Where ISN’T Real Estate hurting?

I always hear of the elusive cities where real estate seems to be an “untouchable”-the caste system of such things being quite opposite than Indian society. Untouchable is described as the cost not dropping, going as far as even saying the costs for certain homes or areas are rising! How can this be? Is Real Estate even an area that people want to work in, let alone invest in? Well, the answer is, yes actually.

Although there are areas that have stunted growth or actually reverse growth, there are cities doing incredibly well. For example, in a list created by Forbes for the 10 best cities to buy a home in, unsurprisingly, four Texas cities make the cut. To top the list is Houston, TX with home sales prices with a 6.6% increase.

The list is as follows:

1.Houston, TX
2.Austin, TX
3.St. Louis, MO
4.Philadelphia, PA
5.San Antonio, TX
6.Dallas, TX
7.Charlotte, NC
8.San Francisco, CA
9.Jacksonville, FL
10.Atlanta, GA

If you are thinking of a career change but live in these cities, think again! And with Agentcampus.com’s MCE in Texas, this is a perfect time to excel in your career in the Lone Star State.

Need a new career?

AgentCampus.com also offers pre-licensing courses for Real Estate.

What should it cost to become a Realtor?

I came across this posting from a prospective real estate agent in Texas. He is asking a pretty straight forward question, but is still hard to answer.

At AgentCampus, we offer real estate licensing courses in all states that will let us. But that is just the first step. I have been talking to many new agents in Texas recently, and they all say the same thing: it costs a lot of money to be a real estate agent in your first year. The training is the easy part.

The fees for local associations, exams, and that 60 hours in your first year is what really gets you. To be a real estate agent requires training and exams. To be a REALTOR and have access to the MLS, that's a more. But it is what is required to be a serious agent.

Just like I said about Home Inspection becoming more regulated, this is most likely a good thing. It keeps the people who are only "so so" about becoming an agent out. It's the barrier to entry. If you want to do this, you have to be serious. But when it is just ridiculous? Are other states the same way?

Don't get me wrong, I am not slamming the MLS, NAR, or anyone else. Truthfully I don't know enough about that subject to really do it justice. I am just posing that question. What should it cost to become a Realtor? Does anyone really tell you in the beginning what the investment really is? How important do you think it'd be to tell prospective agents this?

On a side note: We are developing Prospective Agent kits for people who want to become agents in the states we offer training. Keeps your eyes out for them. I might even post some of the knowledge I find on here and see what you all think. I'd love input on what you would have liked to know BEFORE becoming an agent.

Real Estate License? What?

I am on a weekly mailer from Google that let's me know what's going on in the Real Estate world. One thing I have noticed recently is an increase in blogs being posted with the title "How to Get Your Real Estate License"

If the posting isn't complete jibberish, then the instructions are specific to some state. One thing that we at AgentCampus.com are fully aware of is the fact that getting a real estate license is completely different dependent on your state. One state might require 210 hours for training to take their state test, another may not allow online training, and yet another may require specific courses to get your real estate license.

I am currently working on a guide for various states. A definitive "how to get your real estate license" that will cover your state. We are starting with the states we offer training in, but if you're nice and send me an email, I might be persuaded to do one in your state as well.

But always know, the best place to find out how to get your license is your state's real estate commission. Don't get duped into some fake program. Always remember each state is special. Look for something that is approved by your state before moving forward.

New Course: Laws, Rules, & Court Cases

Understanding the laws of the real estate industry can be tricky, but thanks to AgentCampus.com, now Michigan Real Estate agents have an easy, convenient way to get the required training they need. Recently approved by the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth, this course satisfies the mandatory 2 hours of Continuing Education that Real Estate license holders are required to complete by October 31, 2007.

We are excited to announce the release of our 2 hour Laws, Rules, & Court Cases course online in Michigan. This course teaches Michigan Real Estate license holders the information they need to ensure they comply with Michigan real estate laws and understand necessary regulatory information. Particularly focusing on occupational code and general rules established by the Michigan Occupational Code Section 2504(4), the new course also covers the Seller Disclosure Act and issues relating to inspections.

You can access the new course through the AgentCampus Real Estate Continuing Education page.

Welcoming New Investment Resources

The real estate industry is ever-changing and I enjoy learning about new programs to help real estate professionals, investors and clients. One that I came across the other day is an online resource to those looking to invest in real estate in Mexico.

Uncovered: A New Resource for Real Estate Investment Opportunities in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico describes how the real estate investment boom in Mexico has been capitalized by FundVallarta.

FundVallarta announced a full online resource for discovering real estate investment opportunities in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, along with a comprehensive knowledge-based resource center providing applicable articles.

This can surely facilitate the process of discovering possible investment opportunities. Such resources not only encourage the prospective agents to get their real estate license and to start this promising career, but also encourages practicing agents to pursue continuing education or post-license education to ensure their existence in the market.

I am hoping to see other such programs develop in other US markets to drive more business and interest in real estate. The more education we are exposed to, the better real estate professionals and neighbors we become.