A REALTOR® is a licensed real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS®, "The Voice for Real Estate" and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.
The term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of NAR.
Not all real estate agents are REALTORS®.
A licensed professional becomes a REALTOR® by joining the local and state associations of REALTORS®, which entitles automatic membership in NAR, and by subscribing to NAR's Code of Ethics.
There are approximately 2.4 million licensed real estate professionals in the United States, but more than 1 million real estate professionals have taken the additional step to join NAR, "The Voice for Real Estate." When choosing a real estate professional, look for the registered trademark, REALTOR®.
The term REALTOR® was coined in 1916 by a national association official, Mr. Charles N. Chadbourn, a past president of the Minneapolis Real Estate Board. Chadbourn saw the two-syllable term functioning as a collective mark to distinguish members of the national real estate association from nonmembers.
NAR registered the trademarks in 1949 and 1950. They are among the very first trademarks registered after the Lanham Act went into effect.
On March 31, 2004, the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board ruled unanimously in reaffirming that the National Association of REALTORS® has exclusive rights to the terms "REALTOR®" and "REALTORS®."
The term REALTOR® designates the highest standards of professionalism and commitment to NAR's strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
REALTORS® are strong advocates for homeowners and homeownership. NAR is the only national lobbying group that looks out for the interests of homeowners. Every year, NAR leads the way on Capitol Hill and in the corridors of Washington to keep homeownership a top national priority. NAR's support for the mortgage interest deduction and other federal policies helps to keep housing more affordable and makes housing a great investment. Through sound housing policies, more home seekers than ever before are enabled to purchase a home of their own.
How do I get a Kentucky real estate license?
You must meet the following requirements according to the Kentucky Real Estate Commission to attain your real estate license in Kentucky:
Be at least 18 years old
Have a high school diploma or GED
Complete all pre-licensing coursework prior to taking the real estate exam
How much time does it take to get a real estate license in Kentucky?
There are several time-consuming steps that must be completed in order to get your real estate license. The first is completing the pre-licensing education requirement. To do this, you will need to have completed either six (6) credit hours in real estate courses from an accredited college or ninety-six (96) classroom hours in real estate classes from an approved proprietary school. Then you must take and pass the Kentucky Sales Association exam. The next step is completing the FBI criminal background check which can take up to 12 to 16 weeks to complete.
How much does it cost to get a Kentucky real estate license?
The costs include:
FBI criminal background check fee
Kentucky Sales Associate exam fee
Sales associate license application fee
Pre-licensing education tuition
E&O insurance
Please note there are many additional costs associated with being in the business after acquiring your license including Association dues if you become a REALTOR.
