Membership FAQs

When you join a local board or association of REALTORS^® you will also be joining the National Association of REALTORS^® (NAR) and the Maryland REALTORS^® (MR). To join any association, the key requirements are:

• Your broker must be a member of that association.
• You will need to complete a three-hour Real Estate Ethics & Predatory Lending course within 90 days of joining the association.
• You will need to complete a New Member Orientation within 90 days of joining the association

As a member of the Greater Baltimore Board of REALTORS^® (GBBR) you will eligible to receive the shareholder discount with Bright MLS, the local multiple list service (MLS).  You can also gain access to SentriLock, the electronic lockbox system.

Here is the process to request membership:

1. Obtain the current application. To find the application that suits your situation visit Join GBBR, contact GBBR at 410-337-7200, or ask your broker, manager, or office assistant.
2. Complete the application. You may complete and submit your application either by email, or by fax to 410-337-2138, or by mailing it to the GBBR Membership Department, 1954 Greenspring Drive, Suite 100, Timonium, MD 21093. The membership fees may be submitted by credit card, check, money order, or cash. GBBR accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express. Payments can be made online, in person, or via mail or fax.
   [Bounced Check Policy:  Accounts will be charged a $25 fee, if a check is returned from the bank for non-sufficient funds.  Anyone who bounces a check 3 times in a 12 month period will no longer be able to make payments via check.]
3. Wait to hear from GBBR. Within 24-48 business hours from the day we receive your application, you will receive an acceptance notification to the e-mail address you provided. Included in the email you will receive a:
   • National REALTOR^® Database System (NRDS) ID, also known as NAR ID
   • New Member Orientation Date (You will have 90 days from the date of the email to pay your dues and attend a new member orientation)
   • Information on SentriLock, the local electronic lockbox system.
4. Update your online profile. Login to your Member Dashboard to update your member profile. The information included in your profile is searchable by the public and other GBBR members. Be sure to select your language (if you speak multiple languages), upload your photo, and include a brief bio.  Keep in mind that only GBBR staff can make changes in the business information portion of your profile. To submit updates for this portion of the profile, complete and return the Member Status Update Form.
5. Attend the New Member Orientation. During the New Member Orientation you will learn more about GBBR, MAR, NAR, Bright MLS, SentriLock, and all the other programs and activities offered by GBBR as part of your membership.
6. Attend the Real Estate Ethics & Predatory Lending Continuing Education (CE) course either at GBBR (register here) or take it through the GBBR Online CE Portal. Keep in mind you have 90 days from the date of receiving the acceptance email to complete the Real Estate Ethics & Predatory Lending CE requirement.

NOTE: To be considered a member in “good standing” (active member) you must pay the dues in full, attend the New Member Orientation, and complete the Real Estate Ethics & Predatory Lending CE course within 90 days of the date the acceptance notification email was sent. If you have not completed your orientation within 90 days, GBBR will notify SentriLock and Bright MLS of your incomplete membership status, which will suspend access to SentriLock and result in a loss of the Bright MLS Shareholder discount ($100 discount per quarter).

The SentriLock system, including the SentriKey mobile app and physical lockboxes, are administered through the Mid-Atlantic Realty Services, Inc. (MARS).  GBBR participates in the MARS service region, because it consists of Baltimore City, Baltimore County, Carroll County, Harford County, and Howard County.  Ordinarily it takes approximately two (2) business days after you have paid your dues for GBBR membership, to become eligible for a SentriLock account.

SentriLock fees are pro-rated on a quarterly basis the first year you become eligible for a SentriLock account. Upon activation of your SentriLock account the cost will be the prorated amount, plus the $50.00 application fee.  The annual fee is $175.00 and will renew on March 4 every year. (This amount can fluctuate and is not guaranteed).

Your SentriKey mobile app access must be obtained from your primary association.  The SentriLock system is used in all Maryland counties, however reciprocity access must be obtained through MARS to use the SentriKey mobile app in Wicomico, Somerset, and Worchester counties.  Additionally, reciprocity can be obtained for the RAYAC (REALTOR® Association of York & Adam Counties) area in Pennsylvania.  For more information on how to achieve reciprocity, contact GBBR after your SentriLock account has been fully activated.

Here’s how to obtain a SentriKey access:

Email your completed application to Cheryl Alexander, GBBR Administrator of Professional Standards; be certain to include your name and NRDS number in the subject line. SentriLock information, forms, and training can be found here.  Remember, to be eligible to establish a SentriLock account, you must have paid the GBBR membership dues in full and be a member in good standing.

Please remember that if you do not complete GBBR’s New Member Orientation, and the Ethics & Predatory Lending course requirement within 90 days of the date the GBBR acceptance notification email was sent, your SentriLock services will be suspended until both requirements have been completed.

Other SentriLock information:

Lockboxes can be purchased from GBBR during business hours. You must have the SentriKey mobile app activated to take ownership of a SentriLock lockbox. New lockboxes are available for purchase at GBBR for $130.00 including taxes. Please remember that we cannot accept cash for lockbox purchases.

After you have submitted your application and paid your GBBR membership dues in full, you can join Bright MLS at the shareholder’s discounted rate. You can obtain subscriber membership information from their website at BrightMLS.com  You will need to enter your NRDS number into the application to receive the discount. Your NRDS number is provided in the application acceptance email you receive from GBBR.  Please remember that if you have not completed the requirements of 1.) attending the New Member Orientation AND 2.) completing the Real Estate Ethics & Predatory Lending course within 90 days of the date that the GBBR membership acceptance notification email was sent, GBBR will notify Bright MLS of your incomplete membership status.  Bright MLS will in turn remove the shareholder discount from your quarterly renewal ($100 discount per quarter).

To renew your license, the Maryland Real Estate Commission (MREC) requires you have completed a total of 15 credit hours of CE every two (2) years. A full breakdown of the MREC license renewal requirements can be found by clicking on the CE Requirements link under the Quick Links section of the GBBR website. If you want to see which classes you have taken for the current renewal period, click Check My CE link also found under the Quick Links section.

Mandatory Topics  

• Topic A – Federal, State, & Local Issues (Legislative Update)
• Topic C – Fair Housing
• Topic D – Ethics & Predatory Lending
• Topic H – MREC Agency
• Topic I – Brokers Supervision (brokers and team leaders only)

Electives

• Topic B – Antitrust Law
• Topic E – Disclosure
• Topic F – Professional Enhancement
• Topic G – Technology Relating to Real Estate Brokerage

Still have questions?  Not to worry!  Send a message to our Membership department and we’ll be happy to help!