Frequently Asked Questions

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 more than 170 member offices comprised of over 450 brokers, agents and appraisers.

All NWAR Members (REALTORS & Affiliates) will receive a statement annually around the end of September to renew your membership for the following calendar year.  This statement includes your local, state and 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 additionally be subject to the WRA and NWAR initiation fees of $375.

All REALTORS (Salespersons, Brokers & Appraisers) are also required to complete biennial NAR Code of Ethics training.  This can be fulfilled by two methods: either completing WRA's version of the ethics-related CE course (3rd party CE providers do not qualify), or you can complete NAR's free online ethics course here:  https://www.nar.realtor/code-of-ethics/training.  REALTORS have until December 31st of each even-numbered year to fulfill this requirement to avoid suspension until it is completed.

If you are a licensed salesperson or broker, you will also need to renew your license every even-numbered year after completing 18 hours of continuing education.  WRA offers live CE at their Winter Convention that is right here in the Northwoods (usually Lake of the Torches) in January of every even year, and NWAR offers live CE later that spring followed by video-based courses throughout the remainder of each even year.  Once you have completed all 18 hours of CE, you can then renew your license following the instructions you will receive a green postcard from the Wisconsin Dept. of Safety & Professional Services in October.  License renewals must be done no later than December 14th of each even-numbered year.  Find out more at https://www.wra.org/LicensingReq/ and when you are ready to renew, you can visit the DSPS website here to renew online.

Licensed appraisers must complete 28 hours of CE every two-year licensing period (which end in odd years), 7 of which must be USPAP in order to renew their license.  NWAR does not offer appraisal CE courses, but WRA does offer CE courses throughout the year.  Find out more at https://www.wra.org/Education/AppraiserLicenseRequirements/ and when you are ready to renew, you can visit the DSPS website here to renew online.

You should first verify the that the other person is a REALTOR who is either a member of NWAR or a subscriber with 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 the forms/instructions/timeframes for filing, visit https://northwoodsrealtors.org/nwar-members/professional-standards-code-of-ethics/.

Tech HelpLine is a benefit provided to all WRA Members 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 Member, then call them at 866-610-7997 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.

If you received a renewal notice/popup from the ZipForm desktop Windows application, that is because you have subscribed to Zipform (desktop) at your own expense.  To renew the desktop application, you must logon to https://www.zipformplus.com (using the same credentials you use 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 which costs $29.95 for all WRA Members.  Follow the instructions from there to checkout and pay, and it should then automatically reactivate desktop Zipform Standard next time you launch the program.

NOTE: ZipForm Plus online is provided to all REALTORS as a NAR benefit.  You do not need to do anything to renew Zipform Plus since it is automatic, and it contains all the functionality of Zipform Standard and more.  The only difference is that you access Zipform Plus through your web browser, whereas Zipform Standard is a Windows program installed on your computer (similar to the difference between InterfaceExpress and desktop Interface).  You can access ZipForm Plus here:  https://www.zipformplus.com/

For more information about ZipForm, visit https://www.wra.org/zipform/ or call the ZipForm Helpdesk at 800-383-9805.

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!

You can learn more about what functions a personal assistant, with or without a license, can perform by reading the WRA June 2016 Legal Update here (member logon required):
http://www.wra.org/LU1606

Note that a personal assistant who has a license which is not associated with the firm (with the DSPS) may NOT perform license-related activities for the firm.  License-related activities on behalf of the firm can only be performed by licensees associated with the firm.

The REALTOR® "Fair Share Dues" formula applies to ALL licensees (brokers, agents or assistants) associated with a firm.  It is the decision of the Designated REALTOR® whether a licensed personal assistant should become a REALTOR® or if the broker will remit Fair Share dues for a licensed agent or assistant who is not a REALTOR® according to the bylaws.   (more…)