Statewide Call for Ombuds Volunteer Program

Build Better Conversations. Resolve More Conflicts. Serve Your REALTOR® Community. 

2026 REALTOR® Ombuds & Mediation Training 

Every REALTOR® will encounter conflict during their career. Whether it's a misunderstanding between brokers, a frustrated client, or a transaction dispute, how you respond can make all the difference. 

The Greater Albuquerque Association of REALTORS® (GAAR) and the New Mexico Association of REALTORS® (NMAR) invite you to participate in the 2026 Ombuds & Mediation Training Program. This comprehensive training is designed to strengthen your communication, negotiation, and conflict resolution skills while preparing you to serve as a volunteer Ombuds and/or Mediator for your Association. 

Ombuds Mediation
Role

Ombuds is an informal first step for addressing concerns before they become formal disputes.

Solution-focused: Helps parties identify, discuss, and work through real estate misunderstandings, concerns, and communication issues.

Resource-oriented: Explores options, approaches, and available resources that may help resolve the concern.

Non-investigative: Does not investigate, determine whether an ethics violation occurred, decide who is right or wrong, or impose a solution.

Mediation is a collaborative process that helps parties resolve an existing dispute with the assistance of two neutral mediators. Rather than deciding the dispute for the parties, the mediators facilitate productive communication and negotiation.

Party-driven: The mediators guide the process, but the parties remain in control of the outcome and decide whether and how to resolve the dispute.

Efficient and Flexible: Mediation can save time and expense compared with litigation or complaints while helping preserve professional relationships.
Frequency Typically 4-6 times a year Typically  2-4  times a year
Location Confidential and conducted by telephone. Confidential and preferably conducted in person, with Zoom available when appropriate.
Training GAAR: 2-Day Training
NMAR: 3-Day Training		 5-Day Training
Renewal GAAR: 4-hour refresher every 3 years
NMAR: 4-hour refresher annually		 2-4 hour refresher annually

Learn more about GAAR Professional Standards here.

Why Attend? 

The skills learned in this program extend far beyond volunteer service. You'll gain practical techniques you can immediately apply in your real estate business to: 

  • Communicate more effectively with clients and fellow REALTORS®.  
  • Navigate difficult conversations with confidence and professionalism.  
  • Resolve misunderstandings before they become formal disputes.  
  • Reduce the likelihood of ethics complaints, arbitration, or litigation.  
  • Build stronger client relationships through effective problem-solving.  
  • Enhance your leadership and negotiation skills.  

Whether you're working through inspection issues, earnest money disputes, commission disagreements, or challenging client expectations, the skills developed in this training will help you better manage conflict and preserve professional relationships. 

What You'll Learn 

Participants will receive instruction in: 

  • REALTOR® Ombuds procedures and best practices.  
  • Effective communication and active listening.  
  • Conflict resolution strategies.  
  • Mediation fundamentals and facilitation skills.  
  • REALTOR® Professional Standards dispute resolution programs.  
Volunteer Commitment 

This training is intended for REALTORS® who are committed to serving the profession. 

Because GAAR and NMAR invest significant resources into providing this specialized training, participants enrolling in New Ombuds or Mediator Training agree that, upon successful completion of the program and meeting all program requirements, they will serve on the Association's volunteer Ombuds and/or Mediation roster for the designated volunteer term established by the Association. 

Serving as an Ombuds or Mediator is an opportunity to give back to the REALTOR® community by helping fellow members and consumers resolve disputes professionally, efficiently, and respectfully. 

2026 Training Schedule 

Ombuds Refresher 

For current Ombuds volunteers: a 1-Day Training:

  • September 30, 2026 (Zoom)  

REGISTER FOR OMBUDS REFRESHER

GAAR New Ombuds Training 

Hybrid 2-Day Training:

  • September 30, 2026, from 9am-5pm via ZOOM
  • October 21, 2026, from 9am-5pm in-person at GAAR

REGISTR FOR GAAR OMBUDS

Please Note: If you currently serve on GAAR's Professional Standards and Grievance Committee, you are UNABLE to serve as a volunteer GAAR Ombuds or Mediator. This does not apply to serving on behalf of NMAR.

NMAR New Ombuds Training 

Hybrid 3-Day Training:

  • September 30, 2026, from 9am-5pm via ZOOM
  • October 21, 2026, from 9am-5pm in-person at GAAR
  • October 22, 2026, from 9am-5pm in-person at GAAR

REGISTER FOR NMAR OMBUDS

Mediation Training 

Hybrid 5-Day Training:

  • September 30, 2026, from 9am-5pm via ZOOM
  • October 21, 2026, from 9am-5pm in-person at GAAR
  • October 22, 2026, from 9am-5pm in-person at GAAR
  • October 23, 2026, from 9am-5pm in-person at GAAR
  • November 13, 2026, from 9am-5pm via ZOOM

REGISTER FOR MEDIATION 

Please Note: If you currently serve on GAAR's Professional Standards and Grievance Committee, you are UNABLE to serve as a volunteer GAAR Ombuds or Mediator. This does not apply to serving on behalf of NMAR.

Registration Deadline is Monday, September 21st at 5pm

Invest in Your Career—and Your Profession 

Whether your goal is to strengthen your communication skills, become more effective at resolving conflict, or give back through volunteer service, Ombuds & Mediation Training is an investment that benefits both your business and the REALTOR® community. 

We invite you to join this year's program and become part of a dedicated group of REALTORS® committed to professionalism, collaboration, and helping others resolve disputes before they escalate.