Some people think that all real estate agents are REALTORS®. They call all agents by that name, generically, without realizing that not every licensed real estate agent can legally use the title.

A real estate agent is a REALTOR® when he or she is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, the world’s largest professional association.

Founded in 1908, the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® has grown from its original nucleus of 120 to today’s 720,000 members. NAR is composed of residential and commercial REALTORS®, who are brokers, salespeople, property managers, appraisers, counselors and others engaged in all aspects of the real estate industry. Members belong to one or more of some 1,700 local associations/boards and 54 state and territory associations of REALTORS®. Contoocook Valley Board of REALTORS® is one of 14 boards in the state of New Hampshire.

There are many benefits of being a REALTOR®

•  Educational materials at state and national NAR Web sites
•  Full-color magazines with news and educational content
•  Representatives who lobby Congress for Realtor needs
•  Discounts for equipment and other helpful products and services
•  Training and educational opportunities, including affiliations with special designation programs
•  Annual state and national conventions
•  Consumers and real estate agents can learn more about what it means to be a Realtor on the NAR’s Web site.