REALTOR DESIGNATION AWARENESS MONTH

It’s November – Realtor Designation Awareness Month. NAR and its nine institutes, societies and councils offer 21 officially endorsed designations and certifications to their members. “One way Realtors add value to the real estate transaction is by understanding how to best serve the particular needs of different buyers, whether they’re purchasing their first home or have multiple investment properties,” says NAR President Pat V. Combs. “Earning an NAR-endorsed designation or certification is one way to do that, and (it) lets buyers and sellers know that a Realtor has a particular expertise in a given area.” Three of the most popular designations and certifications are the Graduate, Realtor Institute (GRI) designation, which covers legal liability, regulatory and consumer-focused topics; the Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) designation, which indicates advanced training and experience representing homebuyers; and the e-PRO certification, indicating expertise in real estate technology and the Internet. The newest member of the NAR designation family is the Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES) designation, which indicates expertise in serving homebuyers and sellers who are 55 or older. For more information on NAR’s programs, visit its Web site at: http://www.realtor.org/education.

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