WASHINGTON, Aug 22, 2007 /PRNewswire-USNewswire via COMTEX/ — Following is a statement by Lucien Salvant, NAR managing director of Public Affairs:
Numerous news outlets have reported today that membership in the National Association of Realtors(R) has declined. That is false. Membership has increased by nearly 6,000 this year. By the numbers, NAR ended 2006 with a record 1,357,732 members. At the end of July 2007, the most recent figure shows we have risen to 1,363,493 Realtors(R). That figure was provided to the Associated Press, which knowingly chose not to include it and also chose not to run a correction or clarification.
While the media has been focused on a decline in national sales for the past year, all real estate is local. We expect 2007 to be the fifth highest year on record for existing home sales. That historically strong level is supporting our membership base.
According to an outside source, there are about 2.6 million real estate licensees in the United States; about half of them belong to NAR. It appears much of our growth is from non-member licensees choosing to become Realtors(R), with the balance composed of newcomers entering the field. Non-member licensees are drawn to the benefits provided to them through a three-tiered membership in their local, state and National Association of Realtors(R), where there are numerous opportunities to increase their professionalism and specialization through training, networking and education.
The National Association of Realtors(R), “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
Information about NAR is available at http://www.realtor.org.
REALTOR(R) is a registered collective membership mark which may be used only by real estate professionals who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS and subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics. Not all real estate agents are REALTORS. All REALTORS are members of NAR.
SOURCE National Association of Realtors
