The following press release was submitted to various media outlets and real estate publications within the San Francisco Bay Area. If you are a media representative and would like assistance with interviews, images or information, contact David Stark, Public Affairs Director, at davids@bayeast.org or (925) 730-4068.

Bay East Association of REALTORS® and the National Association of REALTORS® Celebrate REALTOR® Designation Awareness Month

Pleasanton, CA (November 2, 2007) – What do all those letters and abbreviations that follow a REALTORS® name mean? They represent designations earned by REALTORS® who continue their professional education. 

The Bay East Association of REALTORS® and the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®  (NAR) are pleased to announce the arrival of REALTOR® Designation Awareness Month.

There is an official NAR designation for practically every specialty area in the real estate industry. 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.

According to Chuck Edell, 2007 President of the Bay East Association of REALTORS®, “Designations reinforce that REALTORS® are professionals. REALTORS® need continuing education and NAR’s designation programs are a great source of information to keep their skills sharp. The GRI and other classes give agents the ‘big picture’ about the real estate market.”

NAR research shows REALTORS® who pursue professional designations have a distinct competitive edge as a result of their increased expertise and marketability. NAR recently reported that REALTORS® with at least one designation earn $37,000 more than REALTORS® with no designations.

The Bay East Association of REALTORS® and the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® encourage its members to increase their professional image, marketability, and productivity through the pursuance of a designation or certification program.

• CRS® - Certified Residential Specialist®: The CRS® designation is awarded to experienced REALTORS® who complete advanced training in listing and selling, and meet rigorous production requirements.
• GRI - Graduate REALTOR® Institute: The GRI designation provides residential real estate practitioners with a solid base of knowledge needed for a successful career in real estate.
• SRES® - Seniors Real Estate Specialist®: The SRES® Designation Course teaches the key differences in housing options, from age-restricted communities to age-in-place design to assisted living; applications of the Housing for Older Persons Act; the ins and outs of reverse mortgages; the use of pensions, 401K accounts, and IRAs in real estate transactions; and developing a team of senior specialists.
• ABR - Accredited Buyer Representative: More than 30,000 ABR® designees have completed the REBAC course, passed the test and provided documentation of buyer agency experience.
• CRB - Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager: The CRB designation is awarded by the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers to REALTORS® who have completed the Council's advanced educational and professional requirements.
• CCIM - Certified Commercial Investment Member®: CCIMs are recognized experts in commercial real estate brokerage, leasing, valuation and investment analysis.
• CIPS - Certified International Property Specialist: The CIPS network is comprised of 1,500 real estate professionals from 50 countries who deal in all types of real estate, but with one common element: they are focused specifically on the "international" market.
• PMN - Performance Management Network: The PMN is a new designation that focuses on negotiating strategies and tactics, networking and referrals, business planning & systems, personal performance management and cultural differences in buying and selling.
• e-PRO®: This is another new online education program to certify real estate agents and brokers as Internet Professionals. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® is the first major trade group to offer certification for online professionalism.

About Bay East Association of REALTORS®

The Bay East Association of REALTORS® is a professional trade association serving more than 6,000 Real Estate professionals throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Our mission is to serve the membership by developing and promoting programs and services that enhance the REALTOR® image; To develop and promote programs and services that enhance the members’ ability to successfully conduct their individual businesses with integrity and competency, pursuant to the Code of Ethics; By collective action, to promote to the members and the community they serve the preservation of real property rights.