REALTOR® Code of Ethics

Professional Standards

The SouthEast Minnesota Association of REALTORS® (SEMAR) is a local trade association, chartered by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR), charged with the responsibility of enforcing standards for professional conduct, or the Code of Ethics, within the board's membership.

Though not a governmental or licensing agency, upon receiving a formal complaint CBR may through its Grievance and Professional Standards Committees conduct investigations and hearings involving members to enforce those professional standards.

One type of investigation that may be conducted is called an "Ethics Complaint", which pertains to alleged violations by a member of one or more of the 17 Articles of the Code of Ethics of the National Association of REALTORS®.

The other type of investigation is called a "Request for Arbitration." An arbitration hearing, or the alternative service of mediation, will determine disputes over real estate commissions that arise between REALTORS® and other REALTORS®, or between REALTORS® and their customers or clients.

Any professional standards complaint received, as well as any material related to a complaint received, is considered to be strictly confidential in nature. Both the Grievance and Professional Standards Committees are responsible for ensuring due process is afforded to all parties, whether it be in the conduct of a hearing to enforce the Code of Ethics or in the arbitration of commission disputes arising out of the real estate business.

The 2010 REALTOR® Code of Ethics (PDF)

References

• Minnesota Association of REALTORS® Law page
• National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) legal section
• NAR's Legal Field Guide offers legal research on many topics of interest to the real estate practicioner.