As someone that is new to virtual assistance I am definitely looking into different trainings and certifications. My focus is a little bit more on finding a niche rather than say general office training. My question here is- has anyone heard of IREAA, the virtual real estate assistant program? I don't have any real estate experience but would love to break into it. If anyone has any suggestions here I would really appreciate it :-).
Thanks

I've not heard of IREAA. But if you go check out revanetwork.com you might be able to find out from them. They are the most well known real estate VA network that I know of and they're sure to know about it or any other course for RE VAs.

Good morning ladies,

Well, I'm surprised you haven't heard of IREAA Kathie! IREAA stands for the International Real Estate Assistants Association and I'm one of the co-founders, along with my partners Kim Hughes and Anna Baron. IREAA was previously known as CyberStarsVA and began in 2003 in order to provide unity, education and collaboration opportunities to virtual assistants that provide services to the real estate industry.

I am a BIG fan of the REVANetwork that Kathie mentioned and in fact, it's where I received my very first exposure to the possibility of the real estate niche for my VA business. Unfortunately, it hasn't been active for quite some time. A forum still exists but posts have been extremely sporatic over the last year or two.

If you are indeed interested in pursuing the real estate industry as your VA niche, I would recommend that you join our group (not just because I'm a co-founder!) rather than jumping into training immediately, and begin conversing with other members in our member-only and very active Yahoo! Group. Here you'll find VA's at every stage of their business from utter newbie, to a group of the very first VA's that catered their services to real estate professionals. Ask questions and read back posts to determine if real estate would indeed be a great niche for you and your business. IREAA membership is $75.00 for the first year $65.00 per year thereafter.

If you have specific questions now, I'd be happy to answer them!

Cheers,
Pam Ivey

Thanks Pam! I was impressed with the way the site was set up and all the information it had- I just get a little cautious with all of the trainings and certifications out there- sometimes it's hard to know who's legite. I really appreciate your feed back though and will definitely try out the forums:-)
Jen

Jen~

I'm a member of IREAA and have been for a over a year or so, and I whole-heartedly recommend joining, for the classes, and vendor training. When I became a Real Estate VA 5 years ago the women that have shaped the industry are carrying on that tradition as founders with the IREAA!

I say go for it! And Pam....I'm not just sayin it...You ROCK!

Laura Monroe, PREVA

Awwww...ain't you a sweetie Miss Laura.

Laura is an awesome VA and has done a ton for the industry herself. She is very active in the ActiveRain community, a large, well-managed and utilized real estate industry forum, and is working hard to educate the profession on the benefits of working with a virtual assistant - and doing a mighty fine job of it I might add!

Cheers Laura!
Pam

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Pam Ivey, Cert SBM,PREA,PREVA,CRESS,CMP
Virtual Assistant Training Academy: Training for Virtual Business Success!

Originally Posted by CreativeAgentVA

Jen~ I'm a member of IREAA and have been for a over a year or so, and I whole-heartedly recommend joining, for the classes, and vendor training. When I became a Real Estate VA 5 years ago the women that have shaped the industry are carrying on that tradition as founders with the IREAA! I say go for it! And Pam....I'm not just sayin it...You ROCK! Laura Monroe, PREVA

I totally agree! I started as a real estate VA long before I joined IREAA last spring, but I am slow glad I did. The vendor trainings have been so tremendously valuable to me and my business and I've been able to expand my services available to my clients. And the members are so supportive to eachother when it comes to questions situations we encouter as REVAs or real estate specific software. Someone always has an answer!

That and the gals at IREAA are such a fun group of people! I had the pleasure of meeting the founders and large group of members in the fall at the NAR convention and we had a blast!

Pam, I think you ROCK too! (And so does Anna & Kim!)

Megan Barber

Originally Posted by PamIvey

Good morning ladies, Well, I'm surprised you haven't heard of IREAA Kathie! IREAA stands for the International Real Estate Assistants Association and I'm one of the co-founders, along with my partners Kim Hughes and Anna Baron. IREAA was previously known as CyberStarsVA and began in 2003 in order to provide unity, education and collaboration opportunities to virtual assistants that provide services to the real estate industry. Cheers, Pam Ivey

Hi Pam, perhaps it just hasn't been mentioned on the forums I belong to. Certainly haven't seen any mention of it in Australia. The RE industry really hasn't picked up for VAs in Australia at all - I recently did a small job for a local realtor as his staff were too busy and it is only because he knows me personally that he came to me. I don't know if the system is different in Australia or what it is but most realtors work in large shop front offices with admin staff so I don't know that they have need for VAs.

Now that I have heard of IREAA I daresay it will pop up in other places too - that's how it seems to work!

Megan, you are a doll! Thanks for the kudos. I think you are pretty kewl yourself. Meeting you in Vegas was awesome!

It is such a supportive group of ladies and gents. I am very proud of our association!

Kathie, I am glad you have heard of us now. I am quite sure you see the name around now too! LOL

Cheers,
Pam

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Pam Ivey, Cert SBM,PREA,PREVA,CRESS,CMP
Virtual Assistant Training Academy: Training for Virtual Business Success!

I've joined an am looking foward to the Vendor training, which I think is unique as compared to some of the other VA organizations.

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Tamika R. Johnson, MBA, Principal
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