The NAR Resort and Second Home Specialty FAQ

Q: How does NAR define a resort specialist?
A: According to NAR, you are a resort specialist if you are a real estate practitioner who facilitates the buying, selling or management of properties for investment, development, retirement or second homes in a resort, recreational and/or vacation destination.

Q: What services does NAR currently offer its resort specialists?

  • Resort & Second-Home Real Estate Committee - Allows members to discuss issues and concerns and recommend policy through NAR’s Board of Directors.
  • Resort & Second-Home Real Estate Forum - An educational forum for members to learn about emerging issues in the resort and second-home market as well as learn about new business practices in marketing and branding.
  • RSPS Certification - REALTORS® specializing in the resort and second-home market have the opportunity to earn the Resort & Second-Home Property Specialist (RSPS) certification. RSPS certification is education-based and benefits include a networking and referral online database. For more information read the RSPS FAQ.
  • Education - Real estate agents specializing in the booming resort and second-home market have an educational opportunity designed specifically for them in the Resort and Second-Home Markets course offered by NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Business Specialties. Resort and Second-Home Markets is also one of the core requirements for RSPS certification and creditable towards the elective course requirement for the ABR designation. To obtain more information about the course and to register go to www.coursecalendar.com.
  • Resort Symposium - Symposiums are held every 18 months and have been held in Los Cabos, Mexico, in 2003, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in 2004, Kohala Coast, Hawaii in 2006 and Vail, Colorado in 2007, and Naples, Florida in 2009. The next Symposium will be held in Lake Tahoe in 2010.
  • Resort ListServe provides industry information via weekly e-mail pushes. Register to receive it.
  • The Find a Resort Area/Second-Home Specialist directory allows members to self-identify, promote their specialty and quickly locate members in other parts of the country.
  • Resort Life Blog- This blog is the voice of NAR’s Resort and Second Home Community. It shares updates on news, events and market statistics related to the Resort and Second Home Community.
  • Facebook Community pages - NAR's Resort and Second Home Specialists is our Facebook fan page available to our members to network with one another.
Q: Does NAR offer resort-specific education?
A: Yes! The “Resort & Second-Home Markets” course is a comprehensive two-day course that focuses on the essentials of assisting customers and clients in resort and recreation markets.

The course objectives include teaching you:
  • To use community resources and tourism bureaus to your advantage
  • To be prepared to act when laws directly affecting your business are scheduled to change
  • To use 1031 exchanges in your market
  • To make the best use of your marketing dollars
  • To handle the media without it handling you
  • To recognize the rights and the wrongs of second-home ownership and investment

Review the entire Resort and Second Home Markets course objectives and outline.

To find the course dates and locations nearest you, visit our national course database at www.CourseCalendar.com. The Resort & Second-Home Markets course outline, dates and locations are available here. The Resort Course is also available online.

The Resort & Second-Home Markets course serves as one of the core courses for the RSPS certification and as an elective course for the ABR designation, which is awarded through the Accredited Buyer’s Agent Council, or REBAC. To learn more about the ABR designation, please go to www.REBAC.net.
Q: Why doesn’t NAR endorse the Resort & Recreation Specialist (RRS) designation program?
A: As a general rule, NAR does not endorse programs that are not affiliated with NAR. The Resort & Recreation Specialist (RRS) designation is a program developed by the Worldwide Resort & Recreation Sales Council. This program is not offered or endorsed by NAR.
Q: Is there a member directory for resort specialists?
A: Yes! The Find an RSPS directory will be located at www.REALTOR.org/resorts. RSPS is a great tool to identify yourself as a resort specialist, and for those seeking referral opportunities. Once you have met the requirements for RSPS certification and your application has been approved, you will automatically be entered into the Find an RSPS directory.
Q: I’ve heard members talking about a resort symposium in Los Cabos, Mexico, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, the Big Island of Hawaii, Vail and Naples, FL? Will more be offered?
A: Yes! The Resort Symposium has been very successful and it will be held every 18 months in a new resort and second-home market. It's success stems from its ability to bring resort specialists from around the world to one place in order to exchange ideas and network with one another. The Resort Symposium is designed to address the needs of the resort specialist, experienced or new, by providing workshops, education sessions and networking opportunities that are industry-specific to the resort real estate market. Mark your calendar for the next Resort Symposium in Lake Tahoe, June 13-15, 2010! For more information  visit the Resort Symposium homepage.
Questions or Comments?
We are always striving to improve our services and resources that we provide our membership. If you have any questions or comments about this document, or about the NAR Resort Specialty, please contact us at (800) 874-6500, Ext. 8393. You can also email your feedback to resort@realtors.org.




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