In Real Estate the number of acronyms used on a regular basis can be mind boggling. Below is a list of the most common acronyms and their meaning.
ABR |
Accredited Buyer Representative, a certification of NAR for buyer representation |
ADF |
Applicant Data Form, used to submit qualifications for RCE designation |
AE |
Association Executive, applies to anyone on staff at a REALTOR® association |
AEC |
Association Executives Committee, a committee of NAR that makes recommendations on behalf of AEs |
AEI |
Association Executives Institute, an annual NAR conference for AEs |
ALC |
Accredited Land Consultant, a designation awarded by the REALTORS® Land Institute |
ALD |
Association Leadership Development, name of NAR area that focuses on programming for association staff and volunteer leaders |
Affiliate |
A class of membership in a board for those in industry interested in board (bankers, attorneys, etc.) |
ARAM |
Advanced REALTOR® Association Management, an advanced self-study program for AEs, available from NAR |
ARELLO |
Association of Real Estate License Law Officials |
ASAE |
American Society of Association Executives |
Block R |
The trademarked "R" design denoting REALTOR®, with specific requirements for its placement and use |
BOD |
Board of Directors |
CAE |
Certified Association Executive, a designation awarded by ASAE |
CCIM |
Certified Commercial Investment Member, a designation awarded by the CCIM Institute |
CIPS |
Certified International Property Specialist, a NAR designation focused on International real estate |
COE |
REALTORS® Code of Ethics |
CFR |
Campaign Finance Reform, rules/laws that impact PAC contributions |
CPM |
Certified Property Manager, a designation awarded by IREM |
CRB |
Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager, a designation awarded by the Council of R.E. Brokerage Managers |
CREA |
Canadian Real Estate Association, the national association for Canada |
CRS |
Certified Residential Specialist, a designation awarded by the Council of Residential Specialists |
CRT |
Center for Real Estate Technology, a division of NAR focused on technology products, programs, and issues |
Crystal R |
Contributor to RPAC at $2500 level (which may include lower amount in recurring year) |
Delegate |
Representative on NAR's Delegate Body, casts votes by number of members in Board, to change NAR Constitution |
D&O |
Directors & Officers insurance, another term used to describe professional liability insurance for associations |
DR |
Designated REALTOR®, the person in the firm with dues and professional standards authority |
E&O |
Errors & Omissions insurance, professional liability insurance for associations |
EO |
Executive Officer, defunct term for the CEO/EVP of a REALTOR® association |
ePOE |
e-commerce Point of Entry, a status within NRDS allowing e-commerce capabilities for records |
ePRO |
A technology certification provided by NAR |
EVP |
Executive Vice President, a staff title within an association |
FDC |
Federal District Coordinator, defunct term for REALTOR® liaison to Member of Congress/Senate |
FPC |
Federal Political Coordinator, a liaison to a Member of Congress for NAR (formerly FSC/FDC) |
FSC |
Federal Senate Coordinator, defunct term for REALTOR® liaison to Member of Congress/Senate |
GAD |
Government Affairs Director, typically a staff title |
Golden R |
Contributor to RPAC at $5000 level (which may include lower amounts in recurring years) |
GRI |
Graduate, REALTOR® Institute, a NAR designation awarded at state association level |
HOP |
Housing Opportunities Program, NAR effort for affordable housing |
IA |
Institute Affiliate Member, a commercial designee who pays a reduced fee for limited membership |
IDX |
Information Data Exchange, agreement by firms in MLS to advertise each others listings on firm websites |
INS |
Internal News Service, a regular weekly emailed publication from NAR |
IREM |
Institute of Real Estate Management, a commercial affiliate of NAR |
ISC |
Institutes, Societies, & Councils, used to collectively describe organizations with specific relationship to NAR |
IT |
Information Technology, another term used for NAR CRT division, or reference to the information function |
LFRO |
Limited Function Referral Office, a company licensed for the sole purpose of providing referrals to another firm |
Magel |
The William R. Magel Award of Excellence, award given to AE for outstanding contributions (NAR Award) |
Major Donor |
REALTOR® or AE who gives $1000 or more to NAR's Political Action Committee (RPAC) |
MARKS |
Collective term for registered trademarks of NAR |
MLS |
Multiple Listing Service |
MIC |
Major Investor Council Member – REALTOR® member in charge of Major Investor and President’s Circle recruitment for the state |
MLS |
Multiple Listing Service |
MVP |
Member Value Plus reward program for members and associations to take specified NAR actions and in doing so earn a reward |
NAR |
National Association of REALTORS® |
NRDS |
National REALTORS® Database System, a centralized membership clearinghouse with rules |
PC |
President’s Circle – A RPAC Major Investor who invests an additional $2,000 directly to REALTOR® Champions from a pre-approved list by the national RPAC Disbursement Trustees. |
Platinum R |
Investor in RPAC at $10,000 level (which includes lower amount in subsequent years to sustain) |
POE |
Point of Entry, a status within NRDS allowing data entry to certain fields in membership records |
PS |
Professional Standards, the specific process for resolving arbitration and ethics complaints; duty of members |
RAE |
REALTOR® Association Executive magazine, a NAR publication for AEs |
RAM |
REALTOR® Association Management, a self-study program for AEs, available from NAR |
RARE |
REALTOR® Association Resource Exchange, virtual library of sample association documents donated by AEs |
RCE |
REALTOR® Association Certified Executive, a NAR designation for REALTOR® Association Executives |
REALTOR |
A trademarked term denoting membership in the National Association of REALTORS®; not a generic term |
REBAC |
Real Estate Buyer Agent Council, an affiliate of NAR that maintains the ABR designation |
RLI |
REALTORS® Land Institute, an affiliate of NAR |
ROTY |
REALTOR®of the Year |
RPAC |
REALTORS® Political Action Committee, NAR's PAC |
RPMIC |
REALTORS® Party Member Involvement Committee, NAR's grassroots contact system (formerly RPIC) |
SIOR |
Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS®, a commercial affiliate of NAR |
SRES |
Senior Real Estate Specialist, a designation offered by the California Association of REALTORS®—selling to seniors |
Sterling R |
Contributor to RPAC at $1000 level (each year separate) |
VOW |
Virtual Office Website, a real estate firm practicing brokerage on the Internet (advertising in some state laws) |
WCR |
Women's Council of REALTORS®, and affiliate of NAR primarily for women but open to men |