Class Catalog

Multiple Instructors:

Jan Ellingson

Michael Smith

The overall goals of the Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR®) Designation course are to: Prepare real estate professionals to represent buyer-clients in real estate transactions and provide the quality of service and degree of fidelity to buyers that sellers have customarily enjoyed. Offer ideas and methods for building a buyer representation business. Develop a self-customized tool for conducting a buyer counseling session. Topics include: Buyer Representation Understanding Types of Agency Relationships Creating an Agency Relationship Client and Customer Relationships, Duties, and Responsibilities How We Work with Buyers Buyer Services The Buyer Counseling Session Offers and Negotiations Building a Buyer Representation Business

Instructor: Camden Schutte

In today's fast-paced business world, one thing is certain: change is the only constant. Welcome to "Adapting to Industry Change" – a transformative journey that will empower you to not just weather change but thrive in its midst.

 

Imagine an industry landscape in constant flux, with new trends and regulations emerging like waves on the shore. Professionals and organizations alike are grappling with uncertainty, searching for a way to stay ahead.

 

This course is your anchor, providing stability and direction. Our mission is clear: to equip you with the skills and mindset to harness change as a powerful catalyst for growth.

 

You'll be guided by a team of seasoned experts who've not only navigated change but have thrived in it. They will lead you through the shifting tides, ensuring you emerge stronger on the other side.

 

Here's what you'll achieve through this transformative course:

 

• Gain insights into the forces driving change in your industry, allowing you to anticipate and adapt proactively.

 

• Discover how these changes affect consumers and clients, enabling you to communicate effectively and provide invaluable guidance.

 

• Develop a growth mindset and effective change management techniques, ensuring you remain agile in a rapidly evolving landscape.

 

• Stay ahead by mastering the latest revisions in industry forms, ensuring your transactions are always compliant and effective.

 

Imagine emerging from this course as an industry leader, ready to embrace change as an opportunity rather than a challenge. Envision yourself confidently steering through the unpredictable waters of your industry, achieving unprecedented success.

 

Don't let change catch you off guard. Enroll in "Adapting to Industry Change" today, and let us help you transform uncertainty into your competitive advantage. Your journey to industry mastery begins here.

Instructor: Michael Smith

Recent NWMLS rules changes have made it more important than ever to be able to effectively and confidently present your professional value to clients. Join us for a lively conversation and walk away with tips and tricks that will help you clearly distinguish yourself from the competition. In this class, we'll discuss: What it means to deliver value to your clients How your 'why' can inform your value as an agent How to identify client needs and tailor your value proposition to each situation What you can say in specific situations when someone challenges you on your value Role play hypothetical "real life" scenarios in overcoming client objections

Instructors: Mark Kitabayashi, Jan Ellingson

Course Description and Outline REALTORS® know the importance of adapting and remaining relevant in today’s marketplace. By developing a business practice rooted in inclusion and equality, REALTORS® can help buyers of all cultural backgrounds achieve the dream of homeownership. The At Home With Diversity® (AHWD) certification course covers how to work effectively with diverse populations so you can build business success in today’s multicultural real estate market. Course Learning Outcomes: • Develop an increased awareness of cultural and personal biases that may inhibit you from fully embracing diversity and creating a successful multicultural real estate business. • Learn inclusive, multi-cultural marketing and advertising strategies to broaden your client base. • Formulate an inclusive business plan to help you create an enduring business that is able to adapt and evolve to an ever-changing marketplace.

Instructors: Annie Fitzsimmons

The course will feature a panel led by Annie Fitzsimmons of industry insiders including an escrow officer, loan officer, and real estate broker. The panel will discuss the challenges of incorporating enormous changes in brokerage practices into a lending and escrow environment that are firmly rooted in old practices. The conversation will include questions from the audience and will focus on the importance of adhering to best practices in the completion of forms, providing good communication, and remaining aware of escrow and lending practices so that you will lay a solid foundation with your purchase agreements, for a successful closing.

Instructor: Annie Fitzsimmons

The Best of the Legal Hotline is a fun, interactive course designed to address YOUR questions and concerns from your real estate practice. The course content is always current, because it changes from class to class based on the topics that are relevant to the students in attendance. You will receive pointers and tips that you can apply immediately to your practice to reduce your own liability and to improve the quality and success of the transactions you put together. You will gain tools to assist you in creating a more pleasant and professional experience in all of your transactions for your clients, other industry professionals and yourself. The class routinely provides information beneficial to REALTORS® of all experience levels, because all REALTORS® are well served to know the latest legal issues and how to handle them.

Instructor: Mark Kitabayashi

Bias Override: Overcoming Barriers to Fair Housing helps real estate professionals interrupt stereotypical thinking so they can avoid fair housing pitfalls and provide equal professional service to every customer or client. Participants will examine the history of bias in real estate, learn about the mind science of identity, study how implicit bias can result in fair housing violations, and engage in interactive exercises to enhance communication skills and business relationships with clients of all backgrounds

Instructor: Annie Fitzsimmons

There is too much involved with the provision of RE Brokerage Services for brokers to learn everything they need to know in classes. Thus, brokers will learn much about how to practice RE sales from their mentors and peers, including brokers on the “other side” of the transaction. Often, best practices and other industry truths are handed down from one broker to another by oral instruction or through modeling the behavior of a broker who is thought to know more. This can be productive and helpful in creating competent, well-educated brokers. However, it also tends to perpetuate bad, erroneous practices. “We’ve always done it this way” is a refrain that illustrates resistance to change even when change is appropriate. This class will dismantle common myths within the industry by demonstrating their falsity and explaining a correct approach.

The “myths” identified below are set out in no particular order and could be substituted for other “myths” that appear to be more timely or to be causing more trouble within the current industry.

Instructor: Michael Smith

Would you like to have buyers that are more confident, look at fewer homes and write more successful offers? Learn how to get clarity and commitment with your buyers through repeatable systems. How to conduct a successful Buyer Strategy Session Identify buyer pains & goals Determine client's purchase power based on lender pre approval Strategize how and where to source buyers Buyer Agency How to setup buyers for success in any market (This class is a shortened version of the ABR class)

Instructor: Amy Remington

Get tips & tricks from an industry Insider who works with credit every day!

If you have ever played a board game with a friend - and they know the rules and you don't? They OBLITERATE you every time. 

That's what credit is like - You get a score with little or no understanding how to use it.

Get a deep understanding of credit in this Masterclass

We will cover:

• Dos and Don’ts to get the best score you can... fast
• Away to remove yourself from harassing junk mail once and for all
• “ How to raise your credit score up to 100 points in 45 days” You have the power to make fast changes when you need to use credit. 
• Understand Credit requirements for different loan types (yes, they DO vary from Lender to Lender - find out WHY)
• Timelines needed for major credit items like Bankruptcy and Foreclosure
• And HOW IN THE WORLD  can we do a loan for a client with no credit at all?!?

Instructor: All Instructors

The Washington State Real Estate Commission and the Department of Licensing have adopted rules that require the completion of a minimum 3.0 clock hours of prescribed core curriculum. The mandatory clock hours must be included in the 30 hours required for all active licensees. Topics included: National and State Legislative Issues, Legal Updates, Business Practice, Residential Real Estate Practices and Real Estate Advertising.

Instructor: Annie Fitzsimmons

This class will go over Firm Policies, Audit Preparation and Other current topics.

Instructor: Annie Fitzsimmons

From your preparations before your first meeting with the seller to your record retention duties following closing, walk through every phase of a transaction with the Washington REALTORS Legal Hotline Lawyer. Class discussion will high light requirements of state and federal law as well as industry norms and best practices intended to keep you out of trouble with buyers, sellers and other brokers. How can you win listings by impressing the seller with your knowledge of forms and industry practices during your listing presentation? How do you deal with divorcing sellers? What should listing brokers look for in every offer? What should buyer brokers include with every offer? What is the best way to negotiate repairs? Should you meet the appraiser at the property? Should you attend closing? What should you do after closing when you receive that ever-dreaded phone call? Class discussion will be focused through consideration of real-life situations and class members will be encouraged to ask questions and apply discussion to their own experiences and transactions.

Instructor: Annie Fitzsimmons

Would you like to spend a few hours discussing super-fun, upbeat, exciting topics? If so, then you don't want to miss this class! We will discuss the always exhilarating trifecta of: death, divorce and disgruntled clients! Okay ... so maybe the topics don't sound super-fun but won't it be fun to know how to handle the title issues when your client needs to sell grandma's house, now that grandma has passed? Wouldn't you like to know what to say to the buyer who tells you that he/she is ready to purchase and the divorce will be final in a month or two? How fun would it be to know what to say to that buyer (or buyer's agent) who calls you after closing to tell you that the refrigerator is missing and you owe them a new fridge? In this class, we will discuss all of these topics and arm you with the knowledge to handle these situations professionally, with a confident smile, putting your client (and you) at ease.

Instructor: Amy Remington

Appraisal reports can be one of the most confusing things to read...

until you have someone walk you through it.

Once you take this class, you will be able to swiftly and easily read and understand any residential appraisal!

Learn from a mortgage insider everything you need to know about appraisal reports and valuation data.

Get all your questions answered about how the appraisal is written, what to look for, and how to effectively navigate a low appraisal.

Bonus section:

***New Appraisal Changes Effective April 1st 2022*** Get the inside scoop on the New ANSI measuring changes and how it will affect your business! A must attend event.

Join us for a very informative, lighthearted, and surprisingly entertaining deep dive into appraisal land.

Instructor: Annie Fitzsimmons

Brokers should learn from recent DOL disciplinary trends and that inattention to detail is often a violation of law and the basis for license suspension. Brokers will be advised of current DOL trends and reminded of the importance to adhering to state laws and regulation.

Instructor: Jan Ellingson

Expanding Housing Opportunities (EHO) is a 4-hour education course developed by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). The course is designed to help real estate professionals understand affordable housing issues and how their role in increasing housing opportunities. The class is designed to: educate students on the range of affordable housing opportunities and clients seeking them; increase students’ knowledge and understanding of how affordability impacts the housing market, their clients, their business, and their community; help students analyze affordable financing options through credible lenders, including local, state, federal, and non-profit assistance programs for buyers and renters; and teach students how to better leverage partnerships and resources to expand housing opportunities through workforce housing initiatives, green building concepts, and advocacy to benefit the student, their clients, and their communities. The class is designed for an audience of real estate professionals, including real estate brokers and owners.

Instructor: Annie Fitzsimmons

Form 22C, the Seller Financing Addendum seems to include rules up front that eliminate my seller from using the form!  How do I handle that?  What are we supposed to do with Form 35R when there is not enough room to write seller's counteroffer or buyer's reply?  My buyer wants to write an offer without a financing contingency but Form 21 forces my buyer to represent that buyer is NOT relying on a contingent source of funds.  How can I follow my buyer's instructions and use the statewide forms?  And what about the escalation addendum?!  The price calculation makes NO sense!  If you've heard yourself say any of these things, attend "Forms We Love to Hate But Have to Use" and make sense of these and other forms conundrums.

Instructor: Mike Schoonover

This class helps real estate agents dip their toe into the commercial fields. Students will learn the players in a commercial transaction, key differences between commercial and residential real estate, types of commercial properties, types of commercial transactions, commercial contracts, and resources. If you’ve ever considered working in the field of commercial real estate this class is for you.

Instructor: Amy Remington

Students will be given an overview of Government Financing with corresponding lending guidelines including an understanding of basic qualifications, what lenders look for in a file when granting a government mortgage loan, and little known ways to use government financing.

Instructor: Michael Smith

This course will teach you how to guide your buyers through the mortgage preapproval process by, for example, creating a mortgage application checklist with all the documents they’ll need. The course also covers resources for addressing low credit scores, alternative financing options like first-time homebuyer assistance or low-down payment programs, and how to avoid the most common mortgage sticking points in a transaction. For example, the mortgage preapproval—not just prequalification—has become key for buyers competing against multiple offers in today’s market.

Instructor: Jan Ellingson

This class will take students though home staging basics, signs of hoarding, indoor & outdoor staging, and how to do all of this on a budget. This class will help you hone in on techniques that help your listings sell!

Instructor: Terry Eccles-Pettet

In this dynamic class you will learn best practices for using the internet, email, social media, and online marketing for real estate. We will go in-depth into today’s online culture and learn proper etiquette for navigating the web while building an online community and sphere.

Instructor: Annie Fitzsimmons

Upon completion of this course, the student will have been introduced to current real estate fraud schemes being carried out through internet activities, dating services, phone solicitations and other means. The student will be taught simple practices that will protect not only themselves, but when implemented and shared with consumers, will derail fraud schemes and protect clients and consumers as well.

Instructor: Annie Fitzsimmons

This 3 hour class is an intense look at the forms in the 35 series of forms, including the inspection addendum and all associated forms and the escalation addendum.  How should you use these forms to best serve your client?  What risks lurk below the surface when using these forms?  How do you draft the Form 35R to accomplish the buyer's goals without inadvertently waiving buyer's inspection contingency? Does the escalation addendum lead to the best price for the seller?  For the buyer?  Attend this class and learn everything you always wanted to know about the Inspection Addendum and the Escalation Addendum ... and maybe a few things you didn't know you wanted to know!

Instructor: Annie Fitzsimmons

This class is an expanded version of the Statewide Forms 1/2 Day class and will teach use of the basic statewide residential forms and provide opportunity for students to ask questions relative to any of the statewide forms. The class is taught by one of the lawyers who played a significant role in drafting the statewide forms. Every class will be tailored to meet the students at their collective experience level. Each class can be very basic or quite advanced, depending on the experience level of the majority of the students in attendance.

Instructor: Lee Nguyen

Through the Military Relocation Professional (MRP) certification course, you will learn how to help current and former military service members find housing that best meets their needs. You’ll understand what military benefits and support they are eligible for, along with how to access them. Thie MRP certification course will equip you to provide the real estate services—at any stage in the service member’s military career—that meet the needs of this market and win future referrals. After completion of the course, you'll be on your way to earning the Military Relocation Professional (MRP) Certification.

Instructor: Michael Smith

The mortgage loan process is complex and rarely without glitches. Important details can get overlooked causing a purchase to be delayed or denied. Understanding this process so that you can better educate your clients can add value to your skill set as a broker. In this class, you will: Learn the lending process from the buyer and seller perspectives Recognize elements and aspects of a credit qualification Identify the "red flags" of buyer financing and different types of loans Learn the difference between pre-qualification, conditional loan approval, pre-approval and between the types of money lenders. Increase knowledge on using specialized forms Discuss real life scenarios discussed from the seller and buyer side transactions Minimize transaction fall-out due to financing contingency(s)

Instructor: All Instructors

This course provides agents with the latest in high customer service standards through a look at the Code of Ethics and the changes that have been implemented for the current year. Learn how to avoid the pitfalls of an ethics violation and what the process is when a violation does occur. Learn the options for settling disputes with clients, customers and other practitioners. Learn how to run your business ethically! This day is filled with real-life experiences, practices and exercises, and thought-provoking information.

NAR’s Green Designation Course: People, Property, Planet, Prosperity covers the distinguishing characteristics that make a high-performance home. The course looks at how consumer demand for these homes is increasing and provides a detailed accounting of how high-performance features work. The course prepares real estate professionals to provide advice and sources of information to help homeowners improve the performance of their homes— from low-cost fixes and DIY projects, to retrofitting and replacing systems, to big budget remodeling projects and new constructions. Ultimately, this course will show you how to apply green knowledge to enhance your business while also helping to create a more sustainable, healthy world.

Description of instructional materials (text, charts, examples of forms, handouts, pamphlets, booklets, etc.)
This class consists of one panel discussion introducing real estate professionals to the importance of addressing the growing population of Latino/a/Hispanic buyers and commercial clients. The National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP) provides data relevant to the handouts and PowerPoint presentations for this course in their Annual State of Hispanic Homeownership Report and State of Hispanic Wealth Report.

Specify the course learning objectives for each learning unit and describe how the learning objectives cover the subject matter (see page 3) - as related to cross cultural communication?
● Section 1: Students will learn about the data of the growing Hispanic/Latino/a populations in Washington State from a Freddie Mac and NAHREP (National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals) presenters.
● Section 2: Students will learn about programs and common cultural real estate practices that can help the Hispanic/Latino/a populations in Washington State on a path to homeownership.
● Section 3: Students will learn from an international bilingual corporate lawyer about the business side of representing Latino/a clients in commercial corporate real estate; and from nonprofit professionals whose mission is to help the Hispanic/Latino/a communities

Instructor: Annie Fitzsimmons

On October 3, 2022, there will be a forms change that will unquestionably change the way you do business. The change will impact how you are paid and "if" you are paid. You will be unprepared if you are not fully aware of the forms change and if you do not start changing your practices prior to October 3. The forms change bears directly on buyer broker compensation.  In this class, we will discuss the facts that are driving this significant evolution within the industry, why it is important and what brokers need to do now, to be prepared and what brokers will need to do on and after October 3, 2022.

Instructor: Annie Fitzsimmons

This class will review the following forms in depth. Form 35, From 35E, Form 22A, Form 22AD, Form 21 and Computation of time and FIRPTA.

Instructor: Annie Fitzsimmons

In January 2024, the Agency Law will be revised. The changes in law will necessitate significant change for most brokers in their delivery of services to clients. The changes will impact: the agreements brokers enter with buyers and sellers; the timing of when those agreements are signed; how those agreements are negotiated; how and even if, brokers are compensated; and many other aspects of a broker's relationship to the broker's client and the other party in the transaction. With the changes in law, there will be changes to the forms and there will be substantial changes in industry practices. The media will likely pick up on these changes and create consumer expectations around compensation and other practices that brokers must be prepared to address. Simply put, if you fail to prepare for the changes coming in January 2024, prepare to suffer financial, legal and/or regulatory difficulty. This class is intended to give you the information you need to empower change so that you not only avoid difficulty but so that you embrace the change to achieve greater success than before. 

Instructor: Annie Fitzsimmons

The revised Agency Law took effect January 1, 2024, and changed existing law, practices and forms within the Washington real estate industry. The changes were dramatic and impacted substantially, the way that brokers engage with consumers, how brokers are compensated, how brokers memorialize compensation agreements, and how consumers view the industry and their involvement in residential and commercial real estate transactions.  This class will cover....

Instructor: Jan Ellingson

Planning and zoning serve as  the basis for all communities—the communities of your past and present, as  well as  communities of the future. This course will teach you the basic components and processes of the planning and zoning phases of real estate development, and how these phases must lead us to a better way of developing communities through the application of smart growth principles. You will learn how to not only strengthen your business but also become an advocate for smart, sustainable, equitable growth in your community. In effect, by the time this course is complete, you will see the future of your community, and your business, in a whole new way!

Instructor: Jan Ellingson

Many factors impact a determination of procuring cause, but no one factor is by itself determinative. Procuring cause is in fact the interplay of factors which together demonstrate that the unbroken efforts of a specific broker were responsible for the buyer making the decision to consummate the sale on terms which the seller found acceptable. This class will help students better understand relationships in a transaction and help avoid messy outcomes regarding commissions.

Instructor: Jan Ellingson

This class is an “express” version of Regional Professional Standards. Learn the options for settling disputes with clients, customers and other practitioners. Learn how to run your business ethically! This day is filled with real-life experiences, practices and exercises, and thought-provoking information.

Instructor: Karene Loman

This a 7.5 CE Course focusing on the current purchase and sale forms used to write a residential contract.  The PSA contract is the foundation of the transaction between buyers and sellers in real estate and this class will help you with these type of transactions.

Instructor: Annie Fitzsimmons

This dynamic and content rich class will help students become thoroughly familiar with the standard of care required of a broker when drafting a purchase agreement and will be able to recognize and prepare agreements that meet the required standard of care.

Instructor: Michael Smith

Who is it for? The Real Estate Negotiation Expert (RENE) certification is for real estate professionals who want to sharpen their negotiation skills. The RENE certification program gives REALTORS® the tips and tools they need to be skillful advocates for their clients. What You Gain Improve your negotiating skills Learn about behind-the-scenes issues and how to deal with them Learn how to handle a wide range of personalities and situations Learn to sort out the competing objectives of the parties involved in a transaction.

Instructor: Terry Eccles-Pettet

Developed in partnership with NAR's REALTOR® Safety program, this three-hour course is an essential primer on how real estate professionals can limit risk to preserve safety—their safety, their clients' safety—and for positive business outcomes. Students will learn how to assess risk in their current practice and create safety systems, scripts, and tools for listing appointments, showing property, and conducting open houses. Students will also learn how to protect personal and electronic information online, in the cloud, and on social networks. As a practical resource, this course offers easy-to-remember strategies for real estate professionals when facing potentially dangerous situations.

Instructor: Jan Ellingson

This course provides agents with the latest in high customer service standards through a look at the Code of Ethics and the changes that have been implemented for the current year. Learn how to avoid the pitfalls of an ethics violation and what the process is when a violation does occur. Learn the options for settling disputes with clients, customers and other practitioners. Learn how to run your business ethically! This day is filled with real-life experiences, practices and exercises, and thought-provoking information. NOTE: This class satisfied the NAR Code of Ethics training requirement.

Instructor: Michael Smith

Who Is It For? The Seller Representative Specialist (SRS) designation is the premier credential in seller representation. It is designed to elevate professional standards and enhance personal performance. The designation is awarded to real estate practitioners by the Real Estate Business Institute (REBI) who meet specific educational and practical experience criteria. What You Gain The SRS Course will redefine your "normal" and reinvent the way you represent sellers. It provides a comprehensive foundation of skill development, training and resources to help real estate professionals represent the interests of sellers in today’s marketplace. Students learn to: Increase listings and grow their business Demonstrate and communicate their value package to seller clients Understand and apply the Code of Ethics & Standards of Practice Understand and comply with state license laws when representing sellers Understand and apply methods, tools, and techniques to provide support and services that sellers want and need Additional Member Benefits Include: Membership in an elite group of trained seller client advocates Access to a wealth of member-only education, resources and services. “Find An SRS” Online Directory for the public to access and for direct member to member referral opportunities Subscription to the bi-monthly digital Real Estate Business Magazine(link is external) SRS social media community – Facebook(link is external), LinkedIn(link is external) and Twitter(link is external)

Instructor: Michael Smith

The Seniors Real Estate Specialist® (SRES®) designation is for REALTORS® who want to be able to meet the special needs of maturing Americans when selling, buying, relocating, or refinancing residential or investment properties. By earning the SRES® designation, REALTORS® are prepared to approach mature clients with the best options and information for them to make life-changing decisions. What You Gain: Access to the online SRES® member database; Access to the members-only section of the SRES® web site; Consumer marketing materials; Quarterly newsletter; Marketing letters; Scripts and concepts for contacting clients age 50+

Instructor: Michael Smith

Taught from the investor’s standpoint, the real estate professional will learn the history of the vacation rental market, how to research various markets, purchase options, STR restrictions, set up (furnishings), marketing, hosting and management. Diversifying one’s real property equity can be challenging but very lucrative if your systems and processes are set up beforehand.

Topics include:
Second Home or Investment Property
Financing the purchase
Insurance / Liability
Preparing your property
Marketing your property
Renting your property
Accounting
Management
Emergency Resources (on-call)

Instructor: Michael Smith

Are you experiencing changes in your market? Market dynamics require agents to be adaptable... Let's Create a Success Plan! Featured Topics: Identify key elements in your business plan; Modify how you do business based on current housing trends and market performance; Identify how and where to make changes in your business plan and tactics; Adjust finances and marketing budgets; Reset goals to maintain or exceed production level

Instructor: Annie Fitzsimmons, Camden Schutte

Summer Learning ... summ'er not.  Glad You're Here!"  A lot is changing this summer and this class is your chance to prepare in advance so that you don't get surprised.  Either way, you will learn.  We hope you will learn with us, rather than learning "the hard way". This class will take an in-depth view of statewide forms revisions scheduled for release during summer 2023 and guide real estate agents on proper use. Additionally, we will review law changes taking effect during summer 2023 including: HB 1070 (Exempting seller leasebacks from LL/T Act); SSHB 1474 (Creating the Covenant Homeownership Account and Program); SHB 1110 (Middle Housing); SSB 5399 (Future Listing Right Contracts); HB 1337 (Easing barriers for ADUs); SSB 5258 (Condo Declarant Right to Cure) and others.  

Instructor: Michael Smith

Students will learn about the following:

Instructor: Camden Schutte

This class is designed for both new and experienced agents seeking to enhance their understanding and proficiency in handling real estate forms. This comprehensive class covers key topics such as less commonly used forms & situations, legal requirements, proper completion & customization. Through practical application and case studies, participants will gain the necessary skills to navigate real estate transactions with confidence, ensuring successful outcomes and protecting their clients' interests while providing a real estate experience to celebrate. 

 

Instructor: Annie Fitzsimmons

In every transaction, brokers, buyers and sellers have disclosure obligations. These obligations arise from statutory law and from case law. How do you know what to disclose and what not to disclose? This class attempts to answer this question by studying actual court decisions and analyzing what made the court rule the way it did. The difference between liability and no liability may be surprising to you!

Instructor: Terry Eccles-Pettet

“HOW” we do business is a crucial factor toward your success. This class delves into top shelf practices that will help take your business, and reputation, to the next level.

Instructor: Terry Eccles-Pettet

From REALTOR® to Instructor. This dynamic 2-day class will help train and prepare you to effectively instruct adult learners, provide techniques on how to deliver information, show how to organize your content, give you tips on what is needed for a successful class and create great learning experiences. This 15.0 clock hour course satisfies the Department of Licensing requirement for Instructor Certification Approval.

 Day One Goal:  Instructor License. Understanding of what makes a great course. How to write a course "they" will want to attend. Learning Presentation style and platforms. Explore the learning styles of students. Managing your environment.

Day Two Goal: CE's & You. Certificates & Record Keeping. Marketing and PR. Before you Teach- It's all in the prep. Self-examination- prepare, practice and present. Your presentation- 8-10 minutes of passion

Instructors: Annie Fitzsimmons, Mark Kitabayashi, Jan Ellingson, Camden Schutte, Karene Loman

 

DOL has implemented Substitute Senate Bill 5378. The bill requires education on Fair Housing for new licensees and renewals. It applies to real estate brokers and managing brokers and went into effect June 1st, 2022. This is part of the required 30-hour continuing education instruction.

The first active renewal after June 1st, 2022, must include the 6-hour Washington Real Estate Fair housing class. With every renewal afterward, licensees must complete a 3-hour course.

The purpose of this course is to introduce real estate brokers and managing brokers to the federal Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. 3601 et seq.) and the Washington Law Against Discrimination (chapter 49.60 RCW) as it relates to real estate transactions.

The course will teach real estate brokers and managing brokers the historical and societal context of housing discrimination, legal framework intended to prevent housing discrimination, and steps to take to prevent housing discrimination.

Topic Area I: Historical and Societal Context 
Topic Area II: Legal Framework 
Topic Area III: Role of the Broker and Managing Broker 

Instructor: Bill Clarke

This class focuses on water rights and water supply issues involved in real estate transactions and development projects, an increasingly complex issue in both urban and rural areas. The existing Seller’s Disclosure Form, which includes a number of questions on water supply issues, is used as a tool to help REALTORS® understand key issues, and to identify and preserve opportunities and minimize risks for their clients. (Approved for Appraiser hours)

Instructor: Annie Fitzsimmons

During this course students will be confronted with a variety of problems that typically challenge brokers in the handling of a transaction. Prior to the presentation of each scenario, the brokers will be given/reminded of some background information they should know about the Agency Law, License Law, Forms, Fair Housing, Drafting Principles, Disclosure, Advertising, Earnest Money, Unauthorized Practice of Law and other issue of significance to the provision of Real Estate Brokerage Services. The students will have to synthesize background information and knowledge and apply it to a resolution of issues. Resolution will require students to employ good communication skills, problem solving skills, hone quick decision-making resources (who can a broker reliably call for fast assistance), recognize high-pressure bullying from the other side of the transaction and develop a response, and collaborate to develop solutions to real problems faced by real brokers.

Instructor: Jan Ellingson

This class will help you navigate your way through online technologies and create strategies that conform to Article 12of the Code of Ethics.

Instructor: Camden Schutte

In "Will work for ____?" we delve into the dynamic landscape of the industry and empower you with essential knowledge. You will discover the transformative changes shaping real estate, including emerging trends and technology's impact. Learn why real estate service agreements are crucial, safeguarding your interests while setting clear expectations. Uncover your true value as a real estate agent, exploring your unique skills and how to effectively communicate them and adapt to ever-changing consumer expectations. Don't miss this opportunity to elevate your real estate career and stay ahead of the curve. Sign up now for a class that will redefine your success in the industry!

Instructor: John Blom

Working With Investors is a three-hour course intended to help brokers expand their business opportunities by giving them the tools needed to work with investors. The course was developed to introduce brokers to the factors that influence an investors decision making process. The course reviews key terms such as gross rent multiplier, operating expenses, net operating income, and capitalization that investors use to evaluate potential investments. It describes the different ways that real estate can provide a return to the investor and examines the impact of financing on the return. Using that knowledge, it also teaches brokers how to identify and evaluate specific properties to meet an investor’s objectives. The target audience is real estate brokers with some residential experience but who are unfamiliar with real estate investment.

Instructor: Jan Ellingson

Seller Disclosure Statements are only the beginning of the discourse process. It is important that REALTORS® know their obligations and responses to these potential dangers. This class will help you maneuver through the minefield of disclosures issues.

Instructor: Annie Fitzsimmons

This class merges the best of both worlds from Annie's popular "Wow… What Just Happened & the Best of Legal Hotline," classes and bridges the two seamlessly. Students will review the most significant issues facing real estate practitioners as well as address questions and concerns from your real estate practice. The course content is always current, because it changes from class to class based on the topics that are relevant to the students in attendance. You will receive pointers and tips that you can apply immediately to your practice to reduce your own liability and to improve the quality and success of the transactions you put together.

Instructor: Annie Fitzsimmons

Holy smokes! Did you get the license plate off that bus? Sometimes that is the way this industry feels. In the last several years, issues of huge significance have rocked the peaceful foundation of our industry and created turbulence out of what many of us knew, for decades, to be still waters. This class examines the most weighty and significant issues of the last 12 months and places them in perspective. How do those issues affect brokers in their day to day sales? What can brokers do to avoid problems created by recent statutory case law? Sometimes, understanding the underpinnings of a problem can make the solution more manageable. This class studies current issues and problems and reveals the most effective solutions and strategies in easy to understand language.