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More on Real Estate Designations

By
Real Estate Agent with The Virtual Real Estate Team 104556

I was surpised that my post on designations got so many responses so quickly. I thank are the comments that were courteous and thoughtful. Not all your blog post get that kind of treatment. First, I loved the dedication to pursuing excellence through desgination education. Obviously you can't mention them all like becoming a staging expert, but they all have something to say. As an investment specialist, I finished my CCIM designation requirements last year except for the final test. A little thing called cancer stopped me in August last year. FYI, I am blogging from MD Anderson in Houston where I was told my two surgeries and radiation made me cancer free. CCIM final exam here I come.

I was surprised that some did not see CRS as the defining residential designation. Maybe this is a problem with how it is promoted, or the fact that next to CCIM it is the most expensive. It does represent the top 4% of Realtors, and it's one and two day courses represent a wide spectrum of specialty education. As for the distressed Property Expert designation, I heard the founder at CRS Sell-A-Bration in San Francisco this year. I would like to here from those who have taken it to discuss its value. I have a short sale specialist on my team who is quite educated, but I would like to know if this will become a referral network like CRS, or if it has made a difference in marketing to short sale owners.

Finally, let's keep the discussion going. I expect at least a 30% loss of Realtors by the end of this year for the 2008-2009 timeline. The stong and educated will survive and do even more business. Let's make sure that the Active Rain bloggers and members are a part of that remaining group.  

Konnie Mac McCarthy
MacNificent Properties, LLC - Cobb Island, MD
Broker/Owner - VA & MD "Time To Get A Move On!"

Here's my problem...there are so many designations..trying to figure out what to do first... :) like a kid in a candy store. :)

Feb 23, 2009 09:46 AM
Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

The bottom line with designations is that the average consumer has no idea what any of them mean.  As agents we know that they are not all created equal and in some cases they are redundant.  My choice was to earn my CRS, which I think at least when it comes to referals says to another agent that I have both education and experience behind me.  I also earned my VA Brokers license which required another 180 hours of education and gives me the option to go out on my own in the future if I so desire.  I take plenty of other courses just for the knowledge and not for the designations as in the end it is how I help my clients and not how many initials are at the end of my name.

Feb 24, 2009 06:10 AM