Additional Information about Chris
Designations and Certifications
Chris W Bernard, Earth Advantage Broker + ADU (accessory dwelling unit) Specialist
Earth Advantage is a Portland, Oregon based nonprofit whose mission is to accelerate the adoption of high performance and sustainable residential building practices. They take a three pronged approach: maintaining well-above-code building standards, providing green home data to the real estate market, and providing training to key professionals.
To learn more about Earth Advantage, you can check out their websites:
https://www.earthadvantage.org/about-us/overview.html
https://us.greenbuildingregistry.com
https://www.safe-sustainable.org
Chris W Bernard, NAR
Chris W Bernard, founder and owner of the Bernard Real Estate Group, has been awarded the National Association of REALTORS®’ [NAR’s] Green Designation, the only green real estate professional designation recognized by NAR.
Bernard achieved this prestigious designation after completing topic-specific coursework designed specifically for REALTORS®. The designation courses were created in collaboration with a multidisciplinary team of industry experts from across the country, ensuring designees gain comprehensive knowledge of high-performance properties and resource efficiency issues in relation to real estate and homeowners.
More specifically, Bernard was trained in understanding what makes a property green, helping clients evaluate the cost/benefits of resource-efficient features and practices, distinguishing between industry rating and classification systems, listing and marketing green homes and buildings, discussing the financial grants and incentives available to homeowners, and understanding how buyer and seller preferences may be inspired by resource-efficiency.
“Living green is about making healthy choices that are also easy on your wallet. NAR Green Designees have the necessary resources and relationships to effectively work with you to find your next home or assess your next green project,” said Marc Gould, Senior Vice President of NAR’s Member Development group. NAR’s Green Designation was developed in response to growing consumer awareness of the benefits of resource-efficient homes and buildings. The designation helps consumers understand the positive impact of home performance and identify REALTORS® who can help them realize their green real estate and lifestyle goals.
As a NAR Green Designee, Bernard has gained the knowledge and the tools necessary to become a trusted green resource for Central Oregon. For more information about Chris W Bernard, please visit www.BernardRealEstateGroup.com or email chrisbernard@bendcable.com.
Chris W Bernard, e-PRO®
Chris W Bernard, founder and owner of the Bernard Real Estate Group, has successfully completed NAR’s e-PROÆ Certification Program and has been awarded the e-PRO® certification, the official technology certification program offered by the National Association of REALTORS®.
Chris W Bernard joins nearly 40,000 real estate professionals who have earned NAR’s e-PRO® certification and dedicated their time and effort towards learning how to use the latest social media technologies to create an online presence and reach today’s hyper-connected consumers.
NAR redesigned the e-PRO® curriculum better to meet the challenges of today’s real estate market. The new e-PRO® program has been expanded to include data security and strategies for safeguarding clients’ private information.
Social media is evolving every day, so it is vital that REALTORS® embrace the new technology and online resources that have become an integral part of the home buying and selling process. Agents who earn the e-PROÆ certification are dedicated to making the most of today’s social media and technology to help consumers with their real estate needs, whatever they may be.
Chris W Bernard, GRI
Chris W Bernard, founder and owner of the Bernard Real Estate Group, the “Graduate, REALTOR® Institute” (GRI) Designation by attending a minimum of 60 hours of classroom instruction, covering a variety of subjects, including contract law, professional standards, sales and marketing, finance, and risk reduction.
In addition, they have learned the fundamentals of brokerage and other areas of real estate specialization. With this designation and through increased awareness of current topics important to the real estate professional, such as legal issues, these REALTORS® can better serve prospective clients and customers.
The GRI designation sets the individuals who have attained it apart from other practitioners because it indicates to the public that the individual has obtained a professional educational foundation on which to base the services they provide and that they are a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®.
Obtaining the GRI designation is a beneficial way for a REALTOR® to advance their professional image. The extra measure of knowledge and prestige achieved by completing this coursework is a tool that will advance a career in real estate by attracting and building a new business.