What the National Association of Realtors is and how its office structure works

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) is a trade organization for real estate professionals in the United States. It operates through a three-tier system: the national organization, state associations, and local boards. Most realtors interact with NAR through their local board office, which is the physical or administrative hub where members pay dues, access training, and attend meetings. The local board is not a separate company — it is the operational arm of NAR in your area.

NAR membership is not automatic. A real estate agent must hold an active license in their state and then join their local board to become a realtor. The word "realtor" is a trademarked term that only applies to NAR members. When you work with a realtor, that person has paid NAR dues and agreed to follow NAR's Code of Ethics.

Local boards vary in size. A board in a major city might have thousands of members and operate a large office building with staff, meeting rooms, and a multiple listing service (MLS). A board in a rural area might have fewer than 100 members and operate from a small office or shared space. The structure is the same; the scale changes.

Key Takeaways

  • NAR operates through local boards in nearly every U.S. county, and membership in your local board is required to use the "realtor" title.
  • Local board offices handle member dues, maintain the multiple listing service (MLS), and enforce the NAR Code of Ethics.
  • You can find your local board through NAR's website by entering your state and county, or by searching for "[your city] board of realtors".
  • Local boards are run by elected boards of directors made up of member realtors, not by NAR's national office.
  • The MLS — the database realtors use to list and search properties — is owned and operated by the local board, not by individual agents or brokers.

How to locate your local NAR board office

The easiest way to find your local board is through the NAR website at realtor.org. The site has a "Find a Local Association" tool where you enter your state and sometimes your county or city. The result shows the board's name, address, phone number, and website.

If you search online for "[your city] board of realtors" or "[your county] realtors association," you will usually find the local board's website directly. Many boards have their own domain and list office hours, staff contacts, and member services on their site.

Local boards often share office space or operate from the same building as the local MLS office, since the board typically owns and runs the MLS. If you are looking for a specific realtor, their brokerage office is separate from the board office — the broker's office is where individual agents work, while the board office is where the organization itself operates.

What services and resources local board offices provide

Local boards maintain the multiple listing service (MLS), which is the database where realtors list properties for sale and search for listings. The MLS is not a public website — it is a members-only tool that realtors pay to access. The local board sets the rules for how listings appear, how long they stay active, and what information must be included.

Boards also offer continuing education and training. Many states require realtors to complete a certain number of hours of education each year to keep their license. Local boards often host these courses in-house or partner with education providers. Some boards offer specialized training in areas like short sales, commercial real estate, or new technology.

Local boards enforce the NAR Code of Ethics, which is a set of standards for how realtors must conduct business. If a consumer or another realtor files a complaint against a member, the local board's ethics committee investigates and can impose penalties, including suspension or removal from NAR membership. This is separate from state licensing — a realtor can lose NAR membership but keep their state license, or vice versa.

Boards also host networking events, market data reports, and member meetings. Some boards publish monthly statistics on home sales, prices, and inventory in their area. These reports are often available to the public on the board's website.

The difference between NAR membership, state licensing, and local board membership

A real estate agent must have a state license to work in real estate. The state issues and renews this license based on education and exam requirements. State licensing is handled by your state's real estate commission or department of licensing, not by NAR.

NAR membership is voluntary but comes with the right to use the "realtor" title. To join NAR, an agent must first have an active state license, then join their local board by paying membership dues. Dues vary by board but typically range from a few hundred to over a thousand dollars per year, depending on the board's size and services.

Membership in the local board is the entry point to NAR. You cannot join NAR directly — you join through your local board, which is affiliated with your state association, which is affiliated with the national organization. If you move to a different state or county, you would join the local board in your new area.

How local boards are governed and funded

Each local board is run by a board of directors made up of member realtors who are elected by the membership. These directors serve terms (usually one to three years) and make decisions about board policies, dues, services, and enforcement of ethics rules. The board of directors hires a chief executive or executive director to manage day-to-day operations and staff.

Local boards are funded primarily through member dues. Some boards also generate revenue from MLS fees (agents pay to access the MLS), education course fees, and sponsorships or advertising from real estate-related vendors. The board's budget is typically approved by the membership at an annual meeting.

Boards are independent organizations, though they must follow NAR's bylaws and policies. A local board cannot change NAR's Code of Ethics or create rules that conflict with NAR standards. However, boards can set additional rules for their area — for example, a board might require that all listings include a photo, or that certain disclosures be made in a specific format.

The role of the multiple listing service (MLS)

The MLS is the central tool that realtors use to buy and sell real estate. When a realtor lists a property, they enter the information into the MLS, and that listing becomes visible to all other realtors in the system. Buyers' agents search the MLS to find properties for their clients. Without the MLS, realtors would have no centralized way to share listings.

The local board owns and operates the MLS for its area. The board sets the rules for what information must be included in a listing, how long a listing can stay active, what photos are required, and how disputes over listings are resolved. The board also sets the MLS fee that realtors pay to access the system — this is separate from NAR membership dues.

Most MLSs now have a public-facing website or app where consumers can search listings, but the full MLS database with all details and tools is available only to members. Some MLSs have reciprocal agreements with neighboring boards, so a realtor in one area can see and show listings from another area's MLS.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to join NAR or a local board to buy or sell a home?

No. You can buy or sell a home without working with a realtor at all, or you can work with a realtor who is not an NAR member. However, most realtors are NAR members because the MLS — which most realtors use — is operated by local boards. A non-member realtor would have limited access to listings.

What happens if a realtor violates the NAR Code of Ethics?

The local board's ethics committee investigates complaints and can impose penalties ranging from a warning to suspension or removal from NAR membership. This does not automatically revoke the person's state real estate license — that is a separate process handled by the state. However, losing NAR membership can damage a realtor's reputation and ability to access the MLS.

Can I look up whether a realtor is an NAR member?

Yes. Most local boards have a member directory on their website where you can search by name or brokerage. You can also call the local board office and ask whether someone is a current member. NAR's national website also has a realtor search tool.

Do all real estate agents in my area belong to the same local board?

No. Agents in the same city or county might belong to different local boards, especially in large metropolitan areas where multiple boards operate. Each board has its own MLS, though many boards have reciprocal agreements so listings are shared across systems.

How much does it cost to join a local board?

Membership dues vary widely by board. A small rural board might charge $300 to $500 per year, while a large urban board might charge $1,500 to $3,000 or more. Agents also pay separate fees to access the MLS and may pay for education courses or other services. Check your local board's website for current dues.