Skip to Main Content
GCAAR

Greater Capital Area Association of Realtors®

Why Use a REALTOR®?

Only real estate professionals who are members of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) can call themselves REALTORS®.  All REALTORS® adhere to NAR’s strict Code of Ethics, which is based on professionalism and protection of the public. That’s why all real estate licensees are NOT the same.

The National Association of REALTORS® is the largest professional association at over one million members strong. So, whether you’re buying or selling a home—it pays to work with a REALTOR®. Look for the REALTOR® logo when choosing your real estate professional.

No matter what side of the transaction you're on, REALTORS® provide you with invaluable services. Here are some highlights from the 2016 NAR Survey of Home Buyers and Sellers:

Home Buying and Real Estate Professionals
Eighty-eight percent of buyers recently purchased their home through a real estate agent or broker, and six percent purchased directly from a builder or builder’s agent.

Having an agent to help them find the right home was what buyers wanted most when choosing an agent at 50 percent.

Forty-two percent of buyers used an agent that was referred to them by a friend, neighbor, or relative and 11 percent used an agent that they had worked with in the past to buy or sell a home.

Nearly seven in 10 buyers interviewed only one real estate agent during their home search.

Eighty-eight percent of buyers would use their agent again or recommend their agent to others.
Home Selling and Real Estate Professionals
Sixty-four percent of sellers found their agent through a referral from a friend, neighbor, or relative or used an agentthey had worked with before to buy or sell a home.

Seventy-two percent of recent sellers contacted only one agent before finding the right agent they worked with to sell their home.

Ninety-two percent of sellers listed their homes on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which is the number one source for sellers to list their home.

Seventy-seven percent of sellers reported they provided the agents' compensation.

The typical seller has recommended their agent twice since selling their home. Thirty-three percent of sellers recommended their agent three or more times since selling their home.

Eighty-five percent said that they would definitely (70 percent) or probably (15 percent) recommend their agent for future services.