COURSE
DESCRIPTION
Cultural
Diversity & Real Estate BrokerageThe
typical American city has a diverse population
of people from almost every country in the world.
English is not the only language one hears in shops,
restaurants and offices. There is no longer a “typical” American
family. There is no one definition of a family. Any
combination of committed people form the rich landscape
that is the modern American family.
The house with the white picket fence may now be
an apartment rental, condominium, cooperative, townhouse,
loft, tract house, multi-family dwelling, or mobile
home. As with the immigrant population of the early
part of the last century, many dwellings house extended
families that may include relatives and friends.
This course looks at how cultural diversity has redefined
today’s homebuyer. We will examine the appropriate
responses that are needed and expected from the real
estate agent. We will further examine how fair housing
laws work with cultural diversity concepts.
Business Planning
This course will provide you with a working knowledge of business planning
for the real estate agent. Three components are examined: marketing, prospecting
and the business plan. Strategies and techniques to make you successful in
each of these components are detailed throughout the course.
Property Valuation and Listings
This course explains the factors used by an appraiser to come up with a market
value so that the licensee can develop knowledge of factors to take into consideration
concerning a home's value. In addition, this course looks at important considerations
when making presentations using CMAs. Provisions of listing agreements are
also examined, as are contract provisions and required disclosures.
The
Selling Process
The selling process includes making and accepting
offers and may include handling multiple offers.
Besides selling residences as a seller's agent,
a licensee may also sell in more specialized situations,
such as selling HUD homes, REOs and foreclosed
properties. The sales process ends with the closing
and settlement process. This course explains all
these selling circumstances and components.
Real Estate Fraud
In recent years, the booming real estate market has
led to an increase in mortgage fraud and other real
estate schemes. The perpetrators of these schemes
range from mortgage brokers looking to make a fast
buck to drug dealers laundering the illegal gains.
Every year, these fraudulent schemes victimize individuals
and businesses, including struggling low-income families
lured into home loans they cannot afford, legitimate
lenders saddled with over-inflated mortgages and
honest real estate investors cheated out of their
investment dollars.
The recent implosion of the housing market has created
a difficult situation for many people trying to sell
a home. Rumors abound of innovative and creative
inducements being offered to prospective buyers.
While the temptation to participate in seemingly
benign schemes that make a house more affordable
to buyers may be overwhelming, keep one thought in
mind: Any time the success of a Real Estate deal
requires less than total and honest disclosure to
a lender, it is fraud.
Fair
Housing
This course provides an overview of the Fair Housing
Act, along with the Civil Rights Act, The 1988
Amendments to the Fair Housing Act, and the Americans
with Disabilities Act. It also discusses the Virginia
Fair Housing laws. It begins with an introduction
to Fair Housing laws. It then examines real estate
advertising in light of fair housing laws. Next,
disability discrimination is explored, followed
by discrimination based on race and national origin.
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