Monday, January 12, 2009

HOME BUYERS IN TODAY’S REALTY GAME NEED A PROFESSIONAL COACH

With the help of the lowest mortgage rates in nearly 50 years and extremely favorable prices, thousands of home buyers hopefully will start to lead America out of the real estate recession in 2009, economists say.

Along with some down payment cash and a good credit score, just what do home shoppers need to get a jump on what many experts are calling the best buyer’s market in a half century? Answer: A professional realty coach.

And, one of the best coaches in the game is an experienced Realtor who has completed enough advanced professional training to earn a CRB designation, according to James M. Kinney, president of the Council of Residential Brokerage Managers, an esteemed branch of the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

“Whether you are shopping for a new home or a resale condominium, if you work with a broker who is a Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager, or a firm managed by a CRB, you know your transaction will be handled with integrity, professionalism and proven expertise,” said Kinney, who also is president of Rubloff Residential Properties in Chicago.

“There are thousands and thousands of real estate brokers with varying degrees of experience and education, but only a very small percentage of those brokers have earned the benchmark CRB designation,” noted Sara Benson, CRB and owner of Benson Stanley Realty on the North Side.

The Council, which has nearly 7,000 members worldwide, confers the CRB designation and is the governing body of the most prestigious real estate network for brokers, owners and managers nationwide.

Although there are currently more than 1.3 million active real estate agents and brokers doing business in the United States, according to NAR, “only 28 Chicago real estate brokers have earned the CRB designation, and there are only 178 members in all of Illinois,” said Kinney, who has held the coveted CRB designation since 1992.

“Buying or selling real estate in today’s market is about making good choices,” Kinney said. “When you need quality health care, you go to an MD, and when you have important tax questions you consult a CPA. When you have questions about your real estate transaction, you should look for a broker with CRB credentials.”

Kinney, who also holds the professional designations of Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR), Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB), Certified Residential Specialist (CRS), and, Graduate Realtor Institute (GRI), noted proudly that Rubloff’s broker roster currently includes three other agents with CRB designations. They are Darlene Little, executive vice president of Rubloff and manager of the firm’s Lincoln Park office, Marki D. Lemons and Anne M. Rossley.

“Real estate buyers or sellers benefit greatly if they are fortunate enough to work with a broker who has achieved the coveted CRB designation—someone who has gone the extra mile to take their professional training to a higher level,” said Benson, a CRB since 1993. According to Ginny Shipe, chief executive officer of the CRB Council, designees offer the following professional advantages to buyers and sellers:

• Dedication. CRB managers recruit top associates who handle each real estate transaction with professionalism and cutting-edge techniques, tools and information.

• Leading-edge resources. CRB brokers are trained to sell property for the highest price and in the shortest period of time.

• Effective leadership. Brokers with a CRB designation have the expertise to lead their sales team and assist their associates in understanding their client’s needs.

• Market experience. CRB brokers understand the market and economic trends used to positively influence the real estate transaction.

• Consumer service. CRB managers maintain a customer-service driven realty office to make sure each transaction receives prompt and thorough attention.

While real estate buyers and sellers may be impressed with realty agents who generate high dollar volume, Benson said transactions numbers and sales volume dollars are not as important as the level of service to the consumer.

“If I need to network with a broker in another regional market—from Wisconsin to Mississippi, I’ll call a CRB and always find myself working with an educated, knowledgeable and ethical realty professional,” she said. “Typically, I avoid entirely brokers who have to advertise in the Yellow Pages.”

Benson believes “Rookie of the Year” or “Million-Dollar Producer” are not realty titles in which consumers should entrust their life savings, or rely upon to assist them in making decisions and negotiating transactions that will affect them for decades to come.

“At the end of the day it’s all about expertise—true expertise can only be achieved through education and experience,” Benson said. “By seeking out a CRB designee, consumers can guarantee that their agent has both.”

For additional information about Council of Residential Brokerage Managers, and a list of local members, please visit the CRB Web site at www.CRB.com or call 800-621-8738.