What is CRS®

The Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) is the highest Designation awarded to sales associates in the residential sales field. The CRS Designation recognizes professional accomplishments in both experience and education.

Since 1977 the Council of Residential Specialists has been conferring the CRS Designation on agents who meet its stringent requirements. Currently, there are more than 38,000 active CRS Designees.

What is ABR®?

The Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR®) designation is the benchmark of excellence in buyer representation. This coveted designation is awarded to real estate practitioners by the Real Estate BUYERS AGENT Council (REBAC) of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS ® who met the specified educational and practical experience criteria.

The criteria are:

• Completed the comprehensive two-day REBAC course in buyer representation
• Successfully passed a written examination
• Demonstrated a practical experience of having completed closed real estate transactions in the field of buyer representation.
  
• Received recommendations from real estate practitioners buyer clients.
  
• Be a member in good standing with the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® I am a real estate agents that proudly displays the ABR® designation and I am a professional in the field of buyer representation.

The Benefits of Using a Buyers Agent Using a Buyers Representative offers the consumer many benefits.

• Evaluate the specific needs and wants of the buyer and locate properties that fit those specifications.
• Assist the buyer in determining the amount that they can afford (pre-qualify) and show properties in that price range and locale the consumer has determined.
• Assist in viewing properties and either accompany the client on the showings or preview the properties on behalf of the client to insure that the identified specifications are met.
• Research the selected properties to identify any problems or issues to help the consumer in making an informed decision prior to making an appropriate offer on the property.
• Advise the client on structuring an appropriate offer to purchase the selected property.
• Present the offer to the sellers agent and seller on the clients behalf.
• Negotiate on behalf of the buyer client to help obtain the identified property. Keep in mind that the buyer agent will be doing so with their clients best interests in mind.
• Recommendations and assistance in securing appropriate financing for the selected property.
• Provide a list of potential qualified vendors if these services are needed by the consumer.

What is GRI®?

The Graduate REALTOR® Institute is a nationally accredited professional development program. The curriculum, designed and approved by NAR is offered by The Minnesota Association of REALTORS®. The Graduate REALTOR® Institute indicates a mark of excellence in real estate and is also one of the first steps in earning additional professional designations, such as the Certified Residential Specialist and Certified Relocation Broker. Regardless of professional experience, everyone can profit from the REALTOR® Institute. It was created primarily for those selling and marketing single family homes, but it also offers practical information about agency, financing, real estate software, risk reduction, personal marketing, sales/closing techniques and prospecting, business planning, environmental issues and home inspections, and ethics. Instructors have extensive experience and expertise within Institute objectives.

Members may earn The Graduate REALTOR® Institute designation by successfully completing various modules, each providing classroom hours of instruction in real estate education. Only REALTORS® can obtain The Graduate REALTOR® Institute designation and they must maintain their REALTOR® membership to continue using it. It is recognized nationwide as a sound, fundamental training program in the critical skills and knowledge areas of the real estate business.

GRI® Curriculum covers some of the following issues

• Professional Standards
• Business Development Techniques
• Listing Techniques
• Residential Construction, Home Inspection and Land Use
• Sales and Marketing
• Basic Real Estate Finance
• Advanced Real Estate Finance
• Risk Reduction: Agency, Misrepresentation, Antitrust, Fair Housing and Environmental/Health Issues
• Real Estate Taxation
• Real Estate Investment
• Real Estate Technology: Computers and Beyond/Marketing
• Building A Real Estate Business
• Contract Law
• Pricing Property
• Communications
• Myers-Briggs

What is ePro®?
EPro is a certification for Internet Professionalism. The e-PRO Certification Course is an educational program unlike any other professional certification or designation course available, comprehensive and Interactive. It is sponsored by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION of REALTORS® and is specifically designed to help real estate professionals thrive in the competitive world of online real estate.

In addition, the e-PRO Certification Course is geared to ensure continued success in online real estate after the course has been completed and certification earned, by online participation in the e-PRO Community and the e-PRO Referral Network.