I know a local agent who puts up a sign rider that say "AREA EXPERT" on every listing he has. It is to laugh!

There are no experts.

Experts.  Celebrities.  People self-identify as a lot of things.  I pay little attention.  Meanwhile, stuff continues to happen.  Sometimes en masse.  

Expert: a person who has a comprehensive and authoritative knowledge of or skill in a particular area.

California is a big area. Arizona is a big area.

Be careful calling yourself an expert. If you mess up and someone relies on your expertise and is damaged, that's a problem.

Hello Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets perhaps in a small city a real estate agent can claim to be expert. It is imposable for any real estate agent to be expert in all California.

Our previous RE Commissioner was very clear for years in her advice to agents - Do NOT work outside your area of expertise.

I prefer hard working agent.

Expert, a term that can mean many things to many people, and be difficult to prove.

Most people look at these claims as mere puffery.

Whatchoo talkin' 'bout Willis?!

I do not worry about these promotions by others.

People do so many things that are not right but nobody holds them accountable and it gains business for them so they continue to do it.  I feel that if people were actually held accountable for their actions then perhaps it would stop.  Too many damn rules in the world, so many that aren't enforced so most people just ignore the rules, it is very sad.

I've lived in North Carolina my entire adult life. NC is 53,000 square miles. There is no way I could ever claim to be an expert throughout all 53,000 sq mi, Thomas!

Absolutely not!  Although I recently met someone who claimed to sell all OVER California, she had the rest covered too.  LOL A

I never market myself as the "expert", but I do market myself as "native" to Lake Sinclair.  I've lived here my entire life and have 7 generations buried in a local cemetery.  My family has worked and farmed in this area since the late 17th century.  I would venture to say I know a lot about a lot of local things, but I also still learn new things about this place and real estate almost every day.  Oh my my "I will work there territory" is about 1000 sq miles and I don't like all of that.

Anybody can claim to be anything they want, I guess. Whether they are or not will show up in the pudding, you know what I mean?

I would say I specialize in an area.  That is about as far as I go.

Expert No! You can be knowledgeable about certain areas but not an expert. 

You may be good at what you do, but just like the medical experts with Covid, watch what you say and do!

I prefer the word "specialize", whether it be an area or niche.

Many agents paid for and took a CDPE course, then claimed to be a Certified Distress Property Expert, yet almost none of those agents had ever handled a short sale. I also see agents using "Neighborhood Expert" sign riders, yet they have never lived in, had a listing in, or represented a buyer in the neighborhood where they claim to be an expert in. I think it's a mistake to claim to be an expert.

That is a slippery slope Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets.

I have been beating that drum (buyer-beware) for many years. There are far too many self-professed "experts" and "gurus" coaches, trainers, the list goes on and on.  

Many of my clients refer to me as an expert in my niche - that is a moniker I choose not to wear. 

When I think of the term "expert" I think of expert witnesses called at a trial. Let's face it, even they are only expressing their professional opinion, and rarely do two experts express the same expert opinion. 

To answer your question, sounds more like an expert in self-puffery. 

I think I have seen this person's blog on AR, and wondered how they could be an expert for such a expansive area.    Leaves yourself too open in my opinion.

One can be an expert and that skill or learned activity transfers nicely in many categories. Things like negotiations, document prep, quick-close etc. As to areas, I have to agree with you. I am licensed to practice anywhere in California, but I don't know nooks & crannies, pockets etc. throughout the state

yes but your example gives a good reason that you shouldn't say Southern California with 56,000 sq miles.

Total puffery but it is done all the time. I prefer to keep it down to a smaller area like one town.

Sadly, the Real Estate & Mortgage Industries are notorious for "clever" (in many cases "deceptive") claims disguised as marketing.   

For example, an historically low producing Real Estate Agent who has one big month (maybe the month they closed 2 deals when they helped their sister sell/buy). This Agent gets an award at their monthly staff meeting, then advertises as the "Top Salesperson" for the next 2 years despite not doing any other sales.

To be fair, let's beat up on Mortgage Professionals for a moment.  Sadly, there is no set bar on when a Loan Officer gets "promoted" to Senior Loan Officer. I've always thought it was hilarious when someone who has worked in the mortgage industry for less than 1 year is suddenly a "Senior" LO.

With all the above in mind, someone calling themselves a "geographical Expert" hardly surprises me. When we see a non-qualified over-optimistic colleague boast these credentials, it is just another reason for us to quietly roll our eyes, smirk, and move on with our lives. 

The legal definition of an expert, for expert witness purposes, is "One who has a greater knowledge on a topic than the common man."  For that, I would say "Yes, I am an expert."  An expert in my area, an expert in many fields.  I wouldn't say all of so-cal, but I would say Ventura and LA County from the 405 west and into Santa Clarita Valley.  I've been too long out of Palmdale and Lancaster to hang my expert hat there.

The key word in that sentence is "claim" - anyone can claim anything, as we have seen in many different situations... the truth may be very different.

I agree.  One can be an expert in certain classes of properties, communities or services (probate, estate sales, Special financing programs, etc.) but otherwise being an expert in areas of those sizes you mentioned is pure BS.

You can claim anything you want but that doesn't make it true.

Not an expert, instead a real estate professional. Now, I am an expert on recognizing BS when I see it!

We see crazy things all the time. I wouldn't want to be called on as an expert for the entire state. Who has time for that?

Luckily, in my province, no one in Real Estate is permitted to use the title of Expert.  It is a fineable offense. 

RTZ would have you believe those real estate giants know more about your state, communities, the local area listings, banking, any buyer / seller services. They  profess to be the local experts. And for a fee, you can be knighted local expert to piggy back on the smoke and mirrors. Have your work precede the applying the title of local expert and draw the line of how far out your local sphere of expertise really extends. The buyer or seller will decide if you truly are the local expert or not... not you Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets .

I claim to be an expert in my neighborhood.  That is only because I serve on the board, know every street, every utility, all the things being built around us, etc.