Major Membership Associations in the Riviera Maya Real Estate Community Report that some NON-Members claim membership.

Is Your Agent a Certified Member of the Real Estate Community?

by Bjoern Koch

Recently, there has been a rise in the use of Professional Real Estate Assocation logo's on the business cards and web sites of Real Estate Brokers and Agents here in the Riviera Maya of Mexico.  Legitimately, the majority of brokers and agents proudly display their participation and membership in such associations.  However, there are reports that a few in the industry are displaying certifications and memberships in Associations that they don't belong to just to give the impression to prospective buyers that they are legitimate and these can cause confusion.

To be sure, there are associations and groups in the USA, Canada, and here in Mexico that are widely known - from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), Certified Interanational Property Specialist Network (CIPS Network), La Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales Inmobiliarios, A.C. (AMPI) and MLS 4 Riviera Maya (MLS) that allow their logos to be displayed by all their members.

But who are these widely known assocations and how do you verify if a broker and/or agent is a member in good status.

MLS 4 Riviera Maya (MLS)
Created in July 2006, MLS has over 60 of the areas top agents and brokers. With over 600 listing, iIt also has the largest selection of listings on the net for the Riviera Maya. MLS promotes the world class Riviera Maya market to prospective buyers worldwide.   In addition to listings, MLS 4 Riviera Maya also hosts EXPO's and Seminars to promote quality and secure transactions by buyers so that experiences add value to the market place.  All members are expected to uphold world class ethics and integrity. To check and see if an agent is a member, just click to their MLS Members web page.  For more information on MLS, go to their web site.

La Asociación Mexicana de Profesionales Inmobiliarios, A.C. (AMPI)
This is a private association of brokers and members covering all of Mexico with headquarters in Mexico City. There are certified chapters in key markets.  The Riviera Maya has it's own chapter and there is also a chapter in Cancun.  To verify members, contact their local board member Jorge Penkoff at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it

National Association of Realtors (NAR)
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, IL. Three earlier attempts (beginning in 1891) at organizing a national real estate group were unsuccessful. With 120 founding members, 19 Boards, and one State Association, the National Association of Real Estate Exchanges' objective was "to unite the real estate men of America for the purpose of effectively exerting a combined influence upon matters affecting real estate interests."  The NAR also has a special classification for it's international members.  It is called the Certified Interanational Property Specialist Network (CIPS Network)

The Certified International Property Specialist Network (CIPS Network) is a specialty group of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® that focuses on international real estate. The CIPS Network currently has over 1,500, nearly 1,000 of whom have earned the CIPS designation. More than 300 network members live and practice outside the US.

What is a CIPS?
A Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) is an individual who has proven their expertise in international real estate practice by completing CIPS program requirements. CIPS designees are from Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bermuda, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Philippines, Poland, Romania, Russia, Singapore and the United States. Several hundred more are currently working toward the designation.

Consumers can benefit from the representation of real estate professionals who have earned the CIPS designation. NAR International administers the CIPS program and designation which focuses on ownership and transaction principles of international real estate, including specifics on real estate markets in Europe, the Americas and the Asia/Pacific region. Topics covered in the CIPS classes also include cultural diversity, market data, investment trends, marketing strategies, currency issues and financing.

NAR studies show that CIPS designees tend to be highly experienced both in real estate and in dealing with clients from diverse cultures. For example, 85 percent of CIPS designees have been working in real estate more than 10 years; 35 percent have more than 20 years experience. Over 30 percent of CIPS designees were either born outside the US or are now based outside the US. CIPS designees are increasingly relied upon by local community and business organizations — including Chambers of Commerce and boards of REALTORS® — as international business resources

A Network of Associations
In addition to individual network members, the CIPS Network is also comprised of foreign real estate organizations located in more than 50 countries around the globe. Each has signed a bilateral cooperating agreement with NAR, creating a potential international network of 1.4 million real estate practitioners connected through a common commitment to ethical real estate practices and high standards of service. NAR assigns a U.S. President's Liaison and Ambassador Association to each foreign organization. This provides for increased contact and more individualized communication between the two groups.

State and Local Council Networks
The CIPS Network is further supported by a growing number of international local councils located in the U.S. Organized in conjunction with a state or local REALTOR® association, these local councils provide grassroots networking and support for the specialty niche of international real estate. A directory of international local councils is available online on this site for your reference.

How To Join
The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®' Certified International Property Specialist Network (CIPS Network) provides education, information, business generating services and networking events for real estate professionals who aim to profit in the global market. By joining the network, you join nearly 1,000 REALTORS® who have earned their CIPS designation and hundreds more who are working to achieve a prestigious designation that is well known in more than 40 countries. Below are membership category descriptions and downloadable files for U.S. and non-U.S. membership applications. Copies are also available from the International fax on demand service at 800-354-2831 (US/Canada) or 732-544-2851 (internationally): request document #202

U.S. REALTORS®
U.S. members must be a REALTOR®, a member in good standing of NAR, and complete the CIPS "International Real Estate for Local Markets" course. Those who complete the course are then eligible to apply to become a CIPS candidate and to receive benefits of membership in the CIPS Network. U.S. members who have completed "International Real Estate for Local Markets" can join the network.
After completion of all five courses and approval of a designation application, CIPS designees maintain the right to use the designation upon payment of an annual fee.

Membership Benefits
The CIPS (Certified International Property Specialist) Network of NAR International provides specialized services to real estate professionals--both domestic and international--who are interested or involved in the international real estate arena. Buyers and sellers involved with international real estate transactions are encouraged to work with a REALTOR® who is a member of NAR's CIPS Network and who has earned the CIPS professional designation. These professionals are familiar with restrictions on foreign investment, licensing requirements for foreign real estate practitioners and cultural issues related to international transactions. Buyers and sellers can search online for a CIPS designee or Network member by accessing NAR's online CIPS directory.

Any one can take the CIPS courses but only members of NAR can join the CIPS Network and earn the designation.

HOW TO REPORT ABUSE

You can report abuse directly to This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it .  Riviera Maya Real Estate News will  check out and verify the members standing and report on it.

Bjoern Koch CIPS, ABR is the Sales Manager of The Tides Playa del Carmen (http://www.tidesplayadelcarmen.com) The Kor Group.  He is a member of NAR and MLS 4 Riviera Maya.  He is also a CIPS.  He can be reached via email at This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or via telephone in the USA at (310) 961-6260 or in Mexico at +52(984)116-3393.