Benefits of Membership

Georgia REALTOR® members enjoy many benefits and resources. Members may browse a variety of topics below. If you are currently not a member of Georgia REALTORS®, and you would like to join, there are two ways to do so. You can join as a primary or secondary member. To learn how to join, click here.

The REALTOR Difference

Do you think the public knows the difference between a REALTOR® and a licensee? Do YOU? 

realtor pin gold and blue transparentOver the years, GAR has posed numerous questions to ourselves and our members, such as: What is the value of REALTOR® organization membership? Why should an individual with a real estate license choose to take the next step and become a REALTOR®? How do members who have benefited from their REALTOR® membership convey the value of the organization to their colleagues and to the public? Why should a home buyer or seller use a REALTOR®?

You answered, and we heard you loud and clear. Promoting the REALTOR® brand starts with you, the individual member. You told us that promotional materials and scripts would be helpful in assisting every REALTOR® endorse his or her value to colleagues and to the public.

This page supplies you with resources to help us promote REALTORS® in Georgia at a grassroots level. We want every member to know the value of being a REALTOR®, and to be able to convey why their membership is meaningful and essential to them as a real estate professional.

Georgia REALTORS®: The Best of the Best!

In an analysis of the 14 MLS’s across Georgia for 2021, REALTORS® once again out-earned and out-produced non-REALTORS®. Some findings include:
  • REALTORS® produced 77 percent of the dollar volume
  • REALTORS® produced and 75 percent of units sold
  • For both FMLS and Georgia MLS,18 out of the top 25 agents are REALTOR® association members

The Georgia Association of REALTORS® has conducted this analysis periodically since 2012, and during that time REALTORS® are consistently the “best of the best” in both production and earnings.

Participating Multiple Listing Services include: Albany, Athens Area, Carpet Capital, Columbus, Chattanooga, FMLS, Georgia MLS, Golden Isles, Hinesville Area, Northeast Georgia, Savannah, and Valdosta. Combined, these MLSs account for more than 90% of homes sales activity in Georgia. Data analysis date range was March 2020 – May 2021.

Source: Smart Data, August 2021

GAR Membership Value

Your GAR Membership… It Adds Up!

Georgia REALTORS® get a substantial return on investment when paying REALTOR® association dues – checkout the list below which compares a few of GAR’s member benefits that is included in your GAR dues* versus the price paid for each of these benefits and/or services by non-members.

Benefit

  • Contract Forms:  Members – included in dues  |  Non-Members – $264.00
  • Monthly Housing Indicators: Members – included in dues  |  Non-Members – $149.00
  • Georgia REALTOR® Magazine: Members – included in dues  |  Non-Members – $25.00
  • Legal Helpline: Members – included in dues  |  Non-Members – $200.00
  • TOTAL VALUE: $638.00

*When you join the REALTOR® association, you pay dues for your local board/association, your state association (GAR) and your national association (National Association of REALTORS®). GAR dues are $100.00, and NAR dues are $156.00. Local board dues vary with each board/association.

**Hourly rates for specific real estate expertise range from $200-$600 per hour. GAR members are entitled to unlimited access to our Legal Helpline throughout the year, free of charge.

Statewide Professional Standards

Click here to read “Code Enforcement,” an article from Georgia REALTOR® magazine on Statewide Professional Standards.

The Arbitration Process

REALTORS® Property Resource

What is REALTORS® Property Resource ?

Have you heard of the Realtors Property Resource® (RPR®)? It is a national property database from NAR designed to provide REALTORS® with advanced technology tools and features needed to provide your clients and customers with dynamic reports and analytics. These features can assist you in helping your clients and customers make informed decisions when buying or selling property. With access to hundreds of datasets on over 147 million properties nationwide, RPR allows you to remain at the center of the transaction, and to keep ahead of your technology empowered consumers.

RPR LogoRPR is

  • Exclusive technology only for REALTORS®
  • One site, hundreds of datasets on 147 million properties
  • Allows no public or consumer access

RPR is available to all REALTORS® across the country. That means that over 147 million properties nationwide will be at your fingertips! Imagine being able to access the following in one location:

  • Tax assessment / public records on 147 million parcels of property in the U.S.
  • Mortgage and lien information
  • Nationwide school data, test scores and parent reviews
  • Dynamic mapping: School Zones, Neighborhoods, Zip Codes, Cities, FEMA etc.
  • Geo-spatial data including aerial photography, street level and bird’s eye view
  • Census, demographic and lifestyle data
  • Neighborhood information

Awesome, right? If your MLS has partnered with RPR to include your MLS data in the system, you also will have access to:

  • Your Listings, photos and virtual tours
  • Largest national database by county of foreclosure, pre-foreclosure, REO and default
  • MLS active, sold, pending, expired, withdrawn and canceled statuses
  • Historic listing comparison tool
  • Realtor Valuation Model® (RVM®)
  • Refine property facts, comparables and RVM® for custom valuation report
  • Charts and Graphs will include trends calculated from MLS data

These features are available to you at no additional cost. We want to encourage you to take advantage of RPR, and all it has to offer.

Register for an RPR account today at www.narrpr.com.

Disaster Relief Fund

Disaster Relief banner

Purpose

The Georgia Association of REALTORS®’ (GAR) Disaster Relief Fund is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization that was established to assist Georgia REALTORS® who have suffered damages to their primary home or home office due to a natural disaster. Since 2008, more than $370,000 has been distributed to REALTORS® who met the criteria for fund disbursement. More than $13,000 has been distributed to members of the public who have also met the criteria.

History

The GAR Disaster Relief Fund has already contributed to several of the association members (REALTORS® and affiliates) that suffered catastrophic occurrences that left them with a financial burden. Amount of assistance varies. Some of the areas of assistance include:

  • Financial assistance for REALTORS® in western and southwest Georgia affected by tornadoes in Spring 2006
  • Financial assistance for GAR members affected by the 2009 floods in northern Georgia
  • Financial assistance for GAR members in northwest Georgia affected by tornadoes in Spring 2010
  • Financial assistance for GAR members in Columbus affected by flooding in 2016
  • Financial assistance for GAR members affected by Hurricane Matthew in 2016
  • Financial assistance for GAR members in Albany affected by tornadoes in 2017
  • Financial assistance for GAR members along coastal Georgia affected by Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017
  • Financial assistance for GAR members in northern and central Georgia following tornadoes in Spring 2020

GAR may also direct funding to the local boards/associations that seek to provide needed supplies or aid in recovery efforts in communities throughout the state.

Disbursement

Applicants for aid from the Disaster Relief Fund must meet the following criteria:

  1. Applicant must be a current dues-paying member or employee of GAR.
  2. Applicant must have suffered damaged to their personal residence or business.
  • Association Executives: Click here to download a Local Board/Association Relief Assistance application
  • GAR Members: Click here to download  a Georgia REALTOR® Member Disaster Relief Assistance application
  • REALTORS® Relief Foundation: Click here to download NAR’s Disaster Relief Assistance application (8.5 x 14) 

Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to the GAR Disaster Relief Fund!

CLICK HERE TO DONATE ONLINE NOW

  • Click here to download a Disaster Relief Fund Donation Paper Form.
Affinity Partners & Discounts

GAR contracts with industry leaders to bring our members the service offerings at a great value.

REALTOR® License Plate

2018 REALTOR license plateWhen it’s time to renew your vehicle registration – consider purchasing the REALTOR® license plate!

How to order your REALTOR® license plate

The license plate is sold at all offices of the Georgia Department of Revenue (https://dor.georgia.gov/motor-vehicle-titles-and-registration). To view the plate, visit the DOR site, select “Specialty/Prestige License Plates,” and on the next page select “Order Specialty/Prestige License Plates.” On the next page, click on the “Specialty license plate” link in the first paragraph, and then on the next page, click on “Special Interest – Apply Thru County Tag Office – Issuing.” You will get a pull-down menu of all specialty tags that Georgia offers. Be sure to select the Georgia Association of REALTORS® plate when you apply.

Cost of the plate

Vehicle owners must pay a one-time manufacturing fee of $25, an annual registration fee of $20 and an annual special tag fee of $35. So you will pay a total of $80 for the initial purchase, and $55 each year after.

Who may purchase the plate?

Only active REALTOR® members of the Georgia REALTORS® are authorized to purchase the plate. The plate is not available to other member classes of the association, and real estate agents and brokers who are not GAR members are not eligible to purchase the plate.

Show Them. Tell Them.
Display your REALTOR® R with Pride!