Workforce Housing Specialist Certification

Become a Workforce Housing Specialist

Earn the new KCRAR certification of WHS and add some important letters behind your name.
(Anna Agent, WHS)

Housing Opportunity is the biggest issue in real estate today.

Earn the certification that prepares you to help moderate - income working families.

You are in a unique position to participate in effective solutions to help those whose housing needs have been underserved and you’ll simultaneously increase your sales. You can help the people who need it! You’ll learn the latest in financing and neighborhood development programs. You’ll learn how to conduct community educational workshops and implement personal marketing initiatives to increase your visibility and sales with underserved segments of our market.

The next courses for the Workforce Housing Specialist certification are in August!

Part I: Financing (AUGUST 7, 2009 from 9 a.m. to noon). In this segment, you will hear about the latest in the ever-changing world of financing, and you'll hear information presented at a higher level than in the usual "basics of financing" class. Your instructor is one of the original architects of our WHS program, Gary Johnson, CMS, and he teaches this module for the Missouri Association of Realtors®, too. This is also worth 3 hours of elective CE credit in Kansas and Missouri. No charge.

Part II: Marketing (AUGUST 14, 2009 from 9 a.m. to noon). In this segment, you'll learn how to utilize the specially designed website, how to promote and market your new services to the community and ultimately, increase your sales. Attendance is limited to those seeking the WHS designation. Your certification will be in effect for at least two years and you will have reserved seating at special education workshops. FEE: $120. Instructor: Ron Yaffe from the Workforce Housing Committee. No CE credit.

After completing the entire course (Parts I & II), your name as a certified WHS will be listed on the widely-publicized public website through 2010 as a specially trained contact person for showing requests and customer inquiries across the metro area.

Check out our public service website that helps you, too: www.KCHomePrograms.com. Read about special financing programs and get familiar with the website that the National Association of REALTORS® recognized as the Website of the Month … for two months!

You’ll be able to promote your new certification on your business cards, personal website, etc. Recertification after 12/31/10 requires renewal fees of $75 and earning 3 education points from attending various KCRAR-sponsored educational programs where seating is reserved for WHS’s like you.

Join a program with wide acclaim that was started right here at KCRAR. It’s now offered in 5 states and will soon be a National Association of REALTORS® certification!

This is only offered twice per year.

*Workforce Housing Specialist (WHS) is a certification developed by the Kansas City Regional Association of REALTORS® for its members. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by the National Association of REALTORS®.

INFORMATION FOR EXISTING WHS CERTIFICATION HOLDERS

Congratulations! You’re one of the few in our region who is specially trained to help the typical American worker achieve the dream of homeownership.

Your name is listed on www.KCHomePrograms.com and you’re part of a program that has been licensed to several other REALTOR® associations at both state and city levels.

Renewal

Your certification renewal always occurs in even-numbered years.  However, if the upcoming renewal date is less than 2 years since you first received your WHS certification, your renewal will be postponed until the next following even-numbered year. Renewal fees are subject to change, but in the past it has been $40 for an additional two-year term.

In order to renew you must have accrued at least 3 “Education Points” by attending various approved educational programs or engaging in various activities.  Many of these have been approved in the past for a range of 1 to 3 points each.  Examples of approvable activities are as follows:

~Special workshops or KCRAR events of particular interest to WHS’s with preferred seating especially for you.

~Attendance at certain continuing education classes that qualify (i.e. Diversity)

~Participation in ethnic festivals or other community events

~Conducting homebuyer education seminars for the public

Email Jan Pringle, KCRAR Education Director, to discuss any endeavor you feel should merit points.  Jan will present your request to KCRAR’s Workforce Housing Committee.

Newsletter & Special Announcements 

Watch for our WHS Newsletter mailed to you two or three times each year.  Also, take note of email bulletins you may receive notifying you of important information.

Brochure

The housing opportunity brochure that promotes www.KCHomePrograms.com can be downloaded here.

Logo

You are welcome to display the WHS logo on your business cards, website, correspondence, etc. For example: 

Jan Pringle, Workforce Housing Specialist
Jan Pringle, WHS

Click here to download logo.