Resource Library

Getting the Most From Your Education

Every licensed real estate professional is required to meet education requirements set forth by their state real estate board for license renewal. This requirement ensures that agents know the latest information about the industry and have the tools needed to better serve clients. But many real estate professionals have found themselves in an educational rut; sitting through course after course simply to fullfill state requirements.

Instead of going through the motions, use the required courses to your advantage and watch how the knowledge you gain can propell your career.

5 TIPS FOR GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR EDUCATION

1. Define your education goal(s) in writing

Would you like to break into a new market or are you looking for a promotion? In either case, make sure the course you take will provide you with the career training, or certification you need meet your goals. Split your objective into a long-term goal, and short-term term goals then find courses that suit your personal goal while meeting the state requirements.

2. Create an education program schedule and calendar

Another visual cue that will help you stay on track is a schedule or calendar in which the hours you need to attend the course are highlighted as required time commitments.

3. Refresh your adult learner study skills

Study skills are like any other skills: the more familiar you are with them, and the more you practice them, the easier they become. For adult learners already juggling many demands on their days, study skills can assist in getting the most out of the limited time set aside for education. Practice the best techniques for staying focused, remembering what you read, and prioritizing, and you’ll increase your learning efficiency.

4. Ask questions

If you’re not sure what your instructor meant by a particular instruction, conclusion, or comment, ask for clarification. Most of the time, you’ll be asking a question that many of your classmates also have but are too shy to ask. Asking for clarification is efficient, since it may prevent you from spending a lot of unnecessary time on an idea.

5. Apply what you learn in your education program to real life situations

As an adult learner, you have considerable advantages namely, responsibility, self-discipline, and work experience in the real world. You have expertise in your program’s subject matter that other students would find a valuable complement to the classwork. Share it. Apply your coursework to real life scenarios and ask your instructors do the same.

REALTOR Association Receive Grants

Washington, DC, November 18, 2010

The Housing Opportunity Fund, a National Association of REALTORS® grant program, has presented $50,000 to 15 local and state REALTOR® associations. Those associations will use the funds to promote and expand affordable housing opportunities in their communities.

“REALTORS® build communities and are working hard to address the crisis in affordable housing opportunities,” said NAR President Ron Phipps, broker-president of Phipps Realty in Warwick, R.I. “The REALTOR® associations that have received Housing Opportunity grants understand that home ownership strengthens communities, and these associations are working to expand more housing opportunities in their local communities.”

NAR’s Housing Opportunity Fund was established in 2006. Grants of up to $50,000 are awarded twice per year, in April and October. Since the program’s inception, more than 135 grants totaling over $450,000 have been awarded.

The grants support a wide range of housing opportunity activities, including housing symposia; home buyer education or housing fairs; counseling and financial literacy efforts; down payment or closing cost financial assistance programs; public opinion surveys; and REALTOR® affordable housing education.

Fredericksburg Area Association of REALTORS® (Fredericksburg, Va.): $3,000 to support activities taking place as part of a local Affordable

Housing Awareness Week.

For more information, contact:Leanne Jernigan 202/383-1290 ljernigan@realtors.org

http://www.realtor.org/press_room/news_releases/2010/11/housing_grants

In an effort to support the association and members of the surrounding community, RECA will be exploring various grant opportunities on a continual basis.

Abbreviationed Version of VREB Frequently Asked Questions

How do I contact the Board office?

You may reach the Board office by phone at 804-367-8526 or 804-367-8552, by fax at 804-527-4298, or by e-mail at reboard@dpor.virginia.gov.

When I call the Board office, will I be able to speak directly with a Board member? No.

What are the qualifications for licensure by exam?

Salespersons- 60 hour course called “Principles of Real Estate & pass the State and National portions of the salesperson examination. Brokers-180 hour & pass the State and National Portions of the broker examination, & submit verification of experience

What are the broker education requirements?

180 classroom hours of Board approved courses are required. Proof of passing the course and a monitored final examination are required for course approval. You must complete at least three courses from the below-listed broker specific courses. One of the three must be a 45 classroom hour real estate brokerage course.

Broker-specific Courses: Real Estate Brokerage, Real Estate Law, Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Appraisal, The remaining hours may be broker related courses.

Broker-related Courses: Real Estate Economics Business Law, Real Estate Investments Property Management, Real Estate Abstracting Urban Developments, Real Estate Feasibility Analysis Commercial Mortgage Lending, Real Estate Math (completed before 12/86) Land Use Planning, GRI (all parts) CRB (all parts), CCIM (all parts) SIR/SIOR (all parts)

I am licensed in another state and wish to get licensed in Virginia. Can I apply through reciprocity?

Yes. Applicants for a salesperson’s license must pass the State portion of the examination and submit verification of completion of a 60 hour course. The salesperson MUST have a current salesperson license in another state.

Applicants for a broker’s license must pass the State portion of the examination, submit verification of experience, submit original transcripts or certified copies of transcripts from the educational institution where the applicant’s completed 180 classroom hours of real estate broker pre-licensing courses that and submit letters of certification from other jurisdictions where licensed. The broker MUST have a current broker license in another state.

How do I apply for the examination?

 Contact the Board’s Testing Service, PSI, at 1-800-733-9267.

I am licensed in Virginia. I am applying for licensure in another state, but they are requesting verification of my Virginia licensure. What do I need to do?

Please send a check for $35 made payable to the Treasurer of Virginia, along with a written request for a letter of certification. You can download a Certification Request form from www.dpor.virginia.gov/dporweb/reb_form.cfm.

I need to renew my license, but I have not yet received my renewal form. What do I need to do?

Send in the renewal fee, make checks payable to the Treasurer of Virginia and include your license number on your check. You CANNOT continue to practice in Virginia after your license has expired or if your license is on inactive status.

My renewal payment was one day late and I have always paid on time, can you waive the late renewal fee? No.

If I did not renew my license on time because I did not receive my renewal card, do I still have to pay a late fee or reinstate my license?

Yes. Regulation 18 VAC 135-20-110 states that failure to receive the renewal notice does not relieve the licensee of the obligation to renew.

My license is on inactive status. Do I still need to renew?

Yes, an inactive license must be renewed. The renewal fee is the same, however, an inactive licensee is not required to meet the continuing education requirements. **Note all salespersons(active or inactive) who are renewing their license for the first time MUST complete 30 hours of post license education instead of continuing education.**

My address has changed. What do I need to do to notify the Board?

All address changes must be received by the Board in writing.

My name has changed. What do I need to do to notify the Board?

All name changes must be received by the Board in writing.

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