2008 USPAP Courses Now Available!

Great News! Allied Real Estate School has received approval for the 2008 15-Hour National USPAP Course and 7-Hour National USPAP Course in the following states. Call or go online to enroll and fulfill your appraisal education requirements today.

15-Hour National USPAP Course
California -- approval # 05828009
Indiana
Iowa
Maine
Maryland
Delaware
Illinois -- approval # 573.0000403
Mississippi -- approval # 7191
Oregon
South Dakota -- approval # SD 352
Texas
Utah -- approval # A070502
Colorado
Virginia -- approval # 4003 000231
Michigan -- approval # 01700902
Washington -- approval # AP2270
Wyoming
Louisiana
Vermont
Kansas -- approval # NO8.P.300
New Jersey -- approval #120000
Connecticut
DC -- approval # 2089

7-Hour National USPAP Update Course
California -- approval # 03542C106
Indiana
Maine
Maryland
Delaware
Mississippi -- approval # MAB 7210
Oregon
South Dakota -- approval # SD 421 CE
Tennessee
Texas
Wisconsin
Colorado
Michigan -- approval # 01700901
Washington -- approval # AP2271
Wyoming
Louisiana
Virginia
Vermont
Kansas -- approval # NO8.C.299
New Jersey -- approval #120001
Connecticut
Oklahoma -- approval # 700
DC -- approval # 2088
Alabama
Georgia -- approval # 51846
Alaska -- approval #6848
Rhode Island

Labels: Real Estate School, Texas Real Estate, uspap

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How to Choose an Online Real Estate School

Whether you're looking to renew your real estate agent license, or interested in starting a real estate appraisal course, an online real estate school offers a convenient way to quickly meet your goals.

Not all online real estate schools are equal. So when selecting the right online school, make sure they offer the following:

Accreditation

If your online real estate school is not accredited by a qualified accrediting agency, find another school. Why? Accreditation means the school operates on a sound financial basis, has an approved study program, has qualified instructors, approved recruitment and admissions policies and advertises its courses in a factual manner. Accreditation is your assurance that the course you're taking will lead to a viable certificate or diploma.

Student Support

What if you need assistance in selecting your online real estate course? A student support department helps your online experience run smoothly. Make sure your online school's support department is staffed by more than one person. Also, you should have multiple contact options including email, phone and fax.

Educational Support

With an educational support department, you're never alone during your studies. So if you don't understand the escrow process discussed in chapter six, an online school's educational support department will walk you through the steps.

Tech Support

The last thing you want to deal with while pursing a real estate license is technical problems. That's why your online school should offer a tech support department that quickly answers your questions and remedies your computer frustrations via phone, email or fax.

Guarantees

You did your research, but how do you know if the course you purchased is really worth it? Your online school should have a money-back guarantee that allows you to return the course materials within a specific timeframe. Make sure to inquire about your online school's guarantees and take the time to understand how they work.

An online real estate school is an ideal choice for those who like to manage their own time, enjoy learning from home or must attend to other responsibilities while pursuing their education. Choose your online school carefully and you'll be on your way to a rewarding career in real estate in no time.


By Danielle Macklin, Allied Schools, www.realestatelicense.com

Labels: Accredited Real Estate School, Online Real Estate School, Real Estate Agent License, Real Estate School

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Match Yourself with a Good Real Estate Agent

When choosing a licensed real estate salesperson, do you want a soft-spoken, polite agent on your side or an outspoken go-getter? A real estate agent that has sold 200 homes this year or one that has sold 25? It can be confusing to buyers and sellers as to how to select the right agent for their needs. The Yellow Pages or Internet list hundreds of real estate salespeople available in your area and there are more with their names on signs all over town. How do you choose?

The first step is to talk to your friends and neighbors and get a few referrals; attend local open houses; track neighborhood "For Sale" signs to see what homes sell fast; look at real estate ads for agents that specialize in your area; and source the Internet and phone book for names.

Once you have a handful of candidates, you need to conduct an interview with the real estate agents to determine who is the best fit. This is the most important part of the process -- it is through the interviews that you will learn who will best represent your interests. Be prepared with a list of questions to ask each real estate salesperson and take notes. Some questions that you might want to include are:

1) How long have you had your real estate license?
2) How would you market my property?
3) What separates you from the competition?
4) How many properties have you sold in the past five years? What is the average time they were on the market?
5) What is your success rate as a licensed real estate salesperson?
6) What happens once we buy (or sell) our house? Do you help find a home inspector, lender, appraiser, etc.?
7) What is your commission percentage?
8) Do you have references?

Remember what one person seeks in a real estate agent, might not be important or relevant to another. It is a very subjective process. By doing your research, talking to other people and conducting a thorough interview, you can determine the best real estate salesperson for you. Buying or selling your house is a major decision -- make sure you partner with the right real estate agent.

Labels: Real Estate Agent, Real Estate Agent License, Real Estate School

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There's No Place Like an Open House

If you're a Real Estate Agent, the name of the game is finding serious, qualified buyers who can purchase your client's house. This seems obvious enough, but how do you sift through the merely curious shoppers and get to the real home buyers? One answer is to hold a successful open house. If all goes well, you can get several appointments for a second, formal showing with individuals who are serious about the property.

The key to making the most of a weekend open house is to pick the right listing. Before you agree to host a property, stop by and examine each room as if you were a potential buyer. The next consideration is price. There's no point in holding an open house for a listing that is overpriced -- nobody will come. And finally, there's the question of advertising. Some neighborhoods have so much weekend car traffic that taking out an ad isn't necessary. Do your homework: talk with colleagues and residents of the area and discover what you're working with.

Once you've agreed to show a house, go through it with the owner and make sure things are spotless. If there are knickknacks, decorating styles or pieces of furniture that detract from the house, delicately explain to the owner that putting them in the closet may help sell the house.

An important way to ensure you get people in the door is signage. Place a sign at the busiest nearby intersection. Then plant a trail of signs (with prominent directional arrows) that lead drivers right to the showing. Also, attaching a string of balloons to your open house signs will make them more noticeable.

Inside the house, there should be lights on in every room. If feasible, windows should be open with drapes and curtains pulled back. A generous spread of snacks and refreshments always goes over well (cookies seem to be a perennial favorite with visitors).

Finally, as people funnel into the house, resist the temptation to network and sell them on your other listings. Focus on selling the property at hand. Remember, these prospective buyers didn't stop at that fabulous four-bedroom house you represent on the west side of town. Show the home you're both standing in.

Labels: Real Estate Agent, Real Estate School

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How to Make Your Real Estate Career Survive

The real estate market is cyclical -- it is going to have its ups and downs. It's how you deal with the downturns that will determine your success as a licensed real estate salesperson. Many people think that becoming a real estate agent means fast cash. As the market changes -- homes stay on the market longer and interest rates rise -- many of the agents with this mentality will get impatient and leave real estate all together. Good agents, or agents that know the tricks of the trade, will survive in this ever-changing field and benefit in the long run. Here how:

1. Market, market, market -- place advertisements in local newspapers, create a mailer, or write an article for a real estate magazine.
2. Call past clients -- see if they are planning to move or know someone looking to buy or sell.
3. Provide incentives to potential customers -- offer to pay for a home inspection out of your own pocket, or take a smaller commission on a sale.
4. Create a new website or make additions to your current site -- add podcasts, maps, MLS listings, etc.
5. Network in neighborhoods within your community -- introduce yourself and hand out business cards to homeowners.
6. Set up a booth at community events -- offer free advice to potential buyers and sellers.
7. Attend first-time homebuyer seminars -- get your name and face in front of new homebuyers.
8. Complete your continuing education units (CEUs) for the year -- keep yourself busy and stay up to date with recent laws and changes.
9. Advance your career by getting your broker's license.

Labels: Accredited Real Estate School, real estate broker, real estate career, Real Estate School

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New Rules For Real Estate Agent

Under a new law many Vermont real estate agents will have to go back to real estate school. Before getting a real estate license people will have to take a 40 hour course that wasn't required before. Also people who let their real estate license lapse for more than 5 years will have to take a new real estate license exam.
The requirements are designed to better protect people who want to buy a home.
"The change is a great change because it brings Vermont up in line with the rest of the country. We have traditionally lagged behind other states with real estate in our educational requirements and the real estate profession has really gotten pretty complex. The real estate licensing exam reflects the new changes in law," explains Deb Markowitz, D-Vt. Secretary of State.
The Real Estate Commission and Vermont Association of Realtors both support the changes.

Source- Channel 3 News

Labels: California real estate, real esate agent, Real Estate School

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