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In today’s dynamic real estate market, staying ahead of the curve is a necessity. For real estate professionals looking to enhance their knowledge, network and professional stature, joining a professional association can be a strategic investment.
But that’s only true if the association remains responsive to members’ ever-changing needs. “Consistent and routine inquiries to the members must be a part of the association’s culture,” says Anne Marie Matteo, RCE, CAE, president and CEO, Tri-County Suburban REALTORS® in Malvern, Pa. “Their input is vital to ensure meaningful value is delivered.”
We asked several National Association of REALTORS® members and association executives to give us their take on what benefits members most value.
What’s Working?
Networking
When it comes to the value of membership, networking tops the list for Paul Bullington, ABR, CRB, principal broker and property manager in Dickson, Tenn., and a member of Greater Nashville REALTORS®. He often networks with fellow professionals across the nation to exchange experiences, insights and expertise amid various market conditions, he says, primarily through affiliated institutes and societies, including the Real Estate Business Institute, the Institute of Real Estate Management, and the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council. “I credit NAR with building the foundations for these things to exist,” he says. “Given the inherently solitary nature of the real estate profession, fostering connections offline and online with like-minded entrepreneurs has proven invaluable.”
Beverly Pindling, GRI, PMN, agrees. She’s an award-winning real estate professional in the greater Orlando, Fla., area and has been a member of Florida Realtors® for 40 years. As a Florida-licensed instructor for 30 years, she values the opportunity to encourage and inspire other members. “NAR empowers me to positively influence the next generation of real estate professionals,” she says.
Advocacy
For Michael Maerten, 2024 chairman of the board of Tri-County Suburban REALTORS® (Pa.), the high-level advocacy efforts at national, state and local levels are key. On a wide range of topics, from extending the National Flood Insurance Program to preserving 1031 like-kind exchanges to protecting independent contractor status for agents, the association’s advocacy benefits not just all members but property owners and tenants, too.
Carlos Alleyne, ABR, CIPS, a luxury real estate agent and secretary of Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie REALTORS® (Fla.), places high value on opportunities to advocate personally as a member of NAR and encourages others to feel empowered to share their voices.
“Serving as an NAR director and being an RPAC Platinum Hall of Fame recipient gives you a heightened sense of shaping policies and regulations that affect the real estate profession,” he says. “The average member does not always see the efforts that NAR employs to advocate for its members’ interests at local, state and national levels.”
Education
Zack Wahlquist, RCE, CAE, chief operating officer at the Chicago Association of REALTORS®, agrees that advocacy is an essential and valued service, but at the individual member level, he believes education tops the benefits list.
“From licensing and continuing education to successful business practices and industry and legal updates—all these are critical to member success,” Wahlquist says. “And associations are uniquely positioned to be that source of information at every stage of a member’s real estate journey.”
The educational resources available through NAR are “exceptional,” says Bullington. He appreciates how NAR continually provides relevant resources, such as “Right Tools Right Now” and designations and certifications to enhance members’ value from initial client contact to contract.
“I firmly believe NAR’s real estate-specific education stands out as the most comprehensive and accessible option for agents striving for career success,” Bullington says. “The depth and relevance of the content offered by NAR have played a pivotal role in shaping my professional journey and bolstering my ability to excel in this competitive industry.”
He also finds top value in designations and certifications. “The credentials show clients and peers that we have additional industry-specific training and a dedication to honing skills.”
Alleyne, who is a member of NAR’s Global Business and Alliances Committee, says earning his Certified International Property Specialist designation helped him transform his business. He has become an expert in identifying buyers from various countries who are interested in U.S. buying opportunities, he says. Alleyne implemented a targeted strategy to establish his expertise, curating a portfolio of international clients, which produced seven-figure sales. “I attracted more qualified referrals, ultimately leading to a quicker sale at a higher price point,” he says.
The most rewarding part of becoming a CIPS designee, he says, has been his ability to share this newfound knowledge with global committee members at several local associations in his state—REALTORS® Association of Lake and Sumter Counties, Emerald Coast Association of REALTORS®, Central Panhandle Association of REALTORS® and Pinellas REALTOR® Organization—which in turn empowered them to build global programs within their associations.
As a past NAR board member and executive committee member, Christopher Tenggren, CRB, CRS—a managing broker based in Rochelle, Ill., and a member of HomeTown Association of REALTORS®—regularly gleans key insights from NAR through its website, blogs, REALTOR® magazine and its social media. “I try to participate wherever and whenever I can and value my association insights, especially in these times when the landscape is shifting,” he says. “Weekly and daily updates and insights make a difference in my ability to train my agents and answer their questions.”
Local associations are a great source for insights into local market conditions, as well as legislative and regulatory news, Alleyne says. His association runs a live panel event called Legal Lane Live, which features six 20-minute speed rounds with subject matter experts from the Broward County Attorney’s Real Estate Council. These are scheduled on an as-needed basis related to current issues. To date, it’s held five. “It has sold out to capacity on every occasion,” he says.
The Broward, Palm Beaches & St. Lucie association also just rolled out “A Broker’s Path to Success”—a guide to best practices that centers around changing market conditions. Another program he appreciates is Community 101, where mayors, city commissioners, state representatives, property appraisers and chamber presidents update members on the legislative landscape.
With members working toward practice changes resulting from the NAR proposed settlement, Tri-County Suburban has expanded its training series, Matteo says. “Specifically, we are hosting a program entitled, ‘Navigating Change: An Action Plan to Preparing for the NAR Settlement Agreement.’ Now more than ever, we recognize a REALTOR®’s value proposition must be communicated on a clear and consistent basis,” she says.
“Open and candid conversations with buyers and sellers need to take place early and often in the relationship. To assist our members, we assembled a panel of experienced REALTORS® to present what members can do now to prepare for the changes to come.”
