Realtor = member of the Realtor association. Every Realtor is a real estate licensee but not every real estate licensee is a Realtor. Last year, the Realtor Code of Ethics turned 100.
Realtors are real estate professionals who have chosen to abide by a strict Code of Ethics by joining the National Association of Realtors. They are subject to disciplinary action and sanctions if they violate the duties imposed by the Code of Ethics. The Code is a buyer or seller’s assurance of dealing with a professional who has their best interests in mind.
A real estate licensee is not necessarily a Realtor. The New Jersey Real Estate Commission, under the Department of Banking and Insurance, provides real estate licenses to those who complete the pre-licensing course. In order to use the term Realtor, the licensee must join the local Realtor Association, which also gives them membership in the New Jersey Realtors and the National Association of Realtors by way of the three-way agreement.
The Code of Ethics continues to set apart a real estate licensee from a Realtor, even 100 years after its adoption in 1913. A professional, ethical real estate community is critical to protect property ownership. Realtors affirm their commitment to the Code’s vision and reminds buyers and sellers that Realtors strive for professionalism every day.
The next time you are in the market to sell or purchase a home, ask the agent if they are a Realtor. If you wish to perform the search yourself, visit the Middlesex County Association of Realtors website — www.middlesexrealtor.com — and click on “Find a Realtor”. You can also find a copy of the Realtor Code of Ethics at the website.
Realtor is a registered collective membership mark that may be used only by real estate professionals who are members of the National Association of Realtors and subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics.
Visit www.middlesexrealtor.com for more information.