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AR-India Vice Chair Tarun Bhatia and Global Ambassador to India, Thailand and Myanmar Ayres DCunha with others at the 2024 NAR NXT, The REALTOR Experience.

    Approximately 74 members of the National Association of Realtors (NAR)-India association completed a live Zoom course for Certified Residential Specialists (CRS) designation last week. This achievement marks a significant milestone in the country's real estate industry, allowing Indian practitioners to do business with CRS peers worldwide.

    The course was offered through NAR's affiliate, the Residential Real Estate Council, and was made possible by NAR-India's partnership with the National Association of Realtors. Ayres DCunha, an eXp Realty associate broker in Long Island, NY, played a crucial role in making this opportunity a reality. As NAR Global Ambassador to India, Thailand, and Myanmar, DCunha has been instrumental in driving educational initiatives that promote real estate professionalism globally.

    NAR-India Vice Chairman Tarun Bhatia, partner at Shaloo Agencies, completed the inaugural CRS course and praised its success. The live sessions were held twice a week for four weeks, with an exam on August 26. Bhatia emphasized the importance of continuous learning, stating that "learning never ends" and that opportunities like this should be seized.

    The CRS course teaches business planning, marketing, negotiation, and client relationships, with instructors trained in country-specific nuances such as language and culture. The course content was well-received by participants, who appreciated the instructor's expertise and understanding of the Indian real estate sector.

    With thousands of CRS designees across more than 30 countries, this designation is widely recognized as the gold standard in residential real estate. Ayres DCunha highlighted the benefits of earning a CRS designation, stating that it opens doors to a global network of Certified Residential Specialists, creating seamless connections with fellow professionals worldwide.

    The partnership between NAR-India and the National Association of Realtors has created a win-win business opportunity for both Indian and American practitioners. India is a significant market for foreign buyers, with $2.2 billion invested in U.S. residential real estate between April 2024 and March 2025. Referrals from past clients remain the top originator of new business for foreign residential buyers, emphasizing the benefit for U.S. agents and brokers to expand their networks globally.

    On the flip side, there's also opportunity for people in America looking to invest in India. NAR-India is a burgeoning trade association with 3,800 direct members and 50,000 associate members across 35 cities, and its partnership with NAR continues to strengthen. The association recently won the bid to host the 2026 International Real Estate Conference in Hyderabad, solidifying its position as a key player in the global real estate industry.