The Singapore Institute of Surveyors and Valuers (SISV) and Singapore Accredited Estate Agencies Ltd (SAEA) are pleased to announce the launch of the Global Real Estate Specialist (GRES) course in May 2010. This course, which shall be conducted quarterly, is part of a comprehensive program created for the savvy real estate practitioner who intends to make his or her mark in the luxury property markets around the world, in particular, the United Kingdom, United States of America, Australia, New Zealand and Asia which includes China, India and Singapore. The course will provide a global real estate profiling, analysis and successful marketing techniques for luxury property transactions in the various continents.

Both SISV and SAEA take cognizance of the fact that due to globalisation and wealth transfer across geographical territories, active property investments are made in Europe, US and Asia Pacific. As such we seek to equip developers and real estate marketers to do business in the various continents across the globe. The quarterly course runs will culminate in an International Real Estate Congress which will bring together a network of related practitioners in the industry, developers, financial institutions and investors (corporate and individual) from Malaysia, Thailand, Japan Korea, Vietnam, China, India, Australia, New Zealand, USA and UK.

After a 5-day experiential course, a real estate marketer can use the designatory letters, GRES or the GRES mark (as above in red and black) and be recognised as a specialist in the marketing of luxury properties globally. The GRES is recognised by FIABCI (The International Real Estate Federation) Singapore, which is part of the non-profit association worldwide that enjoys special consultative Non-government Organisation (NGO) status at the United Nation and is a federation of 120 professional real estate organizations representing more than 1.5 million professionals and 3300 individual real estate practitioners.

The course curriculum covers global consumer behaviour in the luxury property markets which includes an understanding of how luxury property sellers and buyers make choices of asset acquisition and appointment of estate agent; the world’s luxury property markets - why these are considered “luxury” in relation to real estate for example; the legal & investment fundamentals of marketing global luxury properties as well as the secrets for success in marketing global luxury properties.

Benefits of the GRES are:

• Annual electronic Wealth Report by Knight Frank LLP and Citibank
• Part of an elite group of global luxury property marketers
• Recognised by FIABCI Singapore
• Networking with more than 1.5 million real estate professionals in more than 50 countries
• Presentation of GRES Certificate and plaque in the lnternational Real Estate Congress to be held annually by SISV and SAEA
• Privileged rates to seminars and conferences organised by SISV and SAEA
• Waiver of renewal fees for individual accreditation with SAEA for 2 years (terms and conditions for renewal apply)
• Priority admission to Real Estate Diploma course conducted by SISV (terms and conditions apply)
• Priority admission to Certificate in Real Estate Marketing course conducted by Ngee Ann Polytechnic’s CET Academy (Candidates must have minimum CES or CEHA)

Mr Tan Tiong Cheng, a Fellow of SISV and Chairman of Knight Frank Pte Ltd, is the Honorary Patron of the GRES program. The course leaders* comprise both local and overseas practitioners and currently includes the following eminent real estate/legal veterans:

1. Mr Donald Han, Managing Director, Cushman & Wakefield
2. Mr Patrick Liew, Managing Director, HSR Group
3. Mr Norman Ho, Partner, Rodyk & Davidson LLP
4. Dr Lim Lan Yuan, Chairman of SISV
5. ATMD Bird & Bird LLP

The first course is scheduled on 10-14 May 2010. Please click here to download the registration form.