Consumers, agents, and press. The questions we hear most, with answers.
No. The Board is an independent professional certification body headquartered in Santa Clarita, California. Not affiliated with the National Association of REALTORS, any state association, any brokerage, or any franchise. Certified agents must hold active licenses and, where applicable, NAR membership. The Board itself is independent.
No. The Board is a private professional certification initiative. It is similar in concept to other private industry certifications like PMP, CFP, and Scrum Alliance, none of which require government approval to establish or operate. The Board is in its founder-led formation phase and will complete legal-entity formation before accepting any paid applications.
No. The Board is funded exclusively by agent certification dues. The Board does not broker transactions, does not sell consumer leads, and does not receive any compensation from real estate deals. Consumers contact certified agents directly.
Every certified agent has a unique verification number in the format FFFCB-YYYY-####. Visit fairfixedfee.com/verify/[ID] to confirm active status, certification tier, issuance date, and state(s) of practice.
No. The Standards set maximum fees, not minimums. Any certified agent may charge less than the cap. Fees are negotiable between agent and client under federal and state law.
Dual representation is allowed only with written consent from all parties, per Standards §4 Code of Ethics. A certified agent must disclose dual agency before either side signs a representation agreement.
Consumers can file a written complaint with the Board through a published form (launching with Q3 2026 directory). The Board reviews complaints, communicates with the agent, and determines whether action is warranted. Decertification for material violations is public.
Founding-cohort applications open Q3 2026 (July-September 2026). The waitlist is live now. Waitlist members receive first-in-line status the day applications open.
No. Certification requires fee structures consistent with Standards §1: flat dollar fee not to exceed 2.5% of sale price (seller side) or 1.5% of purchase price (buyer side), or market-indexed dollar caps, whichever is lower. An agent charging a traditional percentage commission cannot hold certification while doing so.
No. Certification is an individual credential. You may hold it while continuing to work at any brokerage that permits flat-fee practice. Certain brokerages impose their own commission minimums; you would need to confirm with your broker that flat-fee certification is compatible with your firm's policies.
Certification is about the practice, not every transaction. If all transactions must comply with Standards, a one-off 6% listing would fall out of compliance. The Board will address edge cases in the audit process. Agents who anticipate needing flexibility should discuss with the Board before certifying.
No. The "Certified Fair Fixed Fee Agent" mark is reserved for agents with active certification and a valid verification number. Unauthorized use of the mark constitutes trademark infringement and will be pursued.
For press, write the Board at board@fairfixedfee.com. The founder is available for interviews on real estate commission reform, the post-NAR-settlement landscape, and the certification body's mission.
Yes. The Board publishes an annual report of finances, certification counts, audit outcomes, and governance decisions. First annual report publishes Q1 2027.
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