RISMEDIA, August 13, 2007–Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, one of the largest providers of residential real estate services in Northern California, has announced it is launching a unique new certification program for Spanish-speaking agents designed to increase customer service levels for the region’s fast-growing Latino community.
The “Casa Specialist” certification is the latest rollout in Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage’s Casa program, a groundbreaking effort to offer specialized and superior resources to Hispanic home buyers and sellers in the Golden State. The company previously appointed two executives to lead Casa’s efforts and recently announced an affiliation with mortgage company Princeton Capital to offer Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage clients access to six in-house Spanish-speaking loan consultants.
Exclusive to Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, the Casa Specialist certification course will be offered on September 20 to the company’s more than 300 Spanish-speaking sales associates, reinforcing the skills necessary to effectively serve the growing Latino market. The program will cover emerging markets as well as an in-depth study of the resources available through Casa, the company’s Hispanic marketing initiative. Since the program’s inception nine months ago, agent participation has increased five-fold.
Latinos make up 21% of the Bay Area population and that rate is expected to grow significantly over the next decade, according to the Bay Area Census.
“The need for Spanish-speaking real estate professionals is at an all time high,” said Joe Brown, president and chief operating officer for Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Silicon Valley and the Monterey Bay Area. “Through this certification course we hope to increase our sales associates’ credentials so they may continue to provide the high level of service and support that our Spanish-speaking clients deserve.”
Todd Mendoza, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage Petaluma office manager and chairman of the company’s Casa initiative, said “The Casa Specialist designation will strengthen the resources the company offers Hispanic clients. We aim to reinforce with our clients that when they choose one of our real estate professionals, they are choosing an individual who is qualified, trustworthy and whose sole purpose is to represent their best interests. It is exciting to see our program take shape and, most importantly, to see our Spanish-speaking clients so grateful for the honest, reliable support they receive by our professional real estate team.”
The Casa Specialist designation is awarded to those Spanish-speaking Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage sales associates who complete an intensive five-hour in-person training, which includes a study of emerging markets and current market conditions, lending education and marketing training.
Spanish-speaking real estate professionals who are interested in learning more about Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage’s Casa initiative or the Casa Specialist certification training, should contact Todd Mendoza at 707.769.4303 or via e-mail at tmendoza@camoves.com.
For more information about working with a bilingual Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage agent, visit CaliforniaMoves.com and click “Agents,” “Languages Spoken.” Clients can search for a sales associate who speaks their native language or may contact an office in their community.
For more information visit www.CaliforniaMoves.com or call 925.275.3085.
