Many people think that all Real Estate Licensees are REALTORS®. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Of the 3.1 million licensed real estate professionals in the United States, 1.2 million are members of the National Association of Realtors® and all of NAR’s 1.2 million members have taken a comprehensive training course on the Realtor® Code of Ethics.
The code is a comprehensive document, which was adopted by the National Association of REALTORS® in 1913, spelling out the professional responsibilities owed to clients, customers, other REALTORS® and the general public. NAR was only the second trade or business group in the United States to adopt mandatory ethical standards. REALTORS® pledge to hold themselves and their fellow REALTORS® to this higher standard of professionalism and must renew their pledge to uphold the Code of Ethics every four years in order to maintain membership in the National Association of REALTORS®. You can read more about the Code of Ethics and can find a summary of the Code that explains how it benefits you at www.REALTOR.org/codeofethics.
The role of Realtors® goes far beyond the real estate transaction process of buying and selling. As local business owners and residents, Realtors® are vested in building healthy, vibrant communities and neighborhoods.