Real Estate Acronyms

As with any organization, the real estate industry often relies on abbreviations and acronyms to describe a service, association or designation. Listed below are some of the more common acronyms used in the course of the board’s/association’s business.

The following list is provided to help you identify specific industry designations/abbreviations.

AACI - Accredited Appraiser Canadian Institute
Granted by the AIC.

ABR - Accredited Buyer Representative
Granted by the REBAC part of NAR.

ABRM^® - Accredited Buyer Representative Manager
Granted by REBAC part of NAR.

ACRE - Alliance for Canadian Real Estate Education
During the early 1980s an informal group of Provincial Directors of Education emerged and began to meet twice a year. In 1994, with the advent of the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) signed by the federal, provincial, and territorial governments, a more formal structure of ACRE was necessary. In 1994, a Work Group was established to respond to the AIT requirements and to establish minimum education standards. In January 1999, this Work Group officially became ACRE.

AEC - Association Executive Council (CREA)

AFM - Accredited Farm Manager (Granted by ASFMRA)

AI - Appraisal Institute
The Appraisal Institute is an international membership association of professional real estate appraisers, with more than 18,000 members and 99 chapters throughout the United States, Canada and abroad. Its mission is to support and advance its members as the choice for real estate solutions and uphold professional credentials, standards of professional practice and ethics consistent with the public good.

Membership is open to appraisal practitioners as well as to individuals from allied fields. Designated members may hold the MAI, SRPA or SRA membership designation. Currently, the Appraisal Institute confers one general (commercial) designation, the MAI, and one residential designation, the SRA. The associate member category is for individuals who engage in activity governed by the Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice. Affiliate membership is open to individuals who are not performing USPAP-related work but wish to be allied with the Appraisal Institute such as bankers, attorneys, and government agency representatives.
550 W. Van Buren St.
Suite #1000,
Chicago, IL

AIC - Appraisal Institute of Canada
Founded in 1938, the Appraisal Institute of Canada is the national organization of professional real estate appraisers. The Institute is dedicated to serving the public interest through continually advancing high standards for the appraisal profession by granting use of the CRA (Canadian Residential Appraiser), AACI (Accredited Appraiser Canadian Institute),and P.App (Professional Appraiser) designations.

The Institute has more than 4,500 members across Canada. Designated members provide reasoned valuations, widely respected by the courts, real estate corporations, chartered banks, trust companies, mortgage lending institutions, all levels of government and private individuals. Many users of appraisal services will only accept appraisal reports completed by individuals who have earned use of the AACI, P.App, or CRA designation.

The Institute office is located in Ottawa, with association offices in each province.
203 – 150 Isabella Street,
Ottawa, ON
K1S 1V7
Phone: 613-234-6533

AIMA - Associate Institute of Municipal Assessors
Granted by IMA.

ALC - Accredited Land Consultant
Granted by RLI.

AMO - Accredited Management Organization
The ACCREDITED MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION^® (AMO^®) designation is the only recognition given to real estate management firms. Conferred by the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM^®), achievement of AMO^® status is a major step toward your firm being recognized as one of the nation's outstanding professional real estate management organizations. Becoming an AMO^® can help your firm achieve both financial and professional success. Only a select group of 620 real estate management firms hold the prestigious AMO^® designation, yet they manage a collective portfolio of more than $75 billion, or nearly 10 percent of the nation's real estate assets. And the demand for their services is growing.

IREM Headquarters
430 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

AMP - Accredited Mortgage Professional
Granted by CIMBL.

ARA - Accredited Rural Appraiser
Granted by the ASFMRA.

ARELLO - Association of Real Estate License Law Officials
ARELLO is the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials, comprising the official governmental agencies and other organizations around the world that issue real estate licenses/registrations in addition to regulating real estate practice and enforcing real estate law.

ARM - Accredited Resident Manager
Granted by the IREM.

ASAE - American Society of Association Executives
ASAE is the largest society of association executives in the world. Their office is located in Washington.

American Society of Association Executives
The ASAE Building
1575 I St. N.W.
Washington, DC 20005-1103
Phone: 888-950-2723, 202-371-0940 (in Washington, DC)
Fax: 202-371-8315

ASFMRA - American Society of Farm Managers & Rural Appraisers
The American Society of Farm Managers was founded on January 14, 1929, by a core of dedicated farm managers from Illinois, Iowa and Missouri who felt that farm management professionalism was critical to the future of farming. In 1936, the organization was expanded to include appraisers who specialized in determining the value of farms and other rural properties. At that time, the name was changed to the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers (ASFMRA). The American Society includes distinct levels of membership, each with educational standards, ethical requirements, field experience, testing, and continuing education requirements. At the top is a group of highly educated, thoroughly seasoned and experienced farming and rural valuation experts who have taken years of training to earn the designations of Accredited Farm Manager (AFM), Accredited Rural Appraiser (ARA), Real Property Review Appraiser (RPRA) and Accredited Agricultural Consultant (AAC).

ASREC - American Society of Real Estate Counselors
A division of CREA.

BOMA - Building Owners & Managers Association
The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) of Canada is the voice of the Canadian commercial real estate industry with over 2,000 members in regional associations across Canada. On behalf of the building owners, managers, developers, facilities managers, asset managers, leasing agents, brokers, and the product and service providers to over 1.9 Billion square feet of commercial real estate in Canada, BOMA Canada addresses issues of national concern, and promotes excellence in the industry through information, education advocacy and recognition.

BOMA Canada brings value to members of BOMA across Canada, by providing a strong voice for the industry which is based on strength in numbers (the combined BOMA association membership across the country), creating a critical mass and focus of resources to push for change on advocacy issues. Through our national committees and strong communications across the country, BOMA Canada facilitates the sharing of information and pooling of expertise, ideas and resources for the benefit of the local associations, individual members and the industry at large.

Suite 200 - 440 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa, ON
K1R 7X6
Phone: 613-788-3787
Fax: 613-782-2228 fax
info@bomacanada.ca

CAE - Certified Association Executive
Granted by CSAE

CAHPI - Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors
CAHPI is a national association, whose mission is to promote and develop the home inspection industry. CAHPI is considered the voice of Canada’s “home inspection industry”.

Home inspection began as a consumer service in the 1970’s and it soon became apparent that selecting a Home Inspector was becoming as important as selecting a qualified Real Estate Professional, or even the right home. To meet this need, the association was formed in 1982. CAHI operated as the Canadian arm of the American Society of Home Inspectors until 1994, when several provincial/regional organizations formed CAHI National. In September 2002, the name of CAHI was changed to the Canadian Association of Home & Property Inspectors (CAHPI).

Canadian Association of Home and Property Inspectors (CAHPI)
P.O. Box 507, 64 Reddick Road
Brighton, ON
K0K 1H0
Phone: 613-475-5699

CCI - The Canadian Condominium Institute
The Voice of Condominium in Canada. A national, independent, non-profit organization dealing exclusively with condominium issues. Formed in 1982, CCI represents all participants in the condominium community. We encourage all interest groups to work together toward one common goal -- creating a successful and viable condominium community

Canadian Condominium Institute
2175 Sheppard Avenue East,
Suite 310,
Toronto, ON
M2J 1W8

CCIM - Certified Commercial/Investment Member
The CCIM Institute confers the CCIM designation and is an affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS^® (NAR). The CCIM movement began more than 40 years ago with commercial real estate practitioners who wanted to elevate their business practices through education and networking. Then and now, education and networking remain the cornerstones of the CCIM designation and the reason for its success.

The CCIM designation was established originally by the California Association of REALTORS^® in 1954 under the name Certified Property Exchanger (CPE). In 1967 it took on national significance under administration by a division of the National Association of REALTORS^®. In 1969, the designation was renamed Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM). A council was established to administer the designation and in 1991 it was granted institute status as an affiliate of NAR. A Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) is a recognized expert in the disciplines of commercial and investment real estate. A CCIM is an invaluable resource to the commercial real estate owner, investor, and user, and is among an elite corps of 7,500 professionals across North America who hold the CCIM designation

430 N Michigan Avenue, Suite 800
Chicago, IL 60611-4092
Phone: 312-321-4460
Fax: 312-321-4530

CICBV - Canadian Institute of Chartered Business Valuators
The CICBV is the largest professional valuation organization in Canada. The CICBV is a nonprofit professional Institute established in 1971 to promote high standards in business and securities valuation. Its Members and students are drawn from industry, accounting firms, independent valuation firms, investment dealers and government and regulatory agencies.

The Institute which was formerly known as the Canadian Business Valuators Association, was founded in 1971 by 28 valuation professionals, lead by the late Mr. George Ovens. The founders of the Association realized that introduction of taxation of capital gains in Canada would increase the general need for business valuations. Hence the birth of the CABV, dedicated to establishing an organization for the purpose of ensuring professionalism and high standards in the field of business valuations.

277 Wellington Street West,
Toronto, ON
M5V 3H2
Phone: 416-204-3396

CIMBL - Canadian Institute of Mortgage Brokers & Lenders
CIMBL is the national organization representing Canada’s mortgage industry. With over 7,500 mortgage professionals – its membership is drawn from every province and from all industry sectors. This diversified membership enables CIMBL to bring together key players with the aim of enhancing professionalism through the enforcement of a Code of Ethics, adherence to best practices, harmonization of education standards, fraud prevention, informative publications and improved public profile.

2255 Sheppard Avenue East
Atria 1, Suite 414
Toronto, ON
M2J 4Y1
Phone: 416-385-2333 or 1-888-442-4625

CLO - Certified Leasing Officer
Designation REIC.

CLP - Certified in Land Planning and Development

CMA - Current Market Appraisal

CMHC - Canada Mortgage & Housing Corporation
CMHC first opened its doors on New Years Day in 1946. Then called the Central Mortgage and Housing Corporation, it was created by Parliament to help meet the housing needs of the thousands of Canadian veterans who were returning from the Second World War. In the years since that day, CMHC has undergone many changes, but one thing hasn't changed: our focus on helping improve the quality, choice and affordability of housing for all Canadians.

During the post-Depression, post-WWII years of the '40s, the Canadian housing landscape was dominated by the family bungalow. Small, more or less insulated, heated by hot-air furnaces and containing few if any appliances or other modern conveniences, these houses were spartan by today's standards but were nonetheless called home by millions of Canadians. In the '50s, a booming economy and innovations in building materials and practices led to a kind of 'Golden Age' for the housing industry. Homes grew larger, acquired full-height basements, and bathrooms and kitchens grew to make space for the abundance of new appliances that were becoming all the rage.

CMHC Ontario Business Centre
100 Sheppard Ave. E,
Suite 300,
Toronto, ON
M2N 6Z1
Phone: 416-221-2642
Fax: 416-218-3310

CMR - Certified in Marketing of Real Estate

CPM - Certified Property Manager
Granted by AMO.

CRA - Certified Real Estate Appraiser
Granted by AIC.

CRES - Certified Real Estate Specialist
Granted by REIC.

CRB - Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager
The Council of Real Estate Brokerage managers is a not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS^® (NAR). The Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers (CRB Council) provides superior member benefits to enhance the productivity and profitability of its nearly 7,000 members nationwide. Since 1968, the Council has awarded the prestigious Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB) Designation to REALTORS^® who meet specific requirements and have completed advanced professional training. Our members consistentlyincrease their level of industry knowledge, advance their earning and career potential, increase their firm’s productivity, and benefit from active involvement in our network of real estate professionals.

430 N Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 800-621-8738
Fax: 312-329-8882

CRE - Counselor of Real Estate
The Counselors of Real Estate is the membership organization established exclusively for real estate advisors who provide intelligent, unbiased, and trusted advice for a client or employer. Founded in 1953, the organization serves 1,100 members worldwide, all who hold the "CRE" designation. CREs are linked to one another by their commitment to integrity, competence, community, trust, and service; and they adhere to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Practice.

430 North Michigan Avenue,
Chicago, Ill 60611
Phone: 312-329-8427

CREA - The Canadian Real Estate Association
One of Canada's largest single-industry trade associations, representing approximately 66,000 real estate brokers/agents and salespeople working through 112 real estate boards, 10 provincial associations and one territorial association.

Suite 1600
344 Slater Street
Ottawa, ON
K1R 7Y3

CRF - Certified in Real Estate Finance
Granted by REIC.

CRG - Canadian Regulators Group
Each agency has a mechanism for licensing and regulating the real estate industry. There are a variety of regulation models in place including government regulation, shared responsibility between government and industry (co-regulator) and industry based regulation (self-regulation). The regulatory body is responsible for regulating vusiness practices, setting standards of conduct and protecting consumers affected by the real estate industry. This is accomplished through legislation, regulations, rules, codes of conduct and policies.

CRS - Council of Residential Specialists
Since 1977 the Council of Residential Specialists has been conferring the CRS Designation on agents who meet its stringent requirements. Currently, there are nearly 36,000 active CRS Designees.

430 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

CRS - Certified Residential Specialist
Granted by CRS. The Certified Residential Specialist (CRS) is the highest Designation awarded to sales associates in the residential sales field. The CRS Designation recognizes professional accomplishments in both experience and education.

CSAE - Canadian Society of Association Executives
In June 8, 1951, a committee of six trade association executives founded the Institute of Canadian Trade Association Executives (ICTAE) – a group of chief executives from national trade associations based in Montreal, Ottawa and Toronto. Operating from a small Ottawa-based office, the new association developed a constitution, bylaws, hired part-time staff, and began a remarkable tradition of service.

In 1953, the fledgling Institute held its first annual business meeting, approved 25 membership applications, and elected the first woman – Florence Montgomery of the Canadian Restaurant Association – to its board. Member services included a newsletter, employee referral and group insurance discounts.

The Institute changed its name to the Institute of Association Executives (IAE) in1956 and opened its doors to all individuals employed by non–profit associations. On October 18, 1962, the Institution was incorporated under federal charter and moved from Ottawa to Toronto two years later. In 1987, the association changed its name again – this time to its current title, the Canadian Society of Association Executives (CSAE).

100 King Street E, Suite #110
Toronto, ON
M5C 1C3

D&O - Directors & Omissions Professional Liability Insurance

EA - Evaluateur Agree
Chartered Appraiser.

E&O - Errors and Omissions
Professional Liability Insurance.

EO - Executive Officer

EOC - Executive Officers Council
A Council of CREA.

EVP - Executive Vice President

EXCEL - Excellence in Chief Executive Learning

FIABCI - International Real Estate Federation
An acronym from its name in French. In its 52 years of existence FIABCI the International Real Estate Federation, has built an enviable reputation as the authentic voice of international real estate. Multi-disciplinary and truly international it has no political axe to grind and represents the interests of no one country. Because of this and its concern with generating business opportunities for its worldwide membership, its opinions are sought by international bodies like the UN and regional bodies like the EU, NAFTA and MERCOSUR. There are 50 FIABCI Chapters throughout the world and new ones are regularly being formed. Currently there are also around 100 professional associations in membership. Called Principal Members by FIABCI, they have a total membership approaching 1.5 million practitioners. FIABCI is multi lingual and multi cultural and operates in five official languages: English, French, German, Spanish and Japanese.

FRI - Fellow of the Real Estate Institute
Granted by REIC.

FRI(E) - Executive Fellow of the Real Estate Institute
Granted by RICS.

FRICS - Fellow, Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Granted by RICS.

FSBO - For Sale by Owner

IAAO - International Association of Assessing Officers
International Association of Assessing Officers was first formed as a national body in 1934 to train and educate assessment professionals, work toward a more equitable assessment system, and focus on a revision of property tax legislation as a remedy for the Depression, then at its height. In 1959, the growth of its international membership resulted in the present association nomenclature.

Today the IAAO has nearly 8,000 members in twenty-one countries around the world. Although the majority of IAAO members work in government, IAAO’s membership includes members from private industry, the legal profession, and academia.

Professional Designations:
Assessment Administration Specialist (AAS)
Certified Assessment Evaluator (CAE)
Cadastral Mapping Specialist (CMS)
Personal Property Specialist (PPS)
Residential Evaluation Specialist (RES)
IAAO
314 West 10th Street
Kansas City, Missouri 64105
Phone: 816-701-8100

IDX - Information Data Exchange

ILD - Internet Listing Display

IMA - Institute of Municipal Assessors
The Institute of Municipal Assessors (IMA) founded in 1957) is the largest Canadian Professional Association representing members that practice in the field of Property Assessment and related Property Taxation functions.

Through education programs, the IMA grants accredited designations to its members. Members are highly qualified and widely recognized as the leading Professionals in the Property Assessment industry. Use of the Associate (A.I.M.A.) and Accredited (M.I.M.A.) designations is protected under the Institute of Municipal Assessors Act.

10720 Yonge Street #206
Richmond Hill, ON
L4C 3C9
Phone: 905-884-1959

IREM - Institute of Real Estate Management
The Institute of Real Estate Management was founded in 1933 during the Great Depression in the United States. When thousands of income-property mortgages were foreclosed, there was a shortage of skilled managers to operate these buildings. To alleviate this issue, a group of individuals came together to establish an organization that would set ethical and professional standards for the industry. The Institute of Real Estate Management was formed and initially consisted of 30 members. This was the first step ever taken by property managers to determine principles of qualification.

In 1938, the Institute created the Certified Property Manager (CPM^®) designation to address the need for higher professional standards. The CPM designation is now considered to be the industry's most widely esteemed credential, signifying the highest standards in the areas of ethics, professional experience and education.

The Institute also recognized the need for certifying firms to manage property. In 1945, the Institute created professional standards for firms so that they could be recognized with the Accredited Management Organization^® (AMO^®) credential. In addition to meeting the Institute's standards in integrity, education and fiscal stability, a firm must employ at least one CPM Member in an executive position to achieve the AMO accreditation.

The beginnings of the Accredited Residential Manager^® (ARM^®) credential date back to 1969, when the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development perceived a serious lack of trained managers for residential properties. As a response to this deficiency, the Institute developed a specific education program to train on-site managers in 1972. By 1975, this program had evolved into the ARM credential, which is currently regarded as one of the industry's most prestigious accreditations for residential site managers.

Designations: CPM, AMO, ARM

IREM Headquarters
430 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 800-837-0706
Fax: 800-338-4736

IXN - Information Exchange Network
CREA – An aggregation of mls data from Canadian real estate boards.

MAI - Member Appraisal Institute

MCE - Mandatory Continuing Education

MIMA - Member Institute of Municipal Assessors

MLS - Multiple Listing Service
Certification mark owned by the Canadian Real Estate Association.

MLS.ca^® - Multiple Listing Service
A public website.

MPAC - Municipal Property Assessment Corporation
Each year, the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) prepares an assessment roll for every Ontario municipality. The roll provides the assessed value of all the properties in a municipality or in the jurisdiction of a school board with taxing authority

MPAC Head Office:
1305 Pickering Parkway
Pickering, ON
L1V 3P2
Phone: 1-866-296-MPAC (6722)

MTC - MLS and Technology Council
Council of CREA.

MVA - Market Value Appraiser
Residential.

NAR - National Association of REALTORS^® (U.S.A.)
The core purpose of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS^® is to help its members become more profitable and successful. The National Association Of REALTORS^® was founded as the National Association of Real Estate Exchanges on May 12, 1908 at the YMCA Auditorium in Chicago, Ill.

OA-AIC - Ontario Association Appraisal Institute of Canada
Founded in 1938 is the largest and best-known organization of real estate appraisers, valuators and property consultants in Ontario. Real estate appraisers hold the designations: AACI (Accredited Appraiser Canadian Institute), and CRA(Canadian Residential Appraiser), as awarded by the Appraisal Institute of Canada. The designations mean that the member has met the highest professional industry standards in Canada.

Ontario Association Appraisal Institute of Canada (Ontario Chapter)
16 Four Seasons Place,
Suite 108
Toronto, ON
Canada M9B 6E5

OREA - Ontario Real Estate Association
The Ontario Association of Real Estate Boards (later renamed the Ontario Real Estate Association) was founded in 1922 to organize real estate activities on a province-wide basis. Initial goals included promoting higher standards, protecting the general public from unscrupulous trading activity and championing the interests of members to government. Today, OREA represents over 39,000 salespeople and brokers who are also members of the province’s 43 real estate boards. The Association delivers registration courses on behalf of the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) and represents the interests of members through government relations activities, special benefits and communications initiatives that inform both members and public.

99 Duncan Mill Road
Don Mills, ON
M3B 1Z2

PAC - Political Action Coalition

RCE - REALTOR^® Association Certified Executive
A professional designation for Executive Officers awarded through the E.O. Liaison Division NAR, U.S.A.

REBAC - Real Estate Buyers Agent Council (an affiliate of NAR)
The Real Estate Buyers Agent Council, REBAC, was founded in 1988 to promote superior buyer representation skills and services. An affiliate of The National Association Of REALTORS^® since 1996, REBACs membership now numbers well over 40,000 and is the worlds largest organization of real estate professionals concentrating on buyer representation. Members who meet all course and professional experiential requirements are awarded the ABR^® (Accredited Buyers Representative) and/or ABRM^® (Accredited Buyers Representative Manager) designation(s). Both are the only designations of their type recognized by NAR.

The ABR designation is geared towards agents who wish to enhance their buyer representation skills, and provides proof to prospective buyer-clients of their proficiency at servicing the special needs of buyers. The ABRM^® designation, on the other hand, is intended for owners, brokers and managers who have or intend to incorporate buyer representation into their companies service offerings. Developed in partnership with the Real Estate Brokerage Managers Council of The National Association Of REALTORS^®, the education program includes the ABR Designation course as a requirement, though not the designation itself.

REBAC supports its members through a variety of benefits and publications designed to keep members informed of developments in buyer representation and to assist members improve their business. REBAC also promotes the advantages of professional buyer representation to consumers.

430 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 800-648-6224 or 312-329-8656
Fax: 312-329-8632
E-mail: rebac@realtors.org

RECO - Real Estate Council of Ontario
Founded in 1997 the Real Estate Council of Ontario was formed to administer the Real Estate and Business Brokers Act (REBBA) on behalf of the:
Ontario Ministry of Consumer & Business Services
3250 Bloor Street West
Suite #600, East Tower
Toronto, ON
M8X 2X9

REIC - Real Estate Institute of Canada
A leader in advanced real estate education, the Real Estate Institute of Canada (REIC) is an association of professionals that has been educating and certifying specialists in real estate since 1955. REIC represents an unsurpassed level of experience, commitment and dedication to real estate in Canada and, as such, is strictly governed by the Institute’s Code of Professional Standards to ensure that the Institute’s values are upheld for both its members and the consumer. From intense and relevant education, to the leading industry designations, all of REIC's programs serve its mission

5407 Eglinton Ave. West, Suite 208
Toronto, ON
M9C 5K6

RI(B.C.) - Professional Division, Real Estate Institute of British Columbia

RICS - Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors
Is the leading source of land, property, construction and related environmental knowledge. They support 120,000 members worldwide, promote best practices, represent consumers’ interests and provide impartial advice to society, business, governments and global organizations.

12 Great George Street
Parliament Square
London
SW1P 3AD
United Kingdom

RLI - REALTORS^® Land Institute
The Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) designation is important to REALTORS^® Land Institute members and to their clients for many reasons. RLI REALTORS^® Land Institute (a Division of CREA). First, the designation is awarded by the Board of Directors to members who have completed a comprehensive program of education and service to the Institute. Only ALC’s may use the accredited logo in their brokerage correspondence and marketing pieces.

430 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611

RM - Residential Member

RPAC
An internet-based network of REALTORS^® who support OREA's government relations activities by communicating REALTOR^® positions to elected officials

SIOR - Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS^®
A Division of CREA. Also the designation granted by the Society. The Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS^® is the leading professional commercial and industrial real estate association. With more than 2800 members in 480 cities and 20 countries, SIOR represents today’s most knowledgeable, experienced and successful commercial real estate brokerage specialists.

Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS^®
1201 New York Avenue NW, Ste. 350
Washington, DC
2005-6126 USA

SRA - Senior Residential Appraiser
Granted by AI.

SREA - Senior Real Estate Analyst
Granted by AI.

SRPA - Senior Real Property Appraiser
Granted by AI.

SRS - Specialist in Real Estate Syndication

UDSA - Universal Data Sharing Agreement
A province wide agreement between boards to share MLS information.

VOW - Virtual Office Website

WCR - Women’s Council of REALTORS^® (NAR, U.S.A.)
We are a community of real estate professionals creating business opportunities, developing skills for the future and achieving our individual potential for success.

In 1924, the California Real Estate Association formed a Women's Division after members founded the idea on a train ride home from the National Association's convention in Washington, D.C. Fourteen years later, Joseph Catherine, the 1938 president of the National Association Of REALTORS^® (then called the National Association of Real Estate Boards) encouraged the formation of the Women.s Council after being impressed by the California group and the immense potential of women in real estate. At the time, NAR was already 30 years old and most decisions were still made at the Local Board level. Unfortunately, most Local Boards were still resistant to women. However, the National Association was ready to recognize women in real estate and a positive vote resulted in the formation of a women's division at the Annual Convention held in Milwaukee in November of 1938. Thirty-seven ambitious women represented nine states at that meeting and WCR's inception.

National Headquarters
430 North Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL 60611