Eileen Knode, a sales associate with Long & Foster® Real Estate, Inc., the largest independent residential real estate company in the United States, Tri-Cities Southpark office, has earned The National Association of Realtors® Military Relocation Professional (MRP) Certification.

“Earning the MRP certification, along with my 17 years of experience of working with active-duty, retired and former military personnel, enables me to serve my military clients to the fullest when they are buying or selling their home,” said Knode.

The National Association of Realtors confers the MRP certification to Realtors who want to help military personnel and veterans find housing solutions that best meet their needs and allow them to take full advantage of their military benefits. When military staff and their families relocate, the services of a real estate professional who understands their needs and timetables can make the transfer easier, faster and less stressful. Realtors who earn this certification know to work with active duty military buyers and sellers, as well as veterans.

“Homeownership is an important part of the fabric of America, and having a stable home environment is vital when men and women of the military are called away to serve their country. Working with a Realtor who understands specific needs and timetables related to military service will help make their transfers easier, faster and less stressful,” said NAR President Steve Brown. “The Military Relocation Professional certification helps Realtors hone their knowledge and skills for working with veterans and active duty military buyers and sellers to ensure that homeownership remains affordable and accessible to them.”

A Realtor since 1997, Knode has been affiliated with Long & Foster’s Tri-Cities Southpark office since 2012 and is a member of Long & Foster’s Director’s Club. Knode also holds the professional designations of Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR), e-Pro and Short Sale, Foreclosure and REO Specialist (SFR).

Knode is a member of the Southside Virginia Association of Realtors. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, she currently resides in Chesterfield, Va., with her spouse.

The MRP certification provides NAR’s members with resources to accommodate current and former Military service members at any stage of their military career, and is an approved elective for NAR’s Accredited Buyers Representative (ABR) designation. To earn the MRP certification, Realtors are required to be in good standing with NAR, complete a one-day MRP certification core course, complete a pre-class readings to learn military background information and better understand important acronyms and military culture, and complete two webinars.

For more information, visit LongandFoster.com.