The Louis Wery Collection: Sarasota & Her Islands

As adherents to the National Association of REALTORS (NAR) code of ethics, REALTORS must update their acquaintance with the code every four years by taking a ethics course.

As members of NAR, we also may study for additional certifications in a variety of specialties, several of which are backed by NAR with offerings of certification and update courses available.

I hold the following designations:

* Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS). REALTORS with the CIPS designation have training and hands-on experience in international real estate transactions, whether traveling abroad to put transactions together, assisting foreign investors, helping local buyers invest abroad, or serving an immigrant niche in local markets. CIPS designees also have completed a program of study focusing on critical aspects of transnational transactions, including currency and exchange rate issues and cross-cultural relationships, regional market conditions, investment performance, tax issues and more. The CIPS network consists of 1,500 real estate professionals from 50 countries.

* Certified Residential Specialist (CRS). Designees, with 44,000 members -- 4% of NAR members -- who average 43 transactions per year and earn four times as much as the average REALTOR, belong to the Council of Residential Specialists which is the largest affiliate of NAR. Members of this group are involved in more than 27% of all transactions. Requirements for this designation include a total of at least 25 transactions (or specific volume of sales) over a specific time period, and significant experience, as well as educational requirements.

* Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR). The Real Estate Buyers Agent Council has over 40,000 members and is the largest association of real estate professionals focusing on all aspects of buyer representation. Of the REBAC members, over 30,000 have completed REBAC's two-day course and provided documentation of buyer agency experience.

*Transnational Referral Certification (TRC). This designation prepares real estate professionals to make and receive compensated referrals using the Transnational Referral system developed by the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations (ICREA). When an agent is involved in an international referral, as a referring or receiving agent, the Transnational Referral Certification demonstrates to other real estate professionals that the agent holding the TRC designation is well versed in the procedures of the Transnational Referral system and has pledged to follow a code of conduct in business dealings.

*Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS). Recognized as the mark of accomplishment in luxury markets around the world, the Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS) designation assures affluent buyers and sellers that the agents who have earned it have the knowledge, experience, competence, and confidence they require. Based on my performance, I also earned membership in the prestigious Million Dollar Guild.

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