Alphabet Letters after a person's name seem to bestow some kind of special prestige. PHD, MD, ESQ are common... but just look at what is available to real estate sales people...

ABR, ABRM, ALC, CCIM, CIPS, CPM, ARM, AMO, CRB, CRS, CRE, GAA, GRI, RCE, RAA, SIOR, AHWD ePRO, CAM, CBR, C-CREC, CLHMS, CREA, CRIA, QSC and SRES designations.

Can anyone, anywhere explain just exactly what those 26 acronyms mean and what the qualifications are to earn the use each of them? And if you can ... WHY?

Some of those designations have extensive requirements, including several days or even a full week in a classroom setting, a written examination, a certain number of years in the business and evidence of having closed a required number of transactions in the specialty.

And then there's the real estate equivalent of The Skull & Bones... the CRE designation. Only 1,000 people hold it, the qualifications are secret, and membership is by invitation only. Yipes... are they licensed to kill?

Oh yes, let's not forget the QSC designation. That one requires a live or online course, a 40-question multiple choice quiz, a signed commitment to quality statement and participation in a perpetual customer survey program that costs $50 for every 20 surveys.

RE/MAX International has a designation for RE/MAX sales agents. This one is the "internationally recognized CNHS designation." Translated that stands for "Certified New Home Specialist."

Since its international you can sell homes in Transylvania where you don't have to disclose that the previous owner was a vampire?

The Women's Council of Realtors awards the LTG designation. Please excuse me, but I can't figure that one out since I have just been stricken with a severe case of dyslexia

What I really want is an agent who can find a buyer and properly fill out a purchase agreement. No alphabet required.

How about just finding and assigning properties without cash, credit or much risk? Sounds good?

Learn how here: http://digbig.com/4cmxe

Mark Walters is a third generation real estate investor. From his Web sites he shares his experince: www.cashflowinstitute.com & www.lease-option-sub2.com