Descriptive wording may not be used with the term REALTOR®?
Fact. According to NAR’s Membership Marks Manual, the association’s bylaws prohibit the use of descriptive wording with the REALTOR® marks.
“The REALTOR® Marks are intended to distinguish members from non-members,” the manual says. “Using descriptive wording with the REALTOR® Marks has the improper effect of distinguishing between members. Prohibited descriptive wording includes geographic descriptors, adjectives, and words such as my, your, and the.”
Examples of uses that violate NAR rules:
- Professional REALTORS®
- Jane the REALTOR®
- Top Amarillo REALTOR®
- www.bestrealtor.com
- Hometown REALTOR®
- steve@number1realtor.com
I never use the term REALTOR®. I say “agent” of “broker” or “real estate agent” or “real estate broker”
The one is see the very most is licensed REALTOR
That one drives me up a wall.
In the past I’ve said Im your lifetime realtor. Is written and spoken prohibited?
This makes no sense to me. If a “real estate” agent is paying local, state and national dues to be part of the “Realtor” organization then it makes no sense that they cannot use that word. If they were not paying membership dues it would be different. So, you can be a member of the Board of Realtors, Texas Realtors and National Association of Realtors but you can’t use the Realtor name? That makes no sense.
it’s a registered trademark, there are limitations and requirements on how to use it . replace the word REALTOR with “member” and see if it makes sense. “Your hometown member!” “Professional Members” “Let me be your Member!” “Licensed Member”
What if I use on social media #MonyaRealtor ??
This example makes Texas Realtor look a little paranoid about who and how REALTOR can be used.
I support the guest opinion.
I use vickismyrealtor@gmail.com, is that illegal?
I see the misuse of the Mark all the time. I just did a quick license holder search in TREC using only the word “Realtor” and found 1,034 uses of the Mark as part of a DBA, alternate name or team name. not good. TREC will register any name because you have to click a button confirming you have the legal right to use it and can prove it if asked. They do not go further than that. Heck, I just found out a broker is using my LLCs legally protected name as part of a team name. Also not… Read more »
So for the Realtor of the Year award means nothing? Lifetime Realtor member means nothing/ NAR Realtor Emeritus means nothing after 40 + years doing business as a Realtor means nothing? Hell the Term NAR says National Association of Realtors, Wow perhaps we should stop working so hard to work towards realtor designations if we cant use the the word realtor, and Stop paying dues for a word we cant use!
Realtor of the Year is an award recognizing those who served the RE profession and their communities and is authorized by NAR. I was the 2020 recipient at my association. Realtor Emeritus is a status approved by NAR with 40 years of membership and serving 1 year at the National level. Seach those words and you will see they are ok to use as per NARs website.
I’m your favorite member of the national association of realtors 😁
What’s wrong with using a descriptive term with Realtor?! Who cares?! no one. Have we run out of things to complain about and restrict? Good grief Charlie Brown…
What’s wrong is it’s against NAR / TXR rules. Who cares? The owner of the intellectual property. Maybe you should take a little time to educate yourself and read the membership marks manual: http://www.nar.realtor/membership-marks-manual
Thanks for the link to the Membership Marks Manual. Great information on a confusing subject!
I shy away from using “Realtor” to avoid being associated with the group’s politics.