Investigator/Auditor Resources

ARELLO is proud to offer a variety of programs and resources for real estate investigators.

Basic Course for Investigators/Auditors

ARELLO has developed an introductory course on real estate investigations and audits that is designed to be taken as a self-study with help from one's investigative supervisor. The course covers the following topics:

• Law and Practice
• Professional Responsibility
• Complaint Processing
• Report Writing
• The Legal Process
• Trust Account Examinations
• Local Jurisdiction
• Investigative Techniques

The Investigator Manual for use in completing this course is available free of charge to all ARELLO members. You can find the Investigator Manual in the Members Only area under Guides and Training (login required). If you don't have an ARELLO account, contact your executive director or agency administrator.

Certified Real Estate Investigator Designation: CREI

Any extra credential an investigator may have can assist in gaining credibility during the investigative and hearing process. ARELLO has created a respected designation that individuals earn to recognize their experience and expertise with investigations and audits.

Completion of ARELLO's basic course and attendance at at least one advanced workshop are two of the requirements. Each applicant must also have completed a specified number of investigations and been an investigator for a set period of time. Access instructions on how to obtain the CREI designation.

ARELLO also has the Senior Certified Real Estate Investigator (SCREI) designation available. To learn more about it, please access these instructions.

Investigator of the Year Award

Each year ARELLO recognizes an investigator or auditor with the Investigator of the Year award. Besides the honor of this international recognition, the recipient receives complimentary registration to the annual Investigator Workshop and up to US$2,000 in hotel and travel expenses.

The Investigator Resource Committee may select as "Investigator of the Year" one auditor or investigator who is currently serving an ARELLO Member Jurisdiction based on these guidelines:

The Chair of the Investigator Resource Committee shall appoint an awards subcommittee consisting of at least three members of the Committee, which will serve for one year. The subcommittee will review submissions for the award and will make the final determination as to who may receive the award based on the criteria established herein. The award may be presented at the Annual Conference or at any other ARELLO conference the subcommittee and the Chair may select.

Submission for the award will be evaluated on the basis of the following criteria:

1. Audit/Investigative Techniques
2. Innovation
3. Use of Resources
4. Jurisdictional Violations Discovered
5. Complexity of Case
6. Documentation of Evidence
7. Interview Skills
8. Creativity
9. Report Writing Skills

An award selected by the Chief Executive Officer shall be presented to the honoree and a certificate to the "runner up" if the subcommittee designates such in any given year.

The winner will receive a free registration to the Investigator Workshop and up to US$2,000.00 toward hotel and travel expenses.

Contact ARELLO for further details.