New Member 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 AND a two-hour “Fair Housing” 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, at 1954 Greenspring Drive, Suite 100, Timonium, MD 21093.  Membership payments can be made online, in person, or via mail or fax.  GBBR accepts Cash, Check, MasterCard, Visa, Discover or American Express payment options, for your convenience.  Please note that a 3% surcharge is applied to all credit card transactions. This fee does not apply to cash or check payments.  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 Association of REALTORS® ID, more recently known as an “M1 number” (and previously/frequently referred to as a “NRDS number”).
   • Choice of New Member Orientation dates.  You will have 90 days from the date of the email to attend one of the 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, if you would like.  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, the Maryland REALTORS® association (MR), the National Association of REALTORS® (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 GBBR acceptance email to complete the “Real Estate Ethics & Predatory Lending” CE requirement.
7. Attend the “Fair Housing” 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 GBBR acceptance email to complete the “Fair Housing” 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” and “Fair Housing” CE courses within 90 days of the date the GBBR acceptance email message.  If you have not completed these requirements 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, consisting 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 Director of Membership; be certain to include your name and M1 number (NRDS number) in the subject line.  Your M1 number is provided in the application acceptance email you receive from GBBR.  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, as well as the “Real Estate Ethics & Predatory Lending” and “Fair Housing” CE course requirements within 90 days of the date the GBBR acceptance email was sent, your SentriLock services will be suspended until those 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 note 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 M1 number (NRDS number) into the application to receive the discount. Your M1 number is provided in the application acceptance email you receive from GBBR.

Please remember that if you do not complete GBBR’s New Member Orientation, as well as the “Real Estate Ethics & Predatory Lending” and “Fair Housing” CE course requirements within 90 days of the date the GBBR acceptance email was sent, GBBR will have to 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 visiting the CE Requirements on the Commission’s website.  If you want to see which classes you have taken for the current renewal period, visit MREC’s Real Estate Continuing Education Status Query web page.  TIP:  For future convenience, GBBR also has links to these two pages on our website, under our Quick Links space.

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)
  —- Topics J through O are considered Initial Licensees Renewal Topics —
• Topic J – Contracts
• Topic K – Principles of Brokerage Relationships & Disclosures Requirements for Sellers
• Topic L – Principles of Real Estate Practice
• Topic M – Property Managements &Landlord and Tenant Laws
• Topic N – Professionalism
• Topic O – Real Estate Financing

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!