non-REALTOR member Real Estate Offices in Chicagoland (ILLINOIS) (broker, contractor)

[Sandy1980]

I am a newly licensed real estate agent in Illinois.
I would like to know if anyone knows of NON-REALTOR member Real Estate offices in the Chicago land area.

I was told by all real estate offices that I contacted that they are members of C.A.R. (Chicago Association of Realtors). If the Broker is a member of C.A.R., then the agent MUST be as well, despite the fact that membership in C.A.R. is not mandatory, the real estate agent is nonethelss "invited" to join. If the agent chooses not to join, the broker is assessed a penalty fee.

The state of Illinois mandates that you meet the state licensing laws, there's no law that states that you have to be a member of REALTORS.

If you elect not to be a REALTOR, then you're simply a licensed real estate agent and can't call yourself a REALTOR.

I looked for a list of offices that are not members of REALTORS, but I was unable to find such a list.

I now turn to you and hope that someone out there knows of real estate offices that will not "invite" a real estate agent to join REALTORS and pay expensive fees.

[Anthera]

Why would anyone want to be a Realtor, but not have access to the MLS? How could you possibly conduct business that way? You don't legally need a drivers licence to be an agent either, but no one would hire you without one.

[Jeff Hill]

Originally Posted by Anthera

Why would anyone want to be a Realtor, but not have access to the MLS? How could you possibly conduct business that way? You don't legally need a drivers licence to be an agent either, but no one would hire you without one.

I think you misunderstood. Sandy didn't say anything about not being a member of the MLS.....she just wants to cut the associations out.

Unfortunately Sandy, I'm not too sure you will have much luck. Any firm with any credibility will be a member of the national association. If you're not interested in being involved with a major firm, then my suggestion is you go back and get your Broker license. Then you can run your own firm the way you want to.

Good luck.

[Anthera]

Originally Posted by Jeff Hill

I think you misunderstood. Sandy didn't say anything about not being a member of the MLS.....she just wants to cut the associations out.

Unfortunately Sandy, I'm not too sure you will have much luck. Any firm with any credibility will be a member of the national association. If you're not interested in being involved with a major firm, then my suggestion is you go back and get your Broker license. Then you can run your own firm the way you want to.

Good luck.

No, I don't think so. You join the association because its the only way to access the MLS. How exactly do you belong to the MLS without belong to the CAR? They own the MLS and its for members only.

ETA - CAR is the Chicago association, there are other associations too, but they all feed into the MLS.

[Jeff Hill]

Originally Posted by Anthera

No, I don't think so. You join the association because its the only way to access the MLS. How exactly do you belong to the MLS without belong to the CAR? They own the MLS and its for members only.

ETA - CAR is the Chicago association, there are other associations too, but they all feed into the MLS.

That's interesting because you don't HAVE to be a member of the local board to be a member of the MLS out here.

Thanks for the clarification

[PeggyBaker]

As a veteran Agent/Broker of 20 years, I do have empathy with you not wanting to spend money to join any Association. And with our 'Shift' in process right now, with customers being even more cautious, this may not be the time to try and do it on your own.

You should recognize however, despite my years in the business, there really isnt a year that passes that I dont learn something new. And by becoming a member, this does entitle you to additional free education, and terrific resources. By taking classes to learn the MLS system, and a sloo of other classes, usually free, but of course there are paying classes also and if you are not a member classes are always more expensive.

As you are green in this business, and only have the experiences told to you in your classes, I think you owe it to yourself to not immediately close the door to paying for Association membership and/or joining a firm that is going to at least get you started in the right direction.

As a previous reply commented on not understanding how you could operate without membership, they have a point. I dont know any firm (with any respect) that is not a member of some Association, and that is just the way the cookie crumbles.

You also owe to yourself, to get in to a realty company that will support you as a new agent and offer you free help in lieu of your bring your young green energy and enthsiasim to their company. Remember, most likely wherever you go, you are an Independent Contractor affiliated with the realty company. You may think you know everything to do, and now that you have your lic. nothing can stop you.

If you think you can do on your own, get your Brokers lic., and hang your sign where the public can see it. The most seasoned agents and brokers however, continually learn from each other, and not becoming part of a great team, may keep your new real estate career from reaching the heights that could be achieved.

Best of luck to you in your career.

[Capt. Ron Clark]

WE HAVE YOUR SOLUTION. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT captronclark@yahoo.com IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE A NON-REALTOR FLORIDA AGENT. WE CAN PROVIDE YOU WITH COMPLETE MLS SERVICES AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A MEMBER OF THE REAL ESTATE BOARD! YOU MAY CHOOSE TO BECOME LICENSED IN FLORIDA OR YOU MAY BE A ILLINOIS LICENSED REFERRAL AGENT, JUST AS LONG AS YOU HAVE AN ACTIVE REAL ESTATE LICENSE SOMEWHERE. THERE IS MUCH FLEXIBILITY.

[Capt. Ron Clark]

P.s. I forgot to mention that we have an affiliate in the chicago area!

[ToriaT]

My advice is bite the bullet and join. I have looked into this and was told there are a certain number of fees that you have to pay in the beginning to launch yourself into business as a realtor. This is likely one of them. It's not a good idea to go it alone as a broker...you will need to support of a good office and you'll have to meet their requirements. Good luck.