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Take advantage of SILVAR’s early bird special price and complete all classroom requirements needed to earn the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) designation. The courses will be offered at SILVAR on September 30, October 1, 2, 5 and 6.
SILVAR is offering an early bird special for members and nonmembers through June 1 – $500 for the paper version, which includes a manual for each of the five courses offered, and $450 for the paperless option. After June 1, regular cost of the entire CIPS Institute is $600 for the paper option and $550 for paperless. Cost for an individual course is $175 for hard copy and $150 for paperless. Members may enroll online at ims.silvar.org. Non-members may register by contacting SILVAR Public Affairs & Communications Director Rose Meily at rmeily@silvar.org, or call (408) 200-0109.
The CIPS Institute provides training in international business issues, including currency conversion, cultural awareness, legal and tax requirements, ownership and transaction principles of international real estate, and specifics about the real estate markets in Europe, the Americas, and Asia. The week-long CIPS Institute includes two required core courses and three elective courses. Students must pass a multiple-choice exam at the end of each course.
David Wyant, 2012 and 2009 NAR International Instructor of the Year, will be returning to SILVAR to teach the CIPS Institute. Wyant has taught three previous CIPS Institutes at SILVAR and received excellent reviews.
Upon completing the required five courses and fulfilling other necessary requirements, applicants receive their CIPS designation and will have the opportunity to be recognized at the November 13-16, 2015 NAR REALTORS® Conference and Expo in San Diego.
Limited sponsorships for the CIPS Institute are available. Each sponsor is given the opportunity to speak for 20 minutes about their product or service on an assigned day. For more information, contact SILVAR Public Affairs & Communications Director Rose Meily at rmeily@silvar.org, or call (408) 200-0109.
GBC Chair Mark Wong and YPN Chair Ryan Nunnally with panelists (left to right) Carol MacCorkle, Omar Kinaan, Michael Repka and Kim Connor.
The room at the Silicon Valley Association of REALTORS® was filled to capacity with members attending the Lunar New Year Celebration hosted by the Silicon Valley Young Professionals Network (YPN) and the Global Business Council. The event featured nationally acclaimed feng shui master Y.C. Sun, a catered Chinese lunch, followed by a panel with REALTORS® who have been successful dealing with overseas Chinese buyers.
“Yesterday’s event was a great success!” exclaimed YPN Chair Ryan Nunnally. “No seat went empty. The room was filled with talent, both in the audience and with the established speakers.”
Nunnally and GBC Chair Mark Wong served as moderators for the event. Panelists included Michael Repka, DeLeon Realty, Palo Alto; Omar Kinaan, RE/MAX Distinctive Properties, Menlo Park; Carol MacCorkle, Pacific Union International Real Estate, Menlo Park; and Kim Connor of Intero Real Estate Services, Saratoga. These REALTORS® have had a lot of success capturing the Chinese overseas market, but they said it’s not easy, it takes patience and hard work.
Building relationships and trust is key to working with Chinese buyers. Repka said their company’s interest in China began a few years ago when he and Ken DeLeon traveled to China with their Chinese agent Kim Heng. It was there where they first developed relationships, which blossomed and expanded, leading to numerous transactions. Repka said having Heng, who speaks fluent Chinese and knows the culture, proved very valuable to them.
“You need to speak the language or have someone that does. People are always comfortable in their own language,” said Repka.