In photo: Anthony Gerard Leuterio, president of A Better Real Estate Philippines (ABREP)
In anticipation of a strong surge of the real estate economy in a post pandemic era, the Accredited Real Estate Salespersons in the Philippines (ACRES Philippines) has been formed to widen their opportunities in helping the thriving industry as a centerpiece of growth.
Conceived in 2020 and formally registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 15, 2021, the group has envisioned itself to be the voice of the salespersons in the real estate service.
As one collective body, ACRES’ mission is to enable and empower licensed practitioners to become highly ethical and knowledgeable professionals in their real estate practice.
The organization also aims to lead in raising the bar and level the playing field in real estate selling and at the same time help accelerate the growth of the real estate industry amid today’s challenges and uncertainties.
According to Anthony Gerard Leuterio, president of A Better Real Estate Philippines (ABREP), the mother organization of ACRES, the establishment of this new organization is critical in that salespersons are the frontlines thus, the lifeblood and significant contributor of the real estate development sales. They also comprise the biggest number of professionals in the real estate service.
First in history
Leuterio added that the birth of ACRES is the first in the industry as most real estate-related organizations in the country are mostly for brokers and other real estate service professionals outside of the sales and marketing service.
“It is high time that our real estate salesforce need to be represented and for both industry practitioners (salesperson and brokers) to work together and be united in helping the industry reap better results at post-pandemic,” he said, noting that the real estate too, went through a tumultuous performance since the pandemic happened in 2020, taking a heavy toll on the different sides of the economy that ensued a dampened outlook of the industry even until today.
ACRES’ formation will also help the country craft better policies and legislations to further accelerate the growth of the industry. It will serve as a catalyst to change real estate laws that are now deemed irrelevant and untimely; and represent the industry practitioners in pushing for better and all-inclusive agenda that capture more opportunities for the sector.
Fight against colorum sellers
Likewise, the group will serve as a watchdog against sale of anomalous properties, unscrupulous developers, and persons that misrepresent projects or land holdings of dubious nature.
“The creation of this organization will help police the industry against the proliferation of illegal practitioners or the colorum salespersons,” said Leuterio.
ACRES will also elect officers per city across the country. Once organized, salespersons will now have a group to run into should they encounter real estate-related problems.
Leuterio said they target 20,000 to 50,000 salespersons to become members of the new organization but they must be registered with the Professional Regulation Commission (PRC).