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A Designated REALTOR® (DR) is the REALTOR® designated to represent a real estate firm or office and is responsible for the firm’s duties and obligations of REALTOR® membership. In addition to the requirements of REALTOR® membership, Designated REALTORS® have responsibilities related to the licensees affiliated with their firm.

Each year, the DR must certify the firm’s licensed and certified individuals and identify their primary Association membership, if any. The DR must also keep this information current as licensees join or leave the firm.

Under the REALTOR® dues formula, a Designated REALTOR® may also be responsible for dues and assessments based on affiliated licensees who do not individually hold REALTOR® membership. NORBAR works directly with our Designated REALTORS® throughout the year to review records, identify discrepancies, and help keep firm and membership information current.

If you are a DR REALTOR®, meaning the broker of your firm, see NAR's information about the responsibilities of membership, including payment of Association dues.

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REALTOR® members, whether primary or secondary, who are principals ("principals" are defined, herein and throughout these bylaws when this terminology is used, as sole proprietors, partners, corporate officers, or branch office managers of real estate firms) shall:

1. Maintain a current, valid California real estate broker or salesperson license, or California real estate appraisal certification or license; and
2. Act as a sole proprietor, partner, corporate officer of a real estate firm, or office manager of a real estate firm acting on behalf of the firm's principal(s); and
3. Remain actively engaged in the real estate profession, ("engaged in the real estate profession" is defined, herein and throughout these bylaws when this terminology is used, as buying, selling, exchanging, renting or leasing, managing, counseling, appraising for others for compensation, building, developing, or subdividing real estate); and
4. Maintain or be associated with a real estate office located within the state of California or a state contiguous thereto; and
5. Have no record of official sanctions rendered by the courts or other lawful authorities for (i) violations of civil rights laws or real estate license laws within the past three (3) years or (ii) criminal convictions within the past ten (10) years where the crime was punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of one (1) year under the law under which the applicant was convicted (ten (10) years is measured from the date of the conviction or the release of the applicant from the confinement imposed for that conviction, whichever is the later date).

REALTOR® members, whether primary or secondary, other than principals shall:

1. Maintain a current, valid California real estate broker or salesperson license or California real estate appraisal certification or license; and
2. Remain actively engaged in the real estate profession; and
3. Remain employed by or affiliated as an independent contractor with a REALTOR® member who meets the requirements in Section 2.1 of this Article V for any Association in California or a state contiguous thereto; and
4. Have no record of official sanctions rendered by the courts or other lawful authorities for (i) violations of civil rights laws or real estate license laws within the past three (3) years or (ii) criminal convictions within the past ten (10) years where the crime was punishable by death or imprisonment in excess of one year under the law under which the applicant was convicted (ten (10) years is measured from the date of the conviction or the release of the applicant from the confinement imposed for that conviction, whichever is the later date).

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What is secondary membership? A secondary membership is for REALTORS® who already belong to another association and wish to hold a second membership with the North Bay Association.

What are the benefits? Secondary members have the same access to member benefits as primary members: marketing meetings, professional development courses, events, disclosures, and more. This will not affect your MLS access, since BAREIS® MLS is separate from our Association.

How much is it? Since you have already paid your primary association's local, state, and national dues, secondary members only pay the North Bay local dues, which are detailed on NORBAR's secondary membership dues breakdown.

How do I become a secondary member?

1. Complete the Application for Secondary Membership.
2. Contact your primary association and request a Letter of Good Standing.
3. Email your completed application and Letter of Good Standing to info@nba.realtor.
4. We will contact you for payment once your application is approved and the Letter of Good Standing is received.

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Affiliate members are real estate owners and other individuals or firms engaged in activities related to the real estate profession, who either do not qualify for REALTOR® membership, or who qualify but agree not to seek it and not to engage in any acts requiring a California real estate license of any kind. Affiliate members have interests requiring information about real estate and sympathy with the objectives of the Association of REALTORS®. Some restrictions apply; please contact us if you are a member of a public agency, media, or other non real estate-related entity and want to explore engaging with NORBAR.

Affiliate membership is per individual, not per company. If an applicant holds a REALTOR® membership and also wants Affiliate membership, that applicant must pay for both.

Affiliate members have access to most NORBAR member services and benefits.

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A REALTOR® with a direct or indirect ownership interest in a Limited Function Referral Office (LFRO) may qualify for an exemption from Designated REALTOR® dues and assessments for licensees affiliated with that entity.

To qualify, the LFRO must be engaged exclusively in soliciting or referring clients and customers to the REALTOR® for consideration on a substantially exclusive basis. All licensees included in the LFRO certification must be solely engaged in referrals, may not engage in other activities defined as the real estate profession under the NORBAR Bylaws, and may not participate in or subscribe to an MLS.

The REALTOR® must file an LFRO certification with NORBAR annually identifying all licensees affiliated with the entity. Qualifying licensees are excluded from the calculation of the Designated REALTOR®'s annual dues and assessments.

NORBAR will contact all Designated REALTORS®/related brokers annually to certify their LFROs.

Here is the referral form; file annually.