FAQs

WILL I RECEIVE A RECEIPT FOR TAX PURPOSES?

The Dearborn Area Board of Realtors Association will post a receipt on your member portal and you will receive an email confirmation receipt in your inbox at the time of payment with no delays.

CAN I PAY IN INSTALLMENTS?

DABOR does offer a 2027 Advantage Payment Plan Agreement for our primary members and the fillable form can be found on our website dabor.com on the forms page after October 1, 2026. The agreement requires that members have credit or debit card information on their member portal so that they can autopay and be charged start up fees and then $60 a month in dues for 10 months. Late fees will apply.

IS MY PAYMENT REFUNDABLE?

There are no refunds once you pay your dues through a payment plan or in full at registration.

WHY DO I HAVE TO JOIN NAR?

Licensees in a REALTOR® participating firm qualify to hold REALTOR® membership. This ensures every licensee in the firm follows the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, can represent themselves as a licensee who is a REALTOR®, and benefits equally from the resources and services provided by their local and state associations, and the National Association of REALTORS®.

CAN I JOIN JUST MY LOCAL OR STATE ASSOCIATION?

No. REALTOR® means member of the National Association of REALTORS®. Therefore, all REALTORS® belong to the National Association of REALTORS® and agree to abide by the Code of Ethics. In order to maintain a REALTOR® membership, members must uphold high ethical standards and pay local, state and national association dues and assessments. There is the ability to split dues for membership between local, state or national associations.

WHAT IS THE THREE-WAY AGREEMENT?

The three-way agreement is a dynamic membership structure that unifies the local, state and national associations and provides value at every level. The associations work together to provide support and resources that help you deliver more for your clients.

This includes local market expertise and professional development, a unified advocacy platform at all levels of government and industry influence, expert research, a shared Code of Ethics, and cutting-edge tech, legal and risk management tools.

WHO MADE UP THIS RULE?

The three-way agreement was established by NAR and the local and state associations. This federated structure allows the REALTOR® organization to have a unified, powerful voice to influence public policy and use its combined resources to protect your business, uphold ethical standards, strengthen the REALTOR® brand and elevate the real estate industry.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I’M NOT A PART OF NAR?

If you are not a REALTOR® member at the national level, you cannot be a member of your local or state associations. You also lose benefits that help you navigate the market with confidence, serve clients with credibility, stay protected from legal and regulatory risks and utilize tools and data that help your business. These benefits include:

• The right to use the REALTOR® trademark;
• Access to resources and tools, like the Metro Market Statistics Dashboard and RPR®—the most cutting-edge real estate platform;
• Educational opportunities and specialized credentials—which help you advance in your career; and
• Most importantly, protection of the Code of Ethics—which sets REALTORS® apart from nonmembers in the eyes of consumers.

WHAT IS NAR?

NAR is a member-led trade association involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries across America. For more than 100 years, the National Association of REALTORS® has served to preserve, protect and advance the right to real property for all. As your trade association, NAR works with your local and state associations to help members get to, and execute, their next transaction, protect the reputation and future of the industry, and provide tools and resources that would be difficult to obtain on your own.

WHAT DOES THE ASSOCIATION DO FOR ME?

NAR provides benefits and services that far exceed the cost of your dues. The association helps you get to, and execute, your next transaction, reduces your risk and liability, promotes the REALTOR® brand to consumers, provides exclusive resources and advocates for laws that benefit you and your clients.

At the local level The Dearborn Area Board of Realtors Association (DABOR) provides resources, including:

• Local networking and educational opportunities (Wise Wednesday series)
• Six Hours of Con Ed in person (June) and online
• Grassroots advocacy shaping local priorities
• Sentrilock Distribution Center (Monday through Friday at DABOR)
• Rider signs and combo locks – at our onsite retail store
• Concert and Theater Ticket Savings (see dabor.com for more details)
• Health Insurance through Wayne County small business (HealthChoice)
• Legal Assistance Hotline through Michigan Realtors Association

At the state level, Michigan Realtor Association provides additional resources, including:

• Education opportunities specific to your state
• Legislative advocacy on issues affecting your state
• Statewide community of real estate practitioners
• State-level legal and compliance resources

At the national level, NAR provides many benefits, including:

• Unparalleled advocacy that advances real property rights;
• Expert real estate research that enables REALTOR® members to serve clients and consumers with confidence;
• Cutting edge tools, technology, legal and risk management resources that make it easier for members to get to, and execute, their next transaction;
• Unmatched accreditations and designations;
• A national and global network of professionals to build your referral partnerships.

Membership is an investment in your career, and these services give you the opportunity to grow professionally, stay competitive and connect with the community.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE LOCAL, STATE & NATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS?

Your membership delivers value at all three levels:

• LOCAL: Education, networking, resources and community advocacy
• STATE: Advocacy at the state capital, legal tools, member programs
• NATIONAL: Federal advocacy, consumer ad campaigns, research, risk mitigation resources, benefits and a unified REALTOR® brand

WHY ARE ALL THE DUES BILLED TOGETHER?

The three-way agreement allows you to pay once and enjoy benefits at the local, state and national levels.

WHAT IS THE CONSUMER ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN ASSESSMENT?

Ten dollars of the special assessment funds NAR’s national campaign, which promotes REALTORS® to consumers as trusted professionals who stand for ethics, expertise and advocacy.

CAN I DEDUCT MY DUES ON MY TAXES?

A portion of your dues is not deductible because it funds lobbying efforts. For the $201 NAR dues portion, 35% of the $156 ($55) is nondeductible for federal income tax purposes, while the $45 assessment is fully deductible.

DO I HAVE TO BE A REALTOR® TO KEEP MY LICENSE?

No, your real estate license is not dependent on your membership. By being a REALTOR® you gain access to advocacy, legal protection, and consumer trust that nonmembers may not have.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I DON’T PAY BY THE DEADLINE?

You may face late fees, suspension of benefits or membership inactivation.

ARE RPAC INVESTMENTS REQUIRED?

No. REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC) investments are voluntary but strongly encouraged and effective – they support candidates from both parties who support real estate and property rights. For 2027, a suggested $35 per realtor line item is on your current invoice for 2027 dues. You may uncheck that box if you do not wish to contribute at the time you pay dues.

WHERE CAN I SEE ALL MY NAR BENEFITS?

Visit NAR Member Benefits for a full list of savings, education, advocacy and tools your dues support.

ARE DUES PRORATED IF I JOIN MID‑YEAR?

Dues are prorated.

CAN I JOIN MORE THAN ONE ASSOCIATION?

Yes. Dual, or secondary, membership means you can join additional REALTOR® associations beyond your primary one. If primary status is dropped, any secondary memberships automatically become inactive unless the member chooses one of those as primary.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ASSOCIATION MEMBERSHIP AND MLS ACCESS?

Association membership and MLS access are two different things.

• Membership makes you a REALTOR® and gives you the Code of Ethics, advocacy, education, research, REALTOR® Property Resources (RPR®), legal resources and the power of the REALTOR® brand.
• MLS access is a separate service—it’s the platform where you can list and see properties, see and use market data for purposes like valuations and research, and cooperate with other brokers.

Membership is your professional identity; MLS is a business tool.

If you have additional questions about membership or benefits, please contact the DABOR staff at 313-278-2220 or email admin@dabor.com.