How To Join GBRAR
Joining The Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS® is easy, and an excellent choice for those wanting to make a career in real estate in our area.
To join GBRAR first make sure that you’ve gotten your license to practice real estate in Louisiana. More information about obtaining a Louisiana real estate license is available from the Louisiana Real Estate Commission.
Contact Tracy, GBRAR Director of Member Services, at 225-761-2000 ext 5 or [email protected] to apply
You will be asked for membership fees and dues, prorated to the month in which you received your license. Please contact Tracy [email protected] for a customized quote.
Before becoming a member you will need to complete our online Orientation class.
Benefits of GBRAR Membership
There are many great reasons to become a member of the Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS®.
These include, but are not limited to:
Business Tools
- The Greater Baton Rouge Multiple Listing Service
- Public Records Applications in the MLS
- Louisiana Commercial Database
- Legal Documents & Contracts
- State of the Art GE Lockbox and Key System (Supra)
- Legal Hotline
Education
- Free Education – C.E.
- Designation Courses (GRI, CRS, ABR, etc)
- Trends in Real Estate Seminar
- REALTOR® Expo
- Leadership Training
- MLS Training
Publications
- Digital Quarterly Membership Rosters
- Digital Affiliate Member Rosters
Networking
- Quarterly Business Meetings
- Active Committees
- Active Affiliate Members
- Annual Social Events
Peer Recognition
- REALTOR® of the Year
- Multiple of annual awards
GBRAR Membership Checklist
There are several steps you must complete before joining the Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS®.
THE CHECKLIST BELOW CAN HELP MAKE SURE YOU’RE READY TO FILL OUT YOUR GBRAR APPLICATION.
- You must be at least 18 years of age.
- You must have obtained a high school diploma or equivalency certificate (GED).
- You must show proof of successful completion of ninety (90) hours of real estate education in courses approved by the LREC.
- You must comply with all application procedures required by the LREC. This includes the submission of criminal background history.
- You must pass the real estate salesperson licensing examination.
- You must be sponsored by a licensed real estate broker who is a member of GBRAR and provides proof of errors and omissions insurance prior to license issuance.
New Member FAQs
New to the business or thinking about becoming a real estate agent? Then you most likely have a few questions. Below are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we receive. If you don’t find the answers you’re looking for here, please don’t hesitate to contact Tracy Fletcher, Director of Membership.
How do I get a real estate license?
The first step in getting a real estate license is to contact the Louisiana Real Estate Commission.
If I just passed the real estate test, can I join the Association?
Yes, you can join our Association if you are currently sponsored by a broker who is a member.
How much are dues?
The dues you pay are based on your level of membership with our Association (Designated REALTOR®, REALTOR,® or Affiliate). The current fees are posted on our site.
When are the annual dues due?
Yearly membership renewals are due in December of each year.
When are MLS fees due?
It depends on how you pay for your MLS. Annual payments are due in July, or you can choose to have the amount broken into quarterly drafts from a credit or debit card you put on file.
What is an LFRO office?
A Limited Function Referral Office (LFRO) is a separate entity that sponsors real estate licensees or appraisers whose sole function is to refer prospective clients to a particular broker.
When is new member orientation?
New member orientation is now online for your convenience. Contact our Director of Membership, Tracy Fletcher, to get started.
How do I get a keycard/or key box
When you join our Association you have access to the Supra lockbox system. Please note that your key card lease with our lockbox provider is renewable in August of each year. You can also have this service on your iPhone, Blackberry or Android. You can also purchase electronic lock boxes in our REALTOR® Store.
Careers in Real Estate
The real estate profession has expanded.
It offers one of the widest career selections in the business world today. Helping people buy and sell homes, office buildings, industrial property and corporation farmland, property management, land development, mortgage banking, urban planning, real estate counseling, appraisal, and research are all aspects of a career in real estate.
Advantages and Rewards of a Career in Real Estate
A career in real estate provides flexibility and freedom to set your own pace. Income directly reflects your efforts, with no limits on what astute, hard-working men and women can earn. Successful people in real estate are goal-oriented, persevering, self-motivated, ambitious and people-oriented. The rewards of a real estate career are a potential for high earnings, status in the community, autonomy, time freedom, helping people, the intellectual challenge and the satisfaction from those accomplishments.
Working in real estate allows for independence and choices of the environment in which to work, such as affiliation with a large or small firm as a listed salesperson. With more experience and upon the passing of an additional exam, becoming a real estate broker is the next step. Brokers can own their own businesses and employ other salespeople.
Education for a Career in Real Estate
Colleges and universities now offer a variety of real estate and related courses. At many of these colleges, students can specialize in a program that leads to a bachelor’s degree in real estate. Some universities offer graduate level courses. Contact your local public library for university and real estate college course information and directories.
Professional Requirements for a Career in Real Estate
Entry into the real estate profession takes preparation. As with other professions, licensing is required. Licensing requirements vary from state to state, but all require prospective salespeople and brokers to pass a written exam. For more information on licensing in Louisiana, contact the Louisiana Real Estate Commission (LREC) at 225-765-0191 or at the LREC website. In order to obtain a broker’s or sales agent associated license, Louisiana specifies special education and/or experience or their equivalents.
Getting Started in Real Estate
Entry into the real estate field depends on education, training and interests. Most people begin as sales trainees in a brokerage firm. Other possibilities include office assistant, listing or rental agent, assistant in a department of a large real estate organization, or in the mortgage division of a bank or savings and loan.
Continuing Education in Real Estate
Formal education is available while working in real estate. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and its Institutes, Societies and Councils sponsor continuing education programs for members, and award designations for specialty areas of real estate. Continuing education increases knowledge and skills, improving earnings potential and enhancing opportunities for success.
Careers in Residential Brokerage
Helping people buy and sell homes is one of the most important and basic services a real estate agent performs. Agents are experts in the process of buying and selling property, financing, government programs, etc. The real estate agent’s expertise facilitates the transaction, saving clients time, trouble and money. Real estate professionals need to have a thorough knowledge of such areas as real estate law, local economics, fair housing laws, types of financing, mortgages and government programs. Contact the Council of Residential Specialization the Web or call them at 800/462-8841.
Careers in Commercial Brokerage
Commercial brokers specialize in income-producing properties, such as apartment and office buildings, retail stores and warehouses, shopping centers and industrial parks. To understand and explain why the properties are good investments, commercial brokers need to be aware of the growth possibilities of the area where the property is located, current income tax regulations and purchasing arrangements that give the buyer a greater return on investment. Commercial brokers may also have to arrange financing. Contact the CCIM Institute at 800/621-7027.
Careers in Industrial and Office Brokerage
Industrial and office brokers specialize in the developing, selling or leasing property used for industry or manufacturing. Brokers need to understand different types of industries and determine such variables as transportation, proximity to raw materials, water and power, labor availability and local building, zoning and tax laws. Contact the Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS® at 202/737-1150.
Careers in Farm and Land Brokerage
Land brokers deal in land for farming, and acquisition of rural land by cities for residential, commercial and industrial expansion. Success as a land broker depends on how accurately the income potential of the property can be established. Brokers need a good working knowledge of various factors which determines a farm’s capacity to produce, including agricultural knowledge and information such as market centers and transportation facilities. Contact the REALTORS® Land Institute 312/329-8482.
Careers in Real Estate Appraising
Real estate appraisers determine the value of properties. Real estate is appraised to determine many types of values—assessed value for tax purposes, investment value or present value for a potential investors, “book” value of accounting purposes, rental value for income projections and insurable value. Appraisers need to know acceptable principles of appraisal and related information. They need to have practical experience, technical education, good judgment and some knowledge of mathematics, accounting and economics. Contact NAR’s Appraisal Specialty section at [email protected] or call 800/874-6500, ext. 8393.
Careers in Property Management
The property manager’s primary function is to maintain the property in order to produce the highest possible financial return over the longest period of time. More importantly, they are responsible for protecting the owner’s investment. Managed commercial properties are likely to be office buildings and shopping centers. Residential properties might be apartment buildings, apartment developments, condominiums and groups of homes owned by a single investor. Property managers usually work for real estate firms. However, other opportunities are found in the real estate department of banks and trust companies. For large housing and commercial development, managers are often expected to maintain an office or residence of the premises and work with only one enterprise. When living on-site, property managers can expect to be on call for emergencies at all times, beyond maintaining standard working hours. Contact the Institute of Real Estate Managementat 800/837-0706.
Careers in Land Development
Land development is one of the most important and challenging specialties in real estate today. Developers turn land into profitable, marketable developments –residential, commercial or industrial. Site selection is the first decision developers must make. Planning and layout is handled only after the developer determines the need for a project. Before the actual building can begin, developers must first analyze all costs and arrange the financing. Then they contract for the physical structures and supervise construction. Finally, developers promote the finished development to the prospects for whom it was planned.
Careers in Urban Planning
If you would like to improve the environment and the quality of people’s lives, becoming an urban planner may fulfill your career objective. Urban planners work with local governments and other civic groups to anticipate their city’s future growth. They propose physical changes to accommodate this growth. Not many career guidelines exist for urban planning, but broad general experience is important. Some colleges are now offering degrees in urban planning. Contact the Urban Land Institute at 800/321-5011 or visit their Web site.
Careers in Real Estate Counseling
Real estate counselors are in the business of giving advice about property. They are the experts others seek when they want answers to real estate questions. Counselors must know every phase of the real estate business because they use that knowledge in nearly every consultation. Often they will be asked about income opportunities and productive uses of different kinds of properties. There are relatively few brokers specializing in counseling, but the field will grow as investors and owners realize the value of expert advice in developing the property and improving income. While accumulating experience in other real estate specialties, people planning to become real estate counselors also continue to study in continuing education programs in financial management. Contact the Counselors of Real Estateat 312/329-8427.
Careers in Real Estate Research
Real estate researchers contribute to the decisions of many other real estate specialists. Brokers, property managers, appraisers, financing experts and counselors all depend on data provided by research.
Research can be divided into two main categories — physical and economic. Physical research means studying buildings and structures of all types, especially in terms of the selection and efficient use of construction materials. Economic research consists of determining reliable answers to questions like “How many people hope to buy homes next year?” “What will it cost them to borrow mortgage money?” and “What percentage of the nation’s homes are sub-standard?”
Real estate is a rewarding career, offering flexibility, freedom and the opportunity to build a secure future for yourself and also help shape the future of your community.