Code of Ethics Tool

Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice
of the National Association of REALTORS®

Effective January 1, 2011

• Article 1
  REALTORS® protect and promote their clients’ interests while treating all parties honestly.
  
  • Standard of Practice 1-1
  • Standard of Practice 1-2
  • Standard of Practice 1-3
  • Standard of Practice 1-4
  • Standard of Practice 1-5
  • Standard of Practice 1-6
  • Standard of Practice 1-7
  • Standard of Practice 1-8
  • Standard of Practice 1-9
  • Standard of Practice 1-10
  • Standard of Practice 1-11
  • Standard of Practice 1-12
  • Standard of Practice 1-13
  • Standard of Practice 1-14
  • Standard of Practice 1-15
    
    
• Article 2
  REALTORS® refrain from exaggeration, misrepresentation, or concealment of pertinent facts related to property or transactions.
  
  • Standard of Practice 2-1
  • Standard of Practice 2-2
  • Standard of Practice 2-3
  • Standard of Practice 2-4
  • Standard of Practice 2-5
    
    
• Article 3
  REALTORS® cooperate with other real estate professionals to advance their clients’ best interests.
  
  • Standard of Practice 3-1
  • Standard of Practice 3-2
  • Standard of Practice 3-3
  • Standard of Practice 3-4
  • Standard of Practice 3-5
  • Standard of Practice 3-6
  • Standard of Practice 3-7
  • Standard of Practice 3-8
  • Standard of Practice 3-9
  • Standard of Practice 3-10 
    
    
• Article 4
  When buying or selling on their own account or for their families or firms, REALTORS® make their true position or interest known.
  • Standard of Practice 4-1
    
    
• Article 5
  REALTORS® do not provide professional services where they have any present or contemplated interest in property without disclosing that interest to all affected parties.
  
  
• Article 6
  REALTORS® disclose any fee or financial benefit they may receive from recommending related real estate products or services.
  • Standard of Practice 6-1
    
    
• Article 7
  REALTORS® receive compensation from only one party, except where they make full disclosure and receive informed consent from their client.
  
  
• Article 8
  REALTORS® keep entrusted funds of clients and customers in a separate escrow account.
  
  
• Article 9
  REALTORS® make sure that contract details are spelled out in writing and that parties receive copies.
  
  • Standard of Practice 9-1
  • Standard of Practice 9-2
    

Duties to the Public

• Article 10
  REALTORS® give equal professional service to all clients and customers irrespective of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.
  
  • Standard of Practice 10-1
  • Standard of Practice 10-2
  • Standard of Practice 10-3
  • Standard of Practice 10-4
    
    
• Article 11
  REALTORS® are knowledgeable and competent in the fields of practice in which they engage or they get assistance from a knowledgeable professional, or disclose any lack of expertise to their client.
  • Standard of Practice 11-1
  • Standard of Practice 11-2
  • Standard of Practice 11-3
  • Standard of Practice 11-4
    
    
• Article 12
  REALTORS® paint a true picture in their advertising and in other public representations.
  
  • Standard of Practice 12-1
  • Standard of Practice 12-2
  • Standard of Practice 12-3
  • Standard of Practice 12-4
  • Standard of Practice 12-5
  • Standard of Practice 12-6
  • Standard of Practice 12-7
  • Standard of Practice 12-8
  • Standard of Practice 12-9
  • Standard of Practice 12-10
  • Standard of Practice 12-11
  • Standard of Practice 12-12
  • Standard of Practice 12-13
    
    
• Article 13
  REALTORS® do not engage in the unauthorized practice of law.
  
  
• Article 14
  REALTORS® willingly participate in ethics investigations and enforcement actions.
  
  • Standard of Practice 14-1
  • Standard of Practice 14-2
  • Standard of Practice 14-3
  • Standard of Practice 14-4
    

Duties to REALTORS®

• Article 15
  REALTORS® make only truthful, objective comments about other real estate professionals.
  
  • Standard of Practice 15-1
  • Standard of Practice 15-2
    
    
• Article 16
  Respect the exclusive representation or exclusive brokerage relationship agreements that other REALTORS® have with their clients
  • Standard of Practice 16-1
  • Standard of Practice 16-2
  • Standard of Practice 16-3
  • Standard of Practice 16-4
  • Standard of Practice 16-5
  • Standard of Practice 16-6
  • Standard of Practice 16-7
  • Standard of Practice 16-8
  • Standard of Practice 16-9
  • Standard of Practice 16-10
  • Standard of Practice 16-11
  • Standard of Practice 16-12
  • Standard of Practice 16-13
  • Standard of Practice 16-14
  • Standard of Practice 16-15
  • Standard of Practice 16-16
  • Standard of Practice 16-17
  • Standard of Practice 16-18
  • Standard of Practice 16-19
  • Standard of Practice 16-20
    
    
• Article 17
  REALTORS® arbitrate financial disagreements with other REALTORS® and with their clients.
  
  • Standard of Practice 17-1
  • Standard of Practice 17-2
  • Standard of Practice 17-3
  • Standard of Practice 17-4
  • Standard of Practice 17-5
    

Explanatory Notes

Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, © 2007, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®