If you’re a real estate professional in south-central Louisiana, you’ve probably heard about the REALTOR® Association of Acadiana. Maybe you’re thinking about joining or just curious about what this organization offers. Either way, you’re in the right place.
The Association of Acadiana isn’t just another real estate board. It’s been the backbone of the local real estate community since 1947, serving over 1,400 REALTOR® members across six parishes. What started as a small group of Lafayette brokers has grown into Louisiana’s third-largest local association, offering access to one of the most comprehensive MLS systems in the state.
Where the Association of Acadiana Operates
The Association of Acadiana covers six parishes in the heart of Louisiana’s Acadiana region: Lafayette, Vermilion, Acadia, St. Martin, St. Landry, and Iberia. But here’s where it gets interesting.
While RAA focuses on these six parishes, members get access to something much bigger. The association is part of ROAM MLS, a consolidated system created by five significant Louisiana associations. This means you’re not just getting local listings. You’re tapping into MLS data from every parish in Louisiana, with access to over 14,000 MLS members statewide.
Think of it this way: you join locally but work statewide. Are your clients looking at properties in New Orleans? You’ve got that data. Baton Rouge investment properties? Covered. All while maintaining your local connection to the Acadiana market.
Who Can Join the Association of Acadiana
The association offers three distinct membership paths, each designed for different professionals.
REALTOR® Membership is the complete package. If you’re a licensed broker or salesperson who wants full access to everything the association offers, this is your track. You’ll get MLS access, voting rights, educational opportunities, and the ability to use that REALTOR® trademark after your name.
Affiliate Membership serves the industry’s supporting cast. Mortgage lenders, home inspectors, title companies, attorneys, insurance agents, and home warranty providers can all join as affiliates. You won’t have MLS access, but you’ll be connected to the local real estate community and have networking opportunities.
MLS-Only Membership works for REALTORS® who already belong to another association but need access to the RAA’s six-parish database. Both brokers and their agents can apply, but there’s a catch: the broker must join first as an MLS-Only participant before any agents can subscribe.
The baseline requirement stays the same across all paths: you need an active Louisiana real estate license. You’ll also need a letter of good standing from your primary board for MLS-only members.
How to Join: The Step-by-Step Process
Joining the Association of Acadiana isn’t complicated, but it does require some planning. Here’s how it works.
Start by downloading the New Member Welcome Packet from the RAA website. This packet contains everything you need to know about policies, fees, and what’s expected of members. Please read it thoroughly. The membership agreement isn’t just paperwork; you’re committing to the NAR Code of Ethics and association bylaws.
Next, call the RAA office to schedule your appointment. Set aside about an hour. This isn’t a quick in-and-out visit. During this appointment, you’ll pay your dues, complete all paperwork, get your MLS login credentials, and potentially set up your Supra eKey for lockbox access.
Bring your valid Louisiana real estate license to the appointment. You can’t join without it. You’ll also sign the membership agreement and pay the required fees (more on those in a minute).
After joining, you’ll attend orientation and MLS training classes. Some associations treat orientation as optional; RAA doesn’t. A $50 deposit is required, but don’t worry – you get it back after completing the orientation. This training covers using the MLS system, association policies, and best practices for working in the Acadiana market.
Want electronic lockbox access? For an additional fee, you can activate a Supra eKey during your appointment. It’s optional but highly recommended if you plan on showing properties regularly.
What It Costs: Breaking Down the Fees
Let’s talk money. Understanding the fee structure helps you budget correctly and avoid surprises.
The 2020 fee schedule (which provides a good baseline, though exact amounts may vary annually) shows several components:
- Application fee: $150 for REALTOR® membership
- Orientation deposit: $50 (refunded after completion)
- Member services and MLS access: $336 per six-month cycle ($672 annually)
You’ll also pay national, state, and local dues. NAR charges $150 annually. Louisiana REALTORS® adds $155. The local RAA dues run $190: a mandatory $35 NAR Public Awareness Campaign fee and an optional $35 LARPAC contribution.
All these fees are prorated based on when you join. A REALTOR® joining in January 2020 would have paid around $991 (or $1,026 with the optional LARPAC contribution). Those fees get waived if you already pay Louisiana REALTORS® or NAR dues through another board.
MLS-only membership has a different structure. Brokers pay a $500 application fee plus $600 annually for MLS services, while agents pay a $75 application fee plus the same $600 annual MLS fee. Both amounts are prorated by month.
Additional services come with their own costs. The Supra eKey costs $50 to activate, then about $15 monthly (charged to your credit card). ShowingTime, the mandatory showing-scheduling service, runs $18 monthly and includes your semi-annual member services fee. New MLS offices pay a $500 application fee, with $228 semi-annually per agent for MLS access and $108 semi-annually per agent for ShowingTime.
The Association’s Journey Through the Years
Understanding where the Association of Acadiana came from helps you appreciate what it’s become.
In 1947, several Lafayette brokers had a vision. They formed the Lafayette Real Estate Board and joined the National Association of Real Estate Boards. Their commitment? To adopt and enforce the Code of Ethics, setting a professional standard that still guides the association today.
By 1960, the board launched its own Multiple Listing Service (MLS). Back then, “MLS” meant printed sheets that members added to three-ring binders. Primitive by today’s standards, it revolutionized how agents shared property information and cooperated on sales.
The next year brought a name change to the Lafayette Board of REALTORS®. The organization was growing and outgrowing its original identity. It operated from the old Evangeline Hotel, a fixture in downtown Lafayette.
The really significant rebrand came in 2005. As the region expanded beyond Lafayette’s borders, the association adopted its current name: REALTOR® Association of Acadiana. This wasn’t just marketing. It reflected that the association served six parishes, not just one city.
In 2017, RAA celebrated its 70th anniversary. Seven decades of advocating for homeownership rights, maintaining ethical standards, and providing quality services to members. That’s staying power.
Today, the association serves over 1,400 REALTOR® members and 150+ affiliates. It’s the third-largest local association in Louisiana, continuing to promote professional development and technology adoption.
Beyond Residential: What You Can List
Many agents don’t realize that the Association of Acadiana’s MLS is not just for single-family homes.
ROAM MLS supports basically every property type you can think of. Residential properties cover single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and residential income properties. But that’s just the start.
Mobile homes with land and home parks have their place in the system. Land and ranch properties, including subdivided vacant lots, get complete MLS treatment. This matters if you work with developers or land investors.
The commercial and industrial categories open up even more opportunities. Office space, retail properties, commercial income properties, industrial facilities, and business opportunities all belong in the MLS. You’re not limited to residential if that’s not your niche.
Multifamily buildings, from duplexes to larger apartment buildings, have dedicated categories. Two-family, three-family, four-family, and other multi-unit residential buildings all get proper classification.
The “other” category rounds things out: motel-hotel properties, business opportunities with real property, and land for development. Whether you’re listing, leasing, or facilitating exchanges, the MLS can handle it.
This variety means brokers with diverse portfolios don’t need multiple systems. Everything runs through one platform.
Technology and Tools at Your Fingertips
The Association of Acadiana doesn’t mess around with technology. Through ROAM MLS and partner vendors, members get a full suite of modern tools.
Flexmls serves as the core MLS software. You can access it via web or mobile, making it easy to search listings, input new properties, and collaborate with clients from anywhere. It’s the system you’ll use daily.
CRS Data gives you public records, tax information, and property data for comparative market analysis and prospecting. Instead of juggling multiple sources, it’s all integrated.
Clareity Dashboard acts as your single sign-on portal. One login gives you secure access to all your MLS applications. It sounds simple, but it saves time and strengthens security.
ShowingTime is mandatory for RAA members, but there’s a good reason. This scheduling platform lets you set showings and manage feedback efficiently. The $18 monthly fee (collected semi-annually) is built into your member services cost.
Cloud CMA integrates with MLS data to generate professional comparative market analyses and listing presentations. This tool delivers when you need to impress a seller or help a buyer understand market value.
RPR (REALTORS® Property Resource) comes from NAR and offers property details, school information, and demographic data. It’s beneficial for clients relocating to the area who want neighborhood insights.
TransactionDesk handles digital transaction management. E-forms, e-signatures, and document storage all live in one platform integrated with the MLS. The days of printing, signing, scanning, and emailing are basically over.
The Agent Dashboard provides quick access to MLS resources and association tools through a secure single sign-on portal. You won’t have to constantly log in and out of different systems.
RAA maintains a Forms Library accessible through TransactionDesk, which gives you standard contracts and forms whenever you need them. Thus, you won’t have to hunt for the right document.
Supra eKey remains optional but valuable. The electronic lockbox system costs $50 to set up plus roughly $15 monthly. If you’re showing properties regularly, it’s worth every penny.
API Access and System Integration
For tech-savvy brokers and agents, here’s the good news: ROAM MLS uses Bridge Interactive’s Bridge API. This matters more than you might think.
The Bridge API is RESO-certified, meaning it meets industry standards for data exchange. It supports both RETS (the older standard) and modern Web APIs. More importantly, it gives brokers opt-in/opt-out control over data distribution. You decide how your listings get shared.
This system enables integration with IDX websites, CRM systems, and third-party applications. Want your listings to feed directly to your brokerage website? Bridge API makes it happen. Need to sync with your customer relationship management software? That works too.
Bridge Interactive provides documentation and usage reporting, so you can track how your data is being used and where it’s going. The platform is customizable and secure, giving you flexibility in technology choices without sacrificing data protection. Use MLSImport wordpress plugin if you want a smooth import process and have a MLS ready website in a day.
For brokers building custom solutions or working with specific vendors, this API access opens up possibilities that closed systems simply can’t match.
What Does This All Mean for Your Business
The Association of Acadiana offers something that’s gotten harder to find in real estate: comprehensive local support with statewide reach. You’re not choosing between being a local expert and having access to broader markets. You get both.
The membership investment isn’t insignificant. You’re looking at over $1,000 in your first year as a full REALTOR® member between dues, fees, and services. But consider what you’re getting: access to every Louisiana parish through ROAM MLS, professional development, networking with 1,400+ members, a full technology stack, and the credibility of REALTOR® membership.
The variety of property types supported means you don’t have to specialize in residential to benefit. Land brokers, commercial agents, and multifamily specialists all have a place here. The MLS grows with your business as your focus evolves.
The technology offerings particularly stand out. Many more minor associations provide basic MLS access and call it a day. RAA members get Flexmls, CRS Data, ShowingTime, Cloud CMA, TransactionDesk, RPR, and API access. That’s a complete professional toolkit, not just a list of software.
Whether you’re a new agent looking to establish yourself in the Acadiana market or an experienced broker expanding into the region, the Association of Acadiana provides the infrastructure, credibility, and connections you need. The 78-year track record speaks for itself. This isn’t a fly-by-night operation. It’s an established institution adapted to modern real estate while maintaining its commitment to ethics and professionalism.
The question isn’t really whether the Association of Acadiana offers value. It’s whether you’re ready to be part of Louisiana’s third-largest local real estate association and tap into a statewide MLS network that serves over 14,000 members.
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