Vicinity Launches Next-Generation Agent Certification to Protect Buyers & Elevate Representation in

ZEPHYRHILLS, Fla. - July 31, 2026 - PRLog -- Vicinity, the modern standard for neighborhood transparency and new-build technology, today announced the graduation of its latest cohort of real estate professionals earning the Certified New Construction Specialist (CNCS) designation.

As new home construction takes up a growing share of the national housing market, traditional real estate workflows are leaving buyers vulnerable to rigid builder contracts, unbundled commission models, and site-rep circumvention. The CNCS program was created to replace passive, "brochure-passing" real estate practices with high-level, independent fiduciary advocacy.

"Buyers in today's market don't need an agent to hand them a printed floor plan flyer they could download on their phones in seconds," said Carla Goddard, Founder & CEO of Vicinity. "They need a technical advocate who understands structural milestones, knows how to negotiate builder flex cash, and actively protects their deposit from fine-print contract traps. The CNCS designation ensures agents step onto the job site as independent experts fighting for the buyer's bottom line."

The intensive, 8-hour curriculum overhauls traditional real estate workflows across three core operational pillars:

1. Navigating Builder Friction & Contract Advocacy: Mastering builder registration policies, decoding preferred lender incentives, and negotiating rigid construction delay clauses without damaging developer relationships.
2. "Dirt to Keys" Milestone Auditing: Guiding buyers through critical build phases—from slab pouring to enforcing independent pre-drywall inspections and conducting rigorous blue-tape walkthroughs before settlement funds are wired.
3. Unfiltered Neighborhood Intelligence: Leveraging Vicinity's data vaults to provide buyers with full transparency on CDD carrying costs, HOA reserves, lot premiums, and future development phasing.

The newest graduating cohort features high-performing leaders from top regional brokerages and national teams, including Gary Wilson's eXp Realty Global Investor Agent Team. Standout graduates include:

• Robin Lawson – Luxury and New Home Specialist (Connecticut)
• Dr. Lisa K. Davis-Watson, DHA, MBA/HCM, BSN, RN – CEO/CHO New Home Specialist (North Carolina)
• Joshua Reed – New Home Specialist (San Antonio, Texas)
• Connie Vaughn – New Home Specialist (Prescott, Arizona)

Following surging market demand for specialized new-build guidance, Vicinity has officially opened registration for its upcoming August CNCS training cohort. Licensed agents, team leads, and brokerage partners looking to elevate their new-construction standards can join the waitlist at tryvicinity.com.

About Vicinity

Vicinity is the modern standard for neighborhood transparency and new construction technology. By integrating elite Agent Partners and Builder Partners into a transparent ecosystem, Vicinity provides unfiltered, lifestyle-first data that buyers, agents, and lenders need to navigate community development with total confidence. Learn more at tryvicinity.com.