Do you have an EXCEED, GE Money, Accredited, or Home Trust mortgage?

If you currently have an Exceed, GE Money, Accredited, or Home Trust mortgage in place you should call me or another professional Mortgage associate ASAP and discuss your future plans for this mortgage product. Recent fluctuations and changes to the mortgage and credit granting market in Canada has left many mortgage holders at risk, and only those who are proactive and prepare for this situation will not be inconvenienced by this.

In the past few months, several of the 'high risk' mortgage lenders have withdrawn from the lending market or have altered their lending practices to no longer offer mortgages which fall into the 'high risk' category. Among the first products to disappear was mortgages for non-owneroccupied properties (rentals, second homes, vacation properties, etc), followed by conventional low document and no document products which were designed for self employed individuals. Several insured products of this type are still available however.

The problem arises when a client who holds one of these high risk loans (similar to a US subprime mortgage) comes up for renewal. Your current lender is under no obligation ro renew your mortgage when the term expires. In the case of these high risk lenders, there will be many mortgages not renewed in the next few years, as the lender has left the industry or changed their lending practices. Simply put, when your mortgage term expires, you will receive a letter asking for the full payment of the entire value of the outstanding mortgage or else face the foreclosure process. This will happen to you regardless of how strong your credit is, regardless of your repayment history, and regardless of how prepared you are for it.

If you have one of these mortgage, even if it does not come up for renewal for a couple years, you should prepare for that scenario NOW! If the mortgage associate who sold you that product has not yet contacted you, you should contact our office ASAP so that we can help you prepare. It is your responsibility to be proactive on this. Let us help you before a problem arises. Do not wait until the last minute or it will cost you thousands of dollars.

Here are a few of my favorite past articles from my Lethbridge real estate and mortgage blog you might have missed or wish to recommend them to a friend.

Common Financial Problems - Avoid these financial mistakes
Get Your Credit Score UP - Invaluable insight into your credit score
Mortgage Guidelines Get Tighter - Harder and harder to borrow money
Is Your Mortgage Company Out of Business in 2009? - What to do when your bank goes broke
What is wrong with MLS - Is your info being abused?
Survivor - Real Estate Edition - Let's vote a few more off the island

Robert May is a Realtor, as well as the broker and owner of Rainbow Realty of Lethbridge Alberta. He is also a licensed mortgage associate and financing expert with Canada First Mortgage of Calgary Alberta. He has been in the real estate industry since 1993 and offers full MLS real estate services to Lethbridge and surrounding area, as well as mortgage financing, refinancing/renewals, preapprovals, and home equity financing to Lethbridge and Southern Alberta. He can be found online at www.LethbridgeLoans.com

Let me share my 15 years experience in the local Lethbridge real estate and financing market with you! It is the first step towards making a profitable real estate decision.

Enjoyed this article? Please leave a comment, subscribe, add me, OR click the little red flag and feature it!


Lethbridge mortgage real estate financing alberta mortgages blog

What is Wrong with MLS?

I am the broker and owner of an independant real estate brokerage in Lethbridge Alberta. I have been a member of the Lethbridge Real Estate Board, the Alberta Real Estate Association, and the Canadian Real Estate Association, for approximately 15 years now. I have watched the organized real estate industry make several changes and evolve for all these years. Some of the changes have been progressive while others have seemed to be misdirected.

I have experienced the change from corporate owned offices to franchises, the rise of independant contractor status, the introduction of the 100% commission split, the introduction of new technologies, the alteration of the terminology, at least half a dozen revisions of the standard purchase contract from a simple 1 page form to a 2 page form to a 3 page form, into an even longer 'plain english' form, then back to a 3 page form, into whatever it is today. I have watched commissions fluctuate, but almost always downward. I remember back in the day when we used to fill in the commission rate we were charging (7%, which we commonly split 50/50) before we even left the office with the contract. Today as I browse my local MLS listings I see less then a half dozen listings offering anything other then 2% of the selling price as commission. Perhaps the trained and skilled agents working our streets back then were worth 3 times more then all the recent licensees, or perhaps someone forgot to train new licensees to negotiate their brokerage fee, or perhaps we have given away so much of our expertise, data, and value that we are getting paid exactly what we are worth? At any rate, that is not my biggest beef with the current situation.

What has really bothered me in recent years has been the direction that organized real estate has gone concerning client data and information. It is obvious that in this day and age of identity theft, organized crime through electronic means, and spam marketing, that consumers are more concerned then ever about their personal information. Even legislators at the municipal, provincial, and federal level have enacted laws in an attempt to control and protect consumers identities and information. Despite this, the amount of information required to submit a listing to MLS is at an all time high. You currently have to provide more information then ever before to submit a listing to MLS. What happens to that information afterwards seems to be a bit of an unknown, and definitely varies in different juristictions.

Some of the information is unquestionably made public, some is shared with various levels of Government, and some is stored in dirty old filing cabinets and hard drives some place apparently forever. The fact that every new listing seems to receive various marketing materials mysteriously in the mail points to the fact that the information reaches the hands of various other commercial interests as well. Who owns this information and what level of privacy and disclosure is the consumer entitled to? Obviously if you were to ask a consumer if they wished their data to be shared or held forever to be potentially shared at a later date, most would opt out of that idea. Many of my own friends and clients specifically choose to avoid MLS listing their property to avoid the potential of their information falling into the hands of others or being shared publicly.

I belive in the spirit of the MLS system, but not with its practices. As the information age progresses, it will be interesting to see if this data collection by the MLS system will be its saviour or its downfall. Until then, I will leave my personal data withheld.

Here are a few of my favorite past articles from my Lethbridge real estate and mortgage blog you might have missed or wish to recommend them to a friend.

Common Financial Problems - Avoid these financial mistakes
Get Your Credit Score UP - Invaluable insight into your credit score
Mortgage Guidelines Get Tighter - Harder and harder to borrow money
Is Your Mortgage Company Out of Business in 2009? - What to do when your bank goes broke
What is wrong with MLS - Is your info being abused?
Survivor - Real Estate Edition - Let's vote a few more off the island

Robert May is a Realtor, as well as the broker and owner of Rainbow Realty of Lethbridge Alberta. He is also a licensed mortgage associate and financing expert with Canada First Mortgage of Calgary Alberta. He has been in the real estate industry since 1993 and offers full MLS real estate services to Lethbridge and surrounding area, as well as mortgage financing, refinancing/renewals, preapprovals, and home equity financing to Lethbridge and Southern Alberta. He can be found online at www.LethbridgeLoans.com

Let me share my 15 years experience in the local Lethbridge real estate and financing market with you! It is the first step towards making a profitable real estate decision.

Enjoyed this article? Please leave a comment, subscribe, add me, OR click the little red flag and feature it!


Lethbridge mortgage real estate financing alberta mortgages blog

The Only Reason Every American Doesnt Own an Elephant

"The only reason every American doesn't own an elephant is because they haven't been offered one for no money down and easy monthly payments"

The horrible truth behind that statement is reflected in the purchasing decisions many people have been making for much of the past few years. Everything from vacations, furniture, and elctronics has been sold using the sales gimmick of "no payments until....". I have a friend who sells vacuums for prices in excess of $2,000 and while I am pretty sure they are nice vacuums, unless you can drive them to church on Sunday the price seems a little steep to me. What the change in marketing strategies of recent years has meant for the consumer has been a total shift in the way they think.

I remember in the early 1980's my parents saved up money to go to the furniture store and buy a new sofa set. We loaded up the station wagon and drove to town and they picked one out. It was a beauty, rusty orange with wishing wells or waterwheels or some other browny orange pattern with wood accents on the arms. I believe 'the good couch', as it would forever be known in our household, cost about $1200 for the entire set and was paid for with cash money that my parents had saved up and earmarked for this purchase. Compare this to the modern furniture shopper experience. According to my friend who manages a large box furniture retailer, the majority of their purchasers have $0 when they walk in the front door. The furniture is sold primarily on a 'do not pay for xx months' basis, and on a less common basis charged onto a purchasers credit card. It is an absolute rarity for a customer to actually pay for their furniture.

The customer mindset has changed from shopping for 'how much can i afford' to 'how much can i afford to finance'.

A recent automobile sale that I visited made this extremely evident. It wasnt held at a car lot, but rather in a rented hall and was staffed by travelling hired-gun car salesmen who help lots clear used inventory all across the country. As none of the vehicles had prices displayed in the window, I was forced to communicate with an aggressive little guy who when I asked what the price was of a certain van was told it was $199/month. I told the salesman that I did not need to finance and just wanted to know what the price was, again he told me the price could be as low as $49/week. After much prodding and reiterating that I would simply be writing a check for the vehicle, he divulged that the salesmen at the event did not know the actual prices of any of the vehicles only financing numbers, and to find out any more specific information the financing manager would need to be asked. At first I thought the guy was joking, but he was not. Their entire sales technique was based upon selling a vehicle based upon the payment amount and not the actual price, interest rate, etc. Amazing to me.

I have always held the theory that any item which you are being sold that requires that you make a decision within 5 minutes, that you have to attend a presentation with your spouse, that they offer you a free gift over the phone, that they wont tell you the purchase price until the end of the demonstration, or that sounds too good to be true..... IS. So when you get offered that elephant, and inevitably the day is coming, just make sure you get your spouses consent and sleep on the decision, otherwise you may need a big shovel to clean up the mess you will be getting yourself into.

Here are a few of my favorite past articles from my Lethbridge real estate and mortgage blog you might have missed or wish to recommend them to a friend.

Common Financial Problems - Avoid these financial mistakes
Get Your Credit Score UP - Invaluable insight into your credit score
Mortgage Guidelines Get Tighter - Harder and harder to borrow money
Is Your Mortgage Company Out of Business in 2009? - What to do when your bank goes broke
What is wrong with MLS - Is your info being abused?
Survivor - Real Estate Edition - Let's vote a few more off the island

Robert May is a Realtor, as well as the broker and owner of Rainbow Realty of Lethbridge Alberta. He is also a licensed mortgage associate and financing expert with Canada First Mortgage of Calgary Alberta. He has been in the real estate industry since 1993 and offers full MLS real estate services to Lethbridge and surrounding area, as well as mortgage financing, refinancing/renewals, preapprovals, and home equity financing to Lethbridge and Southern Alberta. He can be found online at www.LethbridgeLoans.com

Let me share my 15 years experience in the local Lethbridge real estate and financing market with you! It is the first step towards making a profitable real estate decision.

Enjoyed this article? Please leave a comment, subscribe, add me, OR click the little red flag and feature it!


Lethbridge mortgage real estate financing alberta mortgages blog

Tips for Selling in a Slow Market

Price it right! Thinking that you can start high and lower the price if it fails to sell in the first couple of days or weeks is a mentality held by ignorant homeowners. That may sound strong, but recognize that you have one chance to introduce your house to a potential buyer. Maybe that buyer seen and ad, stopped at an open house, or even seen the lawn sign go up. The potential buyer is interested and excited about your home, until they call and discover that you are optimistically overpriced. That buyer will not likely ever revisit the property, phone on it again, watch to see if the price moves down to a realistic level, etc. You have one chance, don't mess it up.



Position yourself in the right price range. Buyers search by price range, such as between $200,000 and $225,000. Make sure your property is properly positioned so that it is the best value within a standard price range. For example, pricing it at $230,000 could miss the people looking for a bargain on a home in the $200,000 to $225,000 range. Look at homes in the price range, is your home the largest, the most upgraded, have the most inclusions? If you cannot name concrete and specific reasons why your home is better than similarly priced homes, neither can a buyer. (and I am not talking about anything that personalizes the home!!!)

You also need to be prepared. Delay on the seller's part is one reason that deals often fall apart. Before you list your home, have information readily available about your schools, taxes, utilities, condo documents, homeowners association info, any neighborhood covenants and information about liens that have to be released prior to closing. Be ready to hear an offer immediately and to deal with it at a moments notice.


Market to people who are likely buyers, not everyone who reads the paper. In addition to placing an ad in the newspaper and using the multiple listing service, you should advertise to people who are already in the market for a house. For example, have your real estate agent pull a list of people who have just listed their own house within a five mile radius of your home. People are likely to want to stay within the same school district if they have kids.

Any schmuck can plant a sign in the yard and put an ad in the paper. If that is what your agent is doing to sell your house, start looking for a new one now because you might find a wiser one after your listing expires for the first or second time.





In 2009, buyers want traditional values and modern techniques. They are more sophisticated and educated then half the industry members and so called 'professionals'. Hire an agent who has some skill!!!!!

If possible, offer terms. Cash buyers are becoming harder to find in a market where financing is tougher to get. Offer creative financing terms to attract more buyers. Sometimes a skilled agent can overcome many buyer objections by utilizing financing terms. If your real estate agent has no idea why TERMS beat PRICE, get ready to watch your house not sell.

Stay tuned, in my next blog I plan to give Jeff Foxworthy a run for his red-neck job, lol.

Here are a few of my favorite past articles from my Lethbridge real estate and mortgage blog you might have missed or wish to recommend them to a friend.

Common Financial Problems - Avoid these financial mistakes
Get Your Credit Score UP - Invaluable insight into your credit score
Mortgage Guidelines Get Tighter - Harder and harder to borrow money
Is Your Mortgage Company Out of Business in 2009? - What to do when your bank goes broke
What is wrong with MLS - Is your info being abused?
Survivor - Real Estate Edition - Let's vote a few more off the island

Robert May is a Realtor, as well as the broker and owner of Rainbow Realty of Lethbridge Alberta. He is also a licensed mortgage associate and financing expert with Canada First Mortgage of Calgary Alberta. He has been in the real estate industry since 1993 and offers full MLS real estate services to Lethbridge and surrounding area, as well as mortgage financing, refinancing/renewals, preapprovals, and home equity financing to Lethbridge and Southern Alberta. He can be found online at www.LethbridgeLoans.com

Let me share my 15 years experience in the local Lethbridge real estate and financing market with you! It is the first step towards making a profitable real estate decision.

Enjoyed this article? Please leave a comment, subscribe, add me, OR click the little red flag and feature it!


Lethbridge mortgage real estate financing alberta mortgages blog

Is Honesty ALWAYS The Best Policy?

Today I received an email from a colleague that contained the following picture, which is hilarious.

Here are a few of my favorite past articles from my Lethbridge real estate and mortgage blog you might have missed or wish to recommend them to a friend.

Common Financial Problems - Avoid these financial mistakes
Get Your Credit Score UP - Invaluable insight into your credit score
Mortgage Guidelines Get Tighter - Harder and harder to borrow money
Is Your Mortgage Company Out of Business in 2009? - What to do when your bank goes broke
What is wrong with MLS - Is your info being abused?
Survivor - Real Estate Edition - Let's vote a few more off the island

Robert May is a Realtor, as well as the broker and owner of Rainbow Realty of Lethbridge Alberta. He is also a licensed mortgage associate and financing expert with Canada First Mortgage of Calgary Alberta. He has been in the real estate industry since 1993 and offers full MLS real estate services to Lethbridge and surrounding area, as well as mortgage financing, refinancing/renewals, preapprovals, and home equity financing to Lethbridge and Southern Alberta. He can be found online at www.LethbridgeLoans.com

Let me share my 15 years experience in the local Lethbridge real estate and financing market with you! It is the first step towards making a profitable real estate decision.

Enjoyed this article? Please leave a comment, subscribe, add me, OR click the little red flag and feature it!


Lethbridge mortgage real estate financing alberta mortgages blog

Active Rain Official Real Estate Designation! Are you an AR agent?

There are many professional designations floating around and many agents who are quick to add any 2 or 3 initials after their name that they think might impress their clients or other industry members. Now some of these accredations are pretty impressive and some of them actually take some time and effort to achieve, but some of them and handed out like sheepskins from a Caribbean diploma mill to anyone who will pay for them.

As I look down this list of industry designations, one that strikes me as being overlooked and undervalued is the AR designation. That is right, I am suggesting that there is a new designation handed out by the AR community to those who are proficient AR members. Of course the requirements to obtain this valuable credential would need to be developed, you can't just sign up and buy and outside blog and tag yourself an official AR.

A minimum standard of 3 months membership, 100 blogs posted, 1000 comments posted, 200 comments received, at least 1 featured post, a minimum of 5 members referred, and an outside blog subscription should be adequate to make this designation available to the deserving members of the AR community. It is substantial enough requirements to demonstrate an official presence here at AR as well as a committment to the community.

What do you think, does it make sense to you.

Robert May, AR.

Residential Real Estate Sales
ABR® - Accredited Buyer Representative This real estate designation is geared to REALTORS® who wish to incorporate buyer representation into their daily practice. Managed by Real Estate Agent Buyer's Council In association with The National Association of REALTORS®
ABRM - Accredited Buyer Representative Manager This real estate designation is geared to REALTORS®, owners and managers that have or wish to incorporate buyer representation into their daily practice. Managed by Real Estate Agent Buyer's Council In association with The National Association of REALTORS®
AHS – Accredited Home-Staging Specialist This course enables agents to gain a quick grasp and basic knowledge of the most important elements involving the staging of a property and home for sale. Managed by the Council of Home Staging Specialist In association with RealtyU Group
AHWD - At Home with Diversity This certification is geared toward increasing an agent's sensitivity towards a wide range of cultural issues, thus inviting a wider volume of business from a greater variety of cultures. Coordinated by The National Association of REALTORS®
ALHS - Accredited Luxury Home Specialist This real estate designation is awarded to agents that have completed advanced training and work in the field of selling luxury homes. Managed by The Luxury Home Council In association with RealtyU Group
AREP® - Accredited Real Estate Professional Awarded to real estate agents that have completed an introductory course that deals with the fundamentals of getting your real estate business up and running. Managed by The Real Estate Professionals Society In association with RealtyU Group
ASP® – Accredited Staging Professional This program has been developed to assist home owners to present their homes for sale in the best possible way. This designation has a special course for agents (ASPRE) and an advanced master level (ASPM) Managed by International Association of Home Staging Professionals
® - This designation is geared towards improving the skills of real estate professionals working with home sellers.
C-CREC - Consumer Certified Real Estate Consultant This real estate designation is geared toward helping professionals focus on what consumers want from today's real estate professionals, not just what the industry has to offer. Managed by the National Association of Real Estate Consultants
CBR – Certified Buyer Representative This real estate designation is geared to real estate agents who wish to incorporate buyer representation into their daily practice. Managed by RealNet Learning Services
EcoBroker Certified® A program for real estate professionals and industry affiliates who care about our environment and who want to take advantage of the green marketing opportunities. Managed by EcoBroker International
CBS - Certified Buyer Specialist Shows agents how to develop an online relationship early in the buying process to attract those consumers to your website. Managed by Prospecting for Life
CEBA – Certified Exclusive Buyers Agent Certification coordinated by National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents	No Logo
CFS - Certified Financial Specialist This real estate designation is geared toward residential financing principles, techniques and programs developed by the Residential Financing Council. Managed by The Residential Financing Council
CLHMS - Certified Luxury Home Marketing Specialist This real estate designation is geared to position agents as an expert for affluent buyers and sellers. Managed by The Institute for Luxury Home Marketing
CNE – Certified Negotiation Expert Provides real estate agents provide negotiation training to enable agents to better results in all different types and situations of negotiations. Managed by the Tom Hayden In association with RealtyU Group
CNS – Certified Neighborhood Specialist Provides real estate agents the ability to obtain an intimate knowledge of the specifics of a neighborhood thereby enabling them to become the local neighborhood expert. Managed by the Neighborhood Specialists Council In association with RealtyU Group
CRB - Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager This real estate designation is geared toward REALTORS® that consistently increase their level of industry knowledge and increase their firm's profitability. Managed by the Council of Real Estate Brokerage Managers In association with The National Association of REALTORS®
CRE - Counselor of Real Estate Bestowed by invitation only real estate advisors who have been recognized by their peers and clients for their high level knowledge, experience, and integrity. Managed by The Counselors of Real Estate In association with The National Association of REALTORS®
CRIA - Certified Realty Investment Associate Covers the practical aspects of Commercial and Investment real estate such as dealing with clients and in transactions with other agents. Managed by the Realty Investment Association of California
CSP – Certified Short-Sale Professional This real estate designation is awarded to people who complete advanced training how to handle short sales and foreclosures. Managed by Council of Short-Sales Professionals In association with RealtyU Group
CRS - Certified Residential Specialist This real estate designation is awarded to experienced REALTORS® who complete advanced training in listing and selling. Managed by the Council of Residential Specialists In association with The National Association of REALTORS®
CSS – Certified Staging Specialist Certifies people that have proven their practical knowledge of staging. Managed by theBarbara Jennings
GHS – Generational Housing Specialist Seniors, Boomers, X’ers and Y’ers. This real estate course covers all generations and teaches agents how to communicate, work, sell and manage buyers and sellers of all ages. Managed by the Generational Housing Society In association with RealtyU Group
GRI - Graduate REALTOR Institute This real estate designation is geared towards REALTORS® that are involved in residential real estate and desire a solid base of information for their practice. Managed by The National Association of REALTORS®
HSR – Home Staging Resource Self paced, online, 21-day intensive training on all aspects of interior decorating. Managed by Home Staging Resource, Inc
IMC - Internet Marketing Certified Positions agents as the expert in marketing properties online. Managed by Prospecting for Life
MIRM - Member, Institute of Residential Marketing. The top-level achievement for real estate professionals in new home marketing. Managed by The National Association of Home Builders
The Master of Real Estate (MRE) The MRE designation signifies a broker dedicated to the highest professional development and the highest levels of customer service Managed by Van Education Center
MSP –Master Sales Professional In order to earn the Master Sales Professional designation, Master Sales Association an agent must complete a variety of courses, mentoring and sales performance requirements. Managed by the Mastery Sales Association	No Logo
PME – Property Marketing Expert Positions agents as the expert in marketing of property. Managed by Prospecting for Life
PMN - Performance Management Network. Geared to bring you the real-world skills, the know-how and the tools that will keep your business out front and on top of a lighting-fast market. Managed by the Women's Council of REALTORS® In association with The National Association of REALTORS®
QSC - Quality Service Certification. This certification is for sales professionals willing to be held to a standard, which requires accountability, reliability and consistency - the ongoing delivery of quality service on each transaction. Managed by Quality Service Certification, Inc.
REPA - Real Estate Professional Assistant This certification is geared to provide an intensive introduction to the real estate business and to the specific ways support staff can become valuable assets to their employers. Certification coordinated by The National Association of REALTORS®
RSPS – Resort & Second-Home Markets Certification Certification requirements include the NAR Resort & Second-Home Market Course, the RLI Tax-Deferred (1031) Exchange Course and nine different electives. Certification coordinated by The National Association of REALTORS®
SHS – Senior Housing Specialist The certification program trains real estate agents to understand, work and serve the needs of senior home buyers and sellers. Certification coordinated by TABS In association with RealtyU Group
SRES - Seniors Real Estate Specialist The program trains REALTORS® to profitably and ethically serve the real estate needs of clients age 50+. Managed by Real Estate Agent Buyer's Council In association with The National Association of REALTORS®
SRS - Seller Representative Specialist This designation is geared toward proving the skills of real estate professionals regarding listings and working with sellers. Managed by the SRS Council
International Designations and Certifications
CIPS - Certified International Property Specialist This real estate designation is geared to REALTORS® that have demonstrated their international experience and participate in international programs offered by NAR. Managed by The National Association of REALTORS®
IRES – International Real Estate Specialist An international certification helping agents understand the second home luxury market. Managed by The International Luxury Society
TRC - Transnational Referral Certification. This certification is to prepare agents to use the Transnational Referral system developed by the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations-ICREA. Coordinated by The National Association of REALTORS®
Relocation Designations and Certifications
CRP - Certified Relocation Professional This real estate designation is geared toward professionals who have demonstrated a minimum of two years' experience dealing with relocation issues. Managed by the Employee Relocation Council
CRTS – Certified Relocation and Transition Specialist Course training for those beginning in the senior move industry. The program advances to a master level CRTM after 3 years of experience and additional CE courses. Managed by International Association of Home Staging Professionals
Property Management Designations
ARM - Accredited Residential Manager This real estate certification reflects today's management practices and new ideas. Certification coordinated by The Institute of Real Estate Management	No Logo
CAM - Certified Apartment Manager. Nationally recognized education program for people who own or manage rental property. Managed by The National Apartment Association
CLP - Certified Leasing Professional The program enables agents to improve their knowledge regarding multifamily leasing and selling skills. Managed by The National Association of Home Builders
CPM - Certified Property Manager Real estate management skills through educational offerings, leading in every area of real estate management from residential to commercial to industrial. Managed by The Institute of Real Estate Management
RAM - Registered in Apartment Management. RAM is a designation program offered to property management professionals. Managed by The National Association of Home Builders
Farmland, Industrial & Commercial
AAC - Accredited Agricultural Consultant You must meet specific skill and experience levels, take and pass all required coursework, and meet all other requirements established by the ASFMRA. Managed by American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers	No Logo
AFM - Accredited Farm Manager You must meet specific skill and experience levels, take and pass all required coursework, and meet all other requirements established by the ASFMRA. Managed by American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers	No Logo
ALC - Accredited Land Consultant This real estate designation is geared to REALTORS® that specialize in land brokerage transactions such as farms and ranches; undeveloped tracts of land; transitional and development land; subdivision and wholesaling of lots; and site selection and assemblage of land parcels. Managed by American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers
CCIM - Certified Commercial Investment Member This real estate designation is geared to REALTORS® in commercial real estate brokerage, leasing, asset management valuation and investment analysis. Managed by the CCIM Institute In association with NAR
CREP - Commercial Real Estate Professionals Society Awarded to real estate agents that have completed a certified commercial course that deals with the fundamentals of conducting commercial real estate transactions. Managed by The Real Estate Professionals Society In association with RealtyU Group
SIOR - Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS®. This real estate designation is geared towards Realtors® in industrial and office real estate brokerage. Managed by the Society of Industrial and Office REALTORS® In association with NAR
Construction Designations & Certifications
CMP -Certified New Home Marketing Professional Mid-level designation for Institute of Residential Marketing students who have completed their marketing courses. Managed by The National Association of Home Builders
CNHS - Certified New Home Specialist Join more than 30,000 professionals and enjoy real estate’s most popular and comprehensive training for working successfully with builders, developers and new home buyers in all areas of new home sales and marketing. Managed by Dennis Walsh and Associates
CSP - Certified New Home Sales Professional Designed for specialists in new home sales to increase their marketability in the home building industry, and sell more homes. This course also has a Master Certified New Home Sales Professional (MCSP) level. Managed by The National Association of Home Builders
Residential Construction Certified (RCC) For real estate professionals active in either Resale or New Home business, Residential Construction Certified delivers the most comprehensive training covering materials, methods, terminology and details of residential construction. Managed by Dennis Walsh and Associates
Mortgage Designations and Certifications
AMP - Accredited Mortgage Professional Recognizes the achievements for pursuit of educational excellence by completing all three levels at the School of Mortgage Banking. Managed by CampusMBA's School of Mortgage Banking
CMB - Certified Mortgage Banker The industry standard of professional success. It symbolizes respect, credibility, ethics, and achievement within real estate finance. Earning a CMB instantly places you at the top of your dynamic industry and makes you a part of the elite group that has achieved the highest level of professional success. Managed by CampusMBA's School of Mortgage Banking
CMS - Certified Mortgage Servicer Recognizes an individual's superior knowledge and experience in residential servicing practices, theories and applications. This specialist designation has three tracks: default administration, financial controls and investor administration and loan administration. Managed by CampusMBA's School of Mortgage Banking
CMT - Certified Mortgage Technologist Demonstrates a solid technological foundation in mortgage banking operations through a combination of experience, education and industry participation. Managed by CampusMBA's School of Mortgage Banking
CRU - Certified Residential Underwriter Reflects an individual's superior knowledge, experience, education and industry participation in pursuit of excellence in residential underwriting. Managed by CampusMBA's School of Mortgage Banking
CMPS – Certified Mortgage Planning Specialist A training, certification and ongoing membership program for financial professionals who provide mortgage and real estate equity advice. Managed by CMPS Institute
MREP - Mortgage Real Estate Professional. This certification e agents upon completion of a certified mortgage or finance course that incorporates the fundamentals of the lending process. Managed by The Real Estate Professionals Society
Appraisal & Home Inspection Designations and Certifications
ARA - Accredited Rural Appraiser You must meet specific skill and experience levels, take and pass all required coursework, and meet all other requirements established by the ASFMRA. Managed by American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers	No Logo
ASA - Accredited Senior Appraiser Accreditation is based on appraisal education, experience, intensive written examinations and submission of acceptable appraisal reports. Managed by The American Society of Appraisers
CREA - Certified Real Estate Appraiser Certification coordinated by The National Association of Real Estate Appraisers	No Logo
MAI – Member Appraisal Institute Awarded to appraisers who are experienced in the valuation and evaluation of commercial, industrial, residential and other types of properties, and who advise clients on real estate investment decisions. Managed by The Appraisal Institute
MFLA - Master Farm and Land Appraiser Granted upon presentation of evidence of extensive practical experience in real estate appraisal, completion of classroom study and testing. Managed by The National Association of Master Appraisers	No Logo
GAA - General Accredited Appraiser This real estate designation is geared toward appraisers whose education and experience exceed state appraisal certification requirements and is supported by the NAR. Managed by The National Association of REALTORS®
RAA - Residential Accredited Appraiser. This real estate designation is geared toward appraisers whose education and experience exceed state appraisal certification. Managed by National Association of REALTORS®
RPRA - Real Property Review Appraiser You must meet specific skill and experience levels, take and pass all required coursework, and meet all other requirements established by the ASFMRA. Managed by the American Society of Farm Managers and Rural Appraisers	No Logo
SRA The SRA professional membership designation is held by real estate solutions providers who are experienced in the analysis and valuation of residential real property. Managed by The Appraisal Institute
SRPA The SRPA membership designation is held by appraisers who are experienced in the valuation of commercial, industrial, residential and other types of property. Managed by The Appraisal Institute
Technology & Internet Designations & Certifications
e-PRO® Training program presented entirely online to certify real estate agents and brokers as Internet Professionals. More than just technology but how you can leverage your most powerful asset, your people-skills, into doing more business on the Internet. Certification coordinated by The National Association of REALTORS®
RECS - Real Estate CyberSpace Specialist This certification is geared to let clients know of your proficiency in serving the public with recognized skills for utilizing CyberSpace marketing programs and for effectively adopting special technology and networking systems. Coordinated by the Real Estate CyberSpace Society
REW - Real Estate Webographer This certification helps real estate agents in determining where they should invest their resources to generate leads, acquire new clients, advertise and facilitate closings and how to develop and maintain an effective business strategy in a web-based environment. Coordinate by the National Institute of Webographers

Here are a few of my favorite past articles from my Lethbridge real estate and mortgage blog you might have missed or wish to recommend them to a friend.

Common Financial Problems - Avoid these financial mistakes
Get Your Credit Score UP - Invaluable insight into your credit score
Mortgage Guidelines Get Tighter - Harder and harder to borrow money
Is Your Mortgage Company Out of Business in 2009? - What to do when your bank goes broke
What is wrong with MLS - Is your info being abused?
Survivor - Real Estate Edition - Let's vote a few more off the island

Robert May is a Realtor, as well as the broker and owner of Rainbow Realty of Lethbridge Alberta. He is also a licensed mortgage associate and financing expert with Canada First Mortgage of Calgary Alberta. He has been in the real estate industry since 1993 and offers full MLS real estate services to Lethbridge and surrounding area, as well as mortgage financing, refinancing/renewals, preapprovals, and home equity financing to Lethbridge and Southern Alberta. He can be found online at www.LethbridgeLoans.com

Let me share my 15 years experience in the local Lethbridge real estate and financing market with you! It is the first step towards making a profitable real estate decision.

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