essential real estate certifications for 2026

Essential Real Estate Certifications for 2026

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Looking toward 2026, consider what real estate certifications to pursue to help you meet client needs effectively and enhance your services. Here are seven essential real estate certifications for 2026 that fit the bill.

Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)

The Certified Residential Specialist designation is a hallmark of excellence in residential real estate. This certification signals to clients that you are among the top professionals in your field. By acquiring advanced skills in marketing and negotiations, CRS designees can provide unparalleled service to buyers and sellers alike. 

Given the dynamic market in Lee County, a CRS designation can set you apart while offering clients peace of mind knowing they are in capable hands. 

Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR)

Focusing on the buyer’s perspective, the Accredited Buyer Representative certification equips REALTORS® with specialized skills to represent buyer-clients in real estate transactions. This certification is beneficial for professionals who want to develop a deeper understanding of buyer needs and expectations, fostering trust and satisfaction. 

In the bustling Auburn housing market, having an ABR designation ensures that you can guide buyers through the complexities of purchasing with confidence. 

Seller Representative Specialist (SRS)

The Seller Representative Specialist designation is dedicated to elevating the professional standards of seller representation. This certification is invaluable for REALTORS® who want to excel in listing and selling properties, offering clients strategic insights and marketing expertise. 

With the growing demand for homes in the Opelika area, an SRS designation positions you to manage seller transactions effectively, maximizing property visibility and success.

Certified Property Manager (CPM)

For those managing real estate investments, the Certified Property Manager designation is a must-have. This certification provides comprehensive knowledge in property management operations, preparing managers to maintain and increase the value of properties under their care. 

Since Lee County’s rental market is thriving, a CPM designation is highly beneficial for both property managers and their clients who seek reliable management services. 

Accredited Land Consultant (ALC)

The Accredited Land Consultant designation is a mark of excellence for real estate professionals specializing in land brokerage. As an ALC, you will provide clients with expert guidance on land transactions, ensuring they make informed decisions. 

This certification enhances your credibility and connects you with top industry professionals, making it a valuable asset in the diverse real estate landscape of Lee County. 

Luxury Home Certification (LHC)

In the upscale market, the Luxury Homes Certification is yet another one of the essential real estate certifications for 2026. It’s helpful, in particular, for REALTORS® aiming to work with high-end properties.

This certification provides advanced marketing techniques and networking opportunities to attract affluent buyers and sellers. With the increasing interest in luxury homes in our area, an LHC ensures that you understand the needs of luxury clients. 

Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS)

The Resort and Second-Home Property Specialist certification is tailored for REALTORS® working in vacation and investment property markets. This certification is perfect for those focusing on prime locations such as Lake Martin and Auburn game day homes, where clients seek second-home opportunities. 

An RSPS designation ensures you understand the unique dynamics of these transactions, helping clients make informed decisions. 

Summary

These essential real estate certifications for 2026 provide invaluable benefits, enhancing your skills and boosting client confidence. For more tips on improving your real estate career and other industry news, continue reading our blogs.

update on Alabama REALTORS® bills

In the News: An Update on Alabama REALTORS Bills in the Legislature

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The first quarter continues to be busy and productive in Alabama real estate—from emerging trends to bills filed with the Alabama Legislature! If you haven’t had a chance to catch up on the latest news, review our update on Alabama REALTORS® bills in the legislature so far this session.

About Alabama REALTOR® Priorities 

As the Alabama real estate market undergoes significant changes, the Alabama Association of REALTORS® is promoting three bills to help clarify real estate matters for Alabama consumers and real estate professionals. 

From license laws to battling real estate scams, three main Alabama REALTORS® bills are now taking priority. According to news from Alabama REALTORS®, each bill will—or has been—filed separately as they move through the legislature.  

Three license law proposals 

As we continue with an update on Alabama REALTORS® bills, let’s recap what the three bills propose and the current status. The first bill deals with buyers’ agreements. The second bill will update RECAD and other license laws on several issues, while the third focuses on education and broker license requirements.

Bill One – Buyers Agreements

The first bill introduced, HB 230, clarified the timing of buyer agreements. It protects consumers from being bound by early contracts and emphasizes the importance of discussing brokerage services and compensation upfront while adhering to Alabama’s RECAD structure.

The bill states that buyers in Alabama cannot be made to sign a legally binding agreement to view a home. It does require a written buyer agreement before any purchase offer, ensuring clear representation terms and promoting transparency for consumers and Realtors.

This bill passed the House in the second week, has passed the Senate, and is awaiting Governor Ivey’s signature. It is expected to become law within 30 days of signing.  No delays are expected, so AAR anticipates it becoming state law in April.

Bill Two – RECAD and Teams

The second bill outlined updates for RECAD and additional license laws. The main expectations for this bill include dual agency changes, one-year listing agreements, reasonable requirements on teams, failed payments to AREC and definitions and disclosure updates. 

Bill Three – Education and Broker License Requirements

The third bill addresses education and broker license requirements, including multiple revisions to the current language, such as grammatical corrections, editing redundant information and similar corrections, nothing substantive. 

Furthermore, the bill will allow AREC to approve distance education courses with certain requirements for pre-licensure/post-licensure and CE-only courses, including approving one-hour CE courses. 

It also proposes raising the requirements for qualifying brokers. Bill Three mandates that applicants complete a qualifying broker course and hold a license for four years instead of two.

Summary

While this update on Alabama REALTORS® bills provides a brief overview, visit the Alabama REALTORS® Capital News & Notes page for more background, details and future updates from week one through week five, including the next edition on March 25. 

Whether you are a consumer or a Realtor, read our blogs for more real estate news, local market statistics and other tips from home buying and selling to owning. 

new National Association of Realtors® consumer guides

Realtor® Resources: New National Association of Realtors® Consumer Guides

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In an ever-evolving real estate landscape, staying informed is crucial for home buyers and sellers—and one group is making it easier for everyone. Explore the new National Association of Realtors® consumer guides designed for Realtors to share with clients.

About the new “Consumer Guide” series

The new National Association of Realtors® consumer guides are single-page documents crafted to simplify complex information, ensuring consumers have the resources to make informed decisions. For use by Realtors, the informative documents cover the recent practice changes that took effect in August. 

Covering a range of topics so far, the NAR® plans to provide additional guides in the future. 

The six guides

Currently, there are six National Association of Realtors® consumer guides available as PDFs, including:

Why Am I Being Asked to Sign a Written Buyer Agreement?

Summarizes what buyers should know about working with a real estate agent since the policy changes. 

Open Houses and Written Agreements

Explains what buyers need to know about attending an open house, touring homes and when a written buyer’s agreement is necessary.

Realtors’® Duty To Put Client Interests Above Their Own 

Condenses NAR’s Code of Ethics that all Realtors® must adhere to and their ethical duties to act in their client’s best interests.

What Veterans Need To Know About Buying a Home

Reviews how the NAR promotes access to financing for veterans and highlights available options for veteran buyers during the home buying process.

Offers of Compensation 

Recaps the process and options for offering compensation to a buyer’s agent to attract buyers and explains why sellers should consider this option when marketing their property.

Negotiating Written Buyer Agreements

Shares what home buyers should know when negotiating a written buyer agreement with a Realtor®.

Summary

Stay up-to-date with the latest NAR consumer resources and information by visiting facts.realtor. For more local real estate updates, community highlights and other news, keep reading our blogs. 

things to know about the National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics

4 Things to Know About the National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics

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Looking for a house, not to mention a Realtor, can be overwhelming. However, these four things to know about the National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics will help you see the benefits of working with one from the beginning!

But before we delve into the main things to know about the National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics, let’s first review what it is and why it was created.

What is the Code of Ethics, and why was it created?

In a nutshell, the NAR’s Code of Ethics is a self-improving guide for all real estate professionals. It was created to guarantee clients are served fairly by requiring Realtors to work together in promoting the clients’ best interests at all times.

Required continuing education courses ensure that Realtors stay up-to-date on the Code and any changes it undergoes year to year.

It was established over 100 years ago.

Did you know the NAR’s Code of Ethics was adopted in 1913? According to the NAR website, it was “one of the first codifications of ethical duties adopted by any business group.”

It embodies the Golden Rule.

Simply put, “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” Realtors apply this guiding principle to all their activities, from personal to professional.

There are three main sections.

There are three main sections outlined in the Realtors’ Code of Ethics.

Duties to Clients and Customers

When it comes to things to know about the National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics, know that the client is always the number one priority. But Realtors remain obligated to treat all parties honestly, even while promoting and protecting their clients’ best interests.

Duties to the Public

This section includes everything from equal professional services for all to truthfulness in all communications—from emails to advertising.

Duties to Realtors

Once again, the Golden Rule is a guiding principle in this case. Under the Code of Ethics, Realtors promise to be fair, honest and supportive of other real estate professionals.

It gives you—the client—peace of mind.

Knowing your Realtor has taken an oath to protect and promote your best interests in all transactions is comforting. Understanding your Realtor is obligated to disclose pertinent facts about the property is comforting.

Realizing your Realtor works diligently to promote a healthy, competitive marketplace is comforting. And, last but not least, knowing your Realtor is committed to staying current on issues affecting real estate gives you peace of mind.

Summary

Now that you have a better understanding of why “Realtor” has come to mean “competency, fairness and high integrity,” are you ready to connect with a local expert? We can help! Search for Lee County Realtors here. For more industry news and tips, keep reading our blogs.

numbers to know about the National Association of REALTORS

10 Numbers to Know About The National Association of REALTORS®

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From phone numbers to statistics to followers, numbers matter. Here are 10 numbers to know about the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) that offer industry insights, highlights and more.

1,556,762 members

In this case, it’s one of the record-setting numbers to know about the National Association of REALTORS! Membership is currently at an all-time high for America’s largest trade association.

172 billion

The total number of people reached through NAR’s national and local earned media communications in 2020 was 172 billion. That’s a 36 percent increase from 2019!

40,500 followers

Sometimes being a follower is a good thing—like when it comes to following along with the other 40,500 people on board with the “REALTORS are Good Neighbors” Facebook page.

Did we mention that’s a 30,000-follower increase from last year?

3 billion

As in three billion impressions during NAR’s “That’s Who We R” national consumer advertising campaign in 2020!

1,608 pounds

That’s 1,608 pounds of food donated from REALTOR groups through the NAR’s partnership with the Food Recovery Network, which roughly translates into about 1,340 meals.

$800,000+

And the giving continues with more than $800,000 raised as part of the REALTORS Relief Foundation 20th Anniversary Commemorative Event, Hope Rising.

800,000

In this case, 800,000 refers to the number of members who cumulatively saved more than $75 million from one or more of the products offered through the REALTOR Benefits Program.

$93,800

Every time a house is sold, approximately $93,000 becomes money-in-motion circulating back into the economy.

In fact, the real estate industry accounted for $3.83 trillion in economic activity in 2020, which makes it about 18.3 percent of the U.S.’s total Gross Domestic Product.

235,000 REALTORS

To clarify, there are 235,000 REALTORS with some sort of NAR credentials. Those designations and certifications include everything from Accredited Buyer’s Representative to At Home with Diversity certification.

1-800-874-6500

Finally, out of all the numbers to know about the National Association of REALTORS, this one may be the handiest! For any membership questions or inquiries, you can always call one of their information specialists to help.

Summary

Before we wrap this up, there is one more number we’d like to share: (334) 321-0606. If you are considering becoming a Lee County REALTOR, give us a call to find out more! Or, if you need help locating a REALTOR, we can help with that too. Keep reading our blogs for more real estate industry news and trends!

benefits of working with a REALTOR®

9 Benefits of Working with a REALTOR®

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Let’s start with honesty. Honestly, real estate may seem simple on the surface, but once you dive in, you realize it gets deep. These nine benefits of working with a REALTOR® may help you avoid getting in over your head!

Honest, ethical conduct.

REALTORS® are licensed professionals. As members of the National Association of REALTORS®, each REALTOR® must abide by a strict code of ethics. To summarize, expect transparent and fair treatment in all transaction-related dealings.

Additionally, your interests come first and foremost.

Objective information and input.

First of all, clients working with REALTORS® will receive non-biased, factual information on properties. REALTORS® can provide information on schools, zoning, utilities and more.

In fact, when it comes to the benefits of working with a REALTOR®, having access to their data as a resource is a huge! After all, you are making a life-changing decision—so having all the facts possible is a strong advantage.

A network of vendors.

Why waste time searching for and vetting an endless list of potential vendors? REALTORS® can easily provide you with a list of respected professionals. This includes contractors, repair professionals, staging companies, photographers, appraisers and so on.

Increased search power.

Along the lines of more data, working with a REALTOR® gives clients the ability to review the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). The MLS is a tool used by REALTORS® to list homes and find others on the market.

Often, there are properties available on the MLS that are not listed anywhere else.

Current know-how.

Rules and regulations change. When you work with a licensed REALTOR®, you can count on their up-to-date knowledge.

Expert local market advice.

Local REALTORS® know the local market better than anyone. They will know what is hot and what is not. To clarify, they can tell you to yay or nay when it comes to national trends versus what is selling locally.

Gain an expert negotiator.

The benefits of working with a REALTOR® keep getting better! Knowing you have a professional advocate looking at all angles centered on your best interests is worth its weight in gold.

Emotional support.

Perhaps one of the more underestimated benefits to working with a REALTOR® is the emotional support. Again, they are objective bystanders who get the gravity of what is inevitably an emotional situation.

They will provide an ear to listen as you work together through the in-depth process.

Expert guidance.

Finally, we saved the best for last. Working with REALTORS® ensures you receive expert guidance every step of the way!

Summary

If you weren’t sure about the benefits of working with a REALTOR®, hopefully this sheds some light! We are also here to answer any questions you may still have. Each and every member of LCAR is capable of handling any and all of your real estate needs. To find out more about us, our members and local real estate news, keep reading our blogs!