http://seacoastrealty.com/blog/categoryname_designation/sort_entrydatetime-desc/ Finding a real estate professional that can most effectively meet your needs can be a daunting task. There are hundreds of agents out there that solicit business at the very first whiff of a real estate transaction’s possibility. They are by no means bad agents, they are actually go-getters. Real estate professionals are good at what they do for a variety of different reasons. Some love the idea of making a dream come true, some like the business and negotiation side, and some simply like houses. Like any other profession, many real estate agents specialize in different areas. Below you will find a list of the different designations that you might see when searching for your real estate professional. This is by no means a complete list, but I think it covers most of the more widely sought accreditations.Professional Designations are endorsements made most often by the NAR, or National Association of Realtors, an organization that adheres to a strict code of ethics and encourages growth in real estate knowledge. Real Estate professionals that are a part of the NAR are REALTORS, and that title indicates that a certain amount of experience and knowledge has been gained through classes, testing, or long-term experience by a real estate professional, resulting in expertise in a certain area. ABR - Accredited Buyer RepresentativeSRS - Seller Representative SpecialistCRP - Certified Relocation ProfessionalALC - Accredited Land ConsultantGRI - Graduate of REALTOR InstituteCIPS - Certified International Property SpecialistCPM - Certified Property ManagerCRB - Certified Real Estate Brokerage ManagerCRS - Certified Residential SpecialistGREEN - NAR’s Green designation - experts in green featurese-PRO - NAR’s designation for those with expertise in cutting-edge tech in Real EstateMRP - Military Relocation ProfessionalPSA - Pricing Strategy AdvisorRSPS - Resort & Second Home Property SpecialistSFR - Short Sales and Foreclosure ResourceSRES - Seniors Real Estate SpecialistCNE - Certified Negotiation ExpertSPS - Strategic Pricing SpecialistSLS - Strategic Listing SpecialistMCNE - Master Certified Negotiation ExpertCSSN - Certified Short Sale NegotiatorAt Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage, our Agents are constantly striving to expand their real estate know-how. Through classes offered in our offices, to conferences, to training sessions in other areas of our state and nation; our agents hold an array of different talents and designations. If you are in a unique situation (and let’s face it, all real estate transactions are unique) we encourage you to conduct your search by starting here:  http://www.seacoastrealty.com/agents/searchby_gridIf you are still feeling overwhelmed, please give us a call and we can help you find the agent that has the right skills to make your real estate adventures a smooth one.  http://seacoastrealty.com/blog/1832/real-estate-designations-and-what-they-mean/ Wed, 20 Jan 2016 12:00:00 -0500 Barbara Pugh, the lead agent with The Barbara Pugh Team of Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage, has earned her Strategic Listing Specialist (SLS) and Strategic Pricing Specialist (SPS) designations. These designations help agents distinguish themselves from competitors, articulate the many benefits they bring to buyers and sellers, and educate sellers on the best marketing and pricing strategies they should employ to sell their home. Pugh earned the certifications by completing courses offered by JAMM Board Certified Business Coach, Jo Mangum.“These designations are a real asset for any REALTOR®, but particularly important for a listing agent,” said Pugh. “This has helped me better understand the wants and needs of sellers and how to work with them to develop the most effective marketing campaign for their home. The designations help me get results for my sellers at the best price in the least amount of time and with the least amount of stress.”Pugh has worked in the real estate industry for 30 years and is “very pleased to call Sea Coast Advantage home.” Prior to entering real estate, she owned her own temporary staffing agency in Smithfield, North Carolina, before selling to a national firm and settling in Wilmington in 1996.In addition to Pugh’s SLS and SPS designations, several agents on The Barbara Pugh Team are Certified Negotiation Experts (CNE). This is one of the top designation courses in real estate and is taught nationally by the Real Estate Negotiation Institute. An agent with this certification is able to negotiate exceptional win-win outcomes for all parties involved in a real estate transaction. http://seacoastrealty.com/blog/1794/barbara-pugh-of-coldwell-banker-sea-coast-advantage-earns-strategic-listing-specialist-and-strategic-pricing-specialist-designat/ Mon, 14 Dec 2015 12:00:00 -0500 Tom Gale, managing partner of Team Gale of Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage, recently earned his Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) certification through the Council of Residential Specialists, a nonprofit affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS®. The CRS designation is the highest credential awarded to residential sales agents, managers and brokers, and is awarded to experienced REALTORS® who have completed advanced professional training and demonstrated outstanding professional achievement in residential real estate.“The CRS signals to consumers and other real estate professionals that you are one of the best of the best,” said Gale. “I have numerous designations in real estate, but I’m particularly proud of the CRS because it is the only designation that requires a high level of sales success in addition to training and classwork. The CRS is a great asset for agents looking to expand their real estate business and differentiate themselves from their competitors.”Out of more than one million REALTORS® nationwide, less than 3% are Certified Residential Specialists, according to the Council of Residential Specialists. Annually, CRS agents earn more than triple the income of the average REALTOR®, and CRSs complete nearly twice as many transactions each year. Team Gale specializes in residential sales, including new homes, luxury properties, bank-owned, investment and vacation properties, second homes, as well as vacant lots and tracts of land to be developed. Team Gale was formed in 2005 by Jack and Tom Gale. Since then, Team Gale has completed over 2,000 real estate transactions and been a top producing Sea Coast Advantage team since 2009, including being ranked in the top 10 for the entire Southeast Region of Coldwell Banker for the last two years and ranked in the top 250 of all REALTORS in the nation for the last few years. http://seacoastrealty.com/blog/1795/tom-gale-of-coldwell-banker-sea-coast-advantage-earns-certified-residential-specialist-crs-designation/ Mon, 14 Dec 2015 12:00:00 -0500             Elizabeth Elrod and Jody Roney of Team Gale of Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage, recently earned their Workforce Housing Specialist (WHS) certification through the North Carolina Association of REALTORS’ housing foundation, Homes4NC. The mission of Homes4NC is to increase safe, decent and affordable housing for all North Carolinians. Of Team Gale’s 11 agents, three now have the WHS certification, including Tom Gale.                “This certification allows us to assist workforce buyers like teachers, police officers, fire fighters, government employees and hospital workers to realize their dream of home ownership,” said Tom Gale. “We  find affordable housing and specialized loan programs that allow them to live in the areas they serve.”               The WHS certification program informs REALTORS® about federal, state and local housing programs, as well as the various resources available to serve workforce homebuyers earning less than the area median income. The WHS program is currently being offered in partnership with REALTOR® associations in Asheville, Charlotte, Fayetteville, Greenville, Greensboro, Raleigh and Wilmington.                A key benefit of WHS certification is that it provides these agents with access to down payment assistance grants for buyers who meet certain employment and income guidelines. These down payment programs are exclusive to WHS certified agents.                Team Gale specializes in residential sales, including new homes, luxury properties, bank-owned, investment and vacation properties, second homes, as well as vacant lots and tracts of land to be developed. Team Gale was formed in 2005 by Jack and Tom Gale. Since then, Team Gale has completed over 2,000 real estate transactions and been a top producing Sea Coast Advantage team since 2009, including being ranked in the top 10 for the entire Southeast Region of Coldwell Banker for the last two years and ranked in the top 250 of all REALTORS in the nation for the last few years.               Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage is the largest and best-selling real estate company in New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and Onslow counties, with more than $1.1 billion in closed sales volume and 5,395 closed sales transactions in 2014. Sea Coast Advantage was founded in Wilmington, NC in 1988 and joined Coldwell Banker in 1993.  Sea Coast Advantage is staffed by more than 400 real estate agents in 11 offices in Wilmington, Leland, Jacksonville, Carolina Beach, Topsail Island, Hampstead, Southport, Sneads Ferry, South Brunswick, Oak Island and Holden Beach.                Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage also has an ownership interest in 18 Coldwell Banker Advantage offices in Raleigh, Fayetteville and Southern Pines with an additional 375 agents serving those markets. With the addition of these offices, closed sales volume for Sea Coast Advantage in 2014 totaled $2.1 billion with more than 11,000 closed sales transactions.                In 2014, Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage was the #1 Coldwell Banker company in NC and #3 Coldwell Banker company in the nation. For additional information, go to www.seacoastrealty.com.  http://seacoastrealty.com/blog/1780/elizabeth-elrod-and-jody-roney-of-team-gale-earn-their-workforce-housing-specialist-certification/ Tue, 24 Nov 2015 12:00:00 -0500           Fifty-three agents from Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage recently completed a two-day training seminar to receive a Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) designation from the Real Estate Negotiation Institute (RENI). Agents who receive this certification are among the top agents in the country in negotiation skills, according to Tom Hayman, trainer for the CNE seminar, as well as the CEO and Co-Founder of RENI. To date, 133 Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage agents have earned their CNE designation, or more than 25% of Sea Coast Advantage’s 400+ agents.             “We always encourage our agents to expand their skills so they can offer their customers the very best in customer service,” said Tim Milam, president of Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage. “We’re proud of our agents’ commitment to professional development and to the CNE program. This program is a win-win for the agents and their customers, as it gives our agents the negotiation skills they need to best represent their buyers’ and sellers’ interests.”            With professional negotiation skills, agents are able to help clients obtain better results in the sale or purchase of their home. CNE agents have a higher skill level which enables them to 1) communicate more effectively to uncover desired information, 2) help clients understand their options, 3) work collaboratively with others, and 4) resolve deadlocks.  CNE agents have a thorough understanding of how to negotiate effectively to help achieve their client’s goals.                RENI is the leading negotiation training and coaching company in the real estate industry.  Collectively, the Real Estate Negotiation Institute’s instructors have over 300 years of real estate and negotiation experience. “Any Buyer or Seller who hires a CNE agent can feel confident they have one of the best trained negotiators in real estate,” said Hayman.  “They should achieve superior results and have better resolution of all issues when represented by a CNE agent.”            The CNE classes are offered in three segments: CNE1, 2 and 3. Completion of any one of these segments earns a CNE designation. Completion of all three earns participants a Master Certified Negotiation Expert (MCNE®) designation. Since this same time last year, 80 Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage agents have completed the CNE1 seminar and 53 just completed CNE2. Sea Coast Advantage plans to schedule a CNE3 class in early spring 2016.             Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage is the largest and best-selling real estate company in New Hanover, Brunswick, Pender and Onslow counties, with more than $1.1 billion in closed sales volume and 5,395 closed sales transactions in 2014. Sea Coast Advantage was founded in Wilmington, NC in 1988 and joined Coldwell Banker in 1993.  Sea Coast Advantage is staffed by more than 400 real estate agents in 11 offices in Wilmington, Leland, Jacksonville, Carolina Beach, Topsail Island, Hampstead, Southport, Sneads Ferry, South Brunswick, Oak Island and Holden Beach.             Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage also has an ownership interest in 18 Coldwell Banker Advantage offices in Raleigh, Fayetteville and Southern Pines with an additional 375 agents serving those markets. With the addition of these offices, closed sales volume for Sea Coast Advantage in 2014 totaled $2.1 billion with more than 11,000 closed sales transactions.             In 2014, Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage was the #1 Coldwell Banker company in NC and #3 Coldwell Banker company in the nation. For additional information, go to www.seacoastrealty.com.  http://seacoastrealty.com/blog/1776/53-coldwell-banker-sea-coast-advantage-agents-receive-“certified-negotiation-expert-cne®”-designation/ Fri, 13 Nov 2015 12:00:00 -0500