Why Do You Need to Join an Association?
The Three-Way Agreement — How It Works
When you join a local association (like SCCAOR or OCAR), you automatically become a member of all three levels at once:
| Local Association | C.A.R. (State) | NAR (National) |
|---|---|---|
| e.g. SCCAOR, OCAR, Bay East | California Association of REALTORS® | National Association of REALTORS® |
| Local dues + MLS access + local events | zipForm®, legal hotline, C.A.R. forms, advocacy | RPR, DocuSign discount, ShowingTime, ethics standards |
What You Actually Lose Without Membership
Membership Types — Who Is What?
When you apply to any association, you’ll see a list of membership categories. Here’s exactly what each one means and who should select it.
Designated REALTOR®
The office’s official REALTOR®. The broker of record. DO NOT select this as a salesperson.
- Who
- The Broker of Record only. One per office.
- Dues paid
- Full NAR + C.A.R. + local dues for the entire office (covers all agents under the broker)
- MLS access
- Full MLS Participant access — controls the office’s MLS subscription
- C.A.R. Forms (zipForm®)
- Full access via C.A.R. membership
- Supra eKEY
- Full eKEY access + can place/own lockboxes
- NRDS ID (REALTOR® #)
- Issued a NRDS ID, registered as DR at the office
REALTOR® Member (Primary)
Your first, main board. You can only have ONE primary board. This is where your NAR and C.A.R. dues get paid.
- Who
- Salespersons & Broker Associates choosing this as their main board
- Dues paid
- NAR + C.A.R. + local dues collected by this board — all three levels bundled
- MLS access
- Full MLS Subscriber access under the Broker Participant
- C.A.R. Forms (zipForm®)
- Free zipForm® access via C.A.R. membership
- Supra eKEY
- Full Supra eKEY service eligible
- NRDS ID (REALTOR® #)
- Assigned a NRDS ID — official REALTOR® status
Secondary REALTOR®
The smart way to expand your market area without paying full dues twice. Most agents serving multiple counties use this.
- Who
- Agents already a Primary member at another board who need additional MLS coverage
- Dues paid
- Local association dues only — no extra NAR or C.A.R. charges
- MLS access
- Full MLS Subscriber access at this board (same as primary)
- C.A.R. Forms (zipForm®)
- Still covered via your Primary C.A.R. membership
- Supra eKEY
- Eligible for eKEY at this board (may have a separate activation fee)
- NRDS ID (REALTOR® #)
- Uses same NRDS ID from your Primary board
MLS Only (Participant / Subscriber)
Bare-minimum option for agents who truly only need the MLS. Usually not recommended — you lose more than you save.
- Who
- Agents or brokers who only need listing data, no REALTOR® membership
- Dues paid
- MLS subscription fee only — no NAR, C.A.R., or local association dues
- MLS access
- Full MLS access for search and listing input
- C.A.R. Forms (zipForm®)
- No access — must purchase zipForm® separately (~$1,499/yr)
- Supra eKEY
- Limited or no Supra eKEY access — varies by board
- NRDS ID (REALTOR® #)
- No NRDS ID — cannot use the REALTOR® trademark
Affiliate Member
For non-agents who want to network and co-market with REALTORS®. Moso’s partners at Loan Factory would fall in this category.
- Who
- Non-licensee industry partners: lenders, inspectors, title reps, escrow officers, stagers, photographers, etc.
- Dues paid
- Local affiliate dues only (usually lower than REALTOR® dues)
- MLS access
- No MLS listing access — read-only or none depending on board
- C.A.R. Forms (zipForm®)
- No zipForm® access
- Supra eKEY
- Limited — some boards allow inspector/appraiser eKEY with managed access
- NRDS ID (REALTOR® #)
- No NRDS ID
Moso-Affiliated Associations & MLS
You must join one of the associations below where Moso Real Estate’s Broker is already enrolled. Do not apply to an association not on this list without Broker approval.
| Association | MLS Platform | Primary Market | Join / Info |
|---|---|---|---|
| Santa Clara County Association of REALTORS® (SCCAOR) | MLSListings (Matrix) | Santa Clara County / San Jose | sccaor.com |
| Orange County REALTORS® (OCAR) | CRMLS | Orange County | ocrealtors.org |
| Greater San Diego Association of REALTORS® (SDAR) | SDMLS / CRMLS | Greater San Diego | sdar.com |
| Bay East Association of REALTORS® | Paragon (CRMLS) | Alameda / Contra Costa | bayeast.org |
| North Bay Association of REALTORS® (NORBAR) | BAREIS | Marin / Sonoma / Napa | norbar.com |
| Southland Regional Association of Realtors (SRAR) | CRMLS | San Fernando & Santa Clarita | srar.com |
| Sacramento (AOR) | MetroList | Sacramento | sacrealtor.org |
| Central Valley Association of REALTOR (CVAR) | MetroList | Central Valley (Fresno/Visalia) | cvar.net |
| San Francisco Association of REALTORS® (SFAR) | SFAR MLS | San Francisco | sfrealtors.org |
| Pismo Coast Association of REALTORS® (PCAOR) | CRMLS | Pismo Coast / San Luis Obispo | pcaor.org |
| Pacific West Association of REALTORS® (PWR) | CRMLS | Long Beach / South Bay | pwrealtor.com |
Tools & Services That Come With Membership
Here’s every major tool you get access to as a Moso REALTOR® member, what each one does, and who it’s for.
Supra iBox BT LE — The Lockbox Hardware
A weather-resistant electronic lockbox that clips to a door handle, railing, or gas meter at a listed property. Inside is a key compartment that holds the house key. Unlike old combination dial locks, it cannot be opened without a valid Supra eKEY credential — every access is logged with name, date, and time.
Required on all listings in most California markets. iBox BT LE is the current required model per MLSListings (eff. April 2022).
Who gets it: Listing agents purchase or lease from their association. Anyone showing a property needs an eKEY to open it. Cost: Purchase: ~$105–$135 new (from your association). Leasing options vary by board.
Supra eKEY App — Your Digital Key
The smartphone app that replaces the old physical fob key. Download on iOS or Android, authenticate with your 4-digit PIN, and tap the lockbox to open it via Bluetooth. Logs every showing access in real time. The listing agent gets notified when a showing starts and ends. No cell service needed at the door — as long as the app updated within 24 hours.
eKEY Basic: open lockboxes, place boxes on listings, track showings. eKEY Professional: adds offline MLS listing data at the door, buyer profiles, hotsheet, CMA access.
Who gets it: All REALTOR® members (Primary, Secondary, MLS-Only varies by board). Requires active MLS subscription. Cost: Activation fee: ~$50. Monthly: ~$13–16/mo (Basic) or more for Professional tier. Billed by your association.
Supra SupraWEB — Web Portal
Online dashboard to manage all your lockboxes, run showing history reports, email showing agents, and set access hours or restrictions on your boxes. Useful for listing agents tracking activity at a property.
Who gets it: Any agent with an active eKEY subscription. Cost: Included with eKEY service.
Supra Managed Access (Non-Member Access)
Allows a listing agent to grant temporary lockbox access — 2 to 72 hours — to an agent who is NOT a member of the local MLS (e.g., an out-of-area agent showing for a buyer). Scheduled directly from the eKEY app. Requires seller permission.
Replaces the old CBS (Call Before Showing) code system. Real-time notifications sent to listing agent.
Who gets it: Listing agents grant it. Receiving agent needs the eKEY app even if they’re not a member. Cost: Included with listing agent’s eKEY. Non-member may need a one-time activation.
zipForm® (Lone Wolf Transactions) — C.A.R. Forms Platform
The official platform where you fill out, send, and manage all C.A.R. standard forms (RPA, RLA, BRBC, disclosures, addenda, etc.). Always up to date with the latest form versions. Includes templates, transaction files, and eSign integration.
Must renew your zipForm® account annually by March 31. You need your C.A.R. NRDS membership number to log in.
Who gets it: All C.A.R. members (Primary REALTOR®). Secondary members are covered via their primary membership. Cost: FREE with C.A.R. membership. Without membership: ~$1,499/year.
Authentisign (via C.A.R.) — eSignature
eSignature platform built into zipForm®. Allows you to send C.A.R. forms for electronic signature directly from your transaction file. No additional cost. For DocuSign (NAR’s partner), you get a discounted rate as an NAR member.
Who gets it: All C.A.R. members (included in zipForm®). Cost: FREE via C.A.R. membership. DocuSign: NAR member discount applies.
Forms Tutor® & Forms Advisor™
Forms Tutor explains every paragraph of every C.A.R. form in plain English. Forms Advisor tells you which form to use for which situation. Both are built directly into zipForm®.
Who gets it: All C.A.R. members. Cost: FREE via C.A.R. membership.
MLSListings / CRMLS / MetroList / Paragon — The MLS Platform
The database where all active, pending, sold, and off-market listings are stored. Agents search listings, input new listings, run CMAs, and access showing history. Which platform you use depends on your association (see Section 3).
Listings belong to the broker, not the agent. You input listings under the broker’s MLS account.
Who gets it: All MLS subscribers and participants. Cost: Included with your MLS subscription (billed separately from association dues).
RPR (Realtors Property Resource) — Property Data & Reports
A massive national database of property records, assessor data, mortgage history, foreclosure info, demographics, market trends, flood zones, and neighborhood stats. Create branded CMA reports, neighborhood analyses, and property reports to share with clients. No public access — REALTOR® members only.
Who gets it: NAR members only (Primary REALTOR®). Cost: FREE via NAR membership. Register at narrpr.com with your NRDS ID.
ShowingTime — Showing Scheduling
Appointment scheduling system integrated with MLS. Buyers’ agents request showings through ShowingTime; listing agents approve, decline, or auto-confirm. Automated reminders sent to all parties. Syncs with your calendar.
Who gets it: Available through most MLS platforms. Accessible directly through MLS login. Cost: Included with most MLS subscriptions or available at low cost.
C.A.R. Legal Hotline
Free access to licensed real estate attorneys by phone. Ask about contract questions, disclosure obligations, client disputes, or any transaction legal issue. Available to all C.A.R. members during business hours.
Who gets it: All C.A.R. members (Primary REALTOR®). Cost: FREE with C.A.R. membership. Call during business hours.
C.A.R. Free CE Courses — 45-Hour License Renewal Package
California requires 45 hours of continuing education for each 4-year license renewal. C.A.R. provides this 45-hour package entirely free to members online. Non-members typically pay $200–$300 for equivalent courses.
Who gets it: All C.A.R. members (Primary REALTOR®). Cost: FREE with C.A.R. membership. Access at car.org.
NAR REALTOR Benefits® Program
Discounts from national partners including Dell computers, T-Mobile, FedEx/UPS, Ford/GM vehicles, insurance plans, and more. Also includes free access to tools like Cloud CMA, HomeSnap Pro, and Hurdlr (self-employment tax tracker).
Who gets it: All NAR members (Primary REALTOR®). Cost: Included with NAR membership. Access at benefits.nar.realtor.
Cloud CMA — Comparative Market Analysis
Creates beautiful, branded CMA reports for clients. Pulls data directly from the MLS. Useful for listing presentations and buyer consultations. Shows comparables, market trends, and pricing recommendations in a shareable PDF or web format.
Who gets it: Available through most associations as a member benefit. Cost: Free or low cost through most local associations.
Office Information for Applications
Use these details exactly as shown when completing any membership, MLS, or transfer form:
| Office / Firm Name | MOSO Real Estate |
| DRE Broker License # | 01771313 |
| Broker of Record / Designated REALTOR® | Thuan Nguyen |
| Office Address | 2195 Tully Road, San Jose, CA 95122 |
| Office Phone | (408) 877-4000 |
| Broker Email (for signature requests) | broker@moso.com |
For questions about membership, contact your association directly or email broker@moso.com for broker sign-off.