Frequently Asked Questions

Pre-License Discount:  Thinking of earning your real estate license and becoming a Northwoods REALTOR?  Email us at staff@northwoodsrealtors.org with your name, phone # and (if you know) which firm you plan to join upon earning your license.  We will have someone from Wisconsin REALTORS Association (WRA) contact you to register for online pre-license courses at a big discount off WRA's normal pre-license course pricing. NWAR Educational Incentive Awards: We encourage all NWAR Members to help raise the bar of professionalism in our industry.  NWAR Members who earn a new NAR Designation/Certification or complete WRA Quickstart Training (helpful for the newly-licensed) will receive a $100 NWAR Educational Incentive Award. NWAR Members who earn the NAR C2EX Endorsement (free save for time spent) will receive a $50 award.  We occasionally offer incentives for other courses as well, so keep an eye on our monthly newsletters!

NWAR Partners:


GNMLS Partners:

You can learn learn what functions a personal assistant (with or without license) may perform by visiting the WRA Legal Update Library here (WRA logon required):
https://www.wra.org/Legal/Updates/Categories/Personal%20Assistants/1636/

Note that a personal assistant who has an active real estate license that is not associated with the broker-proprietor or business entity (per the DSPS website) may NOT perform license-related activities for the firm.  License-related activities on behalf of the firm may only be performed by those with an active license associated with the firm or broker-proprietor per WI DSPS.

Wis. Stat § 452.34 - Unlicensed Personal Assistants:  https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/452/34

The REALTOR® "Good Sense Governance" dues formula applies to all licensees (brokers, agents or assistants) registered to a firm or broker-proprietor.  It is the decision of the Designated REALTOR® ("DR") broker whether a licensee should become a REALTOR® as the broker is responsible for the dues obligation for all registered licensees.  Assistants (licensed or unlicensed) who are not registered to the firm nor broker-proprietor with WI DSPS are not subject to the dues formula, but they may not perform any license-related activities.

You should first verify that the other person is a REALTOR who is either a member of NWAR or a subscriber to GNMLS.  If they are neither, then they have not agreed let NWAR handle any disputes involving them and it must be resolved through their local board or other means (court, DSPS, etc).  To determine a REALTOR's local board (if he/she is not a GNMLS subscriber), visit: https://www.wra.org/Find-A-Realtor/.

Once you verify that NWAR is the proper jurisdiction, then you may request one of four types of dispute resolution methods:  Ombudsman service, mediation, arbitration, and/or an ethics hearing.  To learn more about each of these dispute resolution methods and instructions to proceed, visit https://northwoodsrealtors.org/nwar-members/professional-standards-code-of-ethics/.

Tech HelpLine is a benefit provided to all NWAR Members (REALTOR and Affiliate) that provides free technical support for desktops and peripherals as well as smartphones and tablets.  Make sure to have your WRA ID handy so they can verify you are a NWAR Member, then call them at 888-804-8225 for technical assistance with your device(s).  You can also email them at support@techhelpline.com or do an online chat at chat.techhelpline.com.   See more info at:  https://ww2.realestateis.com/lp/techhelpline/nwar

Note:  Please contact the NWAR/GNMLS board office regarding Xposure or other systems that are specifically provided by NWAR/GNMLS.  

All NWAR Members (REALTORS & Affiliates) will receive an email invoice annually by the end of October to renew your membership for the following calendar year.  This statement includes your local and if applicable, state and/or national membership dues.   Annual dues are due by December 1st and you may view our dues table here.  Those who have not renewed by 12/31 will be suspended on January 1st and will incur additional WRA and/or NWAR initiation fees, and possibly training requirements, in order to reactivate.

All REALTORS (Salespersons, Brokers & Appraisers) are required to complete triennial NAR Code of Ethics and Fair Housing / Anti-Bias training as of January 1st 2025 (deadline 12/31/2027) and every three years thereafter.

WI Real Estate & Appraiser Continuing Ed (CE):  If you are a licensed salesperson or broker, you must renew your license by December 14th of each even-numbered year after completing 18 hours of continuing education.  WRA offers WI real estate CE courses on-demand or self-study and occasional live CE courses, and you can view our calendar for video CE classes offered by NWAR - typically in spring & autumn of even-numbered years.

Licensed appraisers must complete 28 hours of CE every two-year licensing period by 12/14 of odd-numbered years.  NWAR does not offer appraiser CE courses, but WRA does offer appraiser CE at:  https://www.wra.org/Education/CE/Appraiser/Wisconsin_Appraiser_Continuing_Education/.  Appraisers are REALTORS too since the term is defined as "Member of the National Association of REALTORS", so the triennial Code of Ethics and Fair Housing / Anti-Bias training requirements above are applicable to appraisers who are NAR Members.

WI Real Estate & Appraiser License Renewal: Once you have completed all CE requirements, you must renew your license with WI DSPS here (see "LicensE Renewal Instructions" link for help):  https://license.wi.gov/.  The DSPS website typically opens for real estate & appraiser license renewals around November 1st of the deadline year, so you may need to wait until then before you are able to renew online.  Our understanding is that green postcards are no longer sent by WI DSPS in favor of email reminders.  We recommend putting a reminder on your e-calendar by 10/1 or earlier of even-numbered years to remind yourself to complete CE and renew by 12/14.

Broker-Owners:  If you have a registered business entity for your firm (i.e. not a sole proprietor), it is also required to renew your business entity license with DSPS by 12/14 of even-numbered years.  Note that business entities must have a separate DSPS logon (possibly using a different email address as well) from the logon for your broker license, and you can only renew the entity license while logged in as your business entity.

All Wisconsin REALTORS Association Members receive access to Inman Select as a Member benefit.  To register, you must visit the following address on the WRA website and logon to WRA to view the Inman Select signup link:  https://www.wra.org/InmanSelect/

Then all you need to do is click the link and follow the instructions to create your Inman Select user profile!

zipForm Plus (aka LoneWolf Transactions zipForm Edition) is included with WRA Membership which includes access to all Wisconsin real estate forms and WRA's form library.  zipForm Plus also includes Authentisign (formerly Digital Ink) for creating e-signature packets, and you can activate your zipForm Plus account by following the instructions here:  https://www.wra.org/Transactions/

WRA Members do not need to renew zipForm Plus annually as it is automatically renewed with your continued WRA membership.   If you received a renewal notice/popup from the zipForm desktop application, that is likely because you subscribed to the zipForm desktop app at your own expense.  To renew the desktop application, you must logon to https://www.zipformplus.com (using the same credentials as for the desktop version), click "Renew Now" at the prompt (or click "Shop" on the ZF+ menu), then add "zipForm Standard Edition" to your cart.  Follow the instructions from there to checkout and pay, and it should then automatically reactivate desktop zipForm Standard next time you launch the program.

For more information about ZipForm, visit the WRA link at top or call the ZipForm Helpdesk at 800-383-9805.

The Northwoods Association of REALTORS® was founded in 1953 as a group of volunteers working to maintain the quality of life in the Northwoods. Through an exceptional multiple listing service, continuing education, upholding and enforcing the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, leveraging technology, and acting as a spokes group for the rights of private property owners, NWAR seeks to continue to offer affordable, quality housing and the unique culture that is the Northwoods.

Greater Northwoods Multiple Listing Service®, a wholly owned subsidiary of NWAR, is dedicated to providing our Members with first-rate service and support in listing and viewing properties and conducting business in accordance with the ethical standards of the industry.  GNMLS currently serves over 200 member offices comprised of more than 700 brokers, agents and appraisers.