The value of your GCAAR membership

We're proud to represent our members, and our success depends on your involvement and support. Take a look at some of our biggest shared accomplishments, and stay tuned for more opportunities for you to participate in GCAAR's activities and initiatives!

GCAAR’s greatest asset is you – our members

We’re always looking for ways to give back, support your professional goals and connect with you. From awards and recognition to continuing education courses, as well as our volunteer opportunities and Emergency Relief Program, we are here to celebrate your achievements and help you reach further as REALTORS®, community members and individuals. Because of how much we value you, we wanted to remind you about the perks and benefits your GCAAR membership has to offer you and encourage you to take advantage of them. Take a look at these resources for more information:

• The value of your GCAAR membership
• GCAAR dues: Where does the money go?
• What does GCAAR do for you?
• The More You Know...about GCAAR video series

   Professional advancement & education

• Continuing education: GCAAR’s many classes help you meet your education requirements and honor your commitment to yourself, your clients and your industry.
  
• Designations & certifications: Look to GCAAR to start on your path to success in real estate. Designations and certifications are an excellent way to enhance your professionalism and increase your skills, proficiency and real estate knowledge. GCAAR offers several designation and certification courses throughout each year.
• Profession Sessions: This series of virtual professional development webinars is designed to help you hone your craft and get answers to questions you may not have even known you had  - at no cost to you, as a GCAAR member.

   REALTOR® tools & resources

• Bright MLS: GCAAR members get a discounted rate on Bright MLS, which averages to $216 a year in savings. You can reach them toll-free at 1-844-552-7444 or 301-838-7100, or  support@brightmls.com.
• Contract form services: Not only does GCAAR house our Montgomery County and District of Columbia contracts on this website, but GCAAR’s contract form services for members include access through Dotloop, Docusign, Skyslope, Glide. We also provide access through zipForm®, which is subsidized by Maryland REALTORS® for our Montgomery County members (GCAAR subsidizes 100% for our D.C. members).
• Industry-related materials: GCAAR produces several regular publications that inform and support members, including Capital Area REALTOR® magazine, our weekly email newsletter, Newsline, our broker/office manager email newsletter, Broker Beat and Real Advocacy, our monthly email legislative update. Members can also access a free subscription to the leading real estate news source RISMedia Premier through Bright MLS, and monthly housing statistics reports.
• Member discounts: As a member, you receive discounted rates for GCAAR’s events, continuing education and professional designation courses and a variety of other discounts for tools and resources important to your profession.
• REALTOR® Store: GCAAR’s store sells REALTOR®-branded promotional items, brochures and clothing.
• SentriLock: SentriLock’s services include the SentriKey app and Bluetooth lockboxes that can help REALTORS® access listings and showings. You can reach them at 513-618-5800 or  support@sentrilock.com.  

   Protecting your interests

• Forms help: We also offer help for REALTOR® members with information on GCAAR's Montgomery County and Washington, D.C. forms and contracts. The email address is intended to provide legal risk management related to forms (but NOT specific, authoritative legal advice). You can get help by emailing FormsHotline@gcaar.com.
• Political advocacy: GCAAR’s political advocacy staff works on your behalf to make sure the interests of REALTORS® are represented in the region’s policy decision-making.
• Professional standards support: We offer support around the National Association of REALTORS®’ Code of Ethics and Professional Standards, by offering help with filing ethics complaints and help with mediating and arbitrating disputes.

   Networking & events

• Events: GCAAR hosts a number of annual, members-only events—virtually, for the time being, including REALTOR® Fest, our largest event, the Installation and various smaller events throughout the year. In 2020, we launched a new webinar series, The History & Power of Real Estate, to explore the issue of race in the real estate industry.
• Involvement and networking opportunities: Members have many opportunities to get more deeply involved in GCAAR and support other professionals in their community, primarily through volunteering on committees and participating in town halls and Broker/Manager Forums.
• Marketing opportunities: Marketing your real estate business can feel like a full-time job in and of itself, so GCAAR offers marketing opportunities to help ease some of that work. Members have an opportunity to advertise in  Capital Area REALTOR® magazine, and in our weekly email newsletter, Newsline. We also offer member-discounted rates for event sponsorship opportunities that can help you get the word out about your work.

Behind each of these benefits and services is GCAAR’s mission to help every member thrive in the field. Through this changing world that we are all navigating together, GCAAR delivers the advocacy, education, resources and services you need to build your career, enhance your network and excel in the local, state and national real-estate industries.

If you’re not already a GCAAR member, we invite you to join us today, or reach out to us for additional information. We would love to have you as part of our association!