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REALTORS® & Real Estate Agents

It stands to reason that all Realtors® are real estate agents, but not all real estate agents are Realtors®. The truth is, all real estate licensees are not the same. The terms REALTOR and real estate agent are often used interchangeably, but there are differences between the two. REALTORS are members of the National Association of REALTORS® — the world's largest professional organization — and as such, they pledge to subscribe to a Code of Ethics which is strictly enforced. It contains 17 Articles and several Standards of Practice. The REALTOR code covers ethical requirements that deal with all aspects of the job — from working with consumers and fellow agents to adhering to rules involving fair and truthful advertising.

Agents who join NAR are also joining their state and local Realtor organizations for which they pay regular dues. They also pay fees for ongoing membership in their local MLS.

All licensed agents are required to take continuing education courses approved by their state licensing boards in order to retain membership in NAR. These classes often focus on ethical work habits and other consumer protection topics. REALTORS also have representatives who lobby Congress for Realtor needs and the group holds annual state and national conventions.

REALTORS are committed to treat all parties to a transaction with honesty and fairness and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reports that 84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR again.

Napa REALTORS®

Napa REALTORS are members of the North Bay Association of REALTORS® (NorBAR), a 3000+ member four-county trade association covering Sonoma County, Napa County, the 101 corridor in Mendocino County and the western portion of Lake County including Lakeport. Choose a Napa REALTOR® and you will be represented with care, trust and integrity.

The “National Association of REALTORS Code of Ethics & Standards of Practice” is a set of rules which is much more restrictive than the general rules and obligations for agents who simply hold a real estate license. (It's important to note that those not having joined the organization can not legally use the term “REALTOR” in any form.)

To follow, are the 17 Articles that
a REALTOR pledges to uphold.

1.	Pledge to put the interests of buyers and sellers ahead of their own and to treat all parties honestly and fairly.
2.	Shall refrain from exaggerating, misrepresenting or concealing material facts; and is obligated to investigate and disclose when situations reasonably warrant.
3.	Shall cooperate with other brokers / agents when it is in the best interests of the client to do so.
4.	Have a duty to disclose if they represent family members who own or are about to buy real estate, or if they themselves are a principal in a real estate transaction, that they are licensed to sell real estate.
5.	Shall not provide professional services in a transaction where the agent has a present or contemplated interest without disclosing that interest.
6.	Shall not collect any commissions without the seller's knowledge nor accept fees from a third-party without the seller's express consent.
7.	Shall refuse fees from more than one party without all parties' informed consent.
8.	Shall not co-mingle client funds with their own.
9.	Shall attempt to ensure that all written documents are easy to understand and will give everybody a copy of what they sign.
10.	Shall not discriminate in any fashion for any reason on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
11.	Expects agents to be competent, to conform to standards of practice and to refuse to provide services for which they are unqualified.
12.	Must engage in truth in advertising.
13.	Shall not practice law unless they are a lawyer.
14.	Shall cooperate if charges are brought against them and present all evidence requested.
15.	Agree not to bad mouth competition and agree not to file unfounded ethics complaints.
16.	Shall not solicit another REALTOR'S client nor interfere in a contractual relationship.
17.	Shall submit to arbitration to settle matters and not seek legal remedies in the judicial system.