No matter how much NAR ads tell you "its the biggest investment of your life", its rarely a good investment.

It's not required that you join NAR.

BTW, CCIM, the commercial affiliate of NAR, has a full program of courses in commercial real estate leading up to certification.

Are you a REALTOR (not just a licensed agent or broker, but a NAR member).

However, it seems now that the NAR and some State Board's are expanding the requirement to include that disclosure also be made in any advertising, direct mail, squeeze pages, social media, etc.. even though the efforts are directed at buying, not listing property.I have never had an issue with disclosing that I am a broker.

Check NAR's 2013 Profile of International Home Buying Activity: http://goo.gl/IBswVn

Just keep in mind that according to NAR less than 1% of houses sell via open house.

NIAGARA COUNTY TAX FORECLOSURE AUCTION - August 17 2013 Property Address: 8135-8139 EAST BRITTON DR Municipality: Town of NIAGARA Bldg Sq Feet: 3158 Built: 19301st Floor: 1579 2nd Floor: 1579 Heat: HOT AIR House Type: OLD STYLE Bedrooms: 9.0 Exterior: BRICK Bath: 2.0 Water: PUBLIC Basement: FULL Sewer: PUBLIC Number Stories: 2.0 Imprv 1: PORCH,ENCLSD Imprv 2: GAR,1.5 DET Imprv 3: BARN,1.5 GEN Imprv 4: SHED,MACHINE Acreage: 1.10 Land SqFt: 47916 Use Code: 02 - 210 Class Name: SINGLE FAMILY RES Lot Size: 240 x 200

Thirdly, check for the CIPS designation (Certified Internatonal Property Specialist) of NAR: http://www.realtor.org/designations-and-certifications/cips-designation/cips-network/cips-search.

The license gives you access to NAR, and all sorts of great technology, classes, and the upside is huge compared to just getting the license for a task here or there.