The Chicago Association of REALTORS®, the “Voice for Real Estate” in Chicago since 1883, represents 17,000 members from all real estate specialties including commercial sales, development, property management, appraisal, auctions and residential sales.
Learn how we help our 17,000 members. Membership options are available for licensed real estate professionals and those affiliated with the real estate industry!
REALTORS® Real Estate School offers all kinds of real estate licensing and training. Browse self-paced, online training or live classes in our modern, downtown classrooms!
How can we help your business succeed? Your membership includes multiple resource guides on industry topics, tools to increase your knowledge and market statistics to help your serve your communities.
On November 13, 2020, the National Association of REALTORS® Board of Directors approved a change to Article 10 of the Code of Ethics, making it a violation for REALTORS® to use harassing or hate speech toward any of the protected classes. This includes race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, national origin, sexual orientation and gender identity. The changes went into effect immediately.
How are the terms “harassing speech, hate speech, epithets and slurs” defined by NAR?
NAR’s Appendix XII to Part Four of the Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual, which can be found at ChicagoREALTOR.com/COEchanges, thoroughly explains these terms and how they will be applied.
Why was this change made?
Following the civil unrest in the late spring and into summer, NAR, state and local associations received an unprecedented number of complaints regarding REALTORS®’ speech and conduct online. A letter sent to NAR President Vince Malta requested these changes, which were then brought to NAR’s Professional Standards Committee and the Board of Directors to review.
What do these changes apply to?
The new ethical obligation does not apply to anything that occurred before the change went into effect on Friday, November 13. However, the changes are effective immediately and these violations not only apply to REALTORS® on a professional level, but also on a personal level.
How are complaints filed and handled?
Ethics complaints may be filed at ChicagoREALTOR.com to be evaluated through a process of checks and balances to protect members.
That complaint first goes to our Grievance Committee for review; they either dismiss the case or forward it to a formal ethics hearing. Following the hearing, the panel members deliberate and determine if the respondent is found in violation of the Code of Ethics based on the articles cited in the complaint. If a violation is found, disciplinary action is imposed, which could include fines, required education/ coursework, letters of warning/reprimand, suspension of membership or in extreme cases, expulsion.
Either side has a 10-day window to appeal a decision before the Board of Directors should they feel they have grounds for a procedural deficiency based on the outcome of the hearing.
When does a complaint need to be filed?
A complaint must be filed 180 days after the facts constituting the matter complained of could have been known in the exercise of reasonable diligence, or within 180 days after the conclusion of the transaction or event, whichever is later.
Read NAR’s full FAQ’s regarding the Code of Ethics changes.
You can see how this popup was set up in our step-by-step guide: https://wppopupmaker.com/guides/auto-opening-announcement-popups/
We Apologize for the Inconvenience
Our phones are temporarily down. Please email membership@chicagorealtor.com for any immediate needs. We apologize for the inconvenience – thank you for your patience!
Precautionary Measures and Information Regarding COVID-19
Your health and safety is of the utmost importance to us. As COVID-19 is predominantly spread through close contact, out of an abundance of caution, all events through April 30 will be either canceled or postponed, except for Coffee with Your GADs, which will take place virtually. This includes our annual Sales Awards, which we are working to reschedule.
If you have registered for one of our upcoming events, look for an email with further details. All tickets for paid events will be automatically refunded. Please allow 3-5 business days to see the refund on your bank statement. Questions? Please reach out to our events team.
Precautionary Measures and Information Regarding COVID-19
As COVID-19 is predominantly spread through close contact, out of an abundance of caution, all in-person classes scheduled through April 30 will take place virtually.
RRES staff has reached out to those of you who have registered for an affected class with an option to transfer into an online option or reschedule for a later classroom date. CAR to You is available in the meantime to assist you with your education needs and we have a variety of classes being offered online and via webinar for your continued development.