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When Is a Real Estate Agent a REALTOR®?
Home-Buying Guides
Don't make a move without a REALTOR®
How do you choose the best REALTOR® to help you find a home?
What do the letters after a REALTOR®'s name mean?

When Is a Real Estate Agent a REALTOR®?
A real estate agent is a REALTOR® when he or she becomes a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS®, The Voice for Real Estate®, the world's largest professional association. The term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

Founded in 1908, NAR has grown from its original nucleus of 120, to over 800,000 members today. NAR is composed of REALTORS® who are involved in residential and commercial real estate as brokers, salespeople, property managers, appraisers, counselors and others who are engaged in all aspects of the real estate industry.

Members belong to one or more of 1,700 local associations/boards and 54 state and territory associations of REALTORS® and can join one of our many institutes, societies and councils. Additionally, NAR offers members the opportunity to be active in our appraisal and international real estate specialty sections. REALTORS® are pledged to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.

Working for America's property owners, the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® provides a facility for professional development, research and exchange of information among its members. 
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Home-Buying Guides
Even before you begin looking for a home, the homebuying process requires diligent preparation. Buyers who have been preapproved for a home loan often have their offers taken more seriously by sellers. With advance preparation, you can tackle the process of acquiring the financing you need with more confidence. To help you on the path to homeownership, the Fannie Mae Foundation offers free step-by-step guides that can help you get closer to achieving your dream:

These authoritative home-buying guides (in PDF format) are available in nine languages, including English, Chinese, Haitian-Creole, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish and Vietnamese. You can download a guide or order a print version online from the HomeBuyingGuide.org Web site run by the Fannie Mae Foundation at www.HomeBuyingGuide.org.

The Fannie Mae Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization devoted to affordable housing and the revitalization of communities. The Foundation has provided free, step-by-step homebuying information to more than nine million people.
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Don't make a move without a REALTOR®
"Finding a home without a REALTOR® is like finding a needle in a haystack."

As members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, REALTORS® subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics. Here's why working with a REALTOR® works for you in terms of your interests, convenience, your budget and your peace of mind throughout the entire buying rocess.

• REALTORS® have the most information in one place about what is "on the market" including homes listed by other REALTORS®. You won't waste time looking at homes that don't fit your needs.
• REALTORS® help you determine how much home you can afford, how you can acquire the down payment and what financing options may be open to you.
• REALTORS® can help you find the home best suited to your needs - size, style, features, location, and accessibility to amenities that are important to you.
• REALTORS® can supply information on real estate values, taxes, utility costs, municipal services and facilities.
• REALTORS® have no emotional ties to a home, can be objective about it and can point out its advantages and disadvantages.
• REALTORS® will handle all the negotiations and offers and counter offers with the seller until an agreement is reached.
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How do you choose the best REALTOR® To help you find a home?

• Call a few REALTORS® to talk with them about what they will do to help you find your home.
• Don't be afraid to ask questions about anything you don't understand and expect an answer!
• Ask your friends for their recommendations.
• Ask the REALTOR® about agency representation and what that means to you.
• Make sure you are comfortable with the REALTOR® you choose.
• Once you find a REALTOR® you are comfortable with, stick with that REALTOR® so you can get the best service possible.
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What do the letters after a REALTOR®'s name mean?
They proudly show the designations a REALTOR® has earned to further their professional development. To earn a designation, a REALTOR® has taken coursework and demonstrated specific skills, performance and knowledge in a particular area of the real estate industry. To serve today's consumers, REALTORS® need to be strong generalists and specialists. Designations are one way practitioners develop specialized skills that help the industry thrive. Designations also help practitioners demonstrate to their clients their commitment to professional development. The National Association of REALTORS® and its institutes, societies and councils offer the highest quality real estate education in the world.

For a list of Designations and Certifications click here.
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COPYRIGHT© 2002 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® REALTOR® - A registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.  The National Association of REALTORS®, 430 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611 Telephone: 1-800-874-6500