One of the ways I’ve worked to set myself apart from other real estate licensees is through continuing education.
In Texas, a real estate license only requires 18 hours of continuing education every two years, and most agents stop there. I haven’t.
Education matters to us at Uncommon Realty. Sharpening our skills directly benefits my clients, and that’s why I keep adding to the list below.
Below is a running list of the advanced education, certifications, and designations I’ve earned. It doesn’t capture everything, just what’s been formally recognized.
The Texas Buyer Specialists Certification (TBS) is an intensive 2-day program focused on buyer representation for Texas real estate professionals. I wrote this course and teach it to REALTORS® around the country.
The Texas Listing Specialists Certification (TLS) is an intensive 2-day program focused on listing and seller representation. I wrote this course too, and teach it nationally.
The Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR®) designation is for agents who focus on working directly with buyer-clients at every stage of the home-buying process. I teach this certification course to REALTORS® nationally as well.
At Home With Diversity (AHWD) is an NAR certification designed to prepare agents to work effectively with an increasingly diverse pool of homebuyers. Since 1998, the program has trained more than 20,000 REALTORS® nationwide.
The Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager (CRB) designation is awarded to REALTORS® who complete advanced business-management education. I held this designation for a period but have chosen not to renew it.
This program covers digital marketing theory and how to convert online prospects into clients. I teach this course to REALTORS® nationally as well.
The GRI designation covers in-depth training in legal and regulatory issues, technology, professional standards, and the sales process. Fewer than 10% of Texas REALTORS® and fewer than 7% nationwide have earned it.
NAR’s Military Relocation Professional certification focuses on working with current and former military service members to find housing that takes full advantage of their benefits.
The Pricing Strategy Advisor certification covers selecting appropriate comparables, making accurate adjustments, and guiding clients through comparative market analysis and pricing. I teach this course to REALTORS® nationally as well.
The RENE certification is focused on sharpening negotiation skills and gives REALTORS® tools to be more effective advocates for their clients.
This certification deepened my ability to use the REALTORS® Property Resource platform for accurate comparative market analysis, the same appraiser-style approach I use with every client, whether I’m representing a buyer or a seller.
The SFR® certification trains agents to work with distressed sellers, qualifying sellers for short sales, building a short-sale package, negotiating with lenders, and protecting buyers throughout the process.
The Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) designation is a premier credential in seller representation, awarded by the Real Estate Business Institute (REBI) to practitioners meeting specific education and experience criteria. I teach this course to REALTORS® nationally as well.
The Texas Affordable Housing Specialist certification trains Texas REALTORS® on state programs that support sustainable homeownership, and how to help at-risk homeowners manage short sales and foreclosures.
I’m a Preferred REALTOR® with the Texas Veterans Land Board. The Texas Legislature created the VLB in 1946 to support returning veterans with land loans, and it’s funded more than 200,000 loans for Texas veterans since.
Why I Keep Investing in Education
Most agents hit the state’s 18-hour continuing-education minimum and stop. I don’t, and there’s a practical reason why: the agents who consistently get their clients the best outcomes are the ones who keep learning, not the ones who got lucky on a few deals.
I’m Robbie English, Designated REALTOR® and Broker at Uncommon Realty. I’ve spent decades in real estate, and I teach agents across the country how to handle the parts of a transaction that trip most people up: contract nuances, negotiation, pricing. If other agents trust me to teach them, that’s the same standard I bring to representing you.
That education shows up in how I negotiate a contract, explain a disclosure, or catch something in a deal that could cost you later. It’s also why I approach comparative market analysis the way an appraiser would rather than relying on a flat price-per-square-foot number, a habit I picked up early and still teach today.
At Uncommon Realty, we don’t take a one-size-fits-all approach. Every client’s situation is different, and staying current on contracts, market shifts, and negotiation strategy is what lets my team and I adjust to that instead of running a script.
If you’re deciding who to work with, this is the case for me: I’ve built my practice around continuing to learn the parts of this business most agents stop learning after they get licensed, and I put that directly to work for my clients.
Ready to Put That to Work for You?
Whether we’re planning to get your home sold or working through a competitive offer, I bring what I’ve learned from teaching thousands of agents nationally directly into how I represent you.
Let’s talk about what you’re working toward.
