“This is a real feather in our cap,” says IEASA national president Dr Willie Marais, “because we are one of the newest and most junior members of ICREA. It is also significant because it means that we are internationally recognised as the representative organisation for estate agents in our country, and because we also represent the continent of Africa in ICREA.” Marais will represent IEASA on the ICREA exco.

The appointment was announced at the recent US National Association of Realtors (NAR) convention in Las Vegas, where IEASA was also praised for the manner in which it conducts its courses for the Certificate of the Residential Specialist designation.

“In fact,” notes Marais, “our CRS model is now going to be rolled out internationally and five of our SA trainers have just attended CRS train-the-trainer sessions in the US. They are Peter Venter, Victor Scherman, Joanne Strydom, Juanita Parsons and Neil McLaggan. ”

At the NAR convention, he says, delegates from around the world also demonstrated a growing interest in SA and the country’s property market. “Hundreds of people flocked to our table during the international meet-and-greet session to ask for information about SA and to discuss opportunities in the local real estate market.

“Their interest was partially sparked by the prospect of the Soccer World Cup in 2010, but there were many others who were keen to explore their perception of a peaceful country with a good economic future.”

Nine IEASA members were also recognised and applauded during the “International Night Out” function at the NAR convention for obtaining the Certificate of the International Property Specialist (CIPS) designation.

The CIPS course was presented for the first time ever in SA during the IEASA 70^th anniversary conference earlier this year, and the effort garnered the Institute yet more recognition – the CIPS Course Sponsor of the Year award.