12 Ways your IAR membership fills your glass with value!

REALTOR® Designation
Only members of the National Association of REALTORS®, through a local Board/Association of REALTORS® or as members direct to the Idaho Association of REALTORS® in areas not served by a local Board/Association, are privileged to use the term REALTOR®. As a member you have the right to use the registered trademark and symbols that tell the public that you adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and its standards of professionalism, integrity and competency. Unauthorized use of the trademark is strictly prohibited. Out of approximately 8,200 active real estate licensees in Idaho over 7,100 are REALTORS®.

Only REALTOR® members may participate in this membership benefit.

Code of Ethics
The code of professional practice governs members’ relations between REALTORS® and with their clients and is enforced through local Board/Associations and by the Idaho Association of REALTORS®. Dedication to the Code of Ethics continues to assure the public of REALTOR® professionalism, integrity and competence. Annual training is provided to ensure adherence to the Professional Standards process. Only REALTOR® members can claim adherence to the Code of Ethics, which is recognized nationally as one of the first and best industry efforts at self-governance and discipline.

Only REALTOR® members may participate in this membership benefit.

Education
Conferences and seminars are provided by both local Board/Associations and the Idaho Association of REALTORS® to increase member skills in all fields of real estate practice. The Association offers the prestigious Graduate, REALTOR® Institute (GRI) Designation and other NAR Designations available only to REALTOR® members such as the Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) Designation.

In addition, the Idaho Association of REALTORS® consistently develops high quality online and classroom courses to assist members with timely Idaho and national issues and meet the needs of the membership. Best of all, this quality education is offered to REALTOR® members at discounted rates!

Only REALTOR® members may participate in this membership benefit.

Leadership Academy
Leadership development is an essential element in the process of improving our Association and profession. The Idaho Association of REALTORS® administers the “Leadership Academy” to identify emerging REALTOR® leaders in the state, encourage them with motivational activities, and assist in sharpening their leadership skills in the hope they will exert a strong positive influence on the future of the Association and profession.

Only REALTOR® members may participate in this membership benefit.

Publications
The National Association of REALTORS® and the Idaho Association of REALTORS® publish timely e-newsletters filled with member news, educational information, and informative articles of values and concern to the real estate professional.

We are constantly updating the IAR home page for you to access all of your member benefits. Visit our home page at www.Idahorealtors.com.

Only REALTOR® members may participate in this membership benefit.

The Legal HOTLINE
One of the most popular member benefits is the Legal HOTLINE. REALTOR® members only have access to immediate legal advice on real estate matters from an attorney. The Legal HOTLINE delivers fast legal assistance on questions, which arise in the industry. It’s important to note, however, that the Legal HOTLINE provides information - not representation - and does not replace the services of your attorney. The number is 1-800-858-8701.

Again, non-member real estate licensees cannot use this valuable tool.

Only REALTOR® members may participate in this membership benefit.

Information Services
The Idaho Association of REALTORS® acts as a clearinghouse for its members and the public on almost any question relating to real estate. The association supplies the media with news regarding association action, opinions, and pertinent statistics.

Only REALTOR® members may participate in this membership benefit.

Legislation
The association maintains staff to represent the interest of the membership and property owners at the Legislature and to keep members informed on actions, which may affect their business. The National Association of REALTORS® provides the same service in the halls of Congress.

The IAR strives to keep the cost of doing business reasonable for the real estate industry. Every aspect of the real estate profession is regulated by government, and affects your day-to-day activities. In the past few years, the IAR has accomplished many things for the real estate industry:

• Clarified agency relationships;
• Stopped legislation imposing a sales tax on real estate services;
• Stopped legislation imposing real estate transfer taxes;
• Stopped legislation requiring mandatory sales price disclosure to county assessors.
• Successfully wrote and passed legislation revising the state eminent domain laws to further protect private property rights.
• Stopped legislation imposing fines against real estate agents who do not disclose “noxious weed” problems;
• Successfully passed legislation requiring contractor registration in Idaho. Since the adoption of this legislation more than 20,000 contractors have registered with the state.
• Successfully extended the ability to finance large properties using a deed of trust.
• Successfully passed legislation regulating the location of “transitional housing” for prison inmates in residential neighborhoods.
• Clarified the issue of property condition disclosure;
• Facilitated the cleaning up of contaminated “brownfield” properties in Idaho communities;
• Stopped efforts to impose punitive tax burdens on home buyers;
• Stopped the Idaho State Bar’s efforts to severely restrict the business conduct of real estate agents;
• Wrote successful legislation creating a new financing mechanism for development infrastructure.
• Wrote successful legislation defining which services must be provided by a brokerage.
• Wrote successful legislation removing liability from agents selling houses that formerly housed a meth lab – as long as the lab was cleaned up under state guidelines.
• Wrote successful legislation requiring local governments to consider private property rights and regulatory takings impacts;
• Wrote successful legislation strictly limiting the use of development impact fees in Idaho.

These are just the ‘tip of the iceberg’ when it comes to assisting the industry with legislative issues.

REALTORS® direct the lobbying effort of the association, draft legislation, and set legislative policy. Every week during the legislative session the IAR Legislative Committee meets to review legislation and take positions on behalf of the Association.

Only REALTOR® members may participate in this membership benefit.

RPAC
REALTORS® raise voluntary contributions from members for use in supporting candidates for elective office. The REALTOR® Political Action Committee (RPAC) is one of the largest PAC’s in the country. In Idaho 30 percent of the funds raised are sent to the National Association of REALTORS® for their use at the federal level. 70 percent stays in Idaho and is divided between candidates at the local and state levels.

Idaho RPAC is the state’s largest PAC, and has an outstanding record of supporting successful candidates for office. The IAR Public Policy Trustees oversee the administration of RPAC, and make all decisions on funding and endorsement of candidates. Only REALTOR® members can serve as Trustees.

Idaho RPAC supports candidates that support private property rights and the real estate industry in general. Because every aspect of a real estate transaction is regulated by state, it is important to help elect candidates that understand the impacts additional regulation can have on the industry. In 2008 we calculated that RPAC helped save the average Idaho REALTOR® $14,600 in increased business costs.

Only REALTOR® members may participate in this membership benefit.

Legal Review Fund
Members of the Idaho Association of REALTORS® have access to one of the state’s most effective and innovative legal protection programs called the Legal Review Fund. Funded by a yearly $6.00 per member fee, the fund was established to assure that precedent setting legal actions which impact REALTORS® are addressed quickly, professionally and effectively.

The fund is administered by the IAR Public Policy Trustees who have the responsibility of determining how the money will be spent, and which cases to become involved in.

In the past year the fund has been accessed by local associations to stop a number of regulations at the local level. The Mountain Central Board of REALTORS® was successful in challenging a local ordinance regarding inclusionary zoning. The court not only ruled in MCBR’s favor, but awarded $85,000 in attorney fees to be paid by the City of McCall. Because of this action similar ordinances around the state were abandoned.

In addition, the IAR has appeared on behalf of members at the District Court, Supreme Court and Federal Circuit Court levels.

Only REALTOR® members may participate in this membership benefit.

Equal Opportunity
The association welcomes qualified members of any race, color, religion, national origin, sex or handicap and offers its members equal opportunity to participate in the association’s decisions and actions.

Annual Conference
Every year in September members gather for three days of workshops, conferences, education seminars, and social events. The IAR Board of Directors holds one of its two annual meetings at this time to set policy for the association.

Only REALTOR® members may participate in this membership benefit.

REALTORS® Forms Paper and Online
The Idaho Association of REALTORS® produces and maintains REALTOR® forms. Such forms are considered the standard for Idaho’s real estate industry. REALTORS® from throughout the state meet to discuss changes and additional forms. The forms can be purchased on our website at www.idahorealtors.com

Only REALTOR® members may participate in this membership benefit.

Endorsed Programs
The REALTORS® endorses several programs at discounted rates for our members at both the state and national levels. For a full list of programs visit www.realtor.org.

Only REALTOR® members may participate in this membership benefit.

Task Force and Committee Participation
The Idaho Association of REALTORS® works with REALTOR® member volunteers to affect every facet of the industry through Task Forces and Committees. These diverse groups are formed as needed to address timely issues. In any given year, dozens of task forces might meet to address a myriad of issues. Because of its effectiveness with this process, the IAR is considered the leader of the real estate industry in Idaho.

Although the IAR may solicit the input and participation of non-members on task forces and Key Result Groups, in general, participation in this important membership benefit is open to REALTOR® members only.

Toll-Free Telephone Service
Information and assistance is available through our toll-free telephone number: 1-800-621-7553.

Only REALTOR® members may participate in this membership benefit.

For further information on the benefits of REALTOR® membership, please contact the IAR!