Designations

Have you ever noticed the abbreviations that follow a REALTOR’S® name? Do you often wonder what they stand for? Those acronyms are designations, and they usually mean that an agent has received advanced training beyond the minimum education necessary to maintain a real estate license. Melinda Estridge has chosen to take classes, attend seminars, and attend workshops to provide better quality service to buyers and sellers. Below are definitions for the nationally recognized designations held by Melinda Estridge.

	CRS (Council of Residential Specialists) - A symbol of excellence in residential real estate. Less than 3% of REALTORS® hold this credential.
	Top 5 In Real Estate - A network of select real estate professionals from throughout the United States and Canada who have met the Top 5 in Real Estate's stringent series of various career qualifications and who are committed to the future development of their professional skills and services to the consumers and the community they serve.
	International MLS (IMLS) Participant - Providing the most current, fresh, and up-to-date property listings from around the world together on one site.
	CLHMS (Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist) – A CLHMS is a member of The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing. Members of this organization have demonstrated their skills and expertise in the luxury home market as well met rigorous performance guidelines, including selling luxury homes over $500,000.
	SRES (Seniors Real Estate Specialist) – This designation, offered by the Senior Advantage Real Estate Council®, distingishes individuals who have successfully completed its education program along with other requirements. Professionals with the SRES designation can better assist seniors to make wise decisions about selling the family home, buying rental property or managing the capital gains and tax implications of owning real estate.
	Howard Brinton STAR POWER Star – The STAR POWER organization is a hand-picked group of approximately 150 of the most successful REALTORS® in the country. "Stars" typically average more than 200 transactions per year and have the opportunity to share their knowledge and experience with other “Stars” through various conferences and summits.
	ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative) – ABR denotes a sales agent who is qualified to provide buyer representation and has experience handling buyer brokerage and buyer agency issues. This designation is awarded by the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council (REBAC), which is an affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS®. In addition to being an active member in REBAC, agents must complete a 12-hour course, earn recommendations from previous clients, and close at least five real estate buyer transactions. Presently, approximately 22,000 real estate agents and brokers have ABR designations