Colorado Real Estate Continuing Education Courses

About

The Annual Commission Update (ACU) Course is offered by the Colorado Real Estate Commission to keep real estate brokers abreast of the latest industry developments and regulations and provide the knowledge and skills necessary for compliant brokerage practice in the state of Colorado. This course covers a variety of important topics including broker statistics, compliance, general practice issues, contracts & forms, legislation, and commission news & updates.

Through this course, brokers will gain awareness of Colorado Real Estate Commission investigations, results of violations, and Continuing Education requirements in Colorado. They will also learn how to prepare for and respond to practice issues encountered in their brokerage practice, identify changes made to various existing CREC-approved contracts and forms, and gain a better understanding of the numerous new laws that have taken effect since the end of the legislative session.

The Colorado Real Estate Commission Annual Commission Update (ACU) Course is provided to update licensees of timely and important real estate matters. The Colorado Real Estate Commission recommends that brokers take the Annual Commission Update (ACU) course between January and June, as it offers fresh information that brokers need know for the competent practice of real estate brokerage.

Topics Covered

Lesson 1: Compliance
Lesson 2: General Practice Issues
Lesson 3: Legislation
Lesson 4: Commission News and Resources

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this lesson, learners will be able to:

• Identify what qualifies as unworthy, incompetent practice as a licensee
• Cite examples of how text messages might not suffice for a more detailed conversation with clients during a transaction
• Recognize that jurisdictions in the state often have significantly different geographical requirements in relation to real estate transactions
• State how many hours of Continuing Education in one day that the Division of Real Estate will accept from licensees
• State who has the obligation to ensure that a transaction file is complete
• List what materials might be appropriate to maintain above and beyond the documents that are required by the Division in a transaction file
• Summarize the stages of the process when the Division receives a complaint regarding a licensee
• Demonstrate how a licensee can update their email with the Division
• Summarize the purpose and process for use of the Notice to Terminate form
• State how RESPA applies to Brokers receiving compensation for referrals
• Identify important updates to leasing legislation recently in Colorado
• Define Social Engineering and how it affects the real estate industry
• Outline how a Buyer properly uses the Post Closing Occupancy Agreement
• Consider the effects and ongoing issues arising from the NAR Settlement
• Cite recent updates to Commission-approved contracts and forms
• Describe what constitutes a Qualifying Property 
• Outline the process of Right of First Refusal (ROFR) and how it relates to affordable housing
• Summarize the issues arising from Accessory Dwelling Units (ADU) in Common Interest Communities
• Recall some of the laws passed specific to Common Interest Communities
• Identify protected traits added to the CROWN Act
• Summarize the new rules governing real estate brokers
• Identify what resources are available on the Division's website
• Cite a number of different client resources related to Veteran's Affairs and foreclosure

About

In conjunction with local and state REALTOR® boards and associations, we are proud to present this Ethics for REALTORS® course online. This course meets the NAR Ethics renewal requirements and may be reported by students to the local and/or state association upon completion.

For more information on Fair Housing, you can view articles in HUD's library by clicking here. You may also want to watch the video on this page.

Fair housing is a right—not a privilege. Fair housing is the law—not just an idea. Each of us is a member of several protected classes. Fair housing laws apply to and protect all of us!

Verify MLS rules in your area to determine what requirements may exist regarding input of listings. Fines may be imposed on those who fail to input a listing in a timely fashion.

A careful and detailed explanation of the terms of the contract which refer to the duties and obligations of the licensee is the basic risk reduction procedure. Asking for acknowledgement that the buyer or seller understands the contract language and answering all questions posed is good insurance against this type of charge.

Obviously, all licensees should advise the buyer or seller to consult an attorney before signing any real estate form, or do they?

This list of words may be incomplete. Fair Housing Laws were created to level the playing field and to punish those who have been found to discriminate.

Topics Covered

Lesson 1: The Code

Lesson 2: Scenarios

Lesson 3: Enforcement

Lesson 4: Additional Issues

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Learn the code of ethics along with the preamble.
• Go through the core basic duties to the clients & customers, duties to the public and duties to REALTORS®. with respective articles.
• Discuss various scenarios, case studies and examples in order to master the Ethics for REALTORS®.
• Learn various enforcements and obligations predefined to be followed along with additional issues and pathways to professionalism.

About

The 101s of Processing Short Sales
That Every Real Estate Professional Should Know

There is no doubt that short sales are an integral part of the real estate marketplace, or that there will be short sales in the future. The basic tenets of the process have been around for a while, but with the rash of foreclosures and the ever-increasing desire (not to mention political pressure) for lenders to allow modifications or short sales, it is more important than ever that the real estate professional be equipped with the knowledge necessary to assist their clients and customers through the short sale process.

Topics Covered

This course focuses on the following topics:

Lesson 01: What Is a Short Sale?
Lesson 02: Hardship
Lesson 03: Questions
Lesson 04: Putting it Together
Lesson 05: Qualifying the Buyer
Lesson 06: Title & Follow Up
Lesson 07: Closing
Lesson 08: Short Sale Reality
Lesson 09: Stepping into a Short Sale Process
Lesson 10: Government Help
Lesson 11: Stepping into a Lender’s World
Lesson 12: Legal Face of a Short Sale

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, you will be able to:

• Qualify the seller to see if the seller is a candidate for doing a short sale, and knowing the right questions to ask, going in.
• Collect the appropriate documents from the seller.
• Qualify the buyer.
• Determine how the Settlement Statement should look, and how you can help a title company understand what you need.
• Follow up with the lender through the process and asking the right questions.
• Understand closing.
• Learn what it means to be a “distressed” homeowner and what a “distressed” home means.
• Understand the difference between foreclosure and a Short Sale.
• Define the most misunderstood concepts like “the parties to a Short Sale Purchase Contract” and the parties to a “Short Sale transaction”.
• Summarize the pros, the cons, and Short Sales challenges to help you handle the Short Sale transaction properly.
• Understand the real estate agent’s fiduciary duties.
• Understand the proper ways to handle the latter and discover the invaluable tips to help you work with your Short Sale buyers and sellers.
• Introduction to the lending terminology and the role of the US government in pre-foreclosure and foreclosure situations.
• Learn about the US government reaction to the Short Sale/Foreclosure disasters.
• Discover the best ways to handle multiple lien holders through understanding the Short Sale process and lender’s requirements.
• Learn about the legal and ethical aspect of a Short Sale transaction.
• Understand Predatory Short Sale fraud.

About

There is so much we as listing agents can do to serve our sellers, regardless of the state of the local real estate market and the economy. We aren't helpless. We aren’t powerless when it comes to selling houses. Even in a difficult market, we have far more power and control over whether our listings sell than we give ourselves credit for.

This course is about how to sell those listings you work so hard to get, so that you actually see a paycheck for your efforts and, of course, get yourself a delighted seller who will be happy to refer business to you for years to come. Because it doesn’t matter if you’re the best FSBO converter on the planet—or have an expired campaign to die for—if you can’t sell those listings you’re so good at getting, then what’s the point?

Topics Covered

This course focuses on the following topics:

• Lesson 1: Preparation and Pricing 1-10
• Lesson 2: Pricing, Condition and Accessibility 11-22
• Lesson 3: Challenges, Checklists and Marketing 23-45
• Lesson 4: Advertising, Inspection & Appraisal 46-64
• Lesson 5: Evaluating Your Listings 65-74

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the course, you will be able to:

• Understand Why the first 30 days are critical in any listing
• Explain What motivates us during the initial listing period
• Understand What information we should be gathering during this time
• Explain What happens after the first 30 days - i.e. What is at risk
• Relate the value of accessibility
• Recognize the impact of price reductions and underpricing
• Describe the importance of property condition
• Explain how to reduce the potential for hurt feelings during a transaction
• Recognize the importance for real estate professionals to do only what they are hired to do. Do not exceed your responsibilities during a transaction (i.e. acting like a home inspector)
• Discuss the need for good correspondence. Anything observed or overheard which may be of importance should be recorded.
• Identify the need to stage properties.
• Recognize the need for having the appropriate checklists to help identify areas of concern.
• Define the need for the real estate professional to ask questions about any "red flags" that they may find, see, or smell
• Define advertising, offers, inspection, appraisal and elaborate on how to handle each
• Take simple steps you can take that will ease the transaction for the most important people - your clients and customers.

About

This contracts course was created for licensed real estate brokers in Colorado to understand the changes effective in January 2024.

In addition to the updated contracts and new forms, licensees will review concepts of contract law, brokerage relationships, permitted changes, disclosures, and closing forms and procedures. By the end of this course, licensees will demonstrate a working knowledge of the contract forms promulgated by the Colorado Real Estate Commission and will be ready to use them appropriately and effectively in practice.

Competence in preparing contracts is a fundamental skill every real estate licensee must master. The terms of the agreement have legally binding implications for both the licensee and the principal and must be prepared carefully, with diligent attention to detail, such that all duties and promises are clearly and completely defined. In so doing, licensees will be equipped to avoid the possibility of contract errors and misunderstandings, which can result in ill will, lawsuits, and disciplinary action.

Whether the learner is a seasoned real estate professional or just starting, this course will enhance their ability to execute their responsibilities as a real estate licensee. By the end of the course, licensees will be equipped to confidently navigate the real estate transaction with a renewed appreciation for their role in helping clients achieve a successful closing.

Topics Covered

In this course we will focus on the following topics:

• Review of contract law and brokerage relationships
• Commission-approved contracts
• Listing and sale contracts
• Contracts in property management and leasing
• Closing forms and procedures
• 2024 Updated redline contracts review

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Define and distinguish between different brokerage relationships along dimensions of authority, duties, contract law, and legal implications.
• Identify the significance of Conway-Bogue as a landmark case which led to the use of Commission promulgated contracts.
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of the contract forms promulgated by the Colorado Real estate Commission for use by licensees in real estate transactions and an understanding of the purpose and role of each of the clauses within the contract.
• Specify the permitted modifications to the Commission approved forms including which clauses can and cannot be edited and in what manner they may be modified.
• Identify the contract changes and new forms going into effect in 2024 and understand the importance and reasoning behind the new requirements for radon disclosures passed into law in 2023.

About

Welcome!

Americans have many ways and places to invest their money. They choose a product (whichever investment they desire) generally through analysis and comparison. Many times, however, the investor chooses a product because of the knowledge and sales ability of the salesperson. Many investors are missing the opportunity to achieve optimum diversification, enabling them to potentially increase investment returns with less risk, simply because they have not taken the time to understand real estate investing.

• This course provides an introduction to investment real estate.
• Real estate investment terminology, taxation, and principles of investing in real estate will be reviewed.
• Learners will complete and analyze cash flow and tax analysis forms, cash flows after-tax, as well as net operating income.

Topics Covered

Lesson 1: Real Estate Investment

Lesson 2: Risk/Profit

Lesson 3: Analysis

Lesson 4: Exercises

Lesson 5: Loss & Transfer

Lesson 6: Workshop

Lesson 7: Investment Property & 1031 Exchange

Lesson 8: Managing Investment Real Estate

Lesson 9: Fair Housing

Lesson 10: Financing Investment Real Estate

Lesson 11: Mechanics of the 1031 Exchange

Lesson 12: Real World Practice

Lesson 13: Other Types of Exchanges

Lesson 14: Real Estate Practice

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Discuss the basics of investing in residential real estate which include the profit and risk potentials.
• Explain the overall characteristics of real estate investments.
• Elaborate on the basics of comparing investment properties which includes a detailed approach to property analysis.
• Understand the various aspects of loss and transfer and investment property requirements.
• Explain Fair Housing and how its related issues impact the overall real estate investment.
• Gain an understanding of financing investment in real estate and other types of exchanges.
• Practice through various real estate scenarios by reviewing real-world case studies and get a deeper understanding of investment property.

About

This course aims to promote safety, integrity, and trust in the real estate industry to benefit consumers and practitioners. Real estate licensees are entrusted by members of the public on a daily basis in the form of access to their homes, safeguarding their sensitive information, and counsel in matters that impact their financial and physical well-being. When a homebuyer is concerned for the safety of their family in a home with high radon levels or in close proximity to fracking, they ask their agent. As such, agency relationships are nuanced with layers of responsibility that far exceed fiduciary duties. In this course licensees will expand their awareness of their obligations to the public and their understanding of how these obligations are met.

Additionally, licensees are invited to hold one another accountable to high standards of safety in real estate practice, not limited to issues such as lockbox use and indoor air quality concerns that impact consumers, but also regarding issues that impact occupational health and wellbeing of real estate professionals including issues of discrimination and norms in the industry that perpetuate risk-taking behaviors on the job.

Topics Covered

Lesson 1: Duties of Consumer Protection under License Law

Lesson 2: Best Practices for Safety and Accountability

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Define competence in real estate practice and safeguarding the interests of the public throughout various stages of the transaction process.
• Expand our understanding of discrimination in the context of fair housing and real estate licensee interactions, as well as court cases related to brokerage structure considerations.
• Identify, list, and evaluate the best practices set forth by the Colorado Division of Real Estate
• Recite the policies set forth by the Division of Real Estate pertaining to lock box codes and property access.
• Identify risks to consumers in the absence of adequate security protocols.

About

The purpose of this course is to keep real estate professionals up to date with current contracts, disclosures, and forms. The goal of this Colorado Listing Contracts course is to give the student a working in-depth knowledge of the Colorado Real Estate Commission-approved contracts and those that need to be prepared by a licensed real estate attorney associated with the listing of real property.

These contract forms will affect a sale or a lease of property under the freehold and leasehold estates. As a real estate professional, you should understand that it is your responsibility to adhere to the laws and regulations pertaining to all aspects of this course and the materials presented within. You will also come to find that, at times, the policies of your brokage firm will control. Listing brokers will need to adhere to the real estate laws of contracts and agency, the Commission rules, and firm policies.

While the objective of this course is to educate the licensee on how to win listings and the knowledge it will take to converse with potential principals in either a sale or a lease transaction. However, an important aspect of any listing presentation is to know when to thank the potential client for the opportunity and walk away.

All contracts used in this course are the current Colorado Real Estate Commission approved contracts. The contracts and addenda will prepare the listing broker for conversations that could surface during a listing presentation.

Topics Covered

This lesson focuses on the following topics:

Lesson 1: Basic Principles of Contract
Lesson 2: Pre-Listing Actions
Lesson 3: Exclusive Right-To-Sell Listing Contract
Lesson 4: Real Estate Practice
Lesson 5: Exclusive Right-To-Buy Listing Contract
Lesson 6: Exclusive Right-To-Lease Listing Contract
Lesson 7: Exclusive Tenant Listing Contract
Lesson 8: Addenda, Disclosures, & Forms

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Determine which forms are applicable to your client and situation, and when to use them.
• Properly complete the listing agreement for different property types, as well as other related forms and addenda.
• Explain the terms and conditions of contracts and disclosures to clients and customers.

About

The standards a real estate broker must follow for the handling of the funds which belong to others are rigid. All brokers must follow the same procedures and methodology. Most brokers handling large funds will want to consider proper accounting software or the advice and counsel of a competent accountant.

For those brokers considering becoming employing brokers and/or property managers, the strict adherence to the rules is critical. We open this course with a review of both the Commission Position on Competency and their posting on recordkeeping.

Topics Covered

This course focuses on the following topics:

1. Rules
2. Specific Areas
3. Fair Housing 
4. Cases & Supplemental Material
5. Agency and Contract Issues 
6. Contract Risk
7. Limiting Broker Liability 
8. Case Studies 
9. Real Estate Closings
10. Land Development and Subdivisions
11. Condominiums and Cooperatives
12. Understanding Real Estate Commissions
13. Short Term Rentals and Long Term Rentals
14. Real Estate Time-Sharing
15. Real Estate Short Selling Basics
16. Types of Foreclosures

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Discuss the “escrow accounting equation” and how it relates to “cash balance”.
• Define the rules for when a broker receives money belonging to others and how it must be treated.
• Identify the different classes of beneficiaries.
• Explain the rules in regard to commingled money.
• Discuss the record keeping requirements for escrow accounts and ledgers.
• Identify the requirements for holding money for others as a property manager.
• Explain what is required for security deposits to be delivered to an owner.
• Define which documents require original signatures.
• Recognize how escrow funds and records must be treated when a broker goes out of business.
• Discuss what must happen to the broker’s books and how long the records must be kept.

About

The United States has a credit oriented economy. The ability to finance large purchases from automobiles to houses weighs heavily on the buying decision. The price of a house is largely a function of the cash needed to purchase (the down payment) and the monthly cost to own (the house payment). Unfortunately, many buyers make poor buying decisions because they fail to consider the entire cost of the loan including interest rate adjustments and prepayment penalties.

This is a comprehensive course that covers all aspects of real estate financing that the real estate professional must know to provide the best service for their clients.

Topics Covered

• Monetary System
• Sources of Money
• Transactions and the Lending Process
• Insurance
• Other Loan Programs
• The Credit Score Process
• The Mortgage Loan Process

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Define Monetary System.
• Identify sources of money and insurance system.
• Relate to the transaction and lending process.
• Interpret the credit score and mortgage loan process.

About

Welcome to Basic Home Staging 101!

Here is a snippet of why Home Staging works.

“Staging focuses on improving a home’s potential by transforming it into a property that buyers can see themselves living in. Real estate statistics show that staged homes sell faster than un-staged homes. A professionally staged home showcases the home’s best features, downplays any flaws, and adds a warm, inviting touch that resonates with buyers and creates a powerful first impression. By investing a small amount of time and money, you will be maximizing your chances for a quick sale at the best price.

A stager’s job is not to make recommendations for expensive upgrades (anyone can do that), but to make the most of the home in its current state within the agreed upon price for staging. By investing in Redesign and Home Staging according to this system, you will set yourself apart from your competition, and will be more likely to make the sale.”

-- Karen Conrad

Topics Covered

This course focuses on the following topics:

• Educating Your Seller
• Before & After
• Hands-On Application
• Pricing the Staging Plan and the Home
• Tips and Strategies for Agents

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Apply the lessons of Home Staging to supplement good listing and pricing strategies,
• Describe how and why Home Staging works, and why it is a necessary part of your individual marketing plan, and
• Put costs in perspective and be able to describe why it will cost your sellers more to NOT to invest in Home Staging.

About

This course has been designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to real estate investment options including multifamily, residential, commercial, construction, agricultural, and real estate securities.

Throughout this course, licensees will develop a working knowledge of the key drivers of real estate investing, such as market trends, risk profiles, property characteristics, and economic indicators. They will learn to evaluate the income generation opportunities of a variety of investment types, as well as the unique factors that influence them.

This course provides exposure to the most common techniques for determining property value and return on investment. Although math calculations will not be required, formulas and examples will ensure familiarity with the application of these calculations. Licensees will gain a deep understanding of the various methods used to determine a property’s return on investment, including net operating income (NOI), Cap rate, gross rent multiplier (GRM), price-per-square-foot returns, and cash-on-cash returns.

The course also delves into the legal considerations surrounding real estate investments properties from building codes to securities regulations, and even touching on short term rental properties. This course will equip students to work with investors and commercial lenders in future transactions by building a strong foundation in investment property lending including the unique challenges posed by complex properties and the differences between owner-use residential mortgages and investment financing.

For those who do not have a copy of the License Code and Rules book, we suggest you open and review the online version from the Commission’s website. This will make it easier to follow along within the course.
Throughout this material, it will make reference to the applicable statute or rule so that you can locate the rule and use it for future reference.

The name and good will of a sole proprietorship can be sold as well as business supplies, furniture, etc.; however, the listings, management agreements, or contract assets cannot be sold unless within the agreements/contracts there contains an assignment clause allowing the broker to assign interest in the agreements/contracts to another broker. The assignment option is not encouraged and the Commission would suggest that the broker consult legal advice prior to including such in an agreement.

In order to license an entity, it requires the issuance of two licenses, i.e., one for the entity and one for the sponsoring broker. Their license renewals may or may not be on the same license cycle so pay special attention to this because if one license expires, the sponsoring broker or entity, it will cause all licenses associated with the company to go on inactive status until such time as the license is reinstated - all licensed activity must cease until such time as the licenses are actively reinstated.

If a managing broker allows the broker’s license to expire, all associates associated with the brokerage will be placed on inactive status.

A trade name is an alternate name under which an entity may choose to operate.(An entity will have one corporate/LLC name but may have several trade names.)

However, the changing of a trade name would not apply to Rule 605:10-7-5. To use a trade name or to discontinue the use of such must be registered at the Commission.

Do not enroll in the provisional sales associate post-license course until your license has been issued by the Commission. This course must be taken within the first six months of license issuance. If you do not complete the course within the first six months, the license will be placed on inactive status.

The term “real estate broker” shall include any person, partnership, association or corporation, foreign or domestic, who for a fee, commission or other valuable consideration, or who with the intention or expectation of receiving or collecting a fee, commission or other valuable consideration, lists, sells or offers to sell, buys or offers to buy, exchanges, rents or leases any real estate, or who negotiates or attempts to negotiate any such activity, or solicits listings of places for rent or lease, or solicits for prospective tenants, purchasers or sellers, or who advertises or holds himself out as engaged in such activities.

Topics Covered

Course Topics

Lesson 1: Introduction To Real Property Investing

Lesson 2: Real Estate Asset Types and Investment Strategies

Lesson 3: Investment Property Valuation and Market Analysis

Lesson 4: Investment Property Financing

Lesson 5: Compliance Considerations in Investment Property Transactions

Lesson 6: Capital Gains, Taxation, and Investment Analysis

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, licensees will be able to:

• Identify and describe the primary goals, benefits, investment vehicles, and terminology related to real estate investing.
• Differentiate between various investment options on matters of tax implications, market volatility, risk, returns, and method of producing income for the investor.
• Gain familiarity with commercial properties, commercial mortgage lending, regulations that pertain to commercial real estate, and strategies for generating revenue through commercial properties.
• Recognize the different types of real estate securities, the different licensing and laws that regulate these investments, and the differences between real estate investment and real estate securities.

About

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) allow consumers to invest their savings in various financial assets including real estate. Managed IRA accounts with advisory services limit the investment options available, excluding "alternative assets" such as real estate. As a consequence, consumers who wish to diversify their investments by buying real estate assets are presented with unique challenges without the support of a financial advisor and are exposed to elevated risk.

To competently serve these consumers, real estate licensees must develop specialized knowledge in the factors influencing this distinct type of real estate transaction and the consumer's investment interests. Such factors include regulations, tax implications, economics, financing, asset options, and management considerations of IRA investment accounts, all of which play a role in the consumer's retirement planning and investment decisions.

Throughout this course, licensees will be introduced to the foundational knowledge needed to skillfully navigate the complexities of IRA real estate investments. This course does not aim to transform real estate licensees into financial advisors, but rather to equip licensees with the financial literacy needed to competently facilitate investment transactions in such a way as to safeguard the unique interests and concerns of this set of consumers.

While you obviously cannot run through a checklist of federal laws every time you participate in a transaction, it is important that you remember that there are rules and regulations that impact virtually everything you do in the process of listing, selling, and participating in the purchase of real estate as an agent.

The foregoing concepts should be familiar. They are yet another way of stating the rules of the law of agency in general and according to the Texas Real Estate Commission in particular, when considering the obligations of agent to principal.

Note that the licensee/license holder can have a license suspended or revoked for 33 separate listed actions or failures to act, including disregarding or violating a provision of Chapter 1101 or chapter 1102 of TRELA. One of those possible violations is acting “negligently or incompetently.” Another violation occurs if the licensee “solicits, sells, or offers for sale real property by means of a deceptive practice.” If a licensee commits a deceptive practice under the DTPA, it will undoubtedly constitute a deceptive practice under this section. You may recall that a violation of the DTPA does not require intent. So, a broker that violates the TPA without any intention to do so is also exposed to disciplinary action under TRELA. The financial and ethical exposure is obvious and serious.

The Fraud Act uses the phrase “actual awareness” to impose an additional level of potential damage award.

While not binding on licensees that are not REALTORS®, the Code nevertheless provides a wealth of guidance as to the appropriate conduct by a real estate agent. Though not specifically adopted by TREC, these guidelines echo many of the same principles and tenets as TREC and other authorities on the subject of agency. It can be safely said that observing these rules and standards of practice, whether you have become a Realtor® or not, will be of benefit to you in establishing an ethical professional reputation and, if necessary, a defense to legal or ethical complaints.

Professional Standards Hearing panels consider three main categories of factors which influence the panel’s decision. First, how did the respondent and complainant introduce the buyer to the property? Second, did the buyer make any decision or take any action that may have affected the transaction? Third, how did the brokers perform their duties and obligations?

You will see that the author makes a couple of references to Indian law. Don’t let that be a distraction. The principles stated apply to fraud and misrepresentation regardless, and the comparison chart in the article is a good shorthand way to differentiate these concepts.

Bear in mind that the laundry list and the specific sections emphasized are intended only to provide you with some warning signs about what may or may not be a violation of the DTPA. They are not intended to be a substitute for appropriate legal counsel.

Topics Covered

Lesson 1: Foundations of Investing in Real Estate Assets
Lesson 2: Understanding Trust Accounts and Fiduciaries
Lesson 3: The IRA Real Property Transaction
Lesson 4: Financing the Transaction
Lesson 5: Competent Practice

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Explain the relevant factors that impact consumer’s investment behavior, including the unique challenges and considerations of retirement savers as they allocate their investment portfolio to include real property.
• Describe the transaction parties, fiduciary relationships and duties, and ownership interests pertaining to the trust account.
• Successfully complete an IRA real estate transaction including proper completion of contract forms, mastery of the prohibited transaction rules, and comprehension of the roles and fiduciary relationships of the parties involved in an IRA transaction.
• Understand risks including consumer risks of fraud and investment loss and licensee risks of such as unauthorized practice.
• Demonstrate financial literacy to competently discuss real estate as an investment option and sources of funding with IRA consumers.

About

Welcome to the here and now!

This course is meant to give Colorado real estate licensees some deeper background into the nuts and bolts of legalized marijuana’s cultivation and sales in the state and how those affect the real estate industry.

Topics Covered

Lesson 1: Health Consequences

Lesson 2: Market Impact

Lesson 3: Property Management

Lesson 4: Summing It Up

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Summarize current marijuana law: who can grow and what does it take to do so?
• Identify why and how marijuana is impacting the real estate market
• Define marijuana and housing issues from a legal perspective
• List the biggest concerns for property managers and owners regarding renting space for marijuana cultivation
• Summarize concerns for brokers, owners, buyers and sellers regarding selling and purchasing properties affected by marijuana use
• Discuss proper disclosure for brokers and property managers

About

This course will provide an introduction to the fundamentals of real estate investment, covering topics such as property comparison, investment management, and basic financing models. By the end of the course, licensees will also understand fair housing requirements as they pertain to investment properties and will be able to delve into site assessment and property evaluation. In this course, learners will be exposed to the basic characteristics of investment real estate. We will discuss how to compare properties, what it means to manage investment real estate and basic financing models. Learners completing this course will also be able to identify fair housing requirements and will be able to further discuss site assessment and property evaluation.

Topics Covered

This course focuses on the following topics:

• Introduction to Real Estate Investing
• Real Estate Investment Pricing and Tax Considerations
• Managing Real Estate Investments  
• Fair Housing
• Financial Terms
• Financing Real Estate Investments
• Risk/Profit
• Analysis
• Investment Calculator Exercises

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate competence to represent and advise consumers regarding prospective real estate investments.
• Define terms that pertain to real estate investment, property management, and investor financing.
• Identify property management responsibilities.
• Advise consumers regarding existing real estate investment decisions.
• Identify important factors in taxation of real estate investment properties including 1031 exchanges.
• Explain fair housing rules, law and regulations as they pertain to investors.
• Identify the protected characteristics that fall under federal and state fair housing laws and the best practices for compliance.
• Analyze real estate investment profitability on behalf of consumers.
• Identify consumer topics in real estate investment that fall outside of the scope of real estate practice and require referral to real estate attorneys and accountants.
• Understand consumer behavior in relation to real estate investing.
• Advise consumers in financial analysis and pricing strategies for investment properties.
• Analyze the methodologies to select the "best" site given the needs of the client and the property available at the time.
• Determine the commercial site best suited for a business within the budget of the client.

About

Property management is considered a complex area of practice and is one of the leading sources of complaints received by the Colorado Real Estate Commission. This course has been carefully crafted to tackle the most common compliance issues that arise during audits conducted by the Division of Real Estate into property management operations.

After finishing this course, learners will have robust knowledge of the rules and regulations governing property management and the steps to take to prevent the most common problems from occurring. While it may not cover every possible scenario, this course is designed to equip learners with the necessary knowledge to embark on a successful and compliant career in property management.

Which of these are financial or fiduciary in nature?

A security deposit is an upfront payment given by tenants to landlords to ensure that rent is paid on time and the property is kept in good condition. This deposit is refundable at the end of the lease, provided that the tenants have followed all the lease terms and have not caused any damage.

Money Belonging to Others which is accepted by the Broker or Brokerage Firm for deposit in the Broker’s or Brokerage Firm’s Trust or Escrow Account that includes, but is not limited to, money received in connection with Management Agreements, partnerships, limited liability companies, syndications, lease agreements, advance fee contracts, guest deposits for short term rentals, rental receipts, security deposits, earnest money deposits, or Money Belonging to Others received for any other purpose.

“Normal wear and tear” refers to deterioration that occurs to a rental unit when used as intended, without negligence, carelessness, accident, or abuse of the premises by the tenant, members of the tenant's household, or their guests.

Constructive receipt refers to the concept that income is considered received when it is made available to them. For example, if a tenant pays rent to the property management company, the landlord does not physically receive the payment, but that income is still considered constructively received by the property owner.

Rental income refers to the money that a property owner earns by renting out their property to tenants from residential, commercial, or other types of rental properties. Rental income is typically considered a form of passive income, as it does not require active involvement from the property owner beyond the initial setup and ongoing maintenance of the property. Rental income refers to all payments received in exchange for the use or occupation of a property, not limited to amounts received as normal rental payments.

Advance rent refers to any rent payments received before it is owed. Advance rent differs from normal rent which is owed at the beginning of the month for the upcoming month. Advance rent is considered income to the landlord in the year in which it is constructively received, regardless of when it is actually owed or accrued.

Payment in advance describes payments that are due upfront, as is typically the case with rent, as opposed to in arrears.

Paying for a benefit after it has been received or performed is known as payment in arrears. A common example of this is monthly mortgage payments. In this scenario, payments are credited to the previous month instead of the current one, meaning that payments have accrued before they are paid.

An "Early Termination Clause" protects landlords when tenants end their lease early. The clause specifies a fee for breaking the lease to cover costs incurred by the landlord for unpaid rent and finding a new tenant.

Depreciation is an accounting technique used to distribute the cost of a tangible asset over its useful life. Essentially, it reflects the amount of the asset's value that has been used up over time. Depreciation is a capital expense taken over the expected life of the property in order to recover the initial cost of the asset through yearly tax deductions.

Topics Covered

This course focuses on the following topics:

Lesson 1: Fundamental Principles of Property Management
Lesson 2: Contracts & Forms in Property Management
Lesson 3: Tenant Rights, Habitability, and Maintenance
Lesson 4: Financial Responsibilities of Property Management  

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Identify important compliance issues that frequently arise in property management and identify best practices for avoiding these pitfalls.
• Define terms, legal attributes, and rights that pertain to leasehold interests, brokerage relationships, and fiduciary and uniform duties as defined in real property law.
• Demonstrate understanding of contract terms, duties, and conditions, both explicitly stated and implied, in residential and commercial leases, property management agreements, and disclosure documents under real property law in the state of Colorado.
• Identify the legal, ethical, and real-world impacts of management services, including advising consumers and managing real property assets, for the property owner as well as the tenant.
• List the key changes instituted by Colorado legislation in recent months, and explain the significance and the impacts of these bills on landlord-tenant rights, fair housing conditions, housing affordability, and real estate license practice in the state.
• Identify the circumstances in which the Commission approved contracts and disclosure forms must be used, and those for which there is no approved contract form.
• Identify the legally required disclosures and promulgated contract forms for use by licensees in property managers and leasing agent functions, as well as when an attorney is required to draft a compliant contract.
• Recite terms, definitions, and implications of all aspects of conducting activities that require a license such as real property management and leasing.
• Identify noteworthy moments in the history of fair housing and pervasive issues that continue to inhibit the objectives of fair housing legislation.
• Explain the financial and fiduciary duties of a property manager working on behalf of a landlord including trust accounting and record keeping requirements.

About

This course aims to provide licensed real estate professionals with the necessary knowledge to stay updated with the constantly evolving world of taxation.

The course focuses on Taxation topics that pertain to the licensee. The IRS maintains a Tax Code which is continually updated and currently has more than 6,000 pages. Because of the complexity, all licensees should advise their clients to seek tax advice from a professional accountant or CPA. The real estate agent provides general tax and investment knowledge; the CPA provides specific tax assistance and advice. However, the knowledge of tax rules directly affects consumer decision-making. Thus, taxation is an important area for real estate agents to become knowledgeable about, including applicable tax rules regarding investment property, residential owner-occupied property, and also business taxation to support their work as independent contractors. In this course, we do not aim to train expert accountants, but rather to provide the basic tax knowledge expected by consumers of a licensed real estate professional to support licensee competence in their brokerage practice.

At the conclusion of the course, your certificate of completion will be immediately available online in your student account. If you have questions during the course, please post those in the Q&As. This is also a great place to see if your question has already been answered and posted online.

Topics Covered

This course focuses on the following topics:

• The purpose of the Tax Code
• Taxation Terminology and Principles
• Basis
• Capital Gains and Losses
• 1031 Exchange
• Tax principles in the sale and exchange of real property
• Taxation Classifications for Real Property Ownership
• Business tax implications for licensees and real property investors

Learning Objectives

At the completion of this course, the student will be able to:

• Discuss the tax code and how it affects different aspects of the real estate industry
• Explain basic taxation and how brokers can use it to help their clients
• Define the meaning of marginal tax rate
• Describe the specific concerns for residential homeowners, owners of real estate used in a trade or business, as well as the owner of investment real estate
• Demonstrate how this knowledge can increase the real estate agent's commission income and investment income
• List the major reasons for home ownership
• Explain gain and basis and how the client can compute capital gain on the sale of a home
• Illustrate to potential clients why it is important that they seek professional advice from a CPA
• Summarize how purchasing a rental property for an investment can be a tax advantage
• Illustrate how cost recovery is used as a deductible expense
• Explain how income and losses are identified (passive and non-passive income)
• Classify the three types of vacation homes and discuss their tax consequences
• Explain the rules and benefits of the 1031exchange
• Discuss CRTs and how they can help avoid capital gains tax, increase income, and create tax deductions.

Other Outcomes

• Improve professional image.
• Increase income - more expertise.
• Advise clients of options.
• Answer casual questions.
• Make your own personal financial decisions.

Goals

• Be aware of the basic taxation rules regarding home ownership.
• Be aware of the basis taxation rules regarding investment properties.

About

Thank you for your interest in this course.

This course is written for either an Employing Broker or a top-producing agent when contemplating the creation of a real estate team. The viewpoint is from that of management, but there will be sections where the perception and considerations will be from that of a team member.

The Employing Broker and the Team Leader will need to perceive the considerations from the agent in the firm looking to join the team, and from an agent recruited from outside the firm. Empathy will play a vital role in the decisions creating a team.

Topics Covered

Lesson 1: Commission Rules, Relationships, and Disclosures

Lesson 2: Rules, Roles, and Structures

Lesson 3: Attracting and Cultivating Team Members

Lesson 4: The Team Member Agreement

Lesson 5: Operating and Personnel Issues

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Better evaluate if a team environment is right for you.
• Understand the roles of the members within a team, especially with regards to Agency relationships with consumers.
• Identify what makes a good team work well.
• Learn some of the variations of compensation structures available as a team.
• Explore some of the challenges that team members face.
• Review a suggested template for a Team Member Agreement.
• Identify legal risks and benefits of working in a team.
• Review case studies and knowledge checks.

About

This course aims to provide licensed real estate professionals with the necessary knowledge to stay updated with the constantly evolving world of technology and application in real estate.

This course covers security, terminology, as well as ethical and legal use of consumer data, as it introduces current technology trends in the world of real estate technology and familiarizes licensees with background knowledge of the technology they use on a daily basis. This course will not simply describe these tools but instead will address how to use them, what ethical dilemmas surround the use of each technology, and how to maximize the impact of its use in the daily operations of a real estate business. This will help support licensees in their use of technology in their real estate business, whether they utilize technology as a means of keeping the public informed concerning real estate topics, in their transaction management, or in every part of their business operations, this course will ensure that licensees have the foundational knowledge of those technologies as well as knowledge of where to find resources as needed. Topics covered will include contact management systems, mobile technology, Web-based business tools, online resources from the Real Estate Commission, social networking sites, transaction management, and business systems technology. Last but not least, the course will conclude with a unit on the use of emerging technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI), in real estate practice.

The course requires the student to be able to use a computer, have internet access, and understand email and internet basics. At the conclusion of the course, your certificate of completion will be immediately available online in your student account. If you have questions during the course, please post those in the Q&As. This is also a great place to see if your question has already been answered and posted online. The content will prepare licensees for their final exam.

This subsection does not apply to sales by the commission or a wholesaler to a licensee under this title.

(12-6-101 (b) Repealed By Laws 2010, Ch. 6, 2.)

This subsection does not apply to sales by the commission or a wholesaler to a licensee under this title.

(12-6-101 (b) Repealed By Laws 2010, Ch. 6, 2.)

For purposes of this section, "ethyl alcohol" means any substance which is or contains ethyl alcohol. (12-6-101 (j))

Topics Covered

This course focuses on the following topics:

Lesson 1: Resources Available Online For Consumers

Lesson 2: Tools of the Trade

Lesson 3: Consumer Service Systems

Lesson 4: Communication

Lesson 5: Emerging Trends in Technology

Lesson 6: Technology Tools & Resources

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Competent and secure use of technology by real estate licensees
• Understanding terminology and improving licensee technological literacy
• Systems benefiting licensees as business consumers and real estate consumers.
• Consumer behavior and concerns online.
• Ethical, legal, and safety concerns in technology and responsible use of consumer data
• The use of technology to manage communications, transactions, networks, and time.
• Keeping up in the ever-evolving world of real estate technology, also known as “PropTech”

About

Real Estate Technology

A Brief History

The Code of Ethics, or COE, is a living document. It is reviewed and updated every year. This course is designed to give all real estate professionals some "best practices" to follow when posting on not only social media but, in fact, anywhere online.

In 2007, NAR created the Pathways to Professionalism to address issues of courtesy and respect among REALTORS®. This program will work to highlight how each of these programs relates, what changes are made moving forward, and how the real estate professional, be they a REALTOR® or not, should handle certain situations and what guidelines we should follow. On the following pages, you will be guided through the following topics:

• Respect for the Public
• Respect for Property
• Respect for Peers
  
  

The real estate industry is facing the greatest challenge since the invention of the typewriter and the telephone. Internet and computer technologies have precipitated these challenges. Consumers are self-educating themselves through the tremendous amount of information accessible on the Internet. The licensee no longer controls the flow of information to the consumer. The adage, “Work smarter, not harder,” has become the key to success with real estate transactions.

Customers are demanding more knowledgeable real estate licensees; licensees that are capable of guiding and advising since information itself is readily available. The internet provides transaction information related to agent selection, real property, mortgage lenders, shopping, credit access, appraisal, home inspection, and loan applications. Now, a need for a guide on the side has replaced the sage-on-stage model.

• Summarize how tech tools have evolved to better suit the real estate industry over the last 50 years
• Relate how the IDX changed the landscape of information when it was unveiled
• Explain how brokers should use the internet to best suit their customers who also have access to the same information

IMPORTANT: We need your license number!

Please confirm you have provided us with your NE license number. Without this, your completion reporting may be delayed.

To provide your license number, simply close the course and navigate to 'My Account-My Account Info'.

Our careers include many specializations.

Some commercial associates specialize in particular types of property, such as office property, developable farmland or even amusement parks. Other commercial associates specialize in particular forms of consulting work for Real Estate Investment Trusts, insurance companies or utility companies. Still, others work in specialized areas such as resort management or assist government agencies with redevelopment of industrial sites or reclamation of land.

While there are many options for specialization in the commercial field, from multi-unit strip malls with pad spaces to high rise buildings, and everywhere in between, most will involve real estate professionals and in many cases attorneys who will interact throughout the transaction process.

If you are new to commercial real estate, keep an eye out through this course for areas that interest you or that you may want to find out more about later on.

While there are many options for specialization in the commercial field, from multi-unit strip malls with pad spaces to high rise buildings, and everywhere in between, most will involve real estate professionals and in many cases attorneys who will interact throughout the transaction process.

If you are new to commercial real estate, keep an eye out through this course for areas that interest you or that you may want to find out more about later on.

Our careers include many specializations.

Some commercial associates specialize in particular types of property, such as office property, developable farmland or even amusement parks. Other commercial associates specialize in particular forms of consulting work for Real Estate Investment Trusts, insurance companies or utility companies. Still, others work in specialized areas such as resort management or assist government agencies with redevelopment of industrial sites or reclamation of land.

In some specific areas, like New York City and Washington, D.C., local real estate organizations have come up with alternative plans for measuring space.

The Real Estate Board of New York has created the REBNY Standard, which is used to measure leased office space in the New York metropolitan area, including nearby parts of Connecticut and New Jersey. The GWCAR Standard is used to measure leased office space in the Washington DC metropolitan area, including nearby parts of Maryland and Virginia.

I always suggest drawing the space as you measure in order to make sure you include the entire space. Hallways, closets and bathrooms within a tenant’s private area are all part of the space the tenant is leasing.

As stated earlier, these various types of shopping centers are classified primarily by their size and their types of goods and services sold. You will find that even with these broad classifications, hybrids of various types exist and new types of shopping centers continue to be developed.

Consider mixed-use as a primary alternative where living quarters are located in the same area or even above store fronts.

Zoning codes vary widely from municipality to municipality. Don’t be fooled by the similarities in zoning code names and symbols. Each municipality’s zoning regulation or code manual lays out all the various zoning forms in that municipality and what uses are permitted in each zone.

For example, a municipality may have 5 levels of residential zoning, labeled R1 through R5. Each level may allow for a different minimum lot size, different minimum road frontage and different setbacks. R1 might allow attached townhomes on minimum lots of 6000 square feet that sit back a minimum of 25 feet from the road. R2 might allow for single family homes on minimum quarter acre lots that require a 30 foot distance from the road, while R5 requires single family homes to be on a minimum of 10 acres.

Although every possibility cannot be predicted by any realtor, engineer or developer, a basic understanding of what type of improvements may be required and what costs for improvements may be incurred by the developer is critical to pricing the property correctly.

If the market is sluggish currently, but you expect it to pull out shortly, it may be better to wait. If, on the other hand, interest rates are rising and the rental income on an investment property is not, the owner may consider pricing the property realistically so that the property sells before the property devalues.

You must also consider the implications of current economic factors that might increase or decrease the vacancy rate in the area. Complex analysis of these factors is beyond the scope of this text. However, if a lot of inventory is under construction currently and the economy is slowing down, you should adjust your absorption calculation down.

Certainly, whole courses exist on Real Estate Investment Analysis. Our goal in this chapter is to introduce you to the concept of income and cash flows, the primary methods of calculating return on investment, and how they are important to the marketing and sale of commercial real estate.

We will outline the various forms of calculating returns on investment, but an in-depth analysis of income projection is beyond the scope of this text.

On the other side of the transaction, a buyer’s agent will be likely to estimate a reserve number that is high, when attempting to negotiate an offer on the buyer’s behalf. The buyer’s agent will want to show the property owner that the property may not be worth quite as much as he or she wants.

Although many great programs exist to forecast the returns and cash flow of investment real estate, I think it's critical to understand how forecasting is done. You can calculate cash flows by creating a simple spreadsheet in Excel, Lotus, or Quattro Pro, etc.

Remember that a negative exponent means you need to divide by that number of factors instead of multiplying.

The full Home Staging report is available at nar.realtor

As a reminder, know the facts… Home Staging pays off, especially for your seller. It is your job to help them sell their home for the best price, in the least amount of time on the market.

Educate your seller on the benefits so they see it as a necessary part of achieving their goal, and do not assume that this is your cost to absorb.
Staging helps get your seller committed and serious about selling their home.
It helps your seller “detach,” which should make the negotiation process less emotional for them, thus benefitting everyone!

Studies show that putting the bed at an angle is often beneficial for staging.

Topics Covered

This course focuses on the following topics:

1. Etiquette for the Age of Engage
2. Ethics
3. Competence
4. Our Duties to the Industry
5. Commission Site
6. The Code
7. Additional Issues

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Discuss the role of ethics in real estate and how a professional should behave.
• Summarize the role of a real estate professional as it relates to being a guardian of ethics and professionalism online.
• Identify key areas of ethics and state law that may be breached on social media, thus requiring action on the part of the real estate professional.

About

Welcome!

This guide was created to help you SELL expired listings. Not GET expired listings (although it may help do that, too), but actually SELL them…

“You have no idea how thrilled I am that you are reading these words. I’m serious about that. The fact that you are taking time and energy away from your busy life to figure out how to SELL expired listings makes me smile.

Most real estate training products that focus on expired listings teach you how to GET those listings, as if all that seems to matter is putting a For Sale sign in another yard, with hardly any fanfare devoted to what happens next.”

-- Jennifer Hagedorn, Author/Instructor

Well, except for asking for that price reduction six weeks later.

Topics Covered

Lesson 1: First Things First

Lesson 2: Phases of the Expired Listing Analysis Process

Lesson 3: Phase One - Uncover the Data

Lesson 4: Phase Two - Analyze the Data

Lesson 5: Interlude: Can You Sell This Listing?

Lesson 6: Phase Three - Recommend and Make Adjustments Based on Your Findings

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Identify the phases of the expired listing analysis process
• Examine data and restate value concerns
• Analyze listing information and market analysis data
• Recommend and make adjustments to listing prices based on the evaluation process
  
   

About

This course is designed to help real estate licensees understand the importance of credit in the context of buying a home and the overall financial picture of the homebuyer. In this course, licensees will gain working knowledge of credit, where it comes from, how it affects access to lending products, and how it is affected by consumer behavior.

Understanding Credit covers topics such as credit scores, debt-to-income ratios, and limits as they apply to mortgage lending, as well as the role of credit in lifetime wealth accumulation and the financial well-being of consumers. In addition to understanding credit conceptually, licensees will learn best practices for educating and supporting their clients in making credit and borrowing decisions.

The course also covers discriminatory credit practices, consumer rights, and the key pieces of legislation that enacted those rights including the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA), Consumer Credit Protection Act (CCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and others.

By the end of the course licensees will appreciate the significance of consumer credit in modern life and how restricted access to credit has contributed to racial disparities in homeownership, wealth, and home values across the United States. By the end of the course, licensees will have a better understanding of these complex issues, the importance of equitable access to credit, and the opportunities that credit affords.

While you obviously cannot run through a checklist of federal laws every time you participate in a transaction, it is important that you remember that there are rules and regulations that impact virtually everything you do in the process of listing, selling, and participating in the purchase of real estate as an agent.

The foregoing concepts should be familiar. They are yet another way of stating the rules of the law of agency in general and according to the Texas Real Estate Commission in particular, when considering the obligations of agent to principal.

Note that the licensee/license holder can have a license suspended or revoked for 33 separate listed actions or failures to act, including disregarding or violating a provision of Chapter 1101 or chapter 1102 of TRELA. One of those possible violations is acting “negligently or incompetently.” Another violation occurs if the licensee “solicits, sells, or offers for sale real property by means of a deceptive practice.” If a licensee commits a deceptive practice under the DTPA, it will undoubtedly constitute a deceptive practice under this section. You may recall that a violation of the DTPA does not require intent. So, a broker that violates the TPA without any intention to do so is also exposed to disciplinary action under TRELA. The financial and ethical exposure is obvious and serious.

The Fraud Act uses the phrase “actual awareness” to impose an additional level of potential damage award.

While not binding on licensees that are not REALTORS®, the Code nevertheless provides a wealth of guidance as to the appropriate conduct by a real estate agent. Though not specifically adopted by TREC, these guidelines echo many of the same principles and tenets as TREC and other authorities on the subject of agency. It can be safely said that observing these rules and standards of practice, whether you have become a Realtor® or not, will be of benefit to you in establishing an ethical professional reputation and, if necessary, a defense to legal or ethical complaints.

Professional Standards Hearing panels consider three main categories of factors which influence the panel’s decision. First, how did the respondent and complainant introduce the buyer to the property? Second, did the buyer make any decision or take any action that may have affected the transaction? Third, how did the brokers perform their duties and obligations?

You will see that the author makes a couple of references to Indian law. Don’t let that be a distraction. The principles stated apply to fraud and misrepresentation regardless, and the comparison chart in the article is a good shorthand way to differentiate these concepts.

Bear in mind that the laundry list and the specific sections emphasized are intended only to provide you with some warning signs about what may or may not be a violation of the DTPA. They are not intended to be a substitute for appropriate legal counsel.

Topics Covered

In this course, licensees will master the following topics:

• The importance of credit in the real estate industry
• Credit and first-time home buyers
• Debt-to-income (DTI) ratios and limits
• Why credit matters
• Credit reports versus credit scores
• Credit history and consumer behavior
• Discriminatory credit practices
• Equal Credit Opportunity Act, Consumer Credit Protection Act, and credit-related laws
• Consumer rights

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, licensees will be able to:

• Express the importance of credit in real estate ownership
• Describe the supportive role a real estate licensee plays in transactions with inexperienced borrowers in need of elevated support and guidance.
• Understand Debt-to-income ratios including how they are calculated and what role they play in a prospective borrower’s access to credit.
• Understand the differences between credit scores, reports, and various credit reporting sources which can yield changeable credit score results.
• Identify the different elements of a credit report and how to interpret credit results.
• Coach clients in matters of desirable credit behavior, credit monitoring and improving credit.
• Describe the disparate impacts resulting from lack of access to credit including racial gaps in homeownership and wealth building.
• Summarize the importance of the key pieces of legislation such as the equal credit opportunity act, consumer credit protection act, and fair credit reporting act.
• List and define the specific rights outlined in these acts pertaining to consumers rights to credit, information, disclosures and reporting.

About

The purpose of the course is to provide the real estate professional with a better understanding of how water law works in Colorado in order that he/she can spot potential concerns and, at the very least, direct the client toward the person(s) that can investigate and solve or avoid the problem. It is not intended to replace competent legal counsel, but neither is it intended as a "feeder" to push new clients to hire water lawyers. Many professionals (especially lawyers and real estate agents) have found themselves in trouble by thinking they have the knowledge or expertise to handle an issue, only to find that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing. The most astute and successful agents/brokers are those with a broad range of knowledge of their profession and the various things that impact a transaction (price, location, competition, financing, zoning, water, etc.), who use that knowledge to recognize areas in which a specialist is necessary, and are not reluctant to suggest or bring in the specialist.

Topics Covered

Lesson 1: History

Lesson 2: Sources and Uses

Lesson 3: Basic Concepts

Lesson 4: Water Rights

Lesson 5: Ditches

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to discuss:

• The origins of water laws applied to Colorado.
• The sources of water in Colorado and their uses.
• The rules and laws regarding water supply in Colorado and how water is conveyed.
• The different types of water rights in Colorado.
• The water ditches and rights to them in Colorado.

About

Any REALTOR® will benefit by learning what procedures and policies can be implemented by the REALTORS® office to ensure that the REALTOR® who is responsible for the sale receives the commission promised. In addition, this course gives REALTORS® who serve on Professional Standards Hearing Panels additional training on those considerations which commonly occur in arbitration cases.

This course is not comprehensive in scope or content; it is intended to be a beginning of the necessary study that helps a REALTOR® become more professional. A thorough study of the Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual (CEAM), continuing education in professional standards and practice, and a desire to become more competent are an ongoing challenge for REALTORS®.

The Code of Ethics and Arbitration Manual (CEAM) is a valuable resource and is quoted throughout this course.

Topics Covered

This course focuses on the following topics:

• Lesson 1: The NAR Code of Ethics and Articles
• Lesson 2: Enforcement
• Lesson 3: Understanding Contracts and Procuring Cause
• Lesson 4: Article 17

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:

• Identify procuring behavior in selected case studies.
• Distinguish between Code of Ethics violations and procuring cause behavior.
• Recognize broker behaviors that are not exclusive determiners of procuring cause.
• Develop a plan to follow to ensure that you are the procuring cause when working with buyers.
• Determine and rank broker behaviors which are important to establishing procuring cause

About

Students will gain a thorough understanding of what constitutes a §1031 exchange, the rules and regulations that must be followed to qualify a transaction for §1031 treatment, and the variations on simultaneous exchanges that are available. They will also learn the different types of property that are deemed "like kind" for the purposes of §1031 qualification, some pitfalls to be aware of in suggesting this type of transaction, and how §1031 can give you an opportunity to add clients and commissions to your real estate practice. The student should already have some degree of familiarity with income taxation, at least as it relates to real estate, before starting this course. Tax expertise is not a prerequisite, but if you have no knowledge in this area at all, you may find the course very challenging.

Topics Covered

Lesson 1: The Basics

Lesson 2: Boot

Lesson 3: Issues in 1031 Exchanges

Lesson 4: Variations

Lesson 5: State Tax Issues

Learning Objectives

At the completion of this course, the learner will be able to:

• Describe what constitutes a §1031 exchange and the rules and regulations that must be followed to qualify a transaction for §1031 treatment
• Define the advantage of using the 1031, such as tax savings, increasing the depreciable basis of the property, adding sheltered income to your clients’ investment portfolio to diversify your client’s holdings, etc.
• Explain the variations on simultaneous exchanges that are available.
• List the different types of property that are deemed "like kind" for the purposes of §1031 qualification
• Identify the pitfalls to be aware of when suggesting this type of transaction
• State how §1031 can give brokers an opportunity to add clients and commissions to their real estate practice
• Explain to your client how an exchange can make a substantial difference in his/her tax result.