Take a moment to peruse the following member benefits and you'll quickly discover why joining SAR is essential to your success. Join now by filling out our membership application

Code of Ethics

As a REALTOR®, you adhere to the NAR Code of Ethics. Not only does the Code guide your professional behavior, it raises your level of competency, integrity and marketability.

In addition, if you are in dispute with another SAR Member or believe a SAR Member has violated the Code, you can request a SAR professional standards hearing to resolve your complaint. Hearings are conducted before a panel of your peers, and save you the time and cost of using legal avenues.

Advocacy

As a SAR Member, you benefit from ongoing state and national legislative advocacy. Both C.A.R. and NAR have political action committees working for your best interests. At SAR, our lobbyist, Public Affairs Director, Board of Directors, and Association Executive keep abreast of industry issues and make sure you stay informed through our varied communication channels.

Affinity Programs

• Free SMUD Shade Trees
  • Your clients can reduce up to 40% on their home's cooling costs by planting up to 10 free trees around their home, compliments of SMUD and the Sacramento Tree Foundation.
  • The Sacramento Tree Foundation staff will perform a free site evaluation and furnish the appropriate trees and care instructions.
• Change a Light, Change the World
  • New CFL light bulbs
  • Help your clients save energy dollars and educate them about using CFL bulbs which are 80% more efficient and last up to 9 years.
  • SAR Members pay just $2.00 for a 4-pack of CFLs, compliments of SMUD.
  • Revenues benefit the SAR Scholarship Program
• Office Depot Purchasing Card
  • Savings of 7% to 70% on purchases, including technology items, from Office Depot.
  • Color copies, regularly $0.89 each are just $0.25 each when the Office Depot Purchasing Card is presented before ordering
  • Office Depot will contribute an amount equal to 2% of our total purchases to the SAR Scholarship fund.
• Cellular Telephone Services
  • SAR Members are eligible for special discounts on the purchase of phones and services through these local vendors:
    • Parrot Cellular (Cingular/AT & T)
    • Sprint
    • Wireless Toyz (Verizon)
  • Already have service/equipment? Be sure you are receiving the REALTOR® discount from your carrier.
• Comcast
  • Welcome Home program
    • $225 installation fee waived on premier triple play package (and other packages as well).
    • Discounts always given. It is a gift from Comcast.
    • 3 free on demand movie passes
  • Triple Play
    • High-speed internet
    • Digital cable with On Demand
    • Comcast Digital Voice home phone service
  • Real Estate on Demand
    • Listings available 24 hours a day
    • Features listings on Cable TV in over 382,000 Sacramento region homes
    • The opportunity to upload listings to Cable TV Video on DEMAND
    • Video ads are half the price (regular rate $50, member rate $25, or $15 for 4 weeks)
    • Exposes buyers to neighborhoods that may have been overlooked
    • Service provided in the greater Sacramento Area, and other counties.
• Capital City Sign and Post
  • Offers patented sign post installations that do not ruin your lawn.
  • Designed templates available for customized look mailing also available for post cards.
  • Customized flyers, printed and mailed, or delivered to the REALTOR® member's office.

For more information contact the SAR Retail Center (916-437-1222).

Education

SAR offers several educational opportunities to meet your needs:

• Ongoing: Live, up-to-date, low-cost training on industry innovations, forms, tools and legalities
• Renewal: Talk to our Education Coordinator when it's time to renew your license. We offer several different methods to help you meet the California Department of Real Estate's (DRE) renewal requirement.
• Fast Track: Whether you're new to real estate or looking for a refresher course, we invite you to participate in SAR's Real Estate Training Institute (RETI) program, a series of classes taught by seasoned Members designed to "jump start" you into the business.
• Designation: As your career progresses, you may wish to earn one of the national REALTOR® designations. We offer four different designation courses throughout the year.

Information

As a SAR Member, you have access to the best local, state and national information on the real estate industry:

• Annual technology faire
• Real estate expos
• Informational e-mails
• Educational meetings
• Statistical reports

Legal Assistance

Save thousands of dollars in legal fees with C.A.R.'s free legal assistance. The C.A.R. Legal Hotline offers members free, confidential legal advice over the telephone on a vast array of real-estate related topics, such as contract interpretation, arbitration, litigation, tax issues, commission disputes, disclosure requirements, fair housing issues, and laws governing homeowners' associations. Skilled C.A.R. lawyers are available by telephone Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., to answer your legal questions.

C.A.R. is now providing C.A.R. Legal Hotline service to members on Saturdays. Members can call the C.A.R. Legal Hotline, between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., and speak live with an attorney on your transaction-based question. Calls will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis. Members may call the Hotline at (213) 739-8282 anytime during the Saturday hours of operation.

Communication

SAR keeps you informed of the latest industry news, issues and trends through:

• Weekly e-mail updates
• Monthly newsletters
• A REALTORS® only area on our website
• Ongoing meeting and class announcements

Networking

Getting to know your fellow REALTORS® benefits you and your business. SAR offers Members many networking opportunities, such as:

• Regional meetings
• Committee participation
• Social functions and educational events

Civic Events

Special events provide a venue for SAR Members to get involved and give back to the local community. Our annual Christmas CanTree project generates tens of thousands of dollars worth of canned goods for Salvation Army's Christmas food basket program, and is our largest and most rewarding fundraiser.

Insurance

SAR offers group health insurance at affordable individual rates. Coverage includes:

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision

For details, contact Ames-Grenz Insurance Services at (916) 486-2900, www.amesgrenz.com.

In addition, NAR offers excellent coverage for Errors and Omissions Insurance at an affordable price.

Resources

SAR is committed to being your complete real estate resource center. Whether you're looking for statistical information, contracts, business tools, MLS services or even a free copy of WINForms software, you'll find it here. And if we don't have what you need, we'll find it for you.

Discounts

Save up to 20 percent when you purchase your business items through SAR's Retail Center! In addition, C.A.R. offers discounts on many business products and services, including:

• Closing gifts
• Organizers
• Shipping services