Why do Realtors have letters after their name? Rachel Buller GRI MRE PSA, Skye Lewis ABR PSA, Whitney Lewis GRI.  It looks like a secret code.  What do all the letters stand for any why should you care?

Letters after a REALTOR®’s name represent a professional designation given by the National Association of REALTORS® acknowledging experience and expertise in a certain area.  These letters represent a professional willing to go beyond the required continuing education credits to further their knowledge and expertise in a selected real estate field. Let’s explore a few designations:

GRI – Graduate REALTOR® Institute – Fifteen four-hour classes are taken (sixty hours of education total). This in depth class helps an agent dig deeper into market knowledge, become more proficient in a wider scope of real estate subject matter and reinforce their professionalism. For more information contact one of our agents with this designation.

ABR – Accredited Buyer’s Representatives – These agents have taken a rigorous two day course and passed an exam with an 80% or higher.  Additionally, they have taken and passed an elective course.  This course is helps agents better understand the unique needs of buyers and buying trends.  They have completed at least five transactions in which they acted solely in the capacity of a buyer’s agent.

PSA – Pricing Strategy Advisor – This course enhances an agent’s skills regarding pricing a property, creating a market analysis, guiding clients through any misperceptions about pricing they may have, and how to work with appraisers.  Agents must complete a one day course with an exam at the end, attend two one-hour webinars, and be in good standing with NAR.  If you want to work with a Pricing Strategy Advisor contact us.

e-PRO – Someone with this designation has taken a two day course on how to use cutting edge technology related to the real estate market.  With today’s savvy consumers it’s important to stay ahead of the game in order to best serve our clients.

MRE – Master of Real Estate – An agent with this designation has taken 90 hours of advanced education, which is more than some states require for initial licensure.  All MRE’s designees have completed ethics courses and according to VanEd, “trustworthiness, representation and communication, are the hallmarks of the MRE”.

Green – Agents who have perused this designation understand how to market properties with green features including sustainability and green building science.  This is a three day program.

Letters represent a professional willing to go beyond the required continuing education credits to further their knowledge and expertise in a selected real estate field. Let’s explore a few designations:

GRI – Graduate REALTOR® Institute – Fifteen four-hour classes are taken (sixty hours of education total). This in depth class helps an agent dig deeper into market knowledge, become more proficient in a wider scope of real estate subject matter and reinforce their professionalism.

ABR – Accredited Buyer’s Representatives – These agents have taken a rigorous two day course and passed an exam with an 80% or higher.  Additionally, they have taken and passed an elective course.

*Ninja – The Ninja Selling “system is based on the philosophy of building relationships, listening to the customer, and helping them achieve their goals. It is less about selling and more about how to create value for people”.  All of our agents have been trained in this selling method. (Rachel, Patty, Skye, Emily, Whitney and Ila)

More common designations include ALC (Accredited Land Consultants), BPOR (Broker Price Opinion Resource), MRP (Military Relocation Professional), CRS (Certified Residential Specialist), SFR (Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource), and SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist).

For more information on designations you can visit Realtor.org. Now you know the answer to why do Realtors have letters after their name?

*Not a NAR recognized designation.