NAR is now One Million Strong

The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® has reached a tremendous milestone: we are now over 1 million members strong! This means more REALTORS® than ever are working toward the common goal of helping consumers achieve the American dream of homeownership.

NAR has become the first trade association in America to top the million-membership milestone. Dues paying membership in NAR, its institutes, societies and councils, now totals 1,005,785, according to the association’s latest membership data.

Membership has increased dramatically in recent years. Membership has increased every year since 1997, when it stood at 716,078; NAR added more than 100,000 Realtors® in the past year alone. NAR’s previous high water mark came in 1989, when membership reached 822,935. Since the 1970s, it has been America’s largest trade and professional association, according to the Encyclopedia of Associations.

Benefits of membership include education and professional development, legislative and political advocacy, discounts on products and services, research products and services, publications and the right to be called a REALTOR®. REALTORS® are licensed real estate professionals who subscribe to NAR’s strict code of ethics and belong to one of the nation’s 1471 local and state REALTOR® boards and associations.

Fewer than half of all real estate licensees are REALTORS®. Some 2,381,767 people hold broker or sales agent licenses in the United States and about 1,839,093 are active-participating in a transaction in the past year, according to the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO).

Million Member Campaign
To commemorate this very important achievement, NAR has created a special advertising campaign that speaks directly to consumers, our members, and Capitol Hill about the continual growth and strength of NAR as an influential organization. It makes clear to both the public and key constituencies the value REALTORS® bring to the nation as well as local communities.

The Million Member Campaign hit the airwaves nationally with both TV and radio the week of April 19th. A new television spot showcases the hard work REALTORS® do to help more families across the country find that special place called “home.” It also highlights the important work many people don’t see, such as our efforts on Capitol Hill to promote and protect homeowner rights, including equal housing opportunity. “To serve everyone would take a million people, wouldn’t it?” The spot ends by explaining that consumers have a “small army” fighting for their dream of homeownership because the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® has “a million members working for you.”

In addition, NAR’s Government Affairs Division has seized the opportunity to help Congressional leaders understand the impact REALTORS® play in the American economy as a whole, as well as every community.

Watch for the ads.  Not only will you be proud of the message we’re sending the public, you’ll be proud to be a part of the REALTOR® family – now one million members strong!

CBR Membership
As of March 31, 2004, membership in the Columbus Board of REALTORS® was 6,441 (compared to 5,727 in 2003).  We’ve had 325 new members join CBR this year (208 in 2003).