Beyond the Transaction: The Value of Your WMLAR Membership

The real estate industry doesn’t stand still—and neither do we.

At the West Michigan Lakeshore Association of REALTORS®, our goal isn’t simply to help you maintain your license. Our goal is to help you build a stronger business, serve your clients with confidence, and stay ahead in an industry that’s constantly evolving.

So far in 2026, WMLAR has invested heavily in creating meaningful learning opportunities for our members at every stage of their careers.

Education That Meets You Where You Are
Whether you’re just getting started or you’ve been in the business for decades, we’ve worked to provide education that’s practical, timely, and immediately applicable.

Through July, WMLAR has already provided 17 Zoom or in person educational programs (19 including our upcoming August classes) serving over 375 attendees! These classes have largely been instrumental in building and growing a library of recorded educational content available through WMLAR’s YouTube channel.

Topics have included:

Business development
Artificial intelligence and ChatGPT
Social media strategy
Property taxes
Transaction management
Home inspections
Legal updates
Independent contractor guidance
MSHDA programs
New construction
Community associations
Military relocation certification
Health insurance for the independent contractor and more!

Our goal here at WMLAR has been simple: provide affordable education that helps you solve real-world challenges and grow your business.

Investing in New REALTORS®
Every successful career starts with a strong foundation.

Through five New Member Orientation sessions this year, WMLAR has welcomed 101 new, transferring, and returning members while also providing continuing education opportunities for dozens of existing members.

Each orientation provides up to 9 hours of continuing education, including Legal Update, Fair Housing that complies with NAR’s membership requirements, and elective coursework designed to help members begin—or continue—their careers with confidence.

Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders
Leadership doesn’t happen by accident.

This year, WMLAR launched the second class of our Leadership Academy, bringing together 15 emerging leaders for an immersive program focused on communication, strategic thinking, business leadership, and service to the profession.

Our goal isn’t simply to prepare future committee members or directors. It’s to help participants become stronger business leaders, better communicators, and more influential professionals in their communities.

Creating New Opportunities to Learn
Innovation has become one of WMLAR’s priorities.

This year we’ve continued to expand educational offerings through:

The Next Level Success Webinar Series
Broker Town Hall events
Professional certifications
Flexmls training
Leadership Academy
New Member Orientation
Specialty education and business development workshops

And this September, we’re taking another major step forward.

Introducing the WMLAR Next Level Summit
The inaugural WMLAR Next Level Summit is designed to be West Michigan’s premier real estate conference.

Members will experience:

Nationally recognized speakers
Practical breakout sessions
Market and economic insights
Legal and risk management education
Business growth strategies
Networking opportunities
Vendor engagement
WMLAR’s Annual Membership Meeting—all in one event

This isn’t just another conference. It’s an investment in your business.

Your Membership at Work
Association membership is about far more than forms, lockboxes, or continuing education requirements.

It’s about having an organization that’s continually asking:

“How can we help our members succeed?”

Every class we develop…
Every speaker we recruit…
Every program we launch…
Every leadership opportunity we create…

…is designed with one purpose in mind:

Helping you build a stronger business while elevating the professionalism of the real estate industry throughout West Michigan.

Thank you for trusting WMLAR to be part of your professional journey. We look forward to continuing to innovate, educate, and serve you throughout 2026 and beyond.