Commentary by Karen Baker: Is there a difference?
By Karen Baker, columnist
A lot of people use the word “Realtor” to refer to anyone related to the real estate industry. There is a difference. A real estate agent is a National Association of Realtor when he or she becomes a member of the National Association of Realtors, The Voice for Real Estate, the world's largest professional association. The term "Realtor" is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors. Realtors are those who are committed to the real estate profession and agree to continue their education, uphold a strict Code of Ethics, and participate in the sharing of market information related to listed properties. Realtors are licensed real estate agents and join associations in the states and localities where they specialize.
The Code of Ethics establishes time-honored and baseline principles that come from the collective experiences of Realtors since the Code of Ethics was first established in 1913. Those principles can be loosely defined as:
Loyalty to clients;
Fiduciary (legal) duty to clients;
Cooperation with competitors;
Truthfulness in statements and advertising; and non-interference in exclusive relationships that other Realtors have with their clients.
The Realtor organization includes three levels; the National Association, the State Association and the local association. The Williamson County Association of Realtors is the professional trade organization servicing the real estate industry in Williamson County. Established in 1962, the association provides professional development and support services for real estate professionals. The organization promotes smart growth in communities and represents the rights of private property owners. The association has over 1,550 members and is headquartered in Franklin.
I have been licensed in the State of Tennessee and a Realtor since 2000 and am an agent with Crye-Leike Realtors in Cool Springs. I live and work in Williamson County and have been a resident in the area for over a decade. As the new President for the Williamson County Association of Realtors, I look forward to sharing more about our industry, our local market, and our profession during 2010. WCAR is committed to representing the rights of homeowners, residents and citizens of our community. We host education classes and provide market updates for our members and for you, our consumers. If you have a question related to real estate, ask a Realtor or send your question to me at karen@teambakerhomes.com or 771-6620. I look forward to sharing with you this year and helping you to help our market to continue to outperform other areas from across the country.
Karen Baker is the 2010 president of the Williamson County Association of Realtors.
Posted on: 12/10/2009
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