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(Chicago, Aug. 15,  2008) – The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM®) announced today that the Real Estate Buyer’s Agent Council, REBAC,  has signed on as a sponsor of IREM’s current, year-long 75th Anniversary celebration.  An affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS®, REBAC was founded in 1988 to promote superior buyer representation skills and services.

In announcing REBAC’s sponsorship, IREM President Regina T. Mullins, CPM®, said: “We have great respect for REBAC, sharing a commitment to provide our respective members with professional development and networking opportunities as well as industry resources and information of the highest caliber. We are very pleased to welcome REBAC as one of our anniversary partners.”
 
MORE ABOUT REBAC
An affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS® since 1996, REBAC’s membership now numbers well over 50,000 and is the world’s largest organization of real estate professionals concentrating on buyer representation.  Members who meet all course and professional experiential requirements are awarded the ABR® (Accredited Buyer Representative) and/or ABRMSM (Accredited Buyer 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 ABRMSM designation, on the other hand, is intended for owners, brokers and managers who have or intend to incorporate buyer representation into their company’s 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.

ABOUT THE INSTITUTE OF REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT
The Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM®) is celebrating its 75th anniversary in 2008. For more than seven decades, IREM has been the source for education, resources, information, and membership for real estate management professionals.

An affiliate of the National Association of Realtors®, IREM is the only professional real estate management association serving both the multi-family and commercial real estate sectors. With 80 U.S. chapters, eight international chapters, and several other partnerships around the globe, IREM is an international organization that also serves as an advocate on issues affecting the real estate management industry.

Membership includes more than 18,000 individual members and 500 corporate members. IREM promotes ethical real estate management practices through its credentialed membership programs, including the Certified Property Manager^® (CPM^®) designation, the Accredited Residential Manager^® (ARM^®) certification, the Accredited Commercial Manager certification, and the Accredited Management Organization^® (AMO^®) accreditation. These esteemed credentials certify competence and professionalism for those engaged in real estate management. In addition, IREM offers Associate, Student and Academic memberships.

Collectively, IREM CPM® Members in the United States manage over $1.5 trillion in real estate assets, including 8.4 million residential units and 8.4 billion net square feet of commercial space. An additional 977,400 residential units are managed by IREM ARM® Members. IREM Members are employed by some of the most prestigious real estate firms in the world and nearly 70% hold upper-level management positions. Due to their professionalism and vast experience, property owners and investors worldwide continually seek out the management services of IREM Members.

To learn more about the Institute of Real Estate Management and its chapter network, call (800) 837-0706, Ext. 4650 (outside the U.S. call (312) 329-6000) or visit www.irem.org.