intuit®, DocuSign and more.
REALTORS® Federal Credit Union – Start saving money on your banking today with financial services for individuals and businesses, brokers and associations. The Credit Union also offers NAR’s Official REALTOR® Credit Card and is a proud partner in NAR’s REALTOR® Benefits® Program.
Technology
Center for REALTOR® Technology (CRT) Labs – CRT tracks emerging technologies that will affect real estate in order to educate members and advocate for the proper use of technology. Explore smart home technology, apps, devices and renewable energies online.
.realtor™ – Stake your claim with the .realtor™ top-level domain and digital toolkit, exclusively for REALTORS®. Easy-to-use tools get your web address, email and website up and running fast. Get your FREE* domain today. *Free for one year, one per member
REach, a Second Century Ventures Company – The REach® Accelerator seeks out the best emerging technology companies with business solutions geared toward helping REALTORS® around the globe. Apply for the REach® Insight Panel to be among the first to receive access to technologies introduced by REach®.
Realtors Property Resource (RPR®) – RPR® is the perfect mix of in-depth neighborhood and property data, powerful analytics and client-friendly reporting — accessible anytime, anywhere from your preferred device.
zipLogix -NAR provides all members with access to an important member benefit through zipLogix™ technology, which includes the zipTMS® robust transaction management system, zipForm® Plus forms engine, unlimited zipVault® document storage, and an exclusive NAR library of REALTOR® Forms & Templates at no cost. State/Local forms libraries may be available (some fees, set by associations/boards, may apply).
Advocacy
REALTOR® Party – From Capitol Hill to state houses and city halls nationwide, the REALTOR® Party advances public policies and candidates that protect homeownership, promote a vibrant business environment and build strong communities through outreach, campaign services, member mobilization and RPAC.
REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) – RPAC is your best investment in real estate. It’s a nonpartisan way to advocate on behalf of REALTORS® and real estate issues, and have a voice in the future of our industry.
Professional Advancement
Commercial Real Estate – NAR provides advocacy, research and technology tools to support your commercial brokerage. Take advantage of education courses through NAR and its Institutes, Societies and Councils to increase knowledge and earn prestigious commercial industry designations.Designations and Certifications.
Global Opportunities – Find the information, resources and connections you need to thrive in the growing field of international real estate. NAR works to make the global real estate market accessible and profitable for REALTORS® by providing education and services such as the CIPS designation.
Master’s Degree from REALTOR® University – The Master of Real Estate (MRE) degree program from the accredited REALTOR® University is an online graduate degree program created specifically with real estate professionals in mind.
REALTOR® Store – The online store offers hundreds of business-boosting products to help you succeed, allowing you to get in, get out and get back to business.
Research – NAR Research provides surveys, data releases, infographics, blog posts, articles and more on the latest economic data relevant to REALTORS® and the housing market.
Resources
Information Services – Information Services is your first point of contact for everything NAR, featuring knowledgeable staff to answer questions and the world’s largest real estate library, complete with 5,000 eBooks, thousands of digital journals via EBSCO and on-demand research services.
Legal Resources – NAR provides numerous legal resources for members, including risk management videos and tips, information on federal and state legal compliance, and educational materials about issues commonly faced by real estate professionals.
NAR.realtor – NAR’s website for members provides information about NAR, member benefits, real estate topics, latest industry news and events.
Real Estate Today Radio Show – Real Estate Today, the official radio program of NAR, educates consumers and positions REALTORS® as the number one resource for real estate activities.
REALTOR® Content Resource – Keep your consumer communications valuable and relevant! Easily share HouseLogic articles on all aspects of home buying, selling and ownership with your clients — when and how you want.realtor.com
realtor.com® -Take advantage of the free benefits offered to all REALTORS® free national and local listing exposure on realtor.com®, a free publicly viewed profile on realtor.com® including ratings, reviews and recommendations, plus, free tools, free research, consumer friendly downloads and support.
REALTOR® Safety – Establish professional safety protocols for your business that you use with every client, every time. Resources include webinars, safety tips for you and your clients, safety checklists, plus articles, videos and more.
Events & Networking
Annual Conference and Meetings -Take part in advancing the real estate industry at the 2019 REALTORS® Legislative Meetings & Trade Expo. And find education, networking, motivation and fun at the 2019 REALTORS® Conference & Expo.
Calendar of Events – Create opportunities to extend your knowledge and referral partners nationally and internationally by participating in events and programs like the REALTOR® Broker Summit, Tech Edge events and your local or state association convention.
Young Professionals Network (YPN) – YPN is dedicated to increasing the voice and leadership of young professionals in the real estate industry. Get connected with young real estate professionals from across the country, along with the latest buzz on technology, marketing, prospecting and more.
TAR Member Benefits
Professional Standards
The REALTOR® Code of Ethics distinguishes you from other licensed agents and brokers who do not join the association because you pledge to uphold the principles of the Code, which outlines your obligations to clients, colleagues, and the general public.
Legal Resources
You get exclusive access to model policies, manuals, and a legal hotline at 800-873-9155. Six staff attorneys provide information about real estate law and related matters to more than 25,000 callers each year.
zipForm PLUS
Access 100+ real estate forms, stay organized with the zipTMS transaction management system, and use unlimited e-signatures with Digital Ink.
Member Discounts
You receive an array of discounts on great products and services that help save you time and money. Discounts such as roadside assistance with AAA to unlimited e-signatures with zipLogix Digital Ink. ind a complete list of the discounts and services available to Texas REALTORS® and affiliates at texasrealestate.com/benefits.
Public Outreach
Have you heard the news? Through reports, press releases, and advertising, Texas REALTORS® shine in the spotlight. Our efforts spread the word to media across the state about the value of working with you, from your industry expertise to your unmatched professionalism.
Legislative & Political Support
Texas REALTORS® work to protect you and your clients through legislative advocacy at the state, local, and national levels. We represent you on issues that affect your business, from appraisal reform and sales-price disclosure, to energy and transportation. And we promote property rights in your community by supporting candidates and issues relevant to your business.
Information & Education
Texas REALTOR® magazine, texasrealestate.com, and your weekly Focus e-newsletter are full of timely business tips and tools to help advance your career. You have access to convenient continuing education programs in person or online through your local association. You can earn designations and certifications only available to Texas REALTORS®, such as the Texas Affordable Housing Specialist certification.
