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Below, you will find a brief summary of covered topics in this year's updates to the Code of Ethics, but please take the time to review the entire REALTOR® Code of Ethics, or view each update individually by clicking the paragraph titles below.
Strikeouts indicate deletions. Other text from Article 12 are additions.
Revised Article 12
(Deleted as Paragraph 1)
REALTORS® shall be careful at all times to present a true picture in their advertising and representations to the public. REALTORS® shall also ensure that their professional status (e.g.' broker, appraiser, property manager, etc.) or status as REALTORS® is clearly identifiable in any such advertising. (Amended 1/93)
(Added as Paragraph 1)
REALTORS® shall be honest and truthful in their real estate communications and shall present a true picture in their advertising, marketing, and other representations. REALTORS® shall ensure that their status as real estate professionals is readily apparent in their advertising, marketing, and other representations, and that the recipients of all real estate communications are, or have been, notified that those communications are from a real estate professional. (Amended 1/08)
New Standard of Practice 12-12
REALTORS® shall not:
- use URLs or domain names that present less than a true picture, or
- register URLs or domain names which, if used, would present less than a true picture. (Adopted 1/08)
New Standard of Practice 12-13
The obligation to present a true picture in advertising, marketing, and representations allows REALTORS® to use and display only professional designations, certifications, and other credentials to which they are legitimately entitled. (Adopted 1/08)
Much more extensive updates were made to the Code of Ethics on January 1, 2007. For your convenience, those changes are also available below.
The updates made to the REALTOR® Code of Ethics in 2007 focused mainly on the electronic tendencies of today's real estate practices. Whether we communicate with consumers via mail, fax, websites, or email, or communicate verbally we have a duty to make accurate representations of ourselves and our industry.
Revised Preamble
Accepting this standard as their own, REALTORS® pledge to observe its spirit in all of their activities whether conducted personally, through associates or others, or via technological means, and to conduct their business in accordance with the tenets set forth below. (Amended 1/07)
Revised Standard of Practice 1-2
The duties imposed by the Code of Ethics encompass all real estate-related activities and transactions whether conducted in person, electronically, or through any other means. (Adopted 1/95, Amended 1/07)
New Standard of Practice 9-2
Establishing a contractual relationship electronically.
Revised Standard of Practice 12-5
REALTORS® shall not advertise nor permit any person employed by or affiliated with them to advertise listed property in any medium (e.g., electronically, print, radio, television, etc.) without disclosing the name of the that REALTOR®'s firm in a reasonable and readily apparent manner. (Adopted 11/86, Amended 1/07)
New Standard of Practice 12-8
Maintaining accurate and current website information for public viewing.
New Standard of Practice 12-9
Displaying REALTOR® firm's name and state(s) of licensure prominently on websites.
New Standard of Practice 12-10
Using deceptive internet practices to mislead consumers.
New Standard of Practice 12-11
Sharing or selling consumer information gathered via the Internet.
New Standard of Practice 15-2
Knowingly transmitting or republishing false information.
Revised Standard of Practice 17-4
(Added to Paragraph 1)
When arbitration occurs between two (or more) cooperating brokers and where the listing broker is not a party, the amount in dispute and the amount of any potential resulting award is limited to the amount paid to the respondent by the listing broker and any amount credited or paid to a party to the transaction at the direction of the respondent. (Adopted 1/97, Amended 1/07)
(Added to Paragraph 2)
When arbitration occurs between two (or more) cooperating brokers and where the listing broker is not a party, the amount in dispute and the amount of any potential resulting award is limited to the amount paid to the respondent by the listing broker and any amount credited or paid to a party to the transaction at the direction of the respondent. (Adopted 1/97, Amended 1/07)
New Standard of Practice 17-5
Submitting to arbitration obligations with out-of-state REALTORS®