Effectively representing a seller in today’s market can be a challenging task.  For example, per Les Christie of CNNMoney.com, just days ago a House subcommittee heard testimony from a broad range of industry representatives, including brokers, consumer groups and even government agencies, who clashed like never before over an industry that the executive director of the Consumers Federation of America, Steven Brobeck, characterized as “cockamamie”, “nonsensical” and “ridiculous”.  Words like those don’t exactly build confidence, especially when they come from someone whose sole job is to share the viewpoint of the average American real estate consumer.

Anne-Juliette Bessone, writing a heavily-researched forecast of the American real estate market for INSEE, recently noted that, “Nominal mortgage interest rates have put on more than 80 basis points since June of 2005.”  Her research found that, “A clear sign of imminent leveling-off is the deterioration in housing affordability.  Households are now facing increasing financial constraints.”  Indeed, housing starts dropped 5.3% in July, according to the Commerce Department – a dip larger than most prognosticators expected; while relatively new Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke has assumed his role with vigor, steadily increasing interest rates.  Despite the prospect of a temporary hiatus on such activity, the damage could, in fact, already be done.

Nevertheless, the recent strong surge in agents desiring to sharpen and improve their selling skills continues unabated.  To meet this need, The Seller Agency Council took the six-year old, tried-and-tested Accredited Sellers Representative (ASR®) course, updated the materials and re-released it through the RealtyU® Network of Schools across the country to help engage current market conditions straight on, giving agents an increased level of professionalism, and the knowledge they need in order to represent today’s seller with class, sophistication and skill.  “Now, more than ever, this course is vital,” says Tom Mitchell, Senior Vice President of the Council.

            Agents can now obtain their ASR® designation quickly by taking it online at www.realtyuonline.com According Mitchell, “It’s an incredibly timely learning experience, worth serious consideration by agents who realizes that as the American housing market continues to slow, seller demand for substantive expertise will rapidly increase.  In homeowners’ eyes, education and experience really tip the scales.  They want real-world results, not mediocre marketing magic.