Who Can Join? A REALTOR® may be a licensed Real Estate Broker, Managing Broker, Leasing Agent or Appraiser. REALTORS® belonging to the Chicago Association of REALTORS® (that’s us!) must be duly licensed with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
Your Three-Tier Membership: REALTOR® membership is three-tiered. Members also belong to their state REALTOR® Association and to the National Association of REALTORS®. Our state association is the Illinois REALTORS®.
Why A REALTOR® Association? The Designated Managing Broker in your new office often determines whether or not they wish to hold membership in a REALTOR® Association. When they elect to hold membership, you are also required to have REALTOR® membership. We do not mandate membership, however, should you elect not to join, your Designated Managing Broker will be assessed a fee for having a non-REALTOR® licensee in his/her office. We suggest you speak directly with your Designated Managing Broker about REALTOR® membership.
Chicago REALTORS® New Member Toolkit
Check out the tools and resources included in your membership, including orientation, discounts, data tools and more!
All Chicago REALTORS® Benefits
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Types of Membership
REALTORS®
For Broker or Managing Broker Licensees joining an existing CAR REALTOR® Office
A Broker or Managing Broker licensee wishing to join the Chicago Association of REALTORS® must be sponsored by a Sponsoring Broker/Designated Managing Broker that is also a member of the Chicago REALTORS®. A broker or managing broker licensee cannot join the Chicago REALTORS® unless their Designated Managing Broker belongs to the Chicago REALTORS®. A broker or managing broker licensee wishing to join the Chicago REALTORS® must submit a completed and signed New Member Application, supporting documents, and full payment of all applicable fees. If their Designated Managing Broker participates in Midwest Real Estate Data (MRED) via ConnectMLS, the broker or managing broker licensee is required to participate as well. A broker or managing broker licensee cannot participate in MRED unless their Designated Managing Broker is a participant of MRED.
New REALTOR® Office
For Managing Brokers opening a New Office with CAR. Includes Self-Sponsored Managing Brokers and current CAR Offices opening Branch Locations.
A Managing Broker licensee wishing to join the Chicago Association of REALTORS® and open an office must submit a New Office Application along with supporting documents and full payment of all applicable fees. A Managing Broker licensee may be self-sponsored or they may be the Designated Managing Broker of a licensed brokerage. If the firm has a name different from their own, they must also submit a copy of their brokerage’s license and/or, if applicable, DBA/articles of incorporation from the Secretary of State’s office that are registered with IDFPR. They must also submit an MRED Participation Application and Participation Agreement along with their new office application. A Managing Broker licensee simply joining an existing Chicago REALTORS® office and not opening a new REALTOR® office should complete the REALTOR® Application above.
Secondary Members
A licensee may join any REALTOR® Association they choose without their managing broker being a member at that association as a “secondary member”.
NOTE: The exception to this is if the licensee wants MRED access; then their managing broker would also need to join the Chicago Association of REALTORS®. Secondary members are REALTORS® whose primary membership is held with a local REALTOR® association other than the Chicago REALTORS®. For these members, NAR and IR membership dues are paid through their primary association and all that is paid to the Chicago Association of REALTORS® are Chicago REALTORS® membership dues and MRED fees (if applicable). In addition, if their primary association is in a different state, they will also pay IR dues to the Chicago REALTORS®. The Chicago Association of REALTORS® will waive our initiation fees and any portion of NAR and IR dues the member has already paid pending accompaniment of a letter of good standing from their primary board along with their application.
Affiliate Members
Affiliate membership is comprised of people involved in a business related to real estate but who are not a licensed Real Estate Broker, Managing Brokers or Appraiser. They may not join NAR and become a REALTOR® but they may join the Chicago Association of REALTORS® as an affiliate member. The above named licensees may not join as affiliate members but must join the Chicago Association of REALTORS® as a REALTOR®.
- View and Download Affiliate Member application
- Click here for more information on Affiliate Membership.
Appraisers
A licensed Real Estate Appraiser wishing to join the Chicago Association of REALTORS® must submit a completed “Appraiser” new member application along with a copy of their license and full payment of all applicable fees. If the appraiser wishes to participate in MRED, they must submit an MRED participation agreement along with their application. A licensed Real Estate Appraiser who wishes to join the Chicago Association of REALTORS®, as a member of an existing member office rather than independently, must submit a completed broker’s new member application (see below) signed by the responsible member of their office along with a copy of their license and full payment of all applicable fees.
Leasing Agents
A licensed Real Estate Leasing Agent wishing to join the Chicago Association of REALTORS® must submit a completed Leasing Agent new member application along with a copy of their license and full payment of all applicable fees.