FAQ
FAQ
Frequently asked questions and answers. If you need further assistance or have additional questions, please call our office at (301) 797-4480.
Once you have passed your real estate exam and joined a brokerage, you have 15 days to join a local REALTOR® association. Your broker can help point you in the right direction!
The applicable dues/fees that are required for membership include:
- $300 application fee
- Pro-rated Association dues dependent on the month your application is submitted
Once you've completed your application and paid your dues, you have 60 days to complete the following:
- Attend New Member Orientation
- Complete the New Member NAR Code of Ethics Course Online
- Complete the NAR Fair Housing course
New Member Orientation classes are typically held once per quarter in-person at the Pen-Mar REALTORS® office. You have 60 days to register for an orientation session within one calendar year. The current orientation schedule can be found on our events calendar, here. If you need help registering for a session, please call our office at 301-797-4480.
If a new applicant fails to complete this requirement within the dates specified in their New Member Letter, suspension and a reinstatement fee of $125 will be assessed for reactivation.
A National REALTOR® Database System (NRDS) number will be provided in the New Member Letter you will receive after your application has been processed.
A certified appraiser would apply for Affiliate membership and follow all of the membership requirements.
In order for you to become a primary member of Pen-Mar, your Designated REALTOR® needs to be a primary or secondary member of our association too. A letter of good standing is also required from your current Association.
Additionally, you may also choose to become a "secondary" member of Pen-Mar. Secondary members enjoy the same perks of being a primary member but also maintain active memberships with other REALTOR® boards.
To become a secondary member of Pen-Mar you will need a letter of Good Standing from your current Primary board. In addition, you will need to pay the prorated dues and application fee to join our local association.
All Pen-Mar secondary members enjoy the same perks and discounts as our primary members. As such, the cost to join is the same.
Please note that secondary members do not have to pay their state and national dues twice. Your primary board will collect those dues when you renew your annual membership.
First, you would need to check with your broker and/or office manager to see if your office/franchise policy requires it. Some offices and franchises require that licensees affiliated with them join as REALTOR® members. If you do not join as a REALTOR® member, you would be considered a non-member salesperson.
As a non-member salesperson, the Designated REALTOR® will be responsible for paying an assessment fee for the real estate licensee and appraisal certificate holder in the amount of Pen-Mar local dues, State Dues and NAR Dues (with the exception of the Consumer Advertising Campaign fee.)
The Broker or Designated REALTOR® is responsible to pay an assessment equal to dues. Non-members would not fill out a membership application nor attend the New Member Orientation course. They would not be allowed to use the term "REALTOR®" or use the "R" logo on any of their correspondence, signs, business cards, etc.
Membership dues are typically emailed to all members in late September and are payable by the last day of December. We do not accept cash or check, so please be prepared to pay your dues in full with a credit or debit card.
All dues payments that arrive late, or are otherwise incomplete will result in a $150 late fee. If dues and the late fee are not paid by February 1st, your membership will be terminated. If terminated, the member automatically becomes a non-member salesperson as described in the section above.
Payment by the Designated REALTOR® for associated non-member salesperson is required and unappealable.
Please complete our Affiliate Application and contact our office for payment. We can be reached at (301)797-4480.
Most Pen-Mar REALTORS® members actively use Bright MLS. You can learn more at brightmls.com
Yes. Please contact Bright MLS for more information. https://brightmls.com/home
OFFICE HOURS AND HOLIDAYS
The Association office hours are Monday through Friday 8:00am-4:00pm. The Association office is closed on the following holidays, or the date of their observance if they fall on a weekend:
New Year’s Day
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Presidents’ Day
Memorial Day
Independence Day
Labor Day
Thanksgiving Day
Day after Thanksgiving
Christmas Eve
Christmas Day
Weather-related closures typically follow the Washington County School District's position. We strive to post updates on office closures and delays on our Facebook page, as well as emails to our membership.