Heartland REALTOR® Organization

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• Become A Member
• Timeline for Success - What to do next
• Code of Ethics Training
• Jumpstart
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• Links to Success

We are excited you are interested in joining Heartland REALTOR® Organization!

Select the appropriate membership application that fits your desired membership type from the options below. If you have any questions regarding membership in the Organization, please contact Heartland at 815-459-0600 or info@HeartlandRO.com . Our office hours are Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

All applications for membership are reviewed and subject to approval by the Board of Directors.

REALTOR® Membership | Full Professional Membership
Definition: Individuals holding a current, valid real estate managing broker's, broker's, licensed leasing agent's license or is licensed or certified by an appropriate state regulatory agency to engage in the appraisal of real property having been sponsored by a Designated REALTOR®.

Complete the REALTOR® Membership Application & Forms and submit to Heartland with a copy of your 45-day sponsor permit and appropriate fees. Fees may be paid by cash, check, credit/debit card, cashier's check, or money order.

If you currently hold membership, or have held membership within the last year, at another REALTOR® Association no application fee or transfer fee is due. A letter of good standing must be submitted stating all REALTOR® obligations have been met and that State and National dues have been paid for the current year. If fees are not current, please contact Heartland at 815-459-0600, info@HeartlandRO.com for applicable amounts due with submission of application.

Designated REALTOR® Membership
Definition: Individuals holding a Broker's Real Estate License either a Sole Proprietorship, Principal Partner or Manager of a real estate office.

Complete the Designated REALTOR® Membership Application & Forms and submit to Heartland with a copy of your managing brokers' real estate license and all appropriate fees. If you have applied for your broker's license but have not yet received it from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), please submit a copy of your sponsor card.

If you are currently a REALTOR® member of Heartland and are upgrading your membership to that of a Designated REALTOR®, or transferring your membership from another Association to Heartland, no application fee or transfer fee is due.

We also need a copy of your office license which you can obtain from www.IDFPR.com.

We are part of the MRED MLS. You can find their coverage area here. If you have never joined MRED with your office before, or have been inactive over 1-year, there is a $500 application fee. You can find the MRED Participation Agreement here.

If you are applying for Secondary Designated REALTOR® membership, you must complete the Designated REALTOR® application and submit to Heartland with a copy of your managing brokers' real estate license, local dues, and a letter of good standing from the Association in which you hold primary Designated REALTOR® membership, which must state all current REALTOR® obligations have been met and State and National dues have been paid for the current year.

Secondary REALTOR® Membership
Definition: Individuals holding a leasing or sales persons real estate license having been sponsored by a Designated REALTOR® who intends on maintaining primary membership at another board.

Complete the Secondary REALTOR® Membership application and submit to Heartland with a copy of your active real estate license and appropriate fees. A letter of good standing must be submitted stating all REALTOR® obligations have been met and that National and State dues have been paid for the current year. If fees are not current, please contact Heartland at 815-459-0600 or info@HeartlandRO.com for applicable amounts due with submission of application.

MRED access can be added on for an additional membership fee.

MLS Participant - Main Office
Definition: Individuals or corporations involved in the sale or lease of real estate property, who hold REALTOR® membership.

Complete the MRED Subscription Agreement and submit to Heartland with appropriate fees, a copy of your brokers' license and any Corporation papers that have been already filed with the County Clerk's office for LLC, DBA etc. If you are simultaneously applying for Designated REALTOR®/Secondary membership, please see the above section regarding that membership type.

No application fee is due for MRED Participation if paid through another Association. are reviewed and subject to approval by the Board of Directors.

MLS Participant for Branch Office
Definition: Definition: MLS Participants Branch Office corporation which already holds a main REALTOR®/MLS office location either through Heartland or another MRED subscribing REALTOR® Association.

Complete the MRED Branch Office Subscription Agreement and submit to Heartland with appropriate fees, copy of any Corporation papers that have been filed with the County Clerk's office for DBA, LLC, etc. and names of all current licensees that will be licensed out of the branch office location (all licensees must be members of a REALTOR® Organization).

No application fee is due for MRED Participation if paid through another Association.

Non-REALTOR® MLS Participant
Definition: Individuals seeking access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) or Private Listing Network (PLN) through Midwest Real Estate Data, LLC (MRED) that hold a current, valid real estate managing broker's, broker's, agent's license; or is licensed or certified by an appropriate state regulatory agency to engage in the appraisal of real property.

Compare MLS Access Options to determine which of the following options is right for you:

MLS Plus | Essential MLS Access*
Definition: Individuals seeking access to the MRED MLS that do not hold REALTOR® membership with an Association.

• MLS Plus Forms for Designated Managing Brokers of a real estate office
• MLS Plus Forms for Brokers/Agents

PLN Only | Limited Access to Private Listing Network
Definition: Individuals only seeking access to MRED's Private Listing Network (PLN) who may or may not hold REALTOR® membership with an Association.

• PLN Only Forms for Designated Managing Brokers of a Real Estate Office (includes required MRED/HRO Subscription Agreement & MLS Participant Verification Form)
• PLN Only Forms for Brokers/Agents

*REALTOR® membership may be required for access to certain third-party tools provided through the Service but is not required for Service participation (Systems Access Policy, MRED LLC).

Affiliate Membership
Definition: Individuals or Corporations involved in the real estate industry. These include, but are not limited to; mortgage lenders, mortgage brokers, home inspectors, marketing groups, title companies, surveyors, pest control companies, tax assessor's, etc.

Why Join?

Complete the Affiliate application and submit to Heartland with appropriate fees. Please note Affiliate membership is held in the name of an individual NOT A COMPANY.

If an individual from your company or corporation is currently an Affiliate member of Heartland, or if more than one individual is applying for Affiliate membership at the same time, then only one application fee must be paid.

Additionally, if applicable, submit a copy of your license with the application.

View Affiliate Membership options/Sponsorship opportunities here.

Appraiser REALTOR® Membership - MLS Access
Definition: Individuals or Corporations licensed or certified by an appropriate state regulatory agency to engage in the appraisal of real property that are looking to gain access to the MRED MLS.

Complete the REALTOR® (Appraiser) Membership Application & Forms and submit to Heartland with a copy of your appraiser license and appropriate fees. Fees may be paid by cash, check, credit/debit card, cashier's check, or money order.

I am an Appraiser, why do I need to apply for REALTOR® membership?

We are part of the MRED MLS which is a REALTOR® only MLS. You can find their coverage area here. If you have never joined MRED with your office before, or have been inactive over 1-year, there is a $500 application fee. You can find the MRED Participation Agreement here.

If you currently hold membership, or have held membership within the last year, at another REALTOR® Association no application fee or transfer fee is due. A letter of good standing must be submitted stating all REALTOR® obligations have been met and that State and National dues have been paid for the current year. If fees are not current, please contact Heartland at 815-459-0600, or info@HeartlandRO.com for applicable amounts due with submission of application.

Referral 'Holding' Company Option at Heartland
Heartland has partnered with another firm to offer a holding/referral company option to its members who want to put their license 'on hold'. Please know that once you transfer you will no longer be a member at Heartland, won't have MLS access, and Heartland won't be able to answer any questions for you, but the MyNRN Referral Network will be able to!

Disclaimer: be sure to read the application and policy manual, especially as it relates to the initial fees, annual fees and referral splits. While we believe these are very competitive, you need to be aware of them.

To join the referral network, follow these steps.

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

Become a Member