Eastern Connecticut Association of Realtors

What Eastern Connecticut Association of Realtors does

Eastern Connecticut Association of REALTORS (ECAR) is a private nonprofit professional trade association headquartered in Norwich, Connecticut, serving over 1,000 REALTOR members and an additional tier of affiliate members across New London and Windham Counties — roughly the eastern third of Connecticut. The organization operates under a three-way affiliation agreement with the Connecticut Association of REALTORS and the National Association of REALTORS, giving it jurisdictional authority to enforce the NAR Code of Ethics, manage professional standards, and represent members in legislative advocacy through RPAC.

ECAR's core product is a bundled membership platform rather than a single software product. Members receive access to SmartMLS for multiple listing service data, the NAR-branded Sentrilock electronic lockbox system (which ECAR is the only Connecticut association to offer as part of membership), a library of transaction forms with e-signature, a member directory, market statistics for New London and Windham Counties, and a member benefits discount program. The organization also runs a substantial education business — a 60-hour pre-licensing Principles and Practices course at $499, broker pre-licensing courses, NAR designation/certification programs, and up to 50 continuing education opportunities per year delivered both in-person and via Zoom.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring REALTOR and affiliate membership dues (Affiliate membership $225/year, Associate Affiliate $95/year, statewide ECAR+CTR joint affiliate $380/year), supplemented by tuition from pre-licensing and continuing education courses, and $150/year non-member access fees for Sentrilock. ECAR distributes its services through direct membership applications, an in-person Norwich office, an online member portal, virtual Zoom classrooms, and the SmartMLS digital platform. The organization is governed by a 2026 Board of Directors led by President Dan Contino and CEO Susy Hurlbert, with a small staff handling member services, education, and communications.

Name

Eastern Connecticut Association of Realtors

Legal name

Eastern Connecticut Association of REALTORS, Inc.

Website

https://easternctrealtors.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Eastern Connecticut Association of REALTORS is a nonprofit professional trade association serving over 1,000 REALTOR and affiliate members in Eastern Connecticut, providing MLS access, lockbox services, education, ethics enforcement, and member benefits.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Trade Association Services

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Real Estate, Appraisal & Mortgage (Agent/Broker CE, Appraiser CE) (EDAAALAI)

Keywords

• Real estate association
• REALTOR membership
• Multiple listing service
• Real estate education
• Professional standards

Headquarters

HQ city

North Franklin

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. REALTOR Membership Dues: Annual membership dues for REALTORS including initiation fees, NAR/CTR/ECAR dues prorated according to month of joining, and voluntary PAF donation.
2. Affiliate Membership Dues: Primary Affiliate membership at $225 annually. Statewide businesses can join both ECAR and CT Association of Realtors for $380/year prorated monthly. Associate Affiliates from same office pay $95 per member/year.
3. Pre-Licensing Education: 60-hour Principles and Practices course tuition is $499, includes cost of textbooks. Payment in full required with registration.
4. Sentrilock Non-Member Access: Non-members pay $150/year for Sentrilock lockbox system access.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

ECAR is a professional trade association serving real estate practitioners in Eastern Connecticut (New London and Windham Counties). It provides membership services including Code of Ethics enforcement, SmartMLS access, Sentrilock electronic lockbox service, pre-licensing and continuing education courses, transaction forms, market statistics, networking programs, and legislative advocacy under a three-way affiliation agreement with CT REALTORS and the National Association of REALTORS.

Product overview

The Eastern Connecticut Association of REALTORS (ECAR) is a professional trade association serving real estate professionals in eastern Connecticut. Rather than a unified software product, ECAR provides a suite of member services centered around a core membership platform. Key offerings include SmartMLS access for multiple listing service data, Sentrilock electronic lockbox system access, comprehensive real estate education programs (pre-licensing courses for salespersons and brokers, continuing education, and NAR designations/certifications), transaction forms and e-signature tools, market statistics reporting, and member networking programs including the Young Professionals Network and mentorship initiatives. Members also receive access to affiliated service provider directories and various discounts through partnerships with CT REALTORS and the National Association of REALTORS.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Young Professionals Network (YPN): A dynamic entry point for real estate professionals striving to become more successful in their careers and gain leadership experience
• SmartMLS
• Realtor Mentorship Program
• ECAR Young Professionals Network P&P Real Estate Course Scholarship

Products and services

• SmartMLS Access

Quantifiable outcome

• As many as 50 education opportunities offered each year
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• SmartMLScoreTechnology or IntegrationSmartMLS provides the Multiple Listing Service platform for ECAR members to access property listings, market statistics, and real estate data. Contact: 203-750-6000, [email protected]. ECAR has jurisdictional responsibility for the eastern third of Connecticut for MLS services.
• NAR (National Association of REALTORS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECAR is affiliated with NAR as part of the three-way agreement between ECAR, CT REALTORS, and NAR. Provides access to national benefit programs, Code of Ethics training, designation and certification courses, and political advocacy through RPAC.
• CT REALTORS (Connecticut Association of REALTORS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerECAR operates under three-way agreement with CT REALTORS and NAR, providing state-level benefits, ethics enforcement, and legislative representation. CT REALTORS handles some professional standards complaints.
• SentrilockcoreTechnology or IntegrationECAR offers the only NAR Branded Sentrilock lockbox system in CT, included with membership. The system is also available in Rhode Island. Non-member access available for $150/yr.
• Habitat for HumanityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerECAR YPN participates in quarterly Habitat for Humanity build days in Norwich, supporting community service and homeownership advocacy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Hudson Gateway Association of REALTORS: Regional REALTOR association serving the Hudson Valley / Westchester region. Comparable as a multi-county local NAR affiliate providing MLS access, education, and member services — operating at a similar scale to ECAR.
• Rhode Island Association of REALTORS: A neighboring state REALTOR association covering Rhode Island. Comparable as a regional trade association, and notably co-uses the NAR-Brand Sentrilock lockbox system that ECAR exclusively offers in CT.

Direct peers

• SmartMLS: The Multiple Listing Service provider that ECAR partners with for the eastern third of CT. Comparable as a core MLS infrastructure counterpart and co-defendant in the Zea lawsuit; provides listing and market data services to ECAR members.
• Greater Hartford Association of REALTORS: Another Connecticut regional REALTOR association serving the Hartford-area market. Directly comparable as a local NAR-affiliated trade association offering similar member services, education, and MLS access for real estate professionals in CT.
• Connecticut Association of REALTORS (CT REALTORS): The state-level umbrella REALTOR association for Connecticut, operating under the same three-way agreement with NAR as ECAR. Comparable in providing member benefits, ethics enforcement, and legislative advocacy; also named as co-defendant in the Zea lawsuit.

Broad incumbents

• National Association of REALTORS (NAR): The national parent organization in ECAR's three-way affiliation, providing national designations, Code of Ethics, and RPAC advocacy. Comparable as the apex trade association whose structure, services, and legal exposure directly cascade down to ECAR.
• Greater New York REALTORS (GNYR): Large regional REALTOR association in the New York metro area. Comparable as a multi-county NAR-affiliated trade association offering MLS access, education, and member services to a substantial real estate professional base.
• Massachusetts Association of REALTORS (MAR): The statewide REALTOR association for Massachusetts. Comparable as a state-level NAR affiliate providing similar services (education, ethics, advocacy) and operating under analogous organizational structure to ECAR.

Others

• SentriLock: Technology partner providing the NAR-Brand electronic lockbox system that ECAR exclusively offers in CT. Comparable as an enabling infrastructure partner whose product is central to ECAR's lockbox revenue and member benefits.
• Dotloop / translation services: Digital transaction management platform for real estate. Comparable as a technology provider that complements ECAR's forms/eSignature offering and represents the type of proptech ecosystem in which ECAR members operate.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/EasternCTAOR
• Facebookfacebook.com/EasternCTAOR
• Instagraminstagram.com/ecar_ypn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/eastern-connecticut-associaton-of-realtors

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles21 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Eastern Connecticut Association of Realtors