How to Become a Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) in the US: Full Guide

There are almost 3,000 Certified International Property Specialists in the US, serving a market worth more than 50 billion dollars per year. Foreign buyers purchase around 100,000 US properties per year, which is undoubtedly a considerable number of real estate transactions. Simply put — the need for Certified International Property Specialists has never been greater. Meaning that now is the perfect time to start your journey towards getting an international real estate license. And luckily for you, you’re in just the right place. 

In this article, we’ll discuss all the main things you’ll need to know in order to become a Certified International Property Specialist in the US. 

Let’s start.

What is a Certified International Property Specialist Program?

The Certified International Property Specialist (CIPS) is a learning program for real estate professionals that started all the way back in 1953. The CIPS was developed by the National Association of Realtors in the U.S. as a way to help domestic and foreign real estate professionals grow their businesses internationally. 

The CIPS real estate education program aims to provide realty professionals with the necessary knowledge, connections, and tools to successfully handle international real estate transactions. The CIPS courses are designed to teach students about transactional transactions, building multicultural relationships, tax requirements for cross-border investments (and issues that can arise with it), and so much more. 

Now, before we tell you what you have to do to become a certified international property specialist in the US, let’s first look at some of the main benefits of it. 

Main Benefits of Becoming a Certified International Property Specialist

The main benefits of acquiring a CIPS certification include:

• Various marketing tools (e.g., being listed in the “Find a CIPS” online directory)
• Access to a specialty Global Perspectives newsletter 
• Connections and networking opportunities (including CIPS online communities, exclusive events, meetings, and referrals)
• Personal branding and social proof 

Probably, one of the best benefits of becoming a CIPS is being listed on the “Find a CIPS” online directory. Among other search parameters, clients can find you based on the languages you speak. For example, if you speak Mandarin and put that into your CIPS profile, Chinese clients will be more likely to work with you, as there is no language barrier, making it easier to do business. The same goes for any other language. If you speak it, add it to your CIPS profile and increase your chances of connecting with international clients. 

How to Become a Certified International Property Specialist in the US?

The path to getting a CIPS real estate license is pretty straightforward. It involves completing a series of online or in-person courses. To become a CIPS, you must complete two mandatory and three elective courses successfully. 

The Mandatory CIPS Courses

The mandatory CIPS courses, also called core courses, are: 

Global Real Estate: Local Markets

According to foreign investment in US real estate statistics from 2023, nonresidents purchased more than 53 billion dollars worth of US properties. More than half of those properties, or around 58%, were bought via different types of foreign national mortgage loans. Apart from teaching you the basics, this course will educate you on how to engage foreign clients and discover opportunities for international investors in your local market.  

The Global Real Estate: Local Markets CIPS course will cover different subjects, including:

• The benefits for international buyers purchasing properties in the US
• Leveraging your local real estate market for a global clientele 
• Connecting with foreign clients
• Creating an international presence 

Global Real Estate: Transaction Tools

Focusing on the main concepts and tools you should use to help international clients, this CIPS course will teach you how to research various markets, convert metrics, follow monetary trends, and learn about tax and visa implications that can affect international buyers. Besides that, the Global Real Estate: Transaction Tools CIPS course will cover:

• Best ways to research foreign markets
• How to compile market information and make it accessible to foreign clients
• Issues regarding cross-border transactions, financing issues, and more
• How to find properties that meet the criteria of international clients 

The Elective CIPS Courses

The elective CIPS courses are:

The Americas and International Real Estate

This course aims to help you gain the skills for facilitating international real estate transactions within and between the American continents (North, Central and South). The course will cover different topics, including:

• Social, economic, political, and geographical characteristics of major American countries
• Important factors of major countries on the American continents (e.g., political, economic, social, etc.)
• Different laws and real estate trends 
• Procedures for evaluating investment opportunities across the Americas
• Ways to develop an international business network 
• Best methods to promote markets, realty, and services to foreign clients

Europe and International Real Estate

UK citizens buying property in the US spent around 1,5 billion in 2023. And that’s just a small part of what all Europeans bring to the overall US real estate market, emphasizing this course’s importance. 

After completing this CIPS course, you’ll gain knowledge about:

• Economic, political, and social circumstances of major countries in Europe 
• Real estate markets of major European countries and laws about cross-border real estate investment, business cultures, and more
• Developing a business network and connecting with international clients
• Advertising real estate markets to foreign clients

This course aims to teach you about the cultural, political, and economic situation in Europe and improve your ability to interact with and represent your business or services to international clients from this continent.

Asia/Pacific and International Real Estate

In 2023, Chinese people have bought US property worth more than 13 billion dollars. That same year, Indians buying US property spent around 3,4 billion dollars, confirming the huge potential of this market. This course aims to teach you how to tap into it. Apart from learning about the investment proclivities of the Asia/Pacific region, the course will also cover other major real estate players (besides India and China), including:

• Australia
• Indonesia
• Japan
• Korea
• Philippines

The Asia/Pacific CIPS course will provide the information and skills you need to start working with Asian investors. 

Africa & International Real Estate

This CIPS course aims to educate you about the real estate industry in Africa. You’ll learn about the geography, demographics, economy, types of governments, and real estate markets of 11 different countries. You’ll also be given resources to keep you updated with current real estate trends on this continent.

CIPS Real Estate Exam

If you’re taking the courses online, you’ll have to complete an exam after each course, with a score of at least 80% to pass it. You can apply for the U.S. CIPS application form only after you pass the two mandatory and three elective courses. After completing the CIPS application form, you should send it via email to [email protected]. 

Now, let’s move onto the question at everyone’s lips, which is — how much does getting an international real estate license cost?

CIPS Certification Real Estate: How Much Does It Cost?

Oddly enough, becoming a Certified International Property Specialist is not that expensive. If you take the courses online, each will cost you $149. So, for two mandatory and three elective CIPS courses, your total will come out to:

5 x $149 = $745

Apart from that, there’s also the cost of the CIPS application form and a fixed annual fee. 

• The CIPS application form is $75
• fixed yearly fee of $95

The cost of becoming a Certified International Property Specialist is $820, plus the annual fee of $95, bringing the total to $915.