Sweeney awarded CCIM Designation

John Sweeney ...
John Sweeney ...

Achievement signifies expertise in commercial real estate through extensive curriculum process

John Sweeney, CCIM, ALC, Broker Associate of Sweeney Real Estate of Waukon, was recently awarded the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) Designation by The CCIM Institute, the leading commercial real estate association in the world. The Designation was awarded in early October at The CCIM Institute’s Annual Governance Meetings held in Houston, TX.

Sweeney was among the 161 commercial real estate professionals who earned the CCIM Designation by passing the CCIM Comprehensive Examination, the final component in the rigorous Designation process. Only about six percent of the estimated 150,000 commercial real estate practitioners nationwide hold the CCIM Designation, which reflects not only the caliber of the program but also why it is one of the most coveted and respected Designations in the industry. Sweeney becomes the only real estate agent within a 65-mile radius of Waukon to hold the CCIM Designation, with the next closest being located in Dubuque.

In addition to his latest CCIM Designation, Sweeney has also achieved Designation as an Accredited Land Consultant (ALC). He has also recently served on the Iowa Real Estate Commission, in addition to various local municipality boards, and remains an active advocate for real estate industry standards.

“Our goals here at Sweeney Real Estate are to go above and beyond to provide the best possible expertise for our clients,” Sweeney shared in reflecting on his pursuit of CCIM Designation. “It is important for the public to be aware that not all agents are properly trained, experienced, and equipped to handle specialty listings like commercial and land transactions.”

The National Association of Realtors® Code of Ethics specifically states that “REALTORS® shall not undertake to provide specialized professional services concerning a type of property or service that is outside their field of competence unless they engage the assistance of one who is competent on such types of property or service.” It is in that realm of codified ethics that Sweeney further sees the importance and necessity of such pursuits as a CCIM Designation in order to provide clients the best possible service.

The CCIM Designation is awarded to commercial real estate professionals upon successful completion of a graduate-level education curriculum and presentation of a portfolio of qualifying experience. The curriculum consisting of 200 classroom hours and professional experiential requirements addresses financial analysis, market analysis, user decision analysis, and investment analysis, the cornerstones of commercial investment real estate. CCIMs are recognized experts in commercial real estate brokerage, leasing, asset management, valuation, and investment analysis.

Currently, there are more than 9,000 Certified Commercial Investment Members in 1,000 markets throughout the United States, Canada, and 30 additional countries around the world. An additional 4,000 practitioners are pursuing the Designation, making The CCIM Institute the governing body of one of the largest commercial real estate networks in the world. Visit www.ccim.com for more information.