It is the same as NARS (National Assoc. of Realtors) exclaiming the national appreciation average of homes.

I am not one to chug the NAR Kool-aid, nor any kool-aid for that matter, but I respect a data centric answer.

If you are going to be adding more properties, and actively investing, you should look for a company that has licensees with designations such as CPM, or CCIM, and members of the NARPM as well as NAR.

They are affiliate with NAR,  have high standards with education and upon my research this is what fit the most to my experience and professional goals. 

The stats from NAR showed FSBO sold for almost 20% less than MLS homes an take much longer to sell.

This is how its done in China  I was just in a  CE class for my Oregon brokers license that I hold and I am getting the CiPS endorsement which is a 5 day course and gives me a designation as A NAR Certified international property specialist...

Keller Williams, ReMAX) As a broker, you can become a REALTOR by basically paying to get into the club to become a member of the NAR (national association of REALTORS) REALTORS are held to higher ethics and standards because they have to take extra ethics training and such, its great for any broker to get this designation and really the only designation i would suggest.

Once you pay your dues and become a REALTOR you will have access to NARS realtors property reports, it is an extremely powerful data tool.

And expect to pay about $1,300 just to get started (education, NAR membership, supra key, etc).

I think NAR has a stat where something like 50% of the transactions are done by agents who do 4 to 8 transactions (a fairly low amount) a year.Certainly, it’s a good way to move into full time real estate.