The Council of Residential Specialists is the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS®. It is composed of nearly 40,000 Certified Residential Specialists (CRS) Designees and Candidates/ General Members. The association was created to attract and retain those REALTORS® seeking the knowledge, tools and relationship-building opportunities needed to maximize their income and professionalism in residential real estate.
The Council was founded in 1976 and has four objectives:
• To enhance members’ continuing competence through providing superior educational opportunities in a cost-effective manner.
• To provide and promote benefits which enhance the economic value of membership in the Council.
• To create and maintain organizational systems and alliances with appropriate organizations to ensure the integrity of the Council.
• To create and maintain procedures to ensure a standard of excellence that is required for earning the CRS designation.
Member Benefits
Education.
CRS members can take CRS Courses throughout the U.S. and abroad that result in the Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Designation — the most rigorous and professional residential designation available to REALTORS®.
Referrals.
CRS members can profit from a international referral network of nearly 40,000 members. Networking is available locally through the Council’s Chapters and CRS Courses, nationally through events such as the National Association of REALTORS® Convention, Sell-a-bration, the Council’s annual sales rally, and the Professional Accelerated Career Track educational programs, and internationally through the Council’s electronic and print directories. Some members attribute up to 75 percent of their income from CRS agent-to-agent referrals.
Knowledge.
CRS members receive The Residential Specialist magazine six times a year, which is written for the residential specialist, who primarily sells residential real estate. The magazine provides timely information on how to be a better residential sales agent. There are stories about models of success, including top performing agents, who offer insights on the profession and how to succeed. In addition, books, audio and video tapes written by the leaders of the profession are available at a discount through the CRS Online Store.
Experience.
CRS members comprise just five percent of all REALTORS® but account for 25 percent of all residential real estate transactions. CRS designees earn an average of $113,102 annually — three times as much as the typical REALTOR® who sells residential real estate.
How to Become a CRS
The Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) Designation is the professional designation offered by the Council of Residential Specialists. The CRS designation is the highest professional designation awarded to REALTORS® in the residential sales field. Fewer than five percent of all REALTORS® hold the designation.
1. Become a member of the Council of Residential Specialists by completing the membership application.
2. Submit your documentation satisfying all designation requirements. Council members who submit an application with all required documentation will be awarded the CRS designation within five business days.
Individuals applying for membership and designation simultaneously will receive a notice within 10 business days that all necessary documentation has been received and the applicant has been awarded the CRS designation.
If the documentation is incomplete, the notice will indicate the documents necessary to complete the designation application process.
3. Maintain ongoing active membership in the Council of Residential Specialists and REALTOR® or REALTOR ASSOCIATE® membership in the local or state association.