Frequently Asked Questions About Membership

1. What are the benefits of becoming a REALTOR®?
   

   You can obtain a New Member Packet that explains all the benefits of becoming a REALTOR® Member by calling Member Services at 260-426-4700. The following links will provide more information about many local and national vendor discounts, Professional Standards, Association events, education, and more:

   FWAAR Membership Benefits

   National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) Membership Benefits

   Current Members - Click here for information about Member Services

2. How do I become a REALTOR®?
   

   In order to become a REALTOR® member, you must:

   1. Fill out an application and submit it to the Fort Wayne Area Association of REALTORS® office, along with a one-time $200 State application fee, prorated dues, and the $35 NAR assessment which supports the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) national ad campaign.
   2. Calculate your dues, using the Dues and Assessments Proration Table.
   3. Submit application and dues (cash, check, Mastercard or Visa) to FWAAR. The FWAAR office is open Monday-Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
   4. Review the By-Laws provided upon application.
   5. Review the New Member packet provided upon application, especially the NAR Code of Ethics.
   6. Begin enjoying the rewards of membership! We encourage you to get involved!
   7. Plan to attend a New Member Orientation class (offered four times each year; you must attend one of the first two offered after joining.) During Orientation, you will learn about Anti-Trust, Professional Standards, the FWAMLS, Fair Housing, and more, from industry professionals, take the REALTOR® Oath, and receive your REALTOR® pin.
   8. You will also be invited to attend the next General Membership Meeting (scheduled quarterly) and will be introduced to members in attendance, and be in a group new member photo.

   For further assistance at any time, contact the Member Service Director at (260) 426-4700.

   (All new member applications are subject to review and final approval by the FWAAR Executive Committee.)

3. What if I want to become a member, but not a REALTOR®?

   The Fort Wayne Area Association of REALTORS® offers a "Non-Member Salesperson" membership, however the request to join must come from the principal broker who holds your license. Non-Member Salespersons are not eligible to take advantage of the many benefits REALTOR® Members enjoy, such as discounts on continuing education, free educational sessions, the rewards of the National Association of REALTORS® Public Awareness campaign, many networking opportunities, and more. All real estate salespersons are encouraged to become REALTORS® and to commit to maintain and enforce the Code of Ethics of the National Association of REALTORS® for the betterment of the real estate industry.

4. What is an "Affiliate Member" and how do I become one?
   

   Affiliate Members are an important part of our membership. They are those in business to service REALTORS®, real estate agents, and their clients and customers. This includes professionals in the banking industry, home financing, home inspection, cleaning services, etc. Affiliate Members enjoy the benefit of gaining access to REALTORS® through advertising and public relations opportunities offered by the Member Newsletter, mailed to over 1,000 members every month; networking at industry and community Association-sponsored events; and the opportunity to sponsor activities such as the annual Golf Outing. In order to become an Affiliate member you must:

   1. Fill out an application and submit it to the Fort Wayne Area Association office along with prorated dues.
   2. Have your application approved by the FWAAR Executive Committee.
   3. If approved, you will be invited to attend the next General Membership Meeting.
   4. Now you are ready to get involved and reap the benefits of Affiliate membership.

   Click here to download an Affiliate Application Form

5. What if I already belong to another REALTOR® Association, can I become a member of FWAAR too?
   

   Yes. If you are a member of another REALTOR® Association you can become a secondary member of FWAAR. In order to do this, you need to provide us with a letter of good-standing from your primary association and pay our local dues (and if applicable, State dues and State application fee). For more information, contact our Association office at 260-426-4700.

6. How can I get access to the FWAMLS?
   

   Please follow this link to learn about the Fort Wayne Area Multiple Listing Service, and membership options. FWAMLS Information

7. How do I let the Association know that my name, phone number or address has changed?
   

   You can change this information by calling the Association office at 260-426-4700 or via the Internet. To view instructions on how to modify your contact information via the Internet, see next question immediately following this one.

8. How do I make updates to my contact information in the "Find A REALTOR®" section?
   

   You can change this information by calling the Association office at 260-426-4700 or via the Internet in either of the following ways:

   From the FWAAR website: To modify your contact information from the Members Only area of the fwaar.com website, visit the member login page and log in using your IMS login and password. Next, from the "FWAAR Member Services" (or "MLS Member Services") menu, click on "Pay/View <FWAAR or MLS> Fees." This will log you into our web-based online payment system, which also offers the feature of modifying your profile if you click on "Modify Personal Information". From this screen you can make changes to your contact information which modifies your membership record.

   From the FWAMLS system: To modify your contact information using the MLS, you can start at the fwaar.com website, and click the "Members Only" category. After logging in, click the "Proceed to FWAAR Members Only Area" button at the bottom part of the screen. Next, click the "MLS Access" link towards the bottom left corner of the screen, which will log you into the MLS system. Next, while in the MLS system, click the "Admin" menu and choose "Modify Your Profile" from the drop-down menu. From this screen you can make changes to your contact information which modifies your membership record.

9. How do I add my picture to my contact information in the "Find A REALTOR®" section?
   

   You can upload your picture from one of two places:

   From the FWAAR website: You can upload a picture to your contact information from the Members Only area of the fwaar.com website. To do so, click Members Only, and log in using your IMS login and password. Next, from the "FWAAR Member Services" (or "MLS Member Services") menu, click on "Pay/View <FWAAR or MLS> Fees." This will log you into our web-based online payment system, which also offers the feature of modifying your profile if you click on Modify Personal Information. From this screen you can upload your agent photo to your membership record.

   From the FWAMLS system: From the FWAAR website, click the "Members Only" category. After logging in, click the "Proceed to FWAAR Members Only Area" button at the bottom part of the screen. Next, click the "MLS Access" link towards the bottom left corner of the screen, which will log you into the MLS website. Next, while in the MLS system, click the "Admin" menu and choose "Modify Your Profile" from the drop-down menu. Here you can upload your picture in .jpg format.

10. How do I access the Member Only content?
    

    As you navigate through the FWAAR site, you may attempt to access information that requires a user name and password. This information is intended for REALTOR® and Affiliate members only. Simply enter your MLS log on and password. If you do not know your MLS log on and password, please contact the association at 260-426-4700.

11. What is a NRDS number and how do I find mine?
    

    NRDS (pronounced by those in the industry as "nerds") stands for National REALTOR® Database System, and is a centralized national database hosted by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). The NRDS database keeps track of all the REALTORS® and REALTOR® Firms and Associations in the United States. NRDS data is maintained by Points of Entry (POEs) -- most often the local REALTOR® Association. Each member and office record in the NRDS database is identified by a unique NRDS Number.

    Here at FWAAR, the moment a new member or office is entered into our membership database, a NRDS number is created for this member or office record. The NRDS number, along with several other pieces of information, are transmitted to NAR on a nightly basis. This NRDS number stays with a REALTOR® for life. Any NRDS number created by FWAAR will always begin with the number "3880". Your NRDS number is used for a number of things: It is used as the member username on the Indiana Association of REALTORS® web site, www.indianarealtors.com. It is also needed when registering with NAR's web site, www.realtor.org. Thus, it is important that you know your NRDS number, because without it, you will not be able to register or log in to either of those web sites. Members: click here to find your NRDS number.

12. What is required to become a Lifetime Member of FWAAR?
    

    You must be at least 65 years of age, and have been an active FWAAR member for a minimum of 25 years in order to be recognized as a Lifetime Member. Lifetime Members do not pay local Association dues, yet maintain the right to use the term "REALTOR®" and other membership marks, and are eligible to hold offices, vote, attend all events and meetings, and enjoy all the other benefits of FWAAR membership afforded all REALTORS®. Call the Association at 260-426-4700 for more information, or click on the link below to download a Lifetime Membership application.

    Download the Lifetime Membership Application

13. Buyer & Seller FAQ