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.

Explore an online directory of CIPS Network members.

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.

View a current list of NAR's Cooperating Associations, President's Liaisons and Ambassador Associations, including contact information.

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 1,500 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 50+ 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.

Eligibility Requirements and Membership Categories
U.S. Members | Non-U.S. Members | REALTOR® Association Executives | Managers of International Practitioners | Franchise Managers | Institutional members

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 by filling out the application form attached and paying annual dues of $220.

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 of $220.

Application for U.S. Practitioners

Download US. Practitioner Application (23K PDF file) >>

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Non-U.S. Members
If you reside outside the US, you are eligible to join the CIPS Network for an annual fee of $150. (Non-US. designees pay $195 annually.) There are no education requirements at this time. Members of NAR Cooperating Associations and others residing permanently outside the US can apply for membership using the application form attached.
Application for Practitioners Residing Outside the U.S.

Download Application for Practitioners Residing Outside the U.S. (22K PDF file) >>

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International REALTOR® Membership is available to non-US real estate practitioners who abide by the Code of Ethics of the National Association of REALTORS® and are members of NAR's Cooperating Association in their country. Annual individual dues are US$75. Learn more, then, to download the International REALTOR® Membership application, complete the attached form.

Download International REALTOR® Membership Application (149K PDF file) >>

Formulario de Membresia en Espanol (147K PDF file) >>

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REALTOR® Association Executives
REALTOR® Association Executives may join at a special rate of $50 annually. Membership keeps you informed of opportunities that will help you provide an important member service of supporting the practice of international real estate in your local market, and includes a listing in Who's Who in International Real Estate. AEs who have earned the CIPS designation pay $95 annually. AEs interested in joining the CIPS Network should launch the US practitioner application and check the AE box. AE designees must complete all requirements as practitioner designees with the exception of proof of transactions. In addition, they must complete the AE CIPS Administration course, generally offered in conjunction with the annual AE Institute.

Managers of International Practitioners
Designation category for managers who directly oversee sales agents involved in international real estate, but who may not personally have any international transaction experience. These individuals must complete the five required CIPS education courses and meet all other elective credit/experience requirements. In place of transactional experience, managers 1) submit documentation that attests to their direct involvement in management of international practitioners and the number of agents; and 2) complete the transaction questions and submit documentation of their agents’ transactions. Additionally, management members must submit three transactions per agent (twelve maximum transactions). Management members receive all Network benefits and must abide by same rules as regular candidates/designees.

Franchise Managers
The category of franchise managers is for individuals who develop or manage offices and/or strategic alliances in other countries. Franchise managers must complete the five mandatory CIPS education courses and meet all other elective credit/experience requirements. In place of transactional experience, franchise managers must describe their involvement and the process they use in setting up offices and/or strategic alliances in other countries. Franchise managers receive all Network benefits and must abide by same rules as regular candidates/designees. Annual membership dues of $220. Annual membership dues of $220.

Institutional Members
Banks, trade associations, service providers, etc. can join as an organization (no individuals) for $500 annually. Institutional members will be listed in the annual Who's Who in International Real Estate which is distributed to our Network members, US and foreign embassies, World Trade Centers, select chambers of commerce, and to NAR's cooperating associations, and multinational corporations around the world. Contact Heidi Henning for more information.

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. For information on membership requirements, see CIPS Membership.

1. Give and get referrals. Along with a complimentary copy of the CIPS Network Membership Directory, designees receive a free expanded personal listing. The directory is distributed to members in more than 50 countries, to counterparts at more than 60 Cooperating Associations, to foreign embassies, World Trade Centers, and to foreign chambers of commerce in the US and abroad. All Network members are included in the print directory. Consumer inquires received by NAR regarding international transactions are directed to the online directory.

2. Take advantage of the CIPS Network:

• Personal contacts in over 50 countries. Your membership directory lists contact information for all of NAR's Cooperating Associations by country.
  
  
• Face-to-face business at the NAR Convention. You can make the most of your trip to the Annual Convention by building relationships with your overseas counterparts. More than 1,200 international delegates attend NAR's Annual Convention each year. One in every 12 registrants is now from outside the US. The International Networking Center offers a small exhibit area, private meeting rooms, beverage breaks, and scheduled, informal networking opportunities from Friday - Monday of the Convention.

• Exclusive Networking Events. Members of the CIPS Network receive invitations to exclusive events at NAR meetings including the International Welcome Reception and the International Night Out. CIPS designees are invited to market their listings at a Property Marketing Session, to which all attendees are invited.

3. Obtain online real estate market information on nearly 100 countries. By visiting the NAR International Information Center you can access to the University of Denver International Real Estate Project Site which houses a collection of real estate market indicators. Just click on "Global Market Information." Information also is available from the Country Profiles section of the CIPS Network web site for approximately 40 countries, most of which NAR has signed a cooperating agreement.

4. Get referrals from the Online CIPS Directory. All CIPS Network members receive a free online listing in the CIPS Directory, available to consumers and practitioners at REALTOR.org and REALTOR.COM. Designees listings are highlighted and also include a bio and photo.

5. Earn prestige and new business with the CIPS designation. A 2001 survey of NAR members found that the CIPS designation "has a postive and statistically significant impact on the earnings." Make plans now to earn your Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation and join an elite group of real estate practitioners.

6. Stay ahead of the pack. Follow trends, get cost-saving tips, receive the latest information, and find out how your membership dues are working, with your FREE subscription to the CIPS Network 16-page quarterly newsletter, Global Perspectives in Real Estate. Members are also encouraged to sign up for a weekly list serve to receive international news updates.

7. News Targeted to Your Interests. Based on country specialization information you provide the CIPS Network, global market news briefs--relevant to your interests--is e-mailed periodically with links to the full story.

8. Get customized research. Consult with professionals at the REALTORS® Information Central at 800-874-6500 or 1-312-329-8200 (outside the US) or e-mail Info Central to acquire information from the largest real estate library in the world.

Designation Application
The CIPS Designation application is available below in a Word document. This application includes a descripton of all requirements. It also is available from NAR International's fax on demand service. In the US and Canada, call 800.354.2831 and request document #402. Outside the US/Canada, call 1.732.544.2851.

For a copy of CIPS Designation Application Form, please download the following file:

Download the CIPS Designation Application (PDF file) >>

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Change of Address
CIPS Network members can update contact information online (you will need your Realtor.org Log-in and password). If you need assistance or would like to make changes via email, please e-mail change of address (including e-mail, web site URL, and other contact or directory record information) to Bethsy Sachs.

Who's Who in International Real Estate Directory Listing
All CIPS Network members are provided a copy of their personal data sheet in conjunction with the fall membership renewal notice. This is the best time to review your complete member profile, including biography for CIPS designees, and make changes for the annual printing of the Who's Who in International Real Estate membership directory. Changes received after December 15 are not guaranteed to be reflected in the subsequent year's directory listing.

Online Directory
The online membership directory is updated weekly. Changes received after Monday of each week will not appear until after the following Monday.


Download the 2008-2009 CIPS Network Directory Order Form (PDF file) >>

Questions?
Email NARGlobe@realtors.org.