Certified Finance Specialists | Become a Finance Specialist Louisville KY

As real estate agents search for new ways to brand themselves as specialists in the real estate transaction, training in the financial aspects of real estate buying and selling is more important than ever. A designation offered by the Residential Financing Council could be an important factor for agents who want to keep themselves at the center of the transaction.

The "Certified Finance Specialist (CFS(r) designation is designed to signify competence and experience in the area of real estate finance, says says Charles Dahlheimer, president of North American Consulting Group, Inc., and former president of REBAC and cofounder of the Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR) designation. Open to real estate and mortgage professionals, the designation is designed to bridge the link between the growth of buyer agency and a new focus on financing.

"The successful agent of the future will be recognized as a professional counselor and negotiator, one who can help the consumer interpret and evaluate information, provide advice and counsel, structure negotiating strategies and manage all aspects of the real estate transaction," says Dahlheimer.

As consumers become empowered with vast amounts of property information via the Internet, their confidence in agents hasn't necessarily grown. Brokers and agents complain across the country of commission compression, and competition from limited service or discount brokerages has put more pressure on traditional agents to distinguish themselves from low-cost competitors in new ways.

According to the "Future of Real Estate Brokerage," a study commissioned by the NAR, the number of real estate transactions has increased, but brokers are not reporting a comparable rise in profitability. In order to restore and enhance profitability, the broker will employ higher-cost technologies to serve consumers more efficiently and develop ancillary services to reduce dependence on commissions as revenue generators, all of which could result in a "a shift of power away from the agent toward the brokerage firm."

Dahlheimer sees an agent well-versed in finance as an asset to the consumer and the brokerage. The proliferation of loan products and the increase in unprincipled lenders using predatory practices, and the rise in buyer's agency all point the way to him that finance is the next great consumer opportunity.

"If the real estate agent is truly representing the buyer's best interests in the transaction, it is necessary for the agent to know what options may be available and to counsel the buyer not only in seeking out the best options, but also in helping them interpret the data that is available," says Dahlheimer.

The designation course is designed to teach agents how to detect and assist the buyer to challenge "junk" fees, to educate them about credit scoring and "A", "B" and "C" paper loans, and how to help buyers pick the loan that's best for their circumstances. Seller's agents are instructed to off...