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Replies (22)
- Naima Sumner, "Dallas Ft. Worth PRO"
- Contributions:2847
A 4 year college degree should be required. May be our industry will get a little more respect then.
Naima
Naima
- James Callas, "ABBAUSA"
- Contributions:957
The more the better.
Continue Ed in all areas (texas allows rural areas an out here)
Professional Conduct At All Times.
More is better.
Good Luck!
James Callas - Realtor®
Continue Ed in all areas (texas allows rural areas an out here)
Professional Conduct At All Times.
More is better.
Good Luck!
James Callas - Realtor®
- real estate mike
- Contributions:2001
Two years of college makes sense to me. That plus the required real estate courses are a good basis. The real question is; then what? A new agent only knows what's in books or what they picked up from their teacher. There is still learning on the job regardless. So the real issue is not so much education but professionalism and ethics.
- Lane Midgett, "Lmidgett"
- Contributions:274
They just increased the appraiser education to two years college minimum. I think we should follow their lead.
- Cindy LaPeer ABR, e-PRO,SFR, Cdrs, "Houston Metro Pro"
- Contributions:2239
After reading some of the descriptions, one has to wonder how much "education" some agents really have. We all make mistakes at one time or another, but some of the mistakes are ridiculous. And if you can't write something correctly, can you really read a contract correctly? Just a thought.
- SoCal_Engr
- Contributions:5666
I'll toss this out, just for discussion fodder.
What a positive education requirement really does is provide a barrier-to-entry. The more education required, the higher the barrier and (hopefully) the less likely the field is to be populated with people looking for most-money-for-least-effort.
However, my dad used to admonish me with "When you send an idiot through a training program, what you end up with is an educated idiot."
What a positive education requirement really does is provide a barrier-to-entry. The more education required, the higher the barrier and (hopefully) the less likely the field is to be populated with people looking for most-money-for-least-effort.
However, my dad used to admonish me with "When you send an idiot through a training program, what you end up with is an educated idiot."
- Bob Tanski, "BobTanski"
- Contributions:80
I think increasing the level of course work required would be a good idea, in general. I live in Massachusetts which has one of the lowest education requirements in the country.
Having said that I don't think any level of educational requirements will make some one a good real estate salesperson. There is so much more to this job than taking some classes and passing a test.
You could require 5000 hours of training and then require some to pass a 10 hour exam, but all that does is select the people who are willing to sit through it all.
I don't think requiring someone to have a college degree will help either. Although I have one.
You are just going to get all kinds and types in this business. Some are going to be good at it; some not so good. You are going to get socially awkward and some that are unethical and some that just want to make a few bucks.
I think more and better mentoring within a brokerage would be the best solution.
Having said that I don't think any level of educational requirements will make some one a good real estate salesperson. There is so much more to this job than taking some classes and passing a test.
You could require 5000 hours of training and then require some to pass a 10 hour exam, but all that does is select the people who are willing to sit through it all.
I don't think requiring someone to have a college degree will help either. Although I have one.
You are just going to get all kinds and types in this business. Some are going to be good at it; some not so good. You are going to get socially awkward and some that are unethical and some that just want to make a few bucks.
I think more and better mentoring within a brokerage would be the best solution.
- Cindy LaPeer ABR, e-PRO,SFR, Cdrs, "Houston Metro Pro"
- Contributions:2239
A basic English grammar class would be a good requirement! :)
- NTETS, "Mr Caveat"
- Contributions:6436
rather that increasing education, i would rather see your job scopes limited. go back to the days where it was one agent per transaction, where the job is strictly marketing and a go-between for the seller. stop meddling with people's finances and stop making the obscene recommendations that you will not be qualified to make unless you pick up a 4 year degree and a CFA certificate. maybe there could be a super-Realtor class for go-getters like tiff bond
- sunnyview
- Contributions:25139
Education is helpful, but it is not the whole answer. Many agents that are competent have to suffer with agents that are not. The system for reporting the slimy, dishonest or even questionably competent agent is not very effective. Agents that do so often risk their own reputation, license or good relationship with their broker so good agents are often forced to look the other way.
I think good agents know who should not be in business. It would be nice if agents had a mechanism to report them that would cause the license of the incompetent agent to be reviewed. I also think that agents without a CFP or finance background should not give straight investment advice. CFP or the like is not a magic bullet either (just look at the Jr stockbrokers who have the designation and have the ethics and brain of a flea) , but I think that good quality training often leads to a better understanding.
I think good agents know who should not be in business. It would be nice if agents had a mechanism to report them that would cause the license of the incompetent agent to be reviewed. I also think that agents without a CFP or finance background should not give straight investment advice. CFP or the like is not a magic bullet either (just look at the Jr stockbrokers who have the designation and have the ethics and brain of a flea) , but I think that good quality training often leads to a better understanding.
- Ryan Newlin, "Realtor San Angelo"
- Contributions:105
Education is great but it is really experience that counts. It seems like the business kind of weeds itself out already.
- Simon Mills, "Mills Realty"
- Contributions:1858
Requiring more education is a start in the right direction, but experience is really the best training. I have always had a problem with a 20-year veteran being paid the same as someone who just received their license. The commission system as it is today doesn't reward experience. More education would also help to keep the get rich quick agents from saturating the market during an upswing.
Simon Mills
Mills Realty
Simon Mills
Mills Realty
- sunnyview
- Contributions:25139
Brokers could refuse to hire new agents in an upswing too, but there is so much money to be made in a bubble there's no way that will happen.
I'm not convinced a laddered commission structure would reward talent/excellence. What about the solid new agent who works their b*tt off on a lower commission for a stodgy, lazy veteran agent who's market knowledge dried up years ago?
Commissions should reward performance not experience. After all, you are only as successful as your last sales numbers in the real estate business.
I'm not convinced a laddered commission structure would reward talent/excellence. What about the solid new agent who works their b*tt off on a lower commission for a stodgy, lazy veteran agent who's market knowledge dried up years ago?
Commissions should reward performance not experience. After all, you are only as successful as your last sales numbers in the real estate business.
- NTETS, "Mr Caveat"
- Contributions:6436
i'm a little curious about the texas reqs... what the heck do you learn during your 960 hours of training that you couldnt learn during, say, 300 hours.
i'm not saying i dont approve of the high education barrier, in fact i applaud it, but i'm still curious what kind of quality there is in the education and what the people attending the classes are actually learning...
960 hours of how to push people to buy or make persuasive arguments that have no basis in reality might be kindof counterproductive... on the other hand, most of the texas realtors on here seem pretty even minded, but then texas culture might influence that too.
i'm not saying i dont approve of the high education barrier, in fact i applaud it, but i'm still curious what kind of quality there is in the education and what the people attending the classes are actually learning...
960 hours of how to push people to buy or make persuasive arguments that have no basis in reality might be kindof counterproductive... on the other hand, most of the texas realtors on here seem pretty even minded, but then texas culture might influence that too.
- broker_GRI
- Contributions:3454
A higher standard for entry with more relevant training materiel, combined with a mandatory internship.
There are designations such as CRS for residential and CCIM for commercial real estate which require a certain amount of advanced training and a minimum of transactional experience.
Simon, I would really hope that an agent in the business for20 yrs has done a good enough job and built such a solid client base that their level of compensation far outpaces most entry level agents.
- Rick Chumsae, "Rick Chumsae"
- Contributions:283
Caveat:
In reflection, real estate coursework is not addressed at topics that help define an agent's behavior in serving the client in the sense of salesmanship, attitude, market knowledge, or any of the other facets looked for by most clients. The focus is more toward understanding real estate principles (many topics including aluvial dynamics, townships/sections etc., consumer protections, and so on), real estate agency relationships, and a familiarity with the laws that govern real estate.
Licensing requirements give the salesperson a foundation from which to conduct business, rather than a business plan or strategy set. States with weaker licensing requirements are probably more prone to produce weaker salespeople.
Even in Texas, with the most stringent licensing requirments, new licensees still face providing their own set of customer service skills, learning the marketplace, becomings teachers to their clients and on and on.
The extended teachings required in Texas, for example, provide one 30-hour course on Law Of Agency. I'd expect that Texas licensees have a better grasp on that than a state in which the entire education requirement is a single 20-hour course. If one resides in such a state I could see why licensee performance is likely to be poor.
Personally, I found the education to be useful even though I've never had to take aluveal dynamics into account in my area of practice.
In reflection, real estate coursework is not addressed at topics that help define an agent's behavior in serving the client in the sense of salesmanship, attitude, market knowledge, or any of the other facets looked for by most clients. The focus is more toward understanding real estate principles (many topics including aluvial dynamics, townships/sections etc., consumer protections, and so on), real estate agency relationships, and a familiarity with the laws that govern real estate.
Licensing requirements give the salesperson a foundation from which to conduct business, rather than a business plan or strategy set. States with weaker licensing requirements are probably more prone to produce weaker salespeople.
Even in Texas, with the most stringent licensing requirments, new licensees still face providing their own set of customer service skills, learning the marketplace, becomings teachers to their clients and on and on.
The extended teachings required in Texas, for example, provide one 30-hour course on Law Of Agency. I'd expect that Texas licensees have a better grasp on that than a state in which the entire education requirement is a single 20-hour course. If one resides in such a state I could see why licensee performance is likely to be poor.
Personally, I found the education to be useful even though I've never had to take aluveal dynamics into account in my area of practice.
- Erick Rodriguez
- Contributions:543
Sometime I do see the benefit of taking more classes, like how to used new programs (software) and you also learn through interacting with others. Always keeping my mind open to new ideas is the most important and willing to learn. But when you are really busy it is a drag especially if you are busy year round.
- Ryan Halset, "RyanHalset"
- Contributions:730
I'd prefer to see the owner of a company having more responsibility for the oversight and training of agents (especially newer agents).
Coursework and training is valuable, but understanding how to apply all of that information is critical in making sure a client's contract doesn't leave them vulnerable.
I also agree with Cindy who previously commented that:
"A basic English grammar class would be a good requirement! :)"
Coursework and training is valuable, but understanding how to apply all of that information is critical in making sure a client's contract doesn't leave them vulnerable.
I also agree with Cindy who previously commented that:
"A basic English grammar class would be a good requirement! :)"
- wetdawgs
- Contributions:26830
With the hourly charges that agents expect, I'd suggest four year degree plus about 6,000 hours of education post bachelor's. In addition, to maintain a license I'd recommend 100 hours of continuing education per year and taking the tests every two to three years.
Oh, you say there isn't that much to know? Then drop the charges!
Oh, you say there isn't that much to know? Then drop the charges!
- Simon Mills, "Mills Realty"
- Contributions:1858
All agents with less than two years experience shouldn't be allowed to represent a buyer or seller until they have completed at least 10 transactions under the direct supervision of an experienced agent.
- Erick Rodriguez
- Contributions:543
All of them excellent points. But real estate is a business and all you need to start a business is just a few of the basics. I can see why some people think that education is important, I am a graduate myself but if i would have known about this career before i went to college i would've wasted my time.
- SoCal_Engr
- Contributions:5666
"But real estate is a business and all you need to start a business is just a few of the basics."
That's only because that is the standard applied to real estate. Using the REA's favorite doctor/lawyer comparison (but for contrast vice analogy), try opening your own shop as a doctor or lawyer without the necessary education, credentials, and certifications.
Which brings us full-circle to the original topic of "is there enough of an educational requirement for REAs". Shame to have wasted that four years and not be able to formulate an argument that effectively addresses the salient point(s) on the table.
That's only because that is the standard applied to real estate. Using the REA's favorite doctor/lawyer comparison (but for contrast vice analogy), try opening your own shop as a doctor or lawyer without the necessary education, credentials, and certifications.
Which brings us full-circle to the original topic of "is there enough of an educational requirement for REAs". Shame to have wasted that four years and not be able to formulate an argument that effectively addresses the salient point(s) on the table.
How much education should be required to obtain a salesperson or broker license?
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