A Complete Catalog
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of Real Estate Education
Michigan Real Estate Continuing Education
Completing your continuing education by your December 31st, 2015 deadline has never been easier. We have compiled the best courses for Michigan Real Estate agents to help you not only renew your license but to learn the latest in real estate market trends so you can be successful.
Michigan Packages - Click Title To View More
14 Hours
This package includes 12 elective hours and 2 legal update hours of the 18 total CE hours required for active license renewals in Michigan.
Courses included in this package:
*This course meets the REALTORS® Code of Ethics Training (formerly known as NAR QUADRENNIAL) Requirement. You will need to confirm with your local REALTOR association if they will accept it.
This package includes 12 elective hours and 2 legal update hours of the 18 total CE hours required for active license renewals in Michigan.
Courses included in this package:
- Supervision, Ethics, and Antitrust in Michigan (2 legal update hours)
- Code of Ethics in Action: Real-Life Applications (3 elective hours)*
- Residential Real Estate Investment Opportunities (1 elective hour)
- Attracting Online Consumers: Listings and Syndication (4 elective hours)
- Marketing, Advertising, and Social Media Compliance (4 elective hours)
*This course meets the REALTORS® Code of Ethics Training (formerly known as NAR QUADRENNIAL) Requirement. You will need to confirm with your local REALTOR association if they will accept it.
12 Hours
This package includes 12 elective hours of the 18 total CE hours required for active license renewals in Michigan.
Courses included in this package:
This package includes 12 elective hours of the 18 total CE hours required for active license renewals in Michigan.
Courses included in this package:
- Code of Ethics in Action: Real-Life Applications (3 elective hours)*
- Marijuana in Real Estate (3 elective hours)
- Personal Safety (3 elective hours)
- Working With Real Estate Investors: Understanding Investor Strategies (3 elective hours)
12 Hours
Get all of your elective hours for the current three year continuing education renewal period out of the way! This package consists of the 12 hours of continuing education electives required by the Michigan Board of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons.
Get all of your elective hours for the current three year continuing education renewal period out of the way! This package consists of the 12 hours of continuing education electives required by the Michigan Board of Real Estate Brokers and Salespersons.
- Principles of Commercial Real Estate (4 Hours): This course provides an overview of real estate financing, and describes the different types of loans and loan programs as well as lending sources.
- Prequalifying your Buyer in Today's Market (4 Hours): A high-level view of commercial real estate, this elective course examines various types of commercial real estate including retail space, storage facilities, and office space.
- Short Sales and Foreclosures (4 Hours): This course is an overview of short sale transactions, alternatives to short sales, how short sales affect buyers, lenders and sellers, the Home Affordable Modification Program (both HAMP Tier 1 and 2 are included) and the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternative (HAFA II/Short Sale).
Michigan Legal Courses- Click Course Title To View More
2 Hours
Real estate professionals have a responsibility to know and understand the applicable fair housing and civil rights laws governing their workplace as well as their personal conduct. The public expects and deserves competent actions based upon thorough knowledge. However, federal definitions of “protected classes” expand and change. As licensees learn about and review protected classes and fair housing laws throughout this course, they will become better equipped to act with honesty, competence, and intelligence in serving their clients and customers.
In Breaking Barriers in Fair Housing, we discuss the protections provided by the Fair Housing Act, and how licensees can best protect clients and their firms from discrimination.
Course Highlights
Real estate professionals have a responsibility to know and understand the applicable fair housing and civil rights laws governing their workplace as well as their personal conduct. The public expects and deserves competent actions based upon thorough knowledge. However, federal definitions of “protected classes” expand and change. As licensees learn about and review protected classes and fair housing laws throughout this course, they will become better equipped to act with honesty, competence, and intelligence in serving their clients and customers.
In Breaking Barriers in Fair Housing, we discuss the protections provided by the Fair Housing Act, and how licensees can best protect clients and their firms from discrimination.
Course Highlights
- Video enactments depicting actual fair housing cases, submitted by the Oklahoma Real Estate Commission.
- Up-to-the-minute actual case studies in fair housing violations
- An analysis of the benefits of fair housing principles in real estate.
- A discussion of how attitudes and laws have changed to support a fair housing mindset
- A description of regulatory changes relating to fair housing
- A primer on how to write nondiscriminatory advertising
- Red flags of discrimination for listing agents, selling agents and brokers
- A Public Service Announcement video on fair housing from the Department of Housing and Urban Development
2 Hours
Real estate is no stranger to the white collar criminal, as fraud has become a major issue in the industry. Many lawbreakers use real estate as a vehicle to steal the life savings of unsuspecting homeowners and defraud lenders out of millions of dollars for their own gain. Federal, state, and local governments have taken steps to combat real estate fraud, but it remains a major problem—and one you need to have a solid understanding of to ensure you're able to shield your clients and yourself from being defrauded or unknowingly committing fraud.
Keeping It Honest: Understanding Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud has been updated to discuss the latest fraudulent schemes and explain recent government initiatives aimed at stopping fraud and protecting consumers.
Course highlights include:
Real estate is no stranger to the white collar criminal, as fraud has become a major issue in the industry. Many lawbreakers use real estate as a vehicle to steal the life savings of unsuspecting homeowners and defraud lenders out of millions of dollars for their own gain. Federal, state, and local governments have taken steps to combat real estate fraud, but it remains a major problem—and one you need to have a solid understanding of to ensure you're able to shield your clients and yourself from being defrauded or unknowingly committing fraud.
Keeping It Honest: Understanding Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud has been updated to discuss the latest fraudulent schemes and explain recent government initiatives aimed at stopping fraud and protecting consumers.
Course highlights include:
- n overview of fraud and its impact on the real estate industry.
- An examination of the newest and most prevalent types of fraudulent schemes.
- A detailed description of red flag behaviors that suggest someone is engaging in fraud.
- Recommendations on how to report fraudulent or suspected fraudulent activities to the proper authorities.
- An analysis of key government initiatives aimed at stopping fraud and protecting consumers.
2 Hours
This is a mandatory 2-hour CE course is created to meet a legal update requirement in Michigan. The course must cover law, rules, and court cases involving real estate short sales and foreclosures. This course covers short sale basics and alternatives, working with short sale buyers and sellers, short sale regulations, foreclosures and REO properties and information for licensees regarding short sales.
This is a mandatory 2-hour CE course is created to meet a legal update requirement in Michigan. The course must cover law, rules, and court cases involving real estate short sales and foreclosures. This course covers short sale basics and alternatives, working with short sale buyers and sellers, short sale regulations, foreclosures and REO properties and information for licensees regarding short sales.
3 Hours
Licensees will learn the benefits of the National Flood Insurance Program and understand that it is a voluntary program based on a mutual agreement between the federal government and the local community. In exchange for adopting and enforcing a floodplain management ordinance in compliance with federal and state laws, federally backed flood insurance is made available to property owners throughout the community.
This course also brings an understanding of how to read flood maps which delineate the boundaries of flood areas. Nearly 25 percent of all flood claims filed are for structures located within moderate and minimal risk areas, so it is important to thoroughly understand how to determine potential hazards.
Licensees will learn the benefits of the National Flood Insurance Program and understand that it is a voluntary program based on a mutual agreement between the federal government and the local community. In exchange for adopting and enforcing a floodplain management ordinance in compliance with federal and state laws, federally backed flood insurance is made available to property owners throughout the community.
This course also brings an understanding of how to read flood maps which delineate the boundaries of flood areas. Nearly 25 percent of all flood claims filed are for structures located within moderate and minimal risk areas, so it is important to thoroughly understand how to determine potential hazards.
Individual Courses - Click Course Title To View More
4 Hours
The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is the most powerful tool that you, as a real estate professional, have at your disposal. Potential buyers, in addition to other real estate professionals, can view your listings through a multitude of websites. How you use the MLS communicates your level of professionalism and attracts people to your properties.
This course provides common sense theories and best practices from industry experts. Harness the full power of the MLS, starting with a full understanding of how data flow in and out of the MLS. Apply the practical concepts from this course to:
Course highlights include:
The Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is the most powerful tool that you, as a real estate professional, have at your disposal. Potential buyers, in addition to other real estate professionals, can view your listings through a multitude of websites. How you use the MLS communicates your level of professionalism and attracts people to your properties.
This course provides common sense theories and best practices from industry experts. Harness the full power of the MLS, starting with a full understanding of how data flow in and out of the MLS. Apply the practical concepts from this course to:
Course highlights include:
- Write exceptional listing descriptions
- Prepare listings that receive the attention they deserve
- Remain in compliance with fair housing, advertising, ethics, and anti-trust regulations
3 Hours
Practicing real estate during a hot market is not business as usual. Ethical, legal and practical issues occur when buyers scramble to “get theirs” while listing agents guard the gate—sometimes using questionable means.
No matter the market dynamics, a licensee’s fiduciary duties do not change. A buyer’s agent still has the duty to put client needs first, and help buyers obtain properties meeting their needs for the lowest price possible. Listing agents also must put the seller’s interest first, and try to secure for them the best price and most favorable terms.
This course shows licensees how to navigate hot market dynamics ethically and legally, whether representing buyers or sellers.
Course highlights include:
Practicing real estate during a hot market is not business as usual. Ethical, legal and practical issues occur when buyers scramble to “get theirs” while listing agents guard the gate—sometimes using questionable means.
No matter the market dynamics, a licensee’s fiduciary duties do not change. A buyer’s agent still has the duty to put client needs first, and help buyers obtain properties meeting their needs for the lowest price possible. Listing agents also must put the seller’s interest first, and try to secure for them the best price and most favorable terms.
This course shows licensees how to navigate hot market dynamics ethically and legally, whether representing buyers or sellers.
Course highlights include:
- An overview of hot market dynamics, including low inventory, cash buyers, multiple offers, appraisal and lending issues
- How to stay ethical, legal and avoid violating MLS rules when taking a pocket listing
- A discussion of private listing groups and their potential risks for fair housing and anti-trust violations
- Buyer strategies for writing winning offers—and guerilla tactics to avoid
- Escalator clauses, what they are and how to respond to them
- Ways to assist sellers in evaluating offers based not only on price and terms but also on buyer strength
- Strategies for responding to multiple offers
- Options for buyers and sellers when properties do not appraise
6 Hours
From the time your buyers sign their purchase agreements, to the time they finally get the keys to their new home, the mortgage process can be filled with anxiety, frustration, and uncertainty. Through your understanding of the process, you will be able to provide your clients with a road map through the maze.
Course highlights include:
From the time your buyers sign their purchase agreements, to the time they finally get the keys to their new home, the mortgage process can be filled with anxiety, frustration, and uncertainty. Through your understanding of the process, you will be able to provide your clients with a road map through the maze.
Course highlights include:
- Video outlining the mortgage process
- Tips on helping your clients avoid predatory lending
- Updated statistics from the Center for Responsible Lending
- Current lender disclosure requirements
- 2010 updates to 1003 loan application
- Homebuyer Do's and Don'ts flier that agents can pass on to their clients
- Tips on compiling and managing your short list of reputable lenders
- Current loan documentation rules
- Details regarding closing and closing documents
3 Hours
Electronic transactions and e-signatures can give you the competitive edge you need to attract new business, better serve existing clients, and improve your bottom line.
This course provides you with a comprehensive understanding of how national and international laws define an electronic signature, how e-signature technology is currently being used by real estate professionals, and how you can use it in your day-to-day transactions. Additionally, this course looks at the use of e-mail to conduct negotiations and at several real-life case studies currently affecting how you do business.
Course highlights include:
Electronic transactions and e-signatures can give you the competitive edge you need to attract new business, better serve existing clients, and improve your bottom line.
This course provides you with a comprehensive understanding of how national and international laws define an electronic signature, how e-signature technology is currently being used by real estate professionals, and how you can use it in your day-to-day transactions. Additionally, this course looks at the use of e-mail to conduct negotiations and at several real-life case studies currently affecting how you do business.
Course highlights include:
- A look at what it takes to make an e-mail a legally binding agreement, including a discussion of the “mirror image” rule
- Tips for ensuring that your e-mail communications remain blunder free
- A discussion of the pros and cons of e-mail disclaimers and how much protection they really provide users
- A look at how e-signatures are becoming more and more commonplace in the real estate industry, with institutions like the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and mortgage giants like Freddie Mac accepting e-signatures and the National Association of REALTORS® partnering with DocuSign, an e-signature provider
- A detailed discussion of several national and international e-signature laws, including the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN), the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), and EU Directive 1999/93/EC
- A review of several precedent-setting case studies and their influence on the use of electronic negotiations in the real estate industry
- An examination of the financial and practical benefits of using e-signature technology
- Tips for selecting an e-signature technology that fits your needs as a busy real estate agent
- A description of the crucial security features and authentication methods to look for in an e-signature software
- Tips for successfully integrating e-signature technology into your day-to-day business transactions
4 Hours
First and foremost, you, as a real estate professional, are an entrepreneur. This course guides you through proven methods to assist you in developing a successful, workable business plan. You will learn about creating a vision for your business and the tools necessary to achieve that vision.
Course highlights include:
First and foremost, you, as a real estate professional, are an entrepreneur. This course guides you through proven methods to assist you in developing a successful, workable business plan. You will learn about creating a vision for your business and the tools necessary to achieve that vision.
Course highlights include:
- A Business Plan Worksheet that will help you reflect on your accomplishments and focus on your goals for the future
- Helpful ideas for defining your real estate business, vision statement and mission statement
- Details about identifying your strengths and weaknesses, and setting realistic, attainable goals
- A Business Plan Template that you can edit to create your business plan
- Instructions on analyzing your sphere of influence and tips for adding contacts to your sphere
- Tips on calculating the levels of productivity you will need to meet in order to achieve your income and profitability goals
3 Hours
When licensees represent clients in a commercial transaction, whether marketing the building or assisting in the purchase, knowledge of the building’s structure and systems is vital. A building is comprised of its architectural features and its MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) systems. In this course you’ll learn about:
Highlights of this course include:
When licensees represent clients in a commercial transaction, whether marketing the building or assisting in the purchase, knowledge of the building’s structure and systems is vital. A building is comprised of its architectural features and its MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) systems. In this course you’ll learn about:
Highlights of this course include:
- A foundational understanding of … foundations! Includes footings and how they work with foundations to form a system, design concerns of foundations including soil conditions, water tables and live and dead loads
- Design considerations for roofs, walls, windows and doors
- An overview of HVAC types and considerations, including cost, efficiency and varying tenant needs
- A look at electrical, lighting, controls and fire and security alarms, and how they differ by building use and tenant need
- How external conditions can impact building design, occupancy and parking, including zoning and code location, topography, environmental factors
3 Hours
Real estate licensees who represent commercial clients, whether as buyers or sellers of commercial properties, must understand the process of valuing commercial properties. To best serve their commercial real estate clients, they need a solid understanding of how commercial properties are valued, how appraisers work, and how that important final number is determined.
Many of the tools and methodologies used by commercial appraisers can also be used by licensees to help their clients determine value when buying, selling or comparing commercial real estate. While a valuation prepared by a real estate licensee will never take the place of a formal appraisal, it is important for licensees to understand the definitions of value used by appraisers, the methodologies used, the three approaches to value, and how value of commercial properties is determined. It is also important for licensees to be able to read and extract information from a professional appraisal report.
Highlights of this course include:
Real estate licensees who represent commercial clients, whether as buyers or sellers of commercial properties, must understand the process of valuing commercial properties. To best serve their commercial real estate clients, they need a solid understanding of how commercial properties are valued, how appraisers work, and how that important final number is determined.
Many of the tools and methodologies used by commercial appraisers can also be used by licensees to help their clients determine value when buying, selling or comparing commercial real estate. While a valuation prepared by a real estate licensee will never take the place of a formal appraisal, it is important for licensees to understand the definitions of value used by appraisers, the methodologies used, the three approaches to value, and how value of commercial properties is determined. It is also important for licensees to be able to read and extract information from a professional appraisal report.
Highlights of this course include:
- Definitions of commonly used commercial appraisal terms
- An in-depth look at the process of data collection, analysis and three approaches to value (cost, income and sales comparison) for commercial property valuation
- Faculty expert, Bill James, a 40-year veteran of commercial appraisal, takes students step-by-step through a real-life appraisal report, which includes the process of data collection, approaches to value, analysis and value determination
- More than two dozen handouts used in a real-life commercial appraisal, with a detailed explanation of each
3 Hours
Commercial real estate investors have two goals: generate cash flow and produce higher returns. However, unlike other investment types, investing in commercial property is not simply a matter of buying at one price and selling for more. Commercial real estate must be considered in terms of the risks and rewards of the type of commercial property, income during the investment period, the investor’s own situation, and how value and return are impacted by the economic, market, tax, and legal conditions (particularly zoning) for the market niche.
This course presents an overview of the factors impacting value and investment potential of commercial properties, gives licensees a solid understanding of the financial aspects of commercial real estate investment, and better prepares them to provide professional guidance to their commercial real estate clients when evaluating investment properties for purchase or sale.
Highlights of this course include:
Commercial real estate investors have two goals: generate cash flow and produce higher returns. However, unlike other investment types, investing in commercial property is not simply a matter of buying at one price and selling for more. Commercial real estate must be considered in terms of the risks and rewards of the type of commercial property, income during the investment period, the investor’s own situation, and how value and return are impacted by the economic, market, tax, and legal conditions (particularly zoning) for the market niche.
This course presents an overview of the factors impacting value and investment potential of commercial properties, gives licensees a solid understanding of the financial aspects of commercial real estate investment, and better prepares them to provide professional guidance to their commercial real estate clients when evaluating investment properties for purchase or sale.
Highlights of this course include:
- The six main categories of commercial properties, and their specific challenges and opportunities for investors.
- A definition of transit-oriented communities, and why they are a growing type of mixed-use development.
- How zoning, building codes, title issues and the Americans with Disabilities Act impact commercial property development and investment potential.
- How licensees can use financial analysis and individual investor profiles to assist clients in analyzing commercial properties for purchase and sale.
3 Hours
Landlord representatives usually referred to as “leasing agents” or “leasing brokers,” serve a key role in commercial real estate: getting tenants for their clients’ buildings. Accomplishing that goal is a lengthy, multi-step process that includes positioning the product in the marketplace, identifying suitable prospects, creating and executing marketing plans, negotiating the deal, and managing all of the steps associated with the leasing process. Landlord reps must have their fingers on the pulse of their market. A thorough knowledge of tenant demographics, occupancy rates, leasing rates, and industry trends is essential. Beyond technical expertise, however, they must also be adept at relationship building, and must know how to coalesce the varying needs of tenants, landlords and leasing brokers into workable, win-win-win deals.
This course provides an overview of commercial leasing, the players involved in commercial leasing, their roles and goals.
Course highlights include:
Ed Riggins, Senior Vice President with Cresa Atlanta, assisted in the development of Commercial Landlord Representation, serving as the course's subject matter expert. Ed is a Life Member of the Atlanta Commercial Board of REALTORS®, and he's among less than 1% of practitioners nationally to hold both the SIOR and CCIM designations. www.edriggins.com
Landlord representatives usually referred to as “leasing agents” or “leasing brokers,” serve a key role in commercial real estate: getting tenants for their clients’ buildings. Accomplishing that goal is a lengthy, multi-step process that includes positioning the product in the marketplace, identifying suitable prospects, creating and executing marketing plans, negotiating the deal, and managing all of the steps associated with the leasing process. Landlord reps must have their fingers on the pulse of their market. A thorough knowledge of tenant demographics, occupancy rates, leasing rates, and industry trends is essential. Beyond technical expertise, however, they must also be adept at relationship building, and must know how to coalesce the varying needs of tenants, landlords and leasing brokers into workable, win-win-win deals.
This course provides an overview of commercial leasing, the players involved in commercial leasing, their roles and goals.
Course highlights include:
- An analysis of the commercial real estate market as it stands today
- A description of the in-house and external landlord reps, and why landlords choose to work with landlord reps
- A survey of a panel of six landlord representatives who have a combined total of nearly 200 years of experience in commercial real estate
- A look at additional training, accreditation and associations for commercial real estate professionals
- A comparison of different types of commercial leases
- An overview of the tenant build-out process
- A timeline with activities for landlord reps from hire to full execution of a commercial leasing listing contract
Ed Riggins, Senior Vice President with Cresa Atlanta, assisted in the development of Commercial Landlord Representation, serving as the course's subject matter expert. Ed is a Life Member of the Atlanta Commercial Board of REALTORS®, and he's among less than 1% of practitioners nationally to hold both the SIOR and CCIM designations. www.edriggins.com
4 Hours
This course provides an overview of real estate financing, and describes the different types of loans and loan programs as well as lending sources. Students will learn how to calculate debt ratios and use loan factors to complete mathematical calculations related to mortgage loans. Students will also estimate closing costs for different types of loans. The instruction is followed with a scenario for which the student will do the prequalifying computations and complete a loan comparison worksheet for the buyers in the scenario
This course provides an overview of real estate financing, and describes the different types of loans and loan programs as well as lending sources. Students will learn how to calculate debt ratios and use loan factors to complete mathematical calculations related to mortgage loans. Students will also estimate closing costs for different types of loans. The instruction is followed with a scenario for which the student will do the prequalifying computations and complete a loan comparison worksheet for the buyers in the scenario
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