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New .REALTOR® top-level domain available Oct. 23 to REALTORS®

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

The National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) has announced that the new .REALTOR® top-level domain will be available on Oct. 23 to members of NAR and the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA). The branded .Realtor domain will make it easier for home buyers, sellers and investors to locate a trusted valued source of real estate information, resources and services online.

With the Internet undergoing vast changes, the creation of over 1,900 new top-level domains, and with nine out of 10 recent buyers beginning their home search online, it has become even more critical for REALTORS® to create a branded space online. SILVAR President David Tonna said the top-level domain is an opportunity for REALTORS® to stand apart from other real estate agents.

"People use the terms REALTOR® and real estate agent interchangeably, but they are not the same. Although both are licensed to sell real estate, a REALTOR® is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and must subscribe to the REALTOR® Code of Ethics. As such, a REALTOR® is held to an even higher standard of conduct than other real estate professionals," explained Tonna.

Tonna said the .REALTOR® domain will create a more positive online experience for consumers who are searching for information on buying or selling property. "Having a .REALTOR® domain will inform consumers that they are working with a REALTOR®, a trusted real estate professional who abides by NAR's strict Code of Ethics," said Tonna.

This development puts REALTORS® on the cutting edge of Internet technology, according to NAR President Steve Brown. "NAR is one of the first associations to be approved to offer a top-level domain for its membership, demonstrating our organization's commitment to its members and showcasing the value of the REALTOR® brand. When consumers visit a .REALTOR® website they will know that they have reached a source of comprehensive and accurate real estate information, as well as someone with unparalleled insight into the local market," said Brown.

The top-level domain will be made available to real estate professionals who are REALTORS®, members of NAR or CREA. The domain will also be made available to state and local REALTOR® associations, like SILVAR, to association multiple listing services, affiliated institutes, societies and councils and NAR strategic business partners.

Starting Oct. 23, members will be able to go to www.claim.REALTOR® to claim their .REALTOR® domain. NAR will provide the first 500,000 members of NAR and 10,000 members of CREA who register for a .REALTOR® domain with a free one-year license. For more information, visit www.about.REALTOR®.


The Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® (SILVAR) is a professional trade organization representing over 4,000 REALTORS® and Affiliate members engaged in the real estate business on the Peninsula and in the South Bay. SILVAR promotes the highest ethical standards of real estate practice, serves as an advocate for homeownership and homeowners, and represents the interests of property owners in Silicon Valley.

The term "REALTOR®" is a registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and who subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

Variations of this article have appeared in local area newspapers.

For further information, please contact Rose Meily at SILVAR Public Affairs, email , or phone (408) 200-0109.

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