The International Consortium of  Real Estate Associations (ICREA) accepted the Central Federation of Finnish Real Estate Agencies KVKL as its new affiliated organization at its general meeting held in Orlando, USA.  The membership will be effective as of 1. January 2009.

“In addition to CEPI-membership, this is a highly important decision for us. ICREA will give us access to a forum, which can benefit Finnish professionals. We wish to bring the views and input of the Finnish real  estate professionals to the attention of global players and customers”, says Mr Jukka Malila, CEO of the Central Federation of Finnish Real Estate Agencies KVKL.

As of January 2009, the Central Federation of Finnish Real Estate Agencies KVKL will assume the position in ICREA previously held by the Finnish Association of Real Estate Agents SKVL. When SKVL last spring joined the newly established Central Federation of Finnish Real Estate Agencies, KVKL,  it was agreed that the Central Federation will assume responsibility for advocating the interests of the entire Finnish real estate brokerage sector on a broad front. One of its new duties is international activities. Organized under the auspices of the new Federation, international activities will benefit all members of the Federation that currently account for 75% of Finnish real estate agencies. Other members of KVKL are: Realia Group (representing Huoneistokeskus Oy and SKV), Kiinteistömaailma Oy and OP-Pohjola Group Central Cooperative (OPKK).

Key facts of ICREA

ICREA is a Consortium of the world’s leading real estate associations,  who believe in the right to own and transfer real property. The Associations want’s to set standards for international real estate practice and transactions for the benefit of the industry professionals and the public they serve.
In November 2000, 24 real estate associations signed a letter of commitment to the Consortium. After nearly two years of laying the foundation, 23 associations signed the formal agreement on May 13, 2001 in Washington, DC, officially launching the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations (ICREA). Since then, membership has continued to expand year by year.
The idea of ICREA is following: Real estate professionals around the world are looking for ways to better serve their clients and customers who wish to buy property outside their country and/or who are seeking to sell a property with worldwide appeal. Until now, obstacles to providing these services included a lack of readily available information on foreign markets, the absence of international real estate norms and standards, uncertainties associated with foreign market practices/legal systems, and the absence of an efficient international referral network that assures payment of earned fees and commissions.
The tangible value for both global and domestic practitioners includes:

1. 1.The availability of an Internet-based menu of services including immediate access to current industry business practices, global industry news, a real property advertising system, and more.
2. A set of international standards for professional ethics, best practices, and data transfer.
3. 3.Networking and referral tools including a roster of member association constituents and transnational referral system that includes an arbitration system in the event of a dispute.
4. 4.Advocacy role to protect and promote private property rights and best practices worldwide.

Individual practitioners receive these benefits by virtue of their respective association’s membership in ICREA. There is no option for individual practitioner or company membership.
For more details of ICREA, visit  also ICREA’s website: www.worldproperties.com

For more details of KVKL, please contact:
The Central Federation of Finnish Real Estate Agencies KVKL
Jukka Malila
CEO

tel.: +358-50-5112100
e-mail: jukka.malilvkl.fi
www.kvkl.fi