The Code of Ethics is Good Business

Real Estate Topics
Open submenu
Your resource for all things Real Estate. Including Legal, Agent & Broker, and Property Rights Issues.
Membership
Open submenu
Whether you’re a new agent or an experienced broker you have access to a wide array of resources designed to help you succeed in today's market.
Research & Statistics
Open submenu
Including home buying and selling, commercial, international, NAR member information, and technology. Use the data to improve your business through knowledge of the latest trends and statistics.
Advocacy
Open submenu
NAR is widely considered one of the most effective advocacy organizations in the country.
Education
Open submenu
NAR and its affiliated Institutes, Societies, and Councils offer a wide selection of real estate training options.
News & Events
Open submenu
Stay current on industry issues with daily news from NAR. Network with other professionals, attend a seminar, and keep up with industry trends through events hosted by NAR.
About NAR
Open submenu
The National Association of REALTORS® is an American trade association involved in all aspects of residential and commercial real estate.
More
Open submenu

View All
Get the Facts
The facts and latest news on NAR's policy updates. For REALTORS®, MLSs, brokers, buyers, and sellers.
Marketing
MLS & Online Listings
Social Media
Sales Tips & Techniques
View More
Being a Real Estate Professional
Being a Broker
Starting Your Career
Being an Agent
View More
Residential Real Estate
Condominiums
Smart Growth
Vacation, Resort, & 2nd Homes
FHA Programs
Home Inspections
View More
Legal
Fair Housing
Copyright
Arbitration & Dispute Resolution
View More
More

Realtors Property Resource® (RPR)
All Membership Benefits
NAR REALTOR Benefits®
Bringing you savings and unique offers on products and services just for REALTORS®.
Directories
Complete listing of state and local associations, MLSs, members, and more.
Dues Information & Payment
Become a Member
As a member, you are the voice for NAR – it is your association and it exists to help you succeed.
Logos and Trademark Rules
Only members of NAR can call themselves a REALTOR®. Learn how to properly use the logo and terms.
Your Membership Account
Review your membership preferences and Code of Ethics training status.

Highlights & News
Get the latest top line research, news, and popular reports.
Housing Statistics
National, regional, and metro-market level housing statistics where data is available.
Research Reports
Research on a wide range of topics of interest to real estate practitioners.
Presentation Slides
Access recent presentations from NAR economists and researchers.
State & Metro Area Data
Affordability, economic, and buyer & seller profile data for areas in which you live and work.
Commercial Research
Analysis of commercial market sectors and commercial-focused issues and trends.
Statistical News Release Schedule

Advocacy Issues & News
Federal Advocacy
From its building located steps away from the U.S. Capitol, NAR advocates for you.
REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC)
Promoting the election of pro-REALTOR® candidates across the United States.
State & Local Advocacy
Resources to foster and harness the grassroots strength of the REALTOR® Party.
Advocacy Impact
Highlighting work to expand housing access and defend property rights.
REALTOR® Party
A powerful alliance working to protect and promote homeownership and property investment.
Get Involved
Now more than ever, it is critical for REALTORS® across America to come together and speak with one voice.

All Education & Professional Development
Code of Ethics Training
Fulfill your COE training requirement with free courses for new and existing members.
Fair Housing Training
REALTORS® are required to complete Fair Housing every three years, coinciding with COE training.
Real Estate Designations and Certifications
Increase your skills, proficiency, and knowledge to help boost your salary and client base.
Continuing Education (CE)
Meet the continuing education (CE) requirement in state(s) where you hold a license.
Online Real Estate Courses
Explore certificate courses, leadership and business tools, and affiliate offerings.
Library & Archives
Offering research services and thousands of print and digital resources.

Mission, Vision, Culture & Impact
Code of Ethics
Leadership & Staff
National, state & local leadership, staff directories, leadership opportunities, and more.
Committee & Liaisons
History
Founded as the National Association of Real Estate Exchanges in 1908.
Affiliated Organizations
2026-2028 NAR Strategic Plan
Serving REALTORS® better and strengthening the association for long-term success.
Policies
Governing Documents
Code of Ethics, NAR's Constitution & Bylaws, and model bylaws for state & local associations.
Awards & Grants
Member recognition and special funding, including the REALTORS® Relief Foundation.
NAR's Consumer Outreach

Real Estate Topics
Real Estate Topics
Your resource for all things Real Estate. Including Legal, Agent & Broker, and Property Rights Issues.
View All
- Get the Facts
  The facts and latest news on NAR's policy updates. For REALTORS®, MLSs, brokers, buyers, and sellers.
  Close
- Marketing
  MLS & Online Listings
  Social Media
  Sales Tips & Techniques
  View More
  Close
- Being a Real Estate Professional
  Being a Broker
  Starting Your Career
  Being an Agent
  View More
  Close
Close
Membership
Providing Membership Value
Whether you’re a new agent or an experienced broker you have access to a wide array of resources designed to help you succeed in today's market.
- All Membership Benefits
- NAR REALTOR Benefits®
  Bringing you savings and unique offers on products and services just for REALTORS®.
  Close
- Directories
  Complete listing of state and local associations, MLSs, members, and more.
  Close
- Dues Information & Payment
- Become a Member
  As a member, you are the voice for NAR – it is your association and it exists to help you succeed.
  Close
- Logos and Trademark Rules
  Only members of NAR can call themselves a REALTOR®. Learn how to properly use the logo and terms.
  Close
- Your Membership Account
  Review your membership preferences and Code of Ethics training status.
  Close
Close
Research & Statistics
Market Behavior
Including home buying and selling, commercial, international, NAR member information, and technology. Use the data to improve your business through knowledge of the latest trends and statistics.
- Highlights & News
  Get the latest top line research, news, and popular reports.
  Close
- Housing Statistics
  National, regional, and metro-market level housing statistics where data is available.
  Close
- Research Reports
  Research on a wide range of topics of interest to real estate practitioners.
  Close
- Presentation Slides
  Access recent presentations from NAR economists and researchers.
  Close
- State & Metro Area Data
  Affordability, economic, and buyer & seller profile data for areas in which you live and work.
  Close
- Commercial Research
  Analysis of commercial market sectors and commercial-focused issues and trends.
  Close
- Statistical News Release Schedule
Close
Advocacy
Representing Your Industry
NAR is widely considered one of the most effective advocacy organizations in the country.
- Advocacy Issues & News
- Federal Advocacy
  From its building located steps away from the U.S. Capitol, NAR advocates for you.
  Close
- REALTORS® Political Action Committee (RPAC)
  Promoting the election of pro-REALTOR® candidates across the United States.
  Close
- State & Local Advocacy
  Resources to foster and harness the grassroots strength of the REALTOR® Party.
  Close
- Advocacy Impact
  Highlighting work to expand housing access and defend property rights.
  Close
- REALTOR® Party
  A powerful alliance working to protect and promote homeownership and property investment.
  Close
- Get Involved
  Now more than ever, it is critical for REALTORS® across America to come together and speak with one voice.
  Close
Close
Education
Advancing Your Career
NAR and its affiliated Institutes, Societies, and Councils offer a wide selection of real estate training options.
- All Education & Professional Development
- Code of Ethics Training
  Fulfill your COE training requirement with free courses for new and existing members.
  Close
- Fair Housing Training
  REALTORS® are required to complete Fair Housing every three years, coinciding with COE training.
  Close
- Real Estate Designations and Certifications
  Increase your skills, proficiency, and knowledge to help boost your salary and client base.
  Close
- Continuing Education (CE)
  Meet the continuing education (CE) requirement in state(s) where you hold a license.
  Close
- Online Real Estate Courses
  Explore certificate courses, leadership and business tools, and affiliate offerings.
  Close
- Library & Archives
  Offering research services and thousands of print and digital resources.
  Close
Close
News & Events
News & Events
Stay current on industry issues with daily news from NAR. Network with other professionals, attend a seminar, and keep up with industry trends through events hosted by NAR.
- NAR Newsroom
  Official news releases from NAR.
  Close
- NAR REALTOR® News
- Blogs
  Commentary from NAR experts on technology, staging, placemaking, and real estate trends.
  Close
- Newsletters
  Stay informed on the most important real estate business news and business specialty updates.
  Close
Close
About NAR
Who We Are
The National Association of REALTORS® is an American trade association involved in all aspects of residential and commercial real estate.
- Mission, Vision, Culture & Impact
- Code of Ethics
- Leadership & Staff
  National, state & local leadership, staff directories, leadership opportunities, and more.
  Close
- Committee & Liaisons
- History
  Founded as the National Association of Real Estate Exchanges in 1908.
  Close
- Affiliated Organizations
- 2026-2028 NAR Strategic Plan
  Serving REALTORS® better and strengthening the association for long-term success.
  Close
- Policies
- Governing Documents
  Code of Ethics, NAR's Constitution & Bylaws, and model bylaws for state & local associations.
  Close
- Awards & Grants
  Member recognition and special funding, including the REALTORS® Relief Foundation.
  Close
- NAR's Consumer Outreach
Close
More
Browse by Section
View All
- Top Directories
  Find a Member
  Browse All Directories
  Find an Office
  Find an Association
  NAR Group and Team Directory
  Committees and Directors
  Close
- By Role
  Broker
  Association Executive
  Appraiser
  State & Local Volunteer Leader
  Student
  Close
- By Specialty
  Global
  Senior Market
  Short Sales & Foreclosures
  Land
  Green
  Close
- Multimedia
  Infographics
  Videos
  Close
Close

Introduction: How to Use This Page

This page organizes the REALTOR® Code of Ethics Standards of Practice by where they typically occur in the real estate transaction. The Code is not optional—it is what makes us REALTORS®. Grouped by phase rather than listed numerically, the Standards are easier to reference and apply in everyday business, helping REALTORS® connect ethical practice with real-world transactions.

Listing Agent Code of Ethics Checklist

Below, you will find the REALTOR® Code of Ethics Standards of Practice that apply to a listing agent’s role in a real estate transaction.

Pre-Listing | Listing Presentation/Agreement | Marketing | Contract Negotiation | Financing/Inspections | Pre-Closing/Closing/Possession | Post-Closing

Pre-Listing

Listing Presentation/Agreement

Marketing

Contract Negotiation

Financing/Inspections

Pre-Closing/Closing/Possession

Post-Closing

Buyer Agent Code of Ethics Checklist

Below, you will find the REALTOR® Code of Ethics Standards of Practice that apply to a buyer agent’s role in a real estate transaction.

Pre-Counseling | Counseling/BA Agreement | Showings | Purchase Agreement/Negotiation | Financing/Inspections | Closing/Possession | Post-Closing

Pre-Counseling

Counseling/BA Agreement

Showings

Purchase Agreement/Negotiation

Financing/Inspections

Closing/Possession

Post-Closing