Field Guide to Real Estate Counseling
(Updated January 2008)
Although real estate counseling has been practiced by real estate practitioners for a number of years, it has only been recently that real estate professional have recognized counseling as a much-needed part of the real estate practice and entitled to its own definition as a specialty. Real estate counseling is the business of analyzing specific real estate problems and needs for agreed fees, forming conclusions and making recommendations to clients. Most counselors in the larger realty companies are paid on a salary basis and also receive an annual bonus for their production and ability to obtain new business. (D. McCormick, Technical Coordinator)
Real Estate Counseling is the act of providing advice or guidance to clients which significantly impacts their real estate decisions. Such advice must be rendered solely for the use of the party(ies) receiving the advice and without personal bias and/or conflict of interest. Unlike management, appraisal, or brokerage, counseling is not a discipline but a process. The Counselors of Real Estate is an international group of high profile professionals including members of prominent real estate, financial, legal and accounting firms as well as leaders of government and academia who provide expert, objective advice on complex real property situations and land-related matters.
What is a Real Estate Counselor?
Although real estate counseling has been practiced by real estate practitioners for a number of years, it has only been recently that real estate professional have recognized counseling as a much needed part of the real estate practice and entitled to its own definition as a specialty . The National Association of Counselors is a professional society dedicated to the advancement of professionalism in the practice of real estate counseling.
Organizations to Contact for More Information
Counselors of Real Estate
430 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611-4089
Phone: 312-329-8427
email: info@cre.org
website: http://www.cre.org
National Association of Counselors
303 W. Cypress Street
San Antonio, TX 78212
Phone: 800-486-3676
email: jmd@lincoln-grad.org
website: http://nac.lincoln-grad.org/
Counseling under conditions of uncertainty: Probability analysis in real estate practice, (Real Estate Issues, Winter 2004/2005). Q
Counseling in an era of change, (Real Estate Issues, Fall 2002). Q
Counseling homebuyers to succeed, (REALTOR® Magazine, Apr. 2002).
The key is creativity, (Mortgage Banking, Aug. 2001). Q
Some principles of real estate counseling, (Real Estate Issues, Fall 2000). Q
The corporate advisor's role is both complicated and delicate, (National Real Estate Investor, Dec. 2000). Q
Real estate experts: Some further observations, (Real Estate Issues, Fall 1999). Q
Real estate counseling in litigation: Illustrated by eminent domain, (Real Estate Issues, Fall 1999). Q
The changing role of the counselor, (Real Estate Issues, Fall 1999). Q
CREs & non-profits: Counseling denominational & educational entities in today's changing real estate environment, (Real Estate Issues, Fall 1998). Q
Websites
Real Estate Counseling Group of America
email: recga@recga.com
The Real Estate Counseling Group of America (RECGA) is a nationwide assemblage of recognized experts, each a principal in a firm that provides real estate valuation, business valuation, research, advisory, counseling, and market analysis services.
The Group combines, within a single entity, a wide variety of extensive professional expertise and resource skills. The Group's members are distinguished real estate analysts who have available authoritative national data sources and extensive local market knowledge. The members offer the necessary expertise for sound, profitable real estate and property-related decisions.
Criteria for a possible model for real estate counseling in the area of public policy includes:
Identify relevant stakeholders
Identify potential conflicts
Seek creative solutions
Source: Public process counseling, (Real Estate Issues, Dec. 1996). Q
Books, eBooks & Other Resources
eBooks.realtor.org
The following ebooks and digital audiobooks are available to NAR members:
Coaching, Counseling & Mentoring (Mobipocket)
Books, Videos, Research Reports & More
The resources below are available for loan through Information Central. Up to three books, tapes, CDs and/or DVDs can be borrowed for 30 days from the Library for a nominal fee of $10. Call Information Central at 800.874.6500 for assistance.
The counselor is in, (CRS Residential Specialist, Nov./Dec. 2003, p. 30-32).
Counselors join forces to provide relief to displaced tenants of World Trade Center, (Counselor, Fall 2001, p. 1, 17+).
When counseling and brokerage mix, (Counselor, Summer 2001, p. 8-10).
Feeling the squeeze? How REALTORS® counsel clients in today's market, (California Real Estate, May 2001, p. 28-29).
Home sweet second home. Selling vacation homes is when counseling skills really come into play: Listen. Ask questions. Watch reactions, (Real Estate Business, May/June 2001, p. 26-29).
Old clients never die...the buyer's rep as counselor: In the minds of sellers, sometimes there are reasons not to list a property. There are alos concrete reasons to list with a REALTOR®, (Today's Buyer's Rep, Sept. 2000, p. 4-5).
Real estate counseling in a plain brown wrapper: A practical guide to the profession, (Chicago, IL: American Society of Real Estate Counselors, 1992). HD 1397 Am3rc
The real estate handbook, (Homewood, IL: Dow Jones-Irwin, 1990). HD 1375 Se4 Ed. 2
Real estate analyses, (Homewood, IL: Dow Jones-Irwin, 1990). HD 1387 Am3rl
Quantitative techniques in real-estate counseling, (Lexington, MA: D.C. Heath & Company, 1981). HD 1397 D58
Real estate counseling, (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1984). HD 1397 Am3r
Real estate counseling: A professional approach to problem solving - articles and selected case histories, (Chicago, IL: American Society of Real Estate Counselors, 1976). HD 1397 Am3
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