EDUCATION

The Middlesex Shoreline Association of REALTORS offers the Principles & Practices of Real Estate class, a 60-hour pre-licensing course for those interested in becoming a licensed Agent or for a current Agent to upgrade their license from "salesperson" to "broker" in the state of Connecticut.

NEXT COURSES:
September 23, 2008 - December 9, 2008 -- 22 Evening Sessions
October 1, 2008 - November 10, 2008 -- 11 Daytime Sessions

Click on each date for a registration form.
Email Pat Boyle for more information.

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UPDATED!! 2008 Continuing Education Offerings
For a brief description of each course, please see the list below.

Online Continuing Education
The Midd-Shore Association of REALTORS® and RE Campus have teamed up to provide you with online continuing education courses. For a list of ONLINE courses available, please click the button below.

Not sure of your system requirements? RECampus offers a FREE Browser Test before you proceed. Simply click on the button below, click on REAL ESTATE > CONTINUING EDUCATION, and then BROWSER TEST.

Descriptions of Courses at the Midd-Shore Real Estate School:

Architectural Styles - An overview of American Residential Architectural styles during the past 400 years. Using Style, Form and Structure to identify houses found in the United States today.

At Home With Diversity - This course acquaints licensed real estate brokers and salespeople with the need to understand the diverse members of society that make up the real estate market. They will learn to manage diversity so that the consumer will be better served and they will work better with other agents.

Basic Building Construction - This program will bring you through the entire process, from site selection to the painting. It explains the septic requirements for a building permit, the surveying of the property and the placement of the home. It takes you through the foundation and drainage procedures on up through the framing requirements, from top to bottom. You will see how the electrical, heating and plumbing systems are installed. Then the finishing touches such as wallboard, tile cabinetry and fixtures will be added to complete the home, making it ready for sale.

Buyer Consultation - Provides a model for presenting the required agency disclosures and educating the consumer on the differences between representation and non-representation. Covers consumer expectation alignment, needs assessment and the buying process.

Client Negotiating Strategies - This course will cover everything from the deposit amount, financing contingency, inspection contingency, closing date, tactics vs. collaboration, avoiding an impasse, responding to common objections, handling "toughies", negotiating and strategies that close sales.

Code of Ethics - Mandatory ethics training requirements for new and continuing REALTOR® members was established by the National Association’s Board of Directors at the 1999 Annual Convention to heighten member awareness of the key tenets of the Code of Ethics; to create an awareness of and appreciation for the role the Code can and should play in their professional lives; to enhance professionalism and competency; and to encourage REALTORS® to view their Code of Ethics as a living, viable guide in their daily dealings with clients, customers, and the public. Effective January 1, 2005 through December 31, 2008, and for successive four year periods thereafter, every REALTOR® is required to complete 2 1/2 hours of Code of Ethics training. REALTORS® who have completed this training as a requirement of the New Member Orientation during any four year cycle are not required to complete additional ethics training until a new four year cycle begins. REALTORS® who have taken this course after January 1, 2005 will have satisfied the 2008 National Association of REALTORS® requirement.

Common Interest Ownership Act - This course will advise the student of what the Common Interest Ownership Act is, why it was implemented and the how and what it protects. Eminent Domain is also factored in to the class.

*Current Issues in Real Estate I - MANDATORY for 2008 License Renewal Period. This course will include information on the broker/salesperson relationship, agency representation, misrepresentation/nondisclosure, advertising and broker lien rights.

*Current Issues in Real Estate II - MANDATORY for 2008 License Renewal Period. This course will emphasize fair housing, offers and contracts, deposits, electronic signatures, commercial real estate, and a legislative and court case update.

Dealing with Distressed Properties - Learn how to recognize "distressed" properties, distinctions for beyond distressed, issues for rehabbing, dealing with present and future owners, adjusting expectations to meet market value, and present and future considerations in investing.

Environmental Issues in the Real Estate Transaction - Environmental issues have taken on worldwide recognition. They have affected real estate sales and lending institution’s decisions to approve mortgages. The growing concern over the exposure to a human’s health and the possible contamination of properties makes this program a must for all real estate professionals. We will discuss, at length, the issues of radon gas, radon in water, asbestos, U.F.F.I., lead in water, lead paint, underground oil tanks and indoor air pollution.

Expand Your Market - Think Globally, Act Locally - This course provides an overview of the international real estate market and to motivate individuals to learn more, participate and expand their markets.

Filling in the Forms - This course is designed to instruct licensees how to fill in the blanks in a standard real estate contract in an intelligent manner. It deals with listing contracts, buyer agency contracts, purchase and sale contracts and the various disclosures required.

Fundamentals of Commercial Real Estate - Are you a residential REALTOR® puzzled by commercial real estate? This class will give you a foundation in the basics from a REALTOR® with 20 years experience in commercial and investment practice. The pieces to the puzzle: some vocabulary; some math and lots of fun.

Government Control of Private Property - Police Power, Eminent Domain, Taxation, Escheat as well as Private Restrictions, create limitations on the "absolute ownership" of private property.

Healthy Home: Household Contaminants - This course is a power point presentation designed to educate the REALTOR® regarding ten household environmental issues that concern homebuyers today. The goal is to help the REALTOR® understand the homebuyer's concerns, the possible health risks and the solutions to these issues.

The Inspection Process - This course will help the real estate agent to understand what a home inspector does and the various systems that are inspected. It outlines the various environmental issues that might be encountered by the inspector. These inspection matters are important for an agent to understand so the agent can better assist his or her clients.

Landlord Tenant Relations - The course provides the student with information about the relationship between landlords and tenants. The student will learn the responsibilities of real estate brokers and salespeople in rental transactions. The course includes information about the agency relationship in residential rental transactions.

Millennium Marketing - This program takes online prospecting to new heights. Learn about online target prospecting, lead generation and proper incubation techniques. Discover ways to create a consistent leads-marketing strategy online and how to utilize online e-mail marketing tools. Learn about the latest wireless lead generation and marketing techniques. Upon completion of this program, attendees can better manage online target prospecting, implement a consistent leads management process and streamline marketing efforts.

Radon, Real Estate and You - This course will familiarize the REALTOR® with radon and issues relating to radon gas identified in homes that are tested during real estate transactions. Understanding the context of clients' questions and acting as a resource during real estate sales is an essential role of REALTORS® and brokers. This course is meant as an overview of radon, its health effects, measurement, and mitigation techniques so that you are more comfortable with the topic and in conveying basic information to clients.

Real Estate by the Numbers - A lot of energy goes into the "touchy-feely/emotional" components of real estate, but much of a real estate agent's professional worth comes from: numbers analysis, precise adherence to time frames and follow through on details. This course will help agents review what kinds of "number crunching" are essential for properly servicing a client and ensuring a successful career in real estate.

REALTORS® and the Home Inspection - This course addresses the issue of how much and what type of knowledge about home inspections REALTORS® need to best serve their clients. This is accomplished with an overview of the systems and components required to be inspected according to the State of Connecticut Standards of Practice for Home Inspectors. It also covers the limitations or "things not required" of the home inspector. This will provide the REALTOR® with the knowledge to more safely recommend inspectors that meet or exceed these requirements and provide enough knowledge so the REALTOR® can address the concerns of the client as a result of the home inspection without making them "experts" in home evaluations.

Residential Land Development and Open Space Conservation - This course covers the practical aspects of how a real estate salesperson can materially assist a potential purchaser in buying land. It begins with a review of the objectives of land acquisition and the range of uses to which the land might be placed. The procedure for subdivision is explained as is zoning. There are also examples of dealing with hazardous waste sites.

Residential Land, Lots, Subdividing - A Realtors® guide to process, pitfalls, joys, dangers, rewards, devastations and income potential involved in residential land procurement and development. Topics will include, but are not limited to: Cost to build, New Construction, Smart Growth, Marketing Plan, The Search For Land, The Competition For Land, Land Analysis, Zoning Issues, Deed Restrictions, Flood Zones and Wetlands, Subdivision and Profit Analysis.

Risk Management - Designed to acquaint real estate agents and appraisers with the risks they may face in their day to day business. Learn how to identify, manage, and avoid risks associated with real property, as well as the most serious areas of risk and how to shift risk responsibility. The course also discusses legal and ethical responsibilities.

Smart Growth - An Introduction - This course begins with a review of the legal underpinnings for zoning regulations, their intended and defacto results. The types of organizations which comprise the "Smart Growth Network" are identified.

Titles from Estates - This course explains the probate process, when it is required and what is required. It covers basic definitions of the parties in the probate process. It describes the difference between holding property in survivorship vs..., tenants in common and how that relates to an estate. The most entertaining part of the course is the actual examples of estates that have encountered issues selling due to boundary disputes, improper legal descriptions, improperly executed probate documents and/or disputes between heirs.

Title Searching - In this course, the student will learn how to review all recorded documents affecting a specific piece of property to determine the present condition of title. The different types of deeds will be covered, as well as liens and transfers.

Updated Finance Review for REALTORS® - This course covers the various types, as well as different sources of financing available, and includes the secondary market. Learn the different types of insured loans, the qualifying process and the calculations necessary to qualify a buyer.

Zoning Before the Regulations - This course will give students a better understanding of current market value and anticipate market value influences in the future and what physical and economic factors to be aware of in the local market - where development begins, how it evolves, and what it has to do to survive in a changing world.