FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Greater Idaho Falls Association of REALTORS® operates on a calendar year.  Membership dues are due annually on the first day of January. Dues payments must be received no later than January 5th to avoid late charges.

On January 6th a late fee of $50.00 will be assessed to your dues billing. If dues are not paid by January 31st, membership in the Association will be terminated. Termination will not wipe out any debt to the Association. If the designated broker chooses to keep your license active, it will be the responsibility of the designated broker to pay all fees.  If the designated brokers fails to pay, their office will be terminated from the Association on January 31st.

The REALTOR® Association is a three-tiered organization. When you join at the local level you also gain membership to the state and national associations.

Q. What is GIFAR?
A. GIFAR is an acronym which stands for the Greater Idaho Falls Association of REALTORS®, your local professional REALTOR® organization.

Q. What is its mission?
A. To support members by providing programs, products and services to help them achieve success with competence and integrity and by promoting the extension and preservation of the right to transfer and use real property.

Q. How is it governed?
A. By a Board of Directors whose members are elected annually, from the ranks of REALTOR® members. Directors are elected to a three year term and assume their office in January. Currently there are 17 members on the Board who meet at least once a month to establish Board policy and programs. The board is composed of 9 local directors, 3 state directors, the state east district VP, a NAR director, the WCR President and the CEO.

Q. Who comprises the executive committee and are they paid?
A. There is a President, President-elect, Past President, Secretary-Treasurer, who are elected by the REALTOR® membership and a CEO who is appointed by the Board.  Only the CEO is paid. All other Board members volunteer their services.

Q. What does the CEO do?
A. The CEO's primary responsibility is to run the day-to-day operations of the organization, maintain membership information, ensure updates to NRDS, collect fees and dues, provide continuing education, orientation and Finally Home! classes, assist in arbitration and grievance procedures, serve as a resource for general membership and the Board of Directors, act as a liaison to the state and national organization, and act as a facilitator for programs and membership inquiries. S/he is a paid employee of the organization.

Q. Do I have to join GIFAR?
A. That depends. If the company where your license is held has decided to become a REALTOR® member, then as a licensee, you must join and pay dues to the local, state, and national organizations. If we are your primary association, you will remit your dues to us and we will forward them to the respective organizations. If you are secondary with us, then you will only pay us the local portion of the dues.

Q. I am an assistant and do not actively list or sell. Am I required to pay dues?
A. Yes. When your Broker joined GIFAR s/he agreed that all licensees will join as well. There are no exceptions made for licensed assistants. Non-licensed assistants are not subject to membership dues.

Q. I only work part-time and will be out of the area for three months this year. May I
pay pro-rated dues?
A. No. Membership is based on real estate agents who hang their license in a REALTOR® office. While you may not be practicing for a certain period of time, if your license remains in active status in a REALTOR® office, the full annual membership dues amount applies.

Q. I only plan to work January through October this year. Then my license will
become inactive. Will I receive a partial refund of my annual dues?
A. No. Your annual membership dues are non-refundable.

Q. I am transferring from another association. Do I need to pay the entire dues
amount?
A. That depends. When transferring from another association within Idaho, if your dues are current, you will only pay the local portion to GIFAR. The state and national dues you have already paid through your former association are good for the remainder of the year. When transferring from an association outside the state of Idaho you will need to pay both the local and state dues.

Q. Who decides what my dues will be?
A. The National and State organizations decide each year what their dues will be. We have no control over those amounts. The local portion is determined by the finance committee and approved by the Board of Directors. The monies collected locally are used to pay only local expenses; salaries, office maintenance, insurance, taxes, local programs, some education, special events, etc. We are proud to say the Board has elected NOT to raise the local dues for the past seven years!

Q. Why should I support my professional organization?
A. The selling of real estate is a complex process, involving local, state and national issues. One voice alone can hardly be heard. By banding together and networking, you become a member of a large group who can impact change in Boise and Washington, DC, as well as on the local level. The real estate profession is under scrutiny from all sides, and your organization is vigilant in protecting your rights.

Q. What is RPAC?
A. RPAC stands for the REALTOR® Political Action Committee. RPAC was created in 1969 and raises funds voluntarily from members of the Associations throughout the state for use in issues, campaigns and contributions to political candidates at federal, state and local levels.

Q. When I contribute to RPAC where does my money go?
A. Of every dollar contributed to RPAC, up to 70 cents stays in Idaho to support state and local candidates and issues. The remaining 30 cents goes to the national RPAC for grassroots activities and supporting candidates running for office on the national level.

Q. What is the procedure for changing my membership status?
A. A REALTOR® member who changes the conditions under which s/he holds membership shall complete the "Agent License Status Change Form" and fax, email or hand deliver it to the Board office. This is for changes in license type, status, and office transfers. Entering information in the Commission Website does NOT inform the Board Office.

Q. How do I change my name, email address, phone number, contact address, etc.?
A. Fax, email or hand deliver a written request to the Board office at 522-7867, specifying the changes to be made. The request must include the old and new information. Changes will be made to all systems that apply; NRDS, MLS, Supra, bookkeeping.

Q. How do I request a Letter of Good Standing?
A. Members may only be given a letter of good standing if they have paid all current membership dues and have no pending ethics or arbitration complaints. Requests must include the member's name, license number, office, and to whom and fax number where they would like the request sent.

Q. How many continuing education credits do I need?
A. For each active renewal, the Idaho Real Estate Commission requires you to have one (1) Commission Core class plus sixteen (16) hours of electives. In order to review what you have taken and how many units you have completed, you must create a sign-in on the commission webpage. We, at the Board office have no way to track your continuing education.

Q. Are Core and Code the same class?
A. No. The Core class is developed by IREC each year effective July 1st, covering changes in the law and other "hot topics" identified by the Commission. Licensees are required to take the core course every renewal period. Code of Ethics is a NAR requirement. This mandate states REALTOR® members must complete quadrennial ethics training of not less than two hours and thirty minutes of instructional time.
Code needed for REALTOR® Membership
Core needed for Idaho License