Need to be a REALTOR(R) member to join RMLS :(

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Karen MargraveBusiness Member
Moderator
Realtor, General Contractor, and Developer · Redding, CA · Member since 2009 · 7k+ posts · 4k+ votes
8y

I am licensed in CA. A broker can join MLS as just a member for MLS and not be a Board of Realtors member. Every Board has their rules, and you just have to play by their rules.

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  • Christopher Phillips
    Real Estate Agent · Garden City, NY · Member since 2016 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9y
    Adrian Chu That's common knowledge. In order to get access to the MLS, agents need members of the local board and stay within good standards.
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  • Adrian Chu
    OP
    Real Estate Broker · Seattle, WA · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 427 votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Christopher Phillips:

    Adrian Chu

    That's common knowledge. In order to get access to the MLS, agents need members of the local board and stay within good standards.

    We don't have that requirement here in Seattle. NAR membership is optional for MLS access.

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  • Christopher Phillips
    Real Estate Agent · Garden City, NY · Member since 2016 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    9y

    @Adrian Chu

    NAR is just a national association. That's how you get the "Realtor" designation when signing the ethics agreement.

    But, to get the MLS access, you either have to join a local board and pay annual dues, or pay a subscription service if the area doesn't have a board associated MLS. Not all services require their members to be NAR or board members.

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  • Karen MargraveBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Realtor, General Contractor, and Developer · Redding, CA · Member since 2009 · 7k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    8y

    I am licensed in CA. A broker can join MLS as just a member for MLS and not be a Board of Realtors member. Every Board has their rules, and you just have to play by their rules.

    1Reply
  • Russell BrazilBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Agent · Washington, D.C. · Member since 2012 · 17k+ posts · 30k+ votes
    8y

    Having a license is expensive. Licensing fees, mls fees, association dues, e&o insurance, general liability insurance, elextronic key fees, etc.

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  • Account Closed
    Investor · Princeton, TX · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    @Adrian Chu I do not think you can be a member of a local association without paying dues to the NAR. If you are looking at a fee sheet, the option not to pay national dues is only for people that are a members of another local association also.

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  • Sam Shueh
    Real Estate Agent · Cupertino, CA · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    Appraisers can join MLS.

    0Reply
  • Paul Civitello
    Lewis Center, OH · Member since 2017 · 3 posts · 0 votes
    8y
    Here in Ohio and in other markets I’ve worked you can establish a relationship with a realtor. Next, you can ask the realtor to get you access to MLS. Here in Columbus Ohio I think it’s considered being a MLS master user. It cost between $30-$40 every three months. Their is a document you’ll need to get from the board of realtors that your agents broker needs to sign off on for you to get this access. Once you get it I’m pretty sure you can do everything except list a property. My partners have it in AZ and we have it in the Columbus Ohio Board. FYI use that agent as much as possible and I always paid the fee. I’m sure they could shut you off at anytime.
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  • Irina Belkofer
    Real Estate Broker · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2017 · 719 posts · 658 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Paul Civitello:

    Here in Ohio and in other markets I've worked you can establish a relationship with a realtor. Next, you can ask the realtor to get you access to MLS. Here in Columbus Ohio I think it's considered being a MLS master user. It cost between $30-$40 every three months. Their is a document you'll need to get from the board of realtors that your agents broker needs to sign off on for you to get this access. Once you get it I'm pretty sure you can do everything except list a property. My partners have it in AZ and we have it in the Columbus Ohio Board. FYI use that agent as much as possible and I always paid the fee. I'm sure they could shut you off at anytime.

    You have to be unlicensed assistant to get the access to MLS.

    If your agent got you access to MLS and lied about the nature of your relationship, he/she can lose the license. It's too expensive to risk

    You don't have to be a member of Association of Realtors, but you pay more for MLS access (+$140/year)

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  • Paul Civitello
    Lewis Center, OH · Member since 2017 · 3 posts · 0 votes
    8y

    I know no one lied.  I spoke with the broker and the board personally. To get this accomplished. We were comping 100’s of properties a week and this took the burden off of our realtor. So he was able to do the job hired todo which was sell our homes.  In return for his hard work we paid the 6% on every deal. Im sure no rules were broken. We are not in the business to put people at risk. $30-$40 every three months is around $140 a year. It maybe different in Cleveland’s Board as well. Thanks for the feedback. 

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  • Karen MargraveBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Realtor, General Contractor, and Developer · Redding, CA · Member since 2009 · 7k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    8y

    @Account Closed that's incorrect. You can belong to MLS only, and not be a member of NAR, at least in California. That's why it is important to talk to your local association, as there's as many options as there are associations. However; if your broker is a member as a "Realtor", then you probably have to join as one too. Either way, go talk to your local board.

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