New Member Resources
Welcome
Congratulations on becoming a member of the Cape Cod & Islands Association of REALTORS® (CCIAOR)! We are happy you are here and look forward to being part of your journey as a REALTOR®.
CCIAOR members have access to a variety of tools, resources, and benefits to help them be successful. We have assembled many of these resources below for easy access for our new members. We encourage you to take some time to familiarize yourself with the information on this page.
If you have any questions about the new member orientation materials or new member requirements, please reach out to Nicole Gaucher.
New Member Requirements
All new members of CCIAOR are required to complete several requirements within the first months of their membership in order to stay in good standing. If you do not meet these requirements within the allotted time frame, your membership will be suspended until the requirements are fulfilled, so make sure to get them on your calendar!
REALTOR® members are individuals who hold an active real estate sales, broker or appraiser license and are affiliated with a Designated REALTOR® member.
Designated REALTOR® (DR) members are individuals who have been designated the ‘Broker in Charge’ of their office (i.e. sole proprietors, partners, corporate officers).
In addition to the new member requirements above, you will also need to complete a Fair Housing training requirement
Getting Started
When you become a REALTOR®, you gain membership at the local, state and national levels of the REALTOR® organization. Learn about the unique benefits and resources offered by the Cape Cod & Islands Association of REALTORS®(CCIAOR), the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) below so you can get the most out of your membership at all three levels.
This new member packet covers your responsibilities as a REALTOR® and the benefits and resources available to you as a member of the Cape Cod & Islands Association of REALTORS®.
The Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® (MAR) Member Guide will introduce you to the benefits and resources available to you as part of your state membership.
This online orientation covers valuable information to help new members realize their full benefits of membership from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR).
Getting Started with CCIAOR
Your Member Dashboard provides single sign-on access to all of the tools, resources, and information you need as a member of CCIAOR. For those who also joined the Cape & Islands MLS, you can access the required MLS New Member Training through your dashboard. Take some time to explore the dashboard and make sure to check the messages at the top for important announcements and updates!
Your Member Dashboard login is provided in your New Member Welcome email. If you have trouble logging in, please call 508-957-4300 or email us at support@cciaor.com for assistance.
PEARL stands for Professionalism, Education, and Real Estate Learning and is your destination for all your education needs from anywhere you have Wi-Fi access. CCIAOR is committed to providing relevant educational programs and tools that enhance members’ ability to conduct their businesses in an ethical and professional manner, and as part of this mission, we are bringing PEARL to you - wherever you are - starting in October 2022!
We highly recommend logging into PEARL to get your account set up prior to taking any courses with CCIAOR.
Massachusetts law requires 12 hours of continuing education every two years to renew your license. As part of your membership with CCIAOR, you have access to complimentary continuing education (CE) classes offered by knowledgeable and experienced instructors to keep you at the top of your game. We offer a comprehensive and diverse education program through the year at locations across the Cape & Islands as well as online.
Make sure you understand how dues and fees work for members of CCIAOR and CCIMLS and what to expect throughout the year.
The CCIAOR is governed by a volunteer, member-elected Board of Directors who set the strategy, values, and direction of the Association.
Our knowledgeable and friendly staff is available to help you with any step of your REALTOR® journey - please reach out to us with your questions!
Essential Knowledge
Below we have assembled areas of essential knowledge for REALTORS®. We ask that all new members review this section thoroughly and watch the included videos to ensure you are informed and educated on these very important topics.
REALTOR® Code of Ethics
The Code of Ethics (COE) is the basis of REALTOR® membership. With it, we can continue to treat our clients with the hallmark of service and professionalism that has made the REALTOR® organization one of the nation’s most respected and recognized. All REALTOR® members are required to complete 2 1⁄2 hours of COE training every three years. New members must complete their first COE training within 120 days of joining.
CCIAOR and our members maintain the highest level of professionalism by following the NAR Code of Ethics. CCIAOR holds your competition accountable to the Code of Ethics and provides guidance and assistance to work through and resolve disputes via our Professional Standards program. Membership in CCIAOR mandates mediation and arbitration among REALTOR® firms to resolve commission disputes in a professional, ethical manner outside of expensive court costs.
Fair Housing
Fair housing is more than a list of dos and don’ts, rights and penalties, and mandatory continuing education. As stewards of the right to own, use and transfer private property, fair housing protects our livelihood and business as REALTORS® and depends on a free, open market that embraces equal opportunity. All REALTORS® must recognize the significance of the Fair Housing Act and reconfirm their commitment to upholding fair housing law as well as their commitment to offering equal professional service to all in their search for real property.
In 2022, CCIAOR members voted to add fair housing education as a requirement to maintain membership. All primary CCIAOR members, including new members, must complete a fair housing education requirement every three years on the same cycle as the Code of Ethics. The upcoming deadline to complete the requirement is December 31, 2024. To read more about the fair housing education requirement, and how to complete it, click here.
We strongly encourage all new members to watch this informative video to learn about why fair housing is essential and how you can make sure you are following its laws. Make sure to check out the CCIAOR Fair Housing Resource page below for more helpful information.
Antitrust
Federal and state antitrust laws are designed to protect competition, and the opportunity of competitors to engage in business free of artificial restrictions on competition. Such restrictions include price-fixing agreements, group boycotts, “tying” arrangements, and market allocation arrangements. Antitrust laws also make it illegal to operate a monopoly and abuse the power of one who has a monopolistic market position. Antitrust laws are enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice, the Federal Trade Commission, and similar state agencies and state Attorneys General.
All new members should watch this video to learn about the Sherman Antitrust Act and what you need to do to avoid violating antitrust law.
REALTOR® Safety
As a REALTOR®, you are in a unique position that most working professionals never face. You regularly share your contact information openly with others, meet unknown clients and walk through vacant properties. It is because of this unique nature of this business that it is so important for REALTORS® to understand the risks they face and the steps they can take to protect themselves.
Watch this video to learn about personal safety tips you can implement as a real estate professional to keep you, and your clients, safe.
REALTOR® Trademark
The term REALTOR® is not only a trademark owned by NAR and protected by federal law, it is also a valuable membership benefit that distinguishes members from all others in the real estate business. It is important to use NAR's membership marks—including the REALTOR® logo —correctly and according to the rules outlined in the Membership Marks Manual.
REALTOR® Trademark Videos
Protect the REALTOR® trademark by avoiding common misuses, including use in business names, domain names, and on social media.
The term REALTOR® is not only a trademark owned by NAR and protected by federal law, it is also a valuable membership benefit.
Real Estate Tools
CCIAOR enhances marketing for your listings and helps the closing process flow smoothly by giving you access to a suite of business and marketing tools. Over time, we have researched and invested in industry-leading tools and technology with the goal of making your marketing and transactions as effective as possible. CCIAOR selects the most user-friendly and powerful tools available and offers friendly and efficient training and support to our members on our entire suite of tools.
These tools are included in the cost of your membership, saving you thousands of dollars a year.
In Massachusetts, your REALTOR® membership gives you access to a library of standard forms and contracts to use with your clients. These forms have been developed by expert legal staff and are continually updated by the Massachusetts Association of REALTORS® based on current industry standards of representing clients in Massachusetts. Your REALTOR® membership also gives you access to Remine Docs+ as a member benefit for no additional fee.
As a member of CCIAOR, you have access to the REALTORS Property Resource or RPR® -- a national database with extensive information on every property in the country providing you with powerful reports and easy access to detailed property and market information.
CCIAOR & CCIMLS together produce the most research on the Cape Cod & Islands real estate market, providing actionable and marketable data on the local real estate market and highlight the value a REALTOR® can bring to the process. You can access up-to-date, town-specific market statistics and watch your inbox for our monthly market data reports.
The Cape Cod & Islands Multiple Listing Service (CCIMLS) provides a customized experience, the most in-depth and accurate data, and a powerful set of tools to make the Cape Cod real estate market work. The CCIMLS webpage has detailed information about the MLS's suite of tools, the rules and regulations of service, how to set up a training with our knowledgeable staff, details on upcoming MLS tours and much more! Learn More About CCIMLS
The Martha's Vineyard Multiple Listing Service (MVMLS) provides a customized experience on a powerful and easy-to-use platform enhanced with tools simplifying the transaction to deliver incredible results for Martha's Vineyard real estate professionals and their clients. Visit the MVMLS webpage for information on products, features, how-to join, and more. Learn More About MVMLS
As a NAR member, you have automatic access to a free profile on realtor.com. Learn how to maximize this benefit and enhance your online presence with consumers and generate more leads.
CCIAOR recommends DepositLink as their preferred partner for electronic earnest money deposit and commission payments for real estate transactions across Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. This new technology will speed up a frequent cause of delays in real estate transactions - the deposit process.
Partners & Perks
NAR's REALTOR Benefits® Program is your official member benefits resource, bringing you savings and unique offers on products and services just for REALTORS®. Program Partners are carefully selected, so you can be assured they understand the unique needs of real estate professionals and are committed to your success.
Visit CCIAOR's public-facing directory site listing the leading home services providers on the Cape and Islands. This directory is comprised of CCIAOR Affiliate Members - businesses and individuals that offer services and products of value to homeowners and the more than 2,500 REALTORS® on Cape Cod, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket.
CCIAOR has partnered with Cape Cod Community College's Center for Corporate and Professional Development to offer 20% off select noncredit courses to enrich our members' professional skill set in areas such as marketing, business, administration, technology and more. Take advantage of this opportunity to grow professionally!
