Frank Mears

In 1987 only a handful of real estate professionals were even familiar with buyer representation; fewer still dared to practice it. Frank was one of the few, working as a buyer’s agent in California. After relocating his business to Augusta, Georgia, he was recruited by Sherman and Hemstreet to train agents in buyer representation. Frank accepted the challenge, developing a training program he called “Buyer Brokerage—Don’t Knock It Until You Have Tried It.” Twenty-six agents went through the program in June, 1993, and they championed buyer representation all through Augusta’s market place.

A year later, in a major breakthrough, the Georgia legislature passed the Brokerage Relationships in Real Estate Transactions Act (BRRETA). (When state lawmakers amended BRRETA in 2000, Frank was instrumental in incorporating the changes into the various forms authorized by the Georgia Association of REALTORS^®.) Frank then became a certified instructor, offering courses throughout the state. After the National Association of REALTORS^® assumed ownership of REBAC, he earned the ABR^® designation, and later the ABRM^sm designation.

Frank became a certified REBAC instructor after Georgia became a REBAC course provider in 2001, and since then more than 1,000 students have attended his designation and elective course sessions. His commitment to buyer representation transcends his service for REBAC, though. He also conducts classes for the Georgia Association of REALTORS^®, teaching buyer representation for their GRI (Graduate, REALTORS^® Institute) program. In addition, Frank is certified to teach all Women’s Council of REALTORS^® courses. Together, his achievements in real estate education earned him Instructor of the Year honors in 2002 from the Georgia Association REALTORS^®.