Professional Designations / Certifications / Specialized Credentials / Industry Accreditations & Endorsements
What are they and what does all this "alphabet soup" mean? They are listed and explained below, and were earned to help make me a better real estate professional so I can serve you better!
Earned over the last 20 years, each one of these specialization credentials signifies my commitment to the clients I serve through ongoing training, knowledge and expertise. This translates into a real estate professional with advanced knowledge and experience to assist you in protecting your biggest asset and negotiate on behalf of your best interests! All of these OPTIONAL designations and certifications are IN ADDITION to my continuing education (CE) REQUIREMENTS in order to maintain my real estate licenses in the states I operate in.
Not all Realtors are equal, and not all are alike. As you consider your choice of real estate professional, carefully evaluate their training and commitment to skill development. As physicians and professors have advanced studies, degrees and doctorates, Realtors have advanced designations, advanced certifications, specialized credentials, and industry accreditations. Time, effort, travel and expense have been invested to attend courses, study, take and pass exams. Specified levels of performance must be achieved in order to earn each of these, which then enables me to better serve my clients. (For example, the Graduate REALTOR Institute (GRI) requires 90 hours of study and the pre-paid cost for the entire GRI series when I took it was over a thousand dollars.)
So when you see initials behind a Realtors name, it means that this person has attended advanced educational courses and has taken examinations to earn them. They are not content just to take the courses required to get a real estate license and the CE to necessary to maintain it, but are a committed professional, determined to improve their professional skills and the quality of service they provide to their clients.
The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) has nine affiliated Institutes, Societies, and Councils that provide a wide-ranging menu of programs and services that assist members in increasing skills, productivity and knowledge. Designations and certifications acknowledging experience and expertise in various real estate sectors are awarded by each affiliated group upon completion of required courses.
Q: How can you tell if a Realtor has the knowledge and expertise you need?
A: Inquire about their advanced education that provides YOU with a higher quality of service! Simply ask "Which designations have you earned?"
Q: How many designations is “too many”?
A: Over the past 20 years, I've had the goal to study for at least one per year, and I just began studying for another one, so for me, it's not about a number but the knowledge I gain and the improved quality of service I can provide to a client! I enjoy learning new information and improving my skills, especially if I can apply that new knowledge to benefit the clients I am privileged to serve, as well as to expand the reaches of my business.
ABR – Accredited Buyer Representative
ACP – Accredited Commercial Professional
AHWD – Certified At Home With Diversity Professional
C2EX – Commitment To Excellence (National Association of REALTORS®)
CPE – Certified Probate Expert
CCIM* – Certified Commercial Investment Member (*In progress)
CIPS – Certified International Property Specialist
CLHMS/GUILD/GUILD ELITE – Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist & GUILD Member
CRS – Certified Residential Specialist
CSP – Certified Short Sale Professional
DSC – Divorce Specialist Certification
ePRO – Certified Internet Technology Professional
GLN – Golf Certified Real Estate Agent
GRI – Graduate REALTOR Institute
GUILD ELITE – The Institute For Luxury Home Marketing's Highest Designation
MCNE – Master Certified Negotiation Expert
MilRES – Military Residential Specialist
MRP – Military Relocation Professional
PSA – Pricing Strategy Advisor
PSC – Probate Specialist Certification
RENE – Real Estate Negotiation Expert
RFS – Residential Finance Specialist
RSPS – Resort & Second-Home Property Specialist
SFR – Short Sale & Foreclosure Resource
TRC – Transnational Referral Certification
I am pleased to be able to provide you with additional expertise and an outstanding level of personal service. Feel free to print out a PDF or scroll down to see a logo & explanation of each one.
Accredited Buyer Representative
Look first for the ABR designation when looking for a home. Realtors with ABR after their name have met strict educational and practical requirement set by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC) to help guide you in your succesful home purchase. This designation is held by less than 2% of all licensed real estate agents in America, and is the benchmark of excellence in buyer representation. In this capacity, I’m qualified to provide buyer representation, familiar with buyer brokerage and buyer agency issues, and devoted to represent and serve buyers in finding the home, estate, condominium, vacation rental, investment property or land that perfectly suits their needs. Less than 30% of agents have this designation.
Accredited Commercial Professional
With the ACP designation, I have increased my expertise, knowledge and demonstrated proficiency when working with commercial real estate. I am active in assisting clients with acquisitions and dispositions of commercial properties, including valuation and marketing techniques the areas of multifamily, industrial, office, retail, land and development. The ACP helps me create better outcomes and achieve better results for my commercial clients.
Certified At Home With Diversity Professional
is an NAR certification program that has prepared me to work effectively with and within today’s increasingly diverse pool of homebuyers. It conveys to clients that they are working with a dynamic real estate professional with expertise that transcends cultural barriers.
Certified International Property Specialist
Realtors who have earned this designation are consumers’ best and most trusted resource for navigating the global market. Designees are relied upon as expert resources in the international real estate market. Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) is an international real estate education program and an exclusive global designation of NAR, sponsored by REALTOR Boards and Associations throughout the United States. This premier designation is awarded by NARs Commercial and Global Services department to Realtors who complete the coursework and meet practical experience criteria that demonstrate knowledge and familiarity with international clients. I feel with CIPS, I can better engage in local, global and lifestyle real estate.
Over the years, I’ve encounter opportunities in my local market to assist clients in an international transaction, e.g., assisting foreign investors, or helping a U.S. resident purchase property abroad. The CIPS designation provides me with the knowledge, research, network and tools to help my clients moving to the U.S. from foreign countries, helps U.S. clients investing in property overseas and it help expand my business to better realize global real estate opportunities.
The CIPS Network, comprised of over 3,500 real estate professionals in 45 countries along with the RE/MAX Worldwide Network, with 111,188 Associates, 7,275 offices in over 100 countries give me a huge advantage in efforts on my clients behalf.
This designation is earned after successfully completing an intensive program of study focusing on critical aspects of transnational transactions, including currency and exchange rate issues, cross-cultural relationships, regional market conditions, investment performance, tax issues and more. U.S. members must be a REALTOR and a member of the National Association of REALTORS.
Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist
I was awarded both the Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS) designation and the GUILD Member designation in 2007 and the more recent GUILD ELITE designation by The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing. As such, I’ve been proud to help high net worth clients purchase and market fine homes and luxury properties and estates for over 19 years. These 3 luxury designations signify my commitment to meeting the unique needs and expectations of even the most discriminating clientele.
Certified Residential Specialist
The CRS Designation signals to consumers and other real-estate professionals that you are one of the best of the best.
The Council of Residential Specialists is the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS. With nearly 30,000 members, CRS represents the most successful REALTORS in the U.S., providing best-in-class continuing education, networking, practitioner-developed tools, and mentoring awarding the CRS Designation to experienced agents who have completed advanced professional training and demonstrated outstanding professional achievement in residential real estate.
Annually, Certified Residential Specialists earn more than triple the income of the average REALTOR, and CRSs complete nearly twice as many transactions each year. Out of more than 1 million REALTORS, less than 3% are Certified Residential Specialists. That little percentage equals a huge advantage for agents looking to expand their real estate business, differentiate themselves from a million other agents and putting them on a proven path to success.
Certified Short Sale Professional
CSP real estate professionals are expert facilitators of the short-sale transaction from beginning to end. Agents that have earned the CSP designation recognize the impact that a short-sale can have on the sale of a home and have been prepared to provide that value added service for their clients. Who better to work through the issues of short-selling your home than the one that is assuming responsibility for the marketing of your home? I am equipped with the knowledge and skills to work with your lender to assist you in resolving the imbalance between home value and mortgage debt and ensure that your home is fully prepared to present a proposal to them. That is the edge you will need to sell your home quickly and as painlessly as possible.
Certified e-PRO Internet Professional
The Internet has added a new dimension to the real estate world. The e-PRO certification is an extensive online training program endorsed by the National Association Of Realtors (NAR) to certify real estate professionals as Internet Professionals. Comprehensive and educational, e-PRO is the only certification program of its kind recognized nationwide as an online standard for real estate professionalism and knowledge.
The e-PRO certification is a real estate industry certification similar to various industry designations such as: CPA – Certified Public Accountant, an accounting industry designation; CFP – Certified Financial Planner, a financial industry designation; CLU – Charter Life Underwriter, an insurance industry designation; CSEO – Certified Senior Escrow Officer, an escrow industry designation.
As an ePRO designee, you can have utmost confidence in my Internet proficiency, and also be assured that I have the knowledge and skills to put the power of the Internet behind your real estate transaction. I am prepared to employ the latest techniques and services on your behalf.
Graduate REALTOR Institute
This designation awarded by state associations to members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS who successfully completed a predetermined course of study of at least 90 hours of specialized real estate courses, covering a variety of subjects including: contract law, professional standards, finance, and risk reduction. It marks real estate professionals who have made the commitment to provide a high level of professional services by securing a strong educational foundation. In addition, these designees have learned the fundamentals of brokerage and other areas of real estate specialization. With this designation and through increased awareness of current topics important to the real estate professional, such as legal issues, these REALTORS can better serve prospective clients and customers.
Graduate REALTOR Institute designees have made the commitment to provide a high level of professional services to their clients. The GRI curriculum incorporates a common body of knowledge for progressive real estate professionals. A REALTOR who possesses the GRI designation has not only completed a course of study required by the program, but also subscribes to the Code of Ethics of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS.
With this designation I have received additional training in many areas of real estate to better serve and protect my clients. This designation me apart from other practitioners because it indicates to the public that I have obtained a professional educational foundation on which to base the services I provide.
The GRI Designation was established by the Education Committee of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS and approved by the NAR Board of Directors.
Less that 50% of agents have this designation.
Master Certified Negotiation Expert
One of the top designation courses in real estate taught nationally by the Real Estate Negotiation Institute is the Master Certified Negotiation Expert, designed to help real estate agents increase their negotiation and persuasion skills and achieve better results for their clients. The MCNE helps me create better outcomes and achieve better results for my clients that are far above average. Using these valuable techniques also helps me win more listings, close more transactions, and earn more repeat and referral business. (Also see RENE).
Military Residential Specialist
Along with my skills as a top-selling REALTOR, I’m an expert at helping you through the process of buying and selling a home successfully. With my MilRES Certification, I have the requisite knowledge and go the extra mile to serve active duty service members, veterans and their families. I understand your needs and the benefits you deserve and I know how to overcome the challenges unique to military personnel with regard to housing. So contact a REALTOR that connects with our military, cares about our troops and makes the effort to help!
Military Relocation Professional
The Military Relocation Professional (MRP) is an NAR approved certification for real estate professionals who want to work with current and former military service members. When military staff and their families relocate, the services of a real estate professional who understands their needs and timetables makes the transfer easier, faster, and less stressful. With my MRP certification, I will find you housing solutions that best suit your needs and take full advantage of available benefits and support. No one helps as many people buy & sell homes & condos on Kauai. Relocating to Kauai or buying a home is significantly easier with a REALTOR who understands PCS, VA Home Loans and virtual showings. Make the decision to buy or sell with a true relocation professional.
Real Estate Negotiation Expert
Completing the Real Estate Negotiation Expert certification program from the Real Estate Business Institute better enables me to utilize a full spectrum of negotiating tools, techniques and advantages which expands my skill set and advocacy for my clients. (Also see MCNE).
Residential Finance Specialist
With my RFS designation, I’m trained to look beyond the obvious and help buyers and sellers explore a wide range of financing options. Financing is one of the most critical elements in the home purchase and sale transaction. It can make or brake the deal and has a huge impact on the long-term financial success of the home ownership experience. Yet many real estate agents fail to counsel their clients about financial issues.
As an RFS designee, I have a unique focus on financing that will help protect my clients from a variety of pitfalls including unnecessary or inflated charges, delayed closings and predatory lending practices.
This designation requires an intensive course of study and evidence of experience in the area of home finance counseling. Fewer than 1% of all real estate licensees have earned this prestigious recognition.
RFS is awarded by the Residential Financing Council (RFC), a professional association comprised of real estate and mortgage professionals focused on real estate financial counseling for consumers.
Resort & Second-home Property Specialist
Acquiring a second home has grown in popularity over the last ten years (and in particular since 2003), and savvy buyers and sellers increasingly demand the expertise of a real estate professional with proven knowledge of resort and second-home market conditions.
With this certification, I’m able to help facilitate the buying, selling, or management of properties for investment, development, retirement, or second homes in a resort, recreational and/or vacation destination.
One of the core course requirements of the RSPS certification is the RLI Tax-Deferred (1031) Exchange course from the Realtors Land Institute. Through this course, I’ve gained an understanding of how the rules governing 1031 tax-deferred real property exchanges are applied and how these transactions are put together. I can recognize and evaluate situations in which a 1031 tax deferred exchange could be to my clients advantage, and I can involve and work with intermediaries and other experts to structure these transactions.
Short Sales & Foreclosure Resource
Knowing how to help sellers maneuver the complexities of short sales as well as help buyers pursue short sale and foreclosure opportunities are not merely good skills to have in today’s market – they are critical. My ability to close short sales and foreclosures depends in part on my expertise and confidence in seeing these transactions through. This NAR awarded certification provides me with the framework to do that for my clients.
Transnational Referral Certification
The goal of this certification is to prepare real estate professionals to make and receive referrals using the Transnational Referral system developed by the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations (ICREA). I’ve learned how to integrate international referrals into my business planning. The Transnational Referral Certification demonstrates to other real estate professionals that I am well versed in the procedures of the Transnational Referral system and have pledged to follow a code of conduct in business dealings. Awarded by the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations.