Association boosts Realtors' knowledge

Not all real estate licensees are created equal. Only those who are members of the National Association of Realtors are actually Realtors and they can be recognized by the association's logo on their business cards or any literature they might provide.

"I really can't stress enough the importance of using a Realtor," said Joanne Levy, president of the Greater Las Vegas Association of Realtors. "With all the technicalities that can come up in any given real estate transaction, not to mention the legalities and the paperwork, I just couldn't imagine leaving the purchase of my dream home to just anyone."

Realtors are expected to be committed to treat all parties in a transaction honestly, subscribe to a code of ethics, and maintain levels of knowledge about the process of buying and selling real estate. According to the National Association of Realtors, 84 percent of home buyers reported that they would use the same Realtor again.

Real estate transactions represent one of the largest financial investments most people make in their lives and typically exceed $100,000.

"With the amount of horror stories that have come across my desk over the years, it surprises me that people are still willing to gamble with their futures by not using a Realtor. Our mission as an organization is to educate the general home buying public about the advantages of using a Realtor so that they don't have to experience the pitfalls that come by not using one." Levy said.

GLVAR, the local branch of the national association, is a professional trade organization for Realtors in the Las Vegas area. It provides development courses, residential and commercial listing services, member benefits programs and information on locating Realtors valleywide.

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