From the director: about all those Realtor designations

Donna Reynolds | For The New Mexican

6/7/2009 - 6/7/09

Have you ever wondered about the meanings behind the letters following a Realtor's names? Realtor members spend a significant investment of time and resources in professional education. Many of the courses or programs that they participate in help them earn these special designations.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) has nine affiliated institutes, societies, and councils offering programs to assist Realtors. NAR offers three certification programs:

* CIPS: Certified International Property Specialist is focused on the international real-estate market supported by brokers who travel abroad to put deals together, assist foreign investors, help local buyers invest abroad, or serve an immigrant niche in local markets;

* Green designation addresses the educational needs of Realtors in residential, commercial, and property-management markets, ensuring that the definition of green professionalism, excellence, and leadership is upheld; and

* GRI: Graduate Realtor Institute provides members involved in residential real estate with a solid base of information for their practice.

The Real Estate Buyer's Agent Council offers a designation called ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative), which focuses on all aspects of buyer representation. The Institute of Real Estate Management helps Realtors acquire valuable management skills through educational offerings leading to the CPM (Certified Property Manager) designation. The SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist) designation program trains Realtors to profitably and ethically serve the needs of clients aged 50 and above. The CRS (Certified Residential Specialist) designation is awarded to experienced Realtors who complete advanced training in listing and selling as well as meeting rigorous production requirements.

Realtors who earn the CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) are experts in commercial real-estate brokerage, leasing, valuation and investment analysis. The Realtors Land Institute offers the ALC (Accredited Land Consultant) designation for real-estate professionals engaged in land brokerage transactions for farms and ranches; undeveloped tracts of land; transitional and development land; subdivision and wholesaling of lots; and site selection and assemblage of land parcels.

NAR also offers a number of certifications including At Home with Diversity certification to provide real-estate professionals with training and tools to expand their business as well as home ownership opportunities for more Americans; an e-PRO training program presented entirely online to certify real-estate brokers as Internet professionals; RSPS (Resort & Second-Home Property) certification for resort and second-home professionals from around the world; and a TRC (Transnational Referral Certification) to prepare brokers to make and receive compensated referrals.

The Santa Fe Association of Realtors is dedicated to enhancing the professionalism of our members and works diligently to provide training opportunities for many of these designation and certification programs. In the future, I hope you'll keep an eye out for these designations and now better understand their meaning.


Donna M. Reynolds is chief executive officer of the Santa Fe Association of Realtors. She holds a bachelor of science degree in business from Virginia Commonwealth University. Contact her at donna@sfar.com and visit the association at www.sfar.com.