Advanced Designations  and Certifications      

What do they mean and why are they important? GRI, ABR, CLHMS, CRS - what does all this alphabet soup mean to you?

When you see initials like these behind a REALTOR®'s name, it means that this person is a committed professional, not content just to take the courses needed to get and maintain a real estate license, but determined to improve their professional skills and the quality of service they provide to their clients. They have devoted time to attending advanced educational courses and have taken examinations to earn these designations.

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.

Not all Realtors are equal. Physicians have medical degrees, professors have doctorates, Realtors have designations. Time, money, effort and travel have been invested to attend courses, take and pass exams and achieve specified levels of performance and professional achievement in order to earn each designation and certification. This translates into a professional with advanced degrees to assist you in protecting your biggest asset and negotiate on behalf of your best interests!

How can you tell if your real estate agent has the knowledge and expertise you need? Ask about their designations and whether they have their broker’s license or just a sales license!

RE/MAX Sales Associates are industry leaders in terms of advanced education. 62% of RE/MAX Associates in the United States who have been with RE/MAX at least 1 full year, hold advanced professional designations.

In order to keep current with real estate industry issues, evolving technology, changing legalities and markets, to increase my expertise, build my skills and knowledge base, I feel compelled and committed to ongoing continuing education.

Up to this point, I've earned the following designations & certifications and am able to provide you with additional expertise and an outstanding level of personal service in each of these areas.

Look first for the ABR designation when looking for a home. Realtors with ABR after their name have met strict educational and proctical 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. 

AHWD
Certified At Home With Diversity Professional

AHWD is a ground-breaking professional education initiative designed to provide America's real estate professionals with training and tools to expand their business as well as homeownership opportunities for more Americans. My AHWD certification relays to the public that I've been professionally trained in and am sensitive to a wide range of cultural issues inviting a wider volume of business from a greater variety of cultures. 

It is a proven fact that homes that are staged sell much quicker than empty homes and also quicker than homes with inappropriate furniture.  As an Accredited Staging Professional, I have learned to help my clients stage their homes in order to have a quicker sale for more profit.

Of all of the higher education and designations and certifications, my Broker’s license carries the most important credential that I have in my portfolio. A Real Estate Broker’s license and a Real Estate Sales license are two different licenses. A broker has more credentials to his name. The degree of  training and the experience that one needs in order to be a broker is much more when compared to a real estate sales agent.  This license is issued through the California Department of Real Estate. 

CLHMS
Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist

As a Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS) and member of The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing, I'm uniquely qualified to help buyers as well as market fine properties and estates for sellers throughout the south bay. The Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist designation signifies my commitment to meeting the unique needs and expectations of high-end clientele. 

The Certified Residential Specialist is the highest designation awarded to sales associates in the residential sales field.  Less than 4% of all licensed realtors are Certified Residential Specialists.  A CRS designation reflects the significant experience and volume of real estate transactions needed to quilifiy.  The CRS designation required many courses of advanced education in related areas such as finance, technology, marketing, listing selling investment and taxes.

The Palos Verdes Association of Realtors developed a Palos Verdes Specialist Designation specifically for their members in order for them to better serve their clients.  The designation is to educate members about the rich Palos Verdes Peninsula history and the uniqueness of each of its cities.  The Palos Verdes Specialist is taught local area knowledge, the various neighborhoods, the micro climates, the differing city bylaws and the many schools both public and private.

ePRO
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.

GRI
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.

One of the core course requirements of the GRI certification is the Real Property, Tax and Exchanging Certificate. 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 client’s advantage, and I can involve and work with intermediaries and other experts to structure these transactions.                                      

The Senior Real Estate Specialist designed to better qualify realtors to address the needs of home buyers and sellers age 50+ through major financial and lifestyle transitions involved in relocating, refinancing or selling the family home.  I have a thorough understanding of the distinct real estate goals, concerns and needs of seniors in today’s marketplace.  There are many key differences that a senior might have in housing options, from age-restricted communities to age-in-place design to assisted living: applications of the Housing for Older Persons Act (HOPA); the ins and outs of reverse mortgages; the use of pensions, 401k accounts, and IRAs in real estate transactions.

TRC
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.

The Quality Service Certification professional has specialized customer service training designed to improve the level of service that a real estate professional will give their clients.  As a Quality Service Certified professional, I have learned to give my clients the top quality in service with the reliability, accountability responsiveness and attention to details that both buyers and sellers crave.  

Of all of the higher education and designations and certifications, my Broker’s license carries the most important credential that I have in my portfolio.  A Real Estate Broker’s license and a Real Estate Sales license are two different licenses.  A broker has more credentials to his name.  The degree of  training and the experience that one needs in order to be a broker is much more when compared to a real estate sales agent.  This license is issued through the California Department of Real Estate.