By Teresa King Kinney, CEO, Realtor Association of Greater Miami and The Beaches
The REALTOR® Association of Greater Miami and the Beaches (RAMB) takes advantage of every opportunity to help our 12,500 real estate professionals achieve success and profitability in a booming and highly competitive market. The formula for our innovative and award-winning performance and that of our members can be summed up in three categories: education, opportunities and exclusive services.
RAMB provides members with necessary tools and resources, first-rate educational courses and industry seminars and local and international events designed to increase business referrals and real estate knowledge.
Excellence in Education
Each year, RAMB presents over 600 seminars and events, for which it has received numerous awards and recognitions at the state and national levels. In addition to “sold out” seminars, each year RAMB offers the following designation courses:
• Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist (CLHMS)
• Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS)
• Graduate Realtors Institute (GRI)
• Certified Residential Specialist (CRS)
• Certified Residential Broker (CRB)
• Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM)
• Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR)
• Senior Real Estate Specialist (SRES)
• Real Estate Professional Assistant (REPA)
• Institute for Real Estate Management (IREM).
One-of-a-kind Opportunities
In addition to being the top destination for U.S. migration, with up to 1,000 new residents each day, Florida also attracts many second-home buyers and international investors. According to a recent study, 15 percent of all Florida buyers are international – the highest percentage of international investment in the United States. Recognizing the importance of promoting our members and our market on an international level, RAMB keeps Miami and South Florida in the spotlight, helping our members attract more buyers and investors from the United States and around the globe. RAMB continues to expand its network, which already includes over 50 signed agreements in Latin America and Europe, and RAMB properties are promoted on websites worldwide.
From March 23 – 26, 2006, RAMB will participate in the Salon National de l’Immobilier Real Estate Expo in Paris, France, with our new partners FNAIM Paris – Ile de France real estate association. We will host an exhibit and seminars to promote South Florida real estate and co-host an exclusive conference with French professionals.
Once again, RAMB is the only Florida partner of Grupo Planner and has organized an impressive “Florida Pavilion” in conjunction with the Florida Real Estate Showcase at SIMA06, which will take place in Madrid, Spain, from April 4 – 8, 2006. Strategically located next to the International Business Center, it will serve as a platform for real estate companies and developers to promote our market to international buyers and investors.
RAMB will also co-host real estate events with partner associations during Americas Linkage during March and April as they take trade missions to Puerto Rico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay.
Exclusive Services
RAMB members can now add a new service to their Web sites in order to better serve their buyers and sellers. GreatSchools.net, the nation’s leading online guide to K-12 schools, includes objective information for public, private and charter schools, and this great new service is free to members, purchased by RAMB for them.
The list of RAMB Exclusive Services also includes free Immobel 13-language Web sites/e-marketing tools; free Showcase Web sites; iMapp tax, mapping, demographics and labels; i-Mobile MLS/tax for phones and PDAs; and Passport, International Referral Network.
Teresa King Kinney is CEO of the 12,500-member Realtor Association of Greater Miami and the Beaches (RAMB), which includes the Residential Association, Realtors Commercial Alliance and the largest local International Real Estate Council in the nation. RAMB just celebrated its 85th year of service to the industry, the public and the community.