I just found out I passed the calif. re exam and I would like to know if anyone knows how much it costs to join the MLS, does the broker pay for this or does each individual agent?Also how much is it to join NAR? Is it even necessary? I could not find out the cost by searching the internet. Thanks!

Here in CA we have to join our state NAR affiliate. MLS dues vary from one area to another. I recall paying something upwards of $500.

I've not heard of any brokers pay that for agents, but I suppose anythings possible. I don't absorb those expenses for my agents.

It's an expensive biz to start, but you gotta do what you gotta do.

Is the MLS fee a one time fee or a yearly fee?The NAR fee is a yearly fee also?Thanks.

All fees are annual.

Here in Colorado, MLS fees are just under $400 for me.

You can pay annually or monthly.

Thanks,

Mario

It's a good thing you're looking into that now.

No point in doing today what you can put off until tomorrow.

But good luck.

PS: Our MLS Fees are payable quarterly, which is a good thing, because some people only last a few weeks.

Thanks.Does anybody from the san diego area know what the yearly NAR fee is? and do you really have to belong to the NAR?

I think the MLS is called Sandicor, but you really should just sit down and talk to a broker first. They will have all of the information on start up fees and the need to belong to the Realtor association etc.
You really have to join 3 associations if you join, NAR, the state association and a local Realtor Board. The fees are probably close to $500 annually but they will prorate it from now until the end of the year (calendar or fiscal).
MLS fees are all over the place, so it's best to talk with a broker.

if your broker is a NAR member, ALL agents under his/her license MUST also be members, per NAR rules. NAR is a private association, so this is a private rule, NOT a state or federal law. if you don't want to join NAR, find a broker who has MLS-only membership, or get your broker's license.

THANKS

The quote I had gotten to join SANDICOR w/ MLS (includes NAR and CAR) was about $800.00/year

:upset: holy sh-t. 800? Really.That seems like a lot of money. I am glad I have some savings and other side income.

I guess your r.e. class instructor didn't mention anything about what it REALLY costs to get started - even as an agent.

Becoming an agent, or R, is actually starting your own small business. Of course there's going to be an outlay of money to get it going. Usually there's a loss before there's a profit as well. $800? That's a lot? Really? For CA?

$800 / year including state and national membership doesn't sound too far off...that's almost/close to what I pay here in PA for everything, give or take a few bucks. The MLS dues can be paid quarterly, twice a year, or yearly, however you want to pay, but the state and national association is once a year.

Hey, when thinking about this yearly cost of doing business don't forget to think about what desk fees a broker might charge you. And then if your board uses electronic lockboxes there is a fee involved with THAT. (for me it's $180 / year) Plus you may have to pay for forms software or other software that you need in order to do business.

Not to mention the wear and tear on your vehicle, I go through tires at an unbelievable rate, not only due to all the miles I drive but from living in the Pothole State...and gas? Easily I'm spending over $100 a week sometimes in just gas. But I live in and work in a very rural area covering 1,200 square miles or so. Not uncommon to put 200 miles a day on Ol' Mz Bloo, my trusty Honda van. City work would be different, I suppose...

A lot of people have NO CLUE about how much it costs to be a realtor; you must pay to play and you must pay whether or not you have any sales/income.

People are not accustomed to having to PAY to work. LOL. Some of my clients think that my van is a "Company" Van since it has the company logo decals on the windows. And of course they are shocked to discover not only do I own it but I pay for every drop of gas I waste use on them.

Very inspiring.

You're so up-beat . . . . I'm now exhausted, and feel penniless !

Okay, now that I've recovered from that temporary depression, I find that most fees and dues are reasonable at the National level and the Local Level. Everyone pays the same thing at the Nat'l level. And at the local level, you can go in and bash a few heads to reduce expenses . . . . but the State level is a problem.

What gets me is that at the State Level, our dues are big and are getting BIGGER and BIGGER as the number of dues paying REALTORS® goes down. The Vermont Association of REALTORS® (VAR) takes well over 50% of our annual dues, demanding well over 200% of what Nat'l gets.

But we only have about 1300 REALTORS® in the whole State, so that's less than the number in some major cities around the Country. And it's an itsy-bitsy State.

My teacher said he used to have 100 people in his class a couple of yrs ago when the market was hot. His last class had 10 people. I geuss if you dont have a second income or savings a lot of people just cant hold on.

Agreed. Consider how much it would cost you to start a restaurant, or a hair salon, or a construction company. Relative to other small/independent start-up businesses, getting started in real estate is a bargain.

A new agent shouldn't need to invest tens of thousands of dollars in equipment, since most of what you need is stuff you probably already have (a computer, a reasonably presentable car, professional clothing, a smart phone). Other things like business cards, mailers, and a website can be gotten inexpensively. My local MLS/AOR dues cover tons of other freebies: online forms, IDX, discounted printing services, and all kinds of CMA tools. Many brokerages offer additional tools as part of their commission splits as well.