Why Use A REALTOR®?

Why Use A REALTOR^®?

Not every real estate agent or broker is a REALTOR^®. The trademark REALTOR^®and the familiar block “R” logo are patented to the National Association of REALTORS^® of the USA. Only members in good standing of NAR-USA and its foreign affiliates are authorized to use them.

While all REALTORS^® are government-licensed brokers, majority of the non-REALTOR^® real estate agents in the Philippines are not. Another major difference between them is that the REALTORS^® have taken an oath to abide by the stringent, enforceable REALTOR^® Code of Ethics with Standards of Practice that promote the fair, ethical and honest treatment of all parties in a transaction. Non-REALTORS^® take no such oath and are not morally bound to protect their clients and co-brokers from fraud, misrepresentation and other unethical practices that proliferate in the industry.

For your peace of mind and as an extra precautionary measure, make sure to partner with a REALTOR^®.

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WARNING:

No one in the Philippines may use the trademark REALTOR^® or the block "R" logo except for members in good standing of the PHILIPPINE ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^® BOARDS (PAREB). Unauthorized use is an infringement of and punishable under Republic Act No. 166. It also constitutes a ground for revocation of the real estate broker's license pursuant to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Administrative Order 75-1.

REALTOR^® is a service mark registered in the Commission of Patents of the United States of America under Document No. 515199 and in the Philippine Patent Office under Document No. 5385 as property of then the National Association of REALTORS^® Boards, now known as the National Association of REALTORS^® (NAR-USA).

PAREB is the sole affiliate of NAR-USA in the Philippines. NAR-USA has conferred upon PAREB the authority to use the term and trademark REALTOR^® since 1960.

NAR-USA's recent victory in a legal challenge to the uniqueness of the REALTOR^® as a trademark is a timely reminder that REALTOR^® and REALTORS^® are neither generic terms nor synonyms for a real estate practitioner, agent or broker.