The Staten Island Board of Realtors is proud to announce that forty-three (43) Realtors have earned the nationally recognized Certified Buyer Representative (CBR) designation. The new CBR designees are: Jeanette Alvarado, David Antonucci, Vincent Barri, Nicholas Cammarano, Al Carbonella, Chanpen Cronin, Lucy D'Amato, Joan Dweck, Robert Fitzsimmons, Jr., Maria Floridia, Emma Gamberg, Aida Gamolo, Dominick Gangidino, Richard Ghiraldi, Stevem Gollinge, Lee Grumbach, Sandro Gugliotta, Karen Hosmer, Beatruce Karbowski, Arkady Krichevsky, Yelena Krichevsky, Rosemary Latona-Van Pelt, Paul Link, Christopher Long, Lisa Lonuzzi, Ellen Murray, Frances Ottino, Patricia Paolillo, Peggy Shayewitz, Stacy Shayewitz, Anthony Sherry, Debbie Sipowitz, Mary Alice Sjolander, John Smith, Greg Sokol, Paul Stabile, Robert Tracey, Rocio Uchofen, Raymond Urciuoli, Rob Volpe, George S. Wonica, Kenneth Wonica and Lauren Wonica.

CBRR is the nationally recognized buyer agency designation. The course is sponsored by Realtor Boards and Associations throughout the United States. Realtor with the CBR designation have the street skills necessary to both help buyers find their desired property and to help them negotiate for that property in a non-adversarial manner.

Results of taking the CBRR course: Determine whether a buyer prospect passes the Six Point Qualification Test; Effectively present the benefits of buyer agency to prospective buyers. Alternatively, be able to properly explain to your sellers how a buyer agent works; Overcome the Seven Common Objections that buyers often express; Create a partnership with your buyer client; Use Merit Negotiating skills to effectively represent your client; Develop a competitive marketing plan to promote your services as a buyer agent; Work with listing agents who don't fully understand the benefits of buyer agency. The National Association of Realtors says that earning a designation can have a direct impact on your income.  According to NAR's Member Profile, the median gross income for agents with a designation is $32,200 more than agents without a designation and brokers with a designation earn a median gross income of $211,800 more than brokers without. Around the country agents, brokers, associations and state real estate commissions are grasping for mechanisms that can elevate the level of business practices in the field.  One of the best ways to improve business practices is with education.  Designation programs offer some of the best educational opportunities available to real estate practitioners.

On April 13-14, the Richmond County Real Estate Institute (RCREI) will be offering a special two-day course "Seniors Real Estate Specialist" (SRES) taught by nationally-known industry instructor Jim Pugliese. Tuition is $425, but anyone who registers ten days in advance will be given a $25 discount. The price includes the first year's SRES membership dues of $99. The SRES course also carries 10.5 hours of CE credit. A national program since 1998, the Senior Advantage Real Estate Council (SAREC) offers a specific designation, SRES, to identify those Realtors who have successfully completed its education program along with other prerequisites. By earning the SRES designation, Realtor demonstrate knowledge and expertise to counsel senior clients and are prepared to offer those clients a variety of options when making life-changing decisions. One of the fastest-growing and most timely programs for Realtors, the council now has more than 8,000 Senior Real Estate Specialists in all 50 states and Canada and adds hundreds of new members every month. SAREC's Web site at http://www.seniorsrealestate.com provides seniors and their family members with access to SRES designees in their areas for assistance.

SAREC is owned by Real Estate Business Services Inc. (REBS), a subsidiary of the California Association of REALTORS (C.A.R.). REBS is the exclusive official supplier of premium incentive items for the National Association of Realtors.