As a member of a local REALTOR^® association, you have membership in organizations all three levels of the REALTOR^® family.   Your membership locally with the Frederick County Association of REALTORS^® is an excellent way to network with other real estate professionals.  Our volunteers and staff work to provide you with benefits to improve productivity ensure professionalism and help maintain the REALTOR^® image in our local community. 

Summary of FCAR Benefits:

Sentrilock

Sentriock is the electronic keybox system used by FCAR. You can sign up for Sentrilock at the FCAR office. For a list of fees, click here. The Sentrilock Card is warranted as long as you have your card.  Sentrilock will invoice you each March for the next year. Agents that terminate their membership with FCAR must return the Sentrilock Card and card reader to the Board Office. If the card is lost, it can be replaced at the FCAR office for a cost of $7.50 plus tax.

MRIS 

MRIS (Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc) is the regional multiple listing service. For more information on subscribing to MRIS, visit www.mris.com. FCAR is a shareholder in MRIS, and members of shareholder associations receive reduced rates.

Education

FCAR maintains an active Continuing Education Program. Members receive classes at a discounted rate and class schedules are designed to ensure all members can meet the state’s continuing education requirements. Additional non-CE classes are offered through the FCAR Informed Professional Series which focuses on technology, business trends, and sale and marketing. Click here for a current list of Education classes.

Community Outreach

Through several committees, FCAR gives back to our local community. Our Community Service Committee holds fundraisers throughout the year and disburses proceeds to local charitable organizations.  

FCAR’s Affordable Housing Committee works with the Frederick Community Action Agency to help teach homebuyer education classes. In addition, the Affordable Housing Committee works to ensure members and their clients and customers are kept abreast of programs offering down payment and closing costs assistance to homebuyers. Additional information on programs to assist homebuyers is available at www.mdhomeprograms.com.

The Equal Opportunity Committee reaches out to local schools to participate in the Maryland Association of REALTORS® Fair Housing Poster contest. The Equal Opportunity has also created Project Access to build wheelchair accessible ramps for local homeowners in need.

On an annual basis, the American Home Month Committee rounds up volunteers and sponsors to improve the exterior of a local homeowner’s property. These projects can include landscaping, roofing, siding, painting, and many other related types of work. Click here for more information on the American Home Month project.  

Online Newsletter – The Voice

On a weekly basis the Communications Committee updates the FCAR online newsletter. This newsletter is emailed to all FCAR members on a monthly basis. The newsletter is just one communication vehicle for keeping you informed of local, state and national issues affecting your business. The newsletter is also used to inform you about upcoming FCAR events. Click here to read our current edition. Click here to see our archived newsletters.  

Membership Meetings and Trade Show

The Membership Committee schedules regular membership meetings with informative guest speakers.  These meetings are also opportunities for REALTORS® and Affiliates to network and for all members to learn more about FCAR programs and services. FCAR also holds an annual trade show. The trade show is themed event and a fun way to network and check out new industry products and services. http://fcar.org/tradeshow.htm  

REALTOR^® Supply Store:

FCAR maintains a supply of sign riders, brochure boxes, flyer stands, and related marketing material.  Our merchandise selection changes from time to time so stop by and take a look. If you have an idea for a new product, please just let us know.

Legislative and RPAC

The Legislative Committee meets during the Maryland General Assembly session to review bills. The committee makes recommendations to the Maryland Association of REALTORS® based on the possible impact bills would have on the local real estate market. The REALTOR® Political Action Committee raises funds to support REALTOR®-friendly candidates. RPAC contributions are split among national, state and local candidates. For more information on RPAC, click here.

Contracts and Forms

Template forms are offered through Zipform, an automated software package. Zipform is included in the cost of the FCAR membership fees.  To register, go to https://www.zipform.com/ecommerce/dues/duesorder.aspx. Once you have registered for ZipForm, you can easily login at www.zipformonline.com. The Model Forms Committee maintains and updates local forms.  MAR maintains a library of state forms that are also included in the Frederick Zipform library.  

Awards

The Annual Awards Celebration recognizes outstanding members of our association.  Our volunteers make us who we are and we are proud of the way our members represent our industry. Click here for more information.  

Additional Member Benefits

For more information on REALTOR^® benefits, click here.

For more information on becoming a FCAR member, click here. If you already belong to another REALTOR association and wish to join as a secondary member, you do NOT pay the application fee. You pay only the FCAR local dues. Click here for a list of dues and fees for secondary members.