P. LEONARD JONES

As a membership organization of professional real estate managers the New York Association of Realty Managers (NYARM) has been a strong proponent of uniform educational standards. We believe the best way to eliminate any ethical comportment issues within our profession is through maintaining specific educational criteria and a uniform code of conduct.

Years ago we banded together with then State Senator Donald Halperin in an effort to pass legislation in Albany requiring real estate managers be licensed in the State of New York. That bill passed in the Senate but floundered in the Assembly. In light of all that has happened in our industry in recent years, and as part of our 2000 agenda, NYARM is once again addressing this issue.

Opposition to licensing has come from within the real estate community based mainly on an argument of redundancy and burdensome paperwork. We in the management industry find no redundancy as there is no standard, no requirement in New York State to seek and maintain employment as a real estate manager. It is this kind of professional myopia that perpetuates a double standard within the industry and diminishes the way managers are perceived.

NYARM maintains that all managers should have training in areas of finance, tenant relations, local law compliance, supervisory skills and the physical operations of buildings. This is the fundamental reason why NYARM began its nyarm certification program fourteen years ago in 1986, first with Apartment House Institute, a division of New York City Technical College and now with the Real Estate Institute at New York University's School of Professional and Continuing Studies.

To round out our certification program we present seminars on timely and important topics and speakers at monthly meetings are members of the real estate community who address issues currently affecting the membership.

More than a decade ago NYARM initiated the controversial discussion of licensing real estate managers in New York State. Since then, we have continued to vigorously debate the benefits of licensure in Albany and in the offices and meeting halls of real estate associations and political officials all over the city. We believe that licensing will create a professional standard, and a notice to those working in our profession, that they will be held accountable by law, as well as by morality.

We invite you to join us in this quest. Contact your local elected officials. Explain the need for this legislation and ask them to vote in favor of this bill. It will benefit not only the real estate management profession but the residents and citizenry of New York State.

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