Continuing Education Course Offerings

Every year the Division of Real Estate releases the required Annual Commission Update (ACU) course with topics the Division believes are important for brokers to know.  This is the required class every broker must take each year.

ONLY AVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER 31, 2021

The laws in Tenant/Landlord law keep changing and 2021 was no exception.  This class gives brokers an update on the substantial 2021 law changes that will impact landlords and property managers. This class applies to the individual owner managing their own rentals and property managers.  The class covers changes required by the 2021 legislative session including allowable late fees, rent due dates, lease provisions, changes in the eviction process and so much more.  If you own or manage properties this is a must take.  Due to the new legislation virtually every lease in the state needs to be updated!  

Every year the Division of Real Estate releases the required Annual Commission Update (ACU) course with topics the Division believes are important for brokers to know.  This is the required class every broker must take each year.

Every year the Division of Real Estate releases new forms and changes to the existing Commission approved forms.  This class is an in-depth look at the changes and new forms effective January 1, 2022 that you will not find in the Annual Commission Update including:

1. Major revisions and additions to the Contract to Buy and Sell Real Estate.
2. Update to the Earnest Money Release you need to understand.
3. New Extension or Termination of  Contract form.
4. New Seller Association Authorization.

This class was created by Damian Cox, the Vice Chair of the Commissions Forms Committee, and all instructors have been personally trained by Damian.  Don't just learn what changed, learn why the changes were made, what risks are associated with the changes and how to explain the new forms and provisions to your clients.

All good brokers understand the importance of staying up to date with the ever changing real estate industry.  This class covers the "pitfalls" brokers are facing in today's real estate industry.  In addition to identifying those issues that are top of mind for brokers, this class also identifies other areas of concern brokers may not be aware of.  Once identified, the instructor helps brokers understand how to navigate these problem areas and how to properly advise their clients.  

This course provides background on Federal Fair Housing legislation, the protected classes, and how those classes have evolved on the national and state level. Additionally, assistance animals, disparate impact, and fair housing challenges when dealing with rental applications will be discussed. The attendees will leave the class with an understanding of fair housing law and best practices when performing property management.

The class is appropriate for Employing Brokers as they oversee all aspects of a brokers’ duties including comliance with federal and state fair housing law. Having an understanding on current Fair Housing trends, and concerns dealing directly with property management, is vital for Employing Brokers. With this class an Employing Broker will gain an understanding of what policies should be addressed and are needed in the company policy and procedures manual.

Are you a successful real estate broker with more work than you can handle? It may be time to consider building your own real estate team. It takes a strong leader with a sense of purpose and clarity of vision to build a winning team of brokers and support staff. A successful team that delivers results consistently takes time and patience to develop.

Hiring mistakes can be costly. The wrong candidate can literally ruin your business and your reputation. If you’re seriously considering taking the next step to recruit and build a top real estate team, this course will help you prepare.

Compliance - that less then glorious but all important part of every real estate broker's and brokerage firm's business.  The Colorado Division of Real Estate has requirements for both brokerage firms and brokers as to what documents are required in each transaction file.  This course teaches why compliance is important, who is responsible, and what documents must be kept in each transaction file.  Additionally, learn what documents are required, and why relying on just the Colorado Division of Real Estate's checklist may not be enough.  

Buying or selling real estate in Colorado can be complex. While the Colorado Contract to Buy and Sell is robust with provisions for almost all circumstances, there are several provisions that are complicated and confusing. This course builds on the Contract to Buy and Sell - Line by Line class by taking a deeper dive into some of the more complicated and confusing provisions that brokers need to know.

The Contract to Buy and Sell is the single most important contract in a real estate brokers business.  When a broker prepares the contract, they are essentially practicing law.  Understanding what the contract provisions say, knowing how to prepare the contract and being able to explain the contract to clients is critical.  

This streamlined course reviews the Contract to Buy and Sell line by line for a step by step tutorial on properly completing and explaining the Colorado approved Contract to Buy and Sell Real Estate.

Have you ever had a buyer with less than optimal credit? Do you yourself need some help understanding how credit works and the pitfalls to avoid? The Credit & Credit Resoration course is a good resource for this common everyday issue. 

In this course participants will learn how to understand credit, learn how to budget, and tactics to get out of debt. Whether you are a real estate broker, loan officer, financial counselor, or simply an individual seeking to improve your credit, it is important to become educated on the credit and scoring systems. Discover the factors that determine someone's FICO score, and learn to understand how credit works and techniques to:

• Negotiate the interest rate
• Develop plans based on your financial situation
• Maintain a budget and reduce overspending
• Understand how credit can impact foreclosures, shortsales, and the loan modification process.

Register for the Credit and Credit Resoration course today.

As a real estate broker, you have probably come across property listings with a solar energy system.  Whether you are representing the buyer or the seller, you will need to know the specifics about that solar system.  Are you prepared to discuss the pros and cons of solar ownership and solar leases with your clients?  Do you know if the solar system is an asset or liability?  Do you know how to capture the value that solar photovoltaic (PV) systems add to the transaction?  Do you know how to address the transfer of solar systems in the Contract?  This course is designed to help you navigate the complexities of solar panels in your real estate transactions.

Errors and omissions insurance, also known as E&O insurance and professional liability insurance, helps protect your assets from claims you made a mistake in your professional services. This insurance can cover your court costs, attorney fees or settlement payouts, which can be very costly, assuming you have coverage.

The purpose of this course to explain what E&O Insurance is, why it is important and how coverage works under various policies. Participants will gain an understanding on the basics of how E&O Insurance works, what it covers and how to make informed decisions based on coverage. This course employs real life situations to show when and how E&O Insurance works. 

Not all E&O insurance polices are created equally.  Brokers need to understand the different coverages and how to maintain that coverage to help manage their risk, safeguard the livelihood of their families, guard their personal wealth, preserve their personal and professional reputation, and ensure their future in the profession.

Environmental due diligence in commercial and industrial real estate transactions involves the assessment of known, potential, and contingent environmental liabilities and obligations associated with a parcel of property to be acquired. Several types of environmental and natural resources issues can impact commercial and industrial real estate transactions. The purpose of this course is to explain the types of environmental and natural resources that can impact commecial and industrial real estate transactions.

This real estate training course will focus on:

• Phase I and Phase II environmental studies
• Contamination on the property and hazardous materials incorporated into or affecting the building.
• Water bodies, wildlife and mineral resources on or beneath the property.
• Water supply to the property.

Good realtors are used to thinking about the Code of Ethics. Beyond the ethical guidance it provides, it is also a professional obligation. But what about the application of the Code of Ethics as it relates to social media? While the Code is typically very clear, it's application to social media can be ambiguous.

Between “private” accounts, character limits, and inexperience applying the code to online behavior, it is easy to forget the Code of Ethics or overlook some of its provisions. This could result in an ethics hearing or even a lawsuit. 

This course provides students with the understanding of ethics and social media when it comes to real estate. It provides an overview of what to do and not to do to avoid finding yourself in trouble over an easily preventable situation.
 

iBuyers, or instant buyers, are real estate buyers that use online home value assessment tools to determine what your house is worth, and then make you an instant cash offer. Sometimes an iBuyer offer is a good option for your clients.  SOmetimes it is not.  This course provides an overview of what an iBuyer is, how the iBuyer system works and, most importantly, how brokers should advise their clients and stay involved in iBuyer transactions.  Attendees will learn how to compare traditional real estate sales to iBuyer sales and see why brokers should be an important part of the iBuyer process.

Listing agreements are employment contracts between the sellers and buyers of real estate and the real estate brokerage firm they hire.  This course is an in-depth review of the Seller Listing Contract and the Buyer Listing Contract covering everything from brokerage relationships, to compensation to how a listing contract is terminated.  Come learn things you didn't even know existed in these important forms.

This class is also available in:

1. Ins and Outs of the Buyer Listing Contract - 2 hours CE
2. Ins and Outs of the Seller Listing Contract - 2 hours CE

Commercial real estate is any property owned to produce income, including office, industrial, retail, mixed-use, medical office, entertainment and educational facilities. It also includes vacant land that will eventually be leased or developed. 

This course is for individuals interested in entering the commercial real estate field. The course provides an introduction to the fundamentals of commercial real estate, including property types, financials, and valuation. It covers the four major property types: multi-family, office, retail, and industrial. Brokers are presented with an overview of the major differences between commercial real estate and personal use real estate. Topics include the common agent activities found in the commercial real estate marketplace, including leasing, sale, development, property management, and financing; the financial factors in commercial real estate investments; and discussion of the common rules of thumb, including cost per square foot, gross rent multiplier, capitalization rate, and the cash on cash return. Brokers also learn common lender terminology that applies to commercial real estate, the types of loans available, and an understanding of the concept of leverage.

This course is designed to equip real estate brokers with the knowledge and tools necessary to be more productive helping clients and prospects buy and manage investment real estate.

The goals of this course are to:

• Provide the students with an in-depth understanding of matters which relate to the ownership of non-owner occupied real estate of which they must be aware to best assist their clients and prospects.
• Instruct students on the potential perils of owning investment real estate and how to build defensive strategies to fend them off should they occur.
• Show students how investment real estate compares to other investment alternatives from a tax, cash flow, and wealth creation standpoint.

The results of this course will help you and your investor clients understand how to position real estate projects to achieve the highest returns possible while building cash, cash-flow, tax benefits, lifetime income and distribution strategies.

In a world of increasing home prices, manufactured homes have become an affordable housing choice for many people.  However, manufactured homes are not real estate.  As such, these transactions are very different and can be very confusing and high risk.  In 2020, the Colorado Real Estate Commission's forms committee approved manufactured home forms for use by real estate brokers.  This course is a detailed analysis of these forms that goes through all the contracts line-by-line and analyzes why manufactured homes can be such dangerous transactions.  If you have any interest in listing or selling a manufactured home, or are supervising those transactions, this class is a MUST.  

Does your client actually own the mineral rights under their property?

With the rising costs of oil and gas, mineral rights have become more valuable, and landowners are enticed to lease or sell mineral rights.

By default real estate is sold with both surface rights and mineral rights in a fee simple estate, however a title to a property can be transferred, bought and sold, without including the mineral rights. This is a common practice in areas that are known to hold valuable mineral deposits such as oil and gas.

The goal of this course is to help brokers understand how complex mineral rights are in Colorado and what rules regulate them.

In this class attendees will learn how to put together the DORA required Office Policy Manual. The curriculum delves into the areas that are required to be included in the Office Policy Manual. Each area of business is addressed and discussed on how to establish real estate businesses to be fully compliant. 

This course applies directly to Managing Brokers as the Policies and Procedures manual is required for all brokerages. It will educate the attendee on all areas required to be in the Office Policy Manual.

Does your client fall outside of the strict qualifying guidelines for an advertised mortgage? It's not that they can't qualify, it's that they don't fit the conforming loan box.. This one-hour CE course explores loan options that are available for buyers who do not qualify for a traditional mortgage. With 28% of U.S. workers being self-employed and 57% of households having a credit score below 680, there is a tremendous market of "out of the box buyers" to assist. Loan programs that will be covered include:

• Loan options for self-employed buyers
• Down payment assistance
• Jumbo loans
• Loan options for investors
• Reverse for purchase

This course focuses on how the Property Management Agreement can be used to set owner expectations when it parallels the policies and procedures used by the brokerage firm. As the Property Management Agreement is the cornerstone of the management relationship, setting expectations within the Proeprty Management Agreement is a great way to meet those expectations and reduce complaints. The class will consist of the following:

• A look at what both owners and property managers want, need and expect in the management relationship.
• Review what state statutes, rules and commission positions require/recommend is included in the Proeprty Management Agreement.
• Look at other areas to be included in the Property Management Agreement such as pets, insurance, hold harmless clause and others as suggested by Attorney Brandon Ceglian.
• Discuss and look at how the Property Management Agreement can mirror the brokerage firm policies and procedures within the operation of managing properties, and how to add specific duties and responsibilities within the Property Management Agreement to match those practices already in place in the brokerage firm.

Additionally, this course applies directly to employing or manageing brokers as well as property managers as it will give the employing and managing broker a solid direction when creating the brokerage firm office policy manual and how it should be applied to the attorney drafted Property Management Agreement. Property management is a complex area of practice, and this class will help the employing and managing broker identify and areas of needed expertise when dealing with owners, the Property Management Agreements and the office policy manual.

In this class attendees will learn how to put together the DORA required Policies and Procedures manual. The cirruclium delves into the areas that are required to be included in the Policies and Procedures manual. Each area of business is addressed and discussed on how to establish real estate businesses to be fully compliant. Additionally, attendees will learn how brokerages practicing property management should and can expand the property management section of the Policies and Procedures Manual to create systems and a Standard Operating System for day to day property management.

This course applies directly to Managing Brokers as the Policies and Procedures manual is required for all brokerages. It will educate the attendee on all areas required to be in the Policies and Procedures Manual as well as give them the opportunity in class to create a compliant manual with a detailed Property Management section.

NAR’s Code of Ethics is one factor that distinguishes REALTORS® from other real estate brokers. The Code of Ethics is universally recognized by practitioners, lawyers and laymen alike as the measure of professionalism in the real estate industry. When you abide by the Code, it ensures your fellow practitioners and the public of a high standard of business conduct.

All REALTORS® must take a Code of Ethics course every three years to remain a REALTOR®.  While this class meets all the National and Colorado Association of REALTORS® requirements, it may not meet all local Association of REALTORS® requirements for Ethics.  Please check with your local Association of REALTORS® prior to enrolling. 

This class is also available as a 4 hour CE course with a more in depth analysis of many parctical situations.

The professional standard that sets Realtors® apart from other real estate practitioners is their acceptance and adherence to the Code of Ethics. The Code is revised through the years to be relevant to current developments in the professional real estate practice.

Even with the best of intentions, planning and preparation, occasional disagreements arise between brokers and/or between brokers and their clients or customers. As civil litigation becomes more costly and time consuming, Realtors® have created their own system of dispute resolution to help resolve disputes in a less costly less time consuming manner.

This course provides participants with a working knowledge regarding Realtor® Professional Standards, Real Estate Ethics and its’ enforcement. This class is designed to help Realtors® understand methods of resolving disputes arising out of real estate business, and will benefit the public by reducing the number of disputes and unethical behavior. Additionally, employing brokers will learn how to better counsel associate brokers on methods to resolve disputes regarding real estate transactions.

This class covers eight key areas the Real Estate Commission has set expectations for all licensees practicing property management. The purpose of this course is educate these eight key areas, and to make sure they are addressed and handled according to the Commissions expectations.

Additionally, this course applies directly to employing and managing brokers as well as property managers as it will give the employing and managing brokers a solid direction when creating and making sure these eight expectations are addressed in the office policy manual and how it should be applied. Property management is a complex area of practice, and this class will help the employing and managing brokers identify areas within the property management functions that the Commission has identified of needing explanation and clarification.

It is important to keep up with the current trends in real estate and finance, but it is just as important to learn how to use these tools to enrich your clients’ experience when working with you. This course teaches the requirements and benefits of a reverse mortgage, what to expect and when one might be approriate for your clients. Upon completion of this course participants will understand how to properly explain to your clients how a reverse mortgage loan works as well as how to use one when purchasing a home.  

Register today!

Security Deposits are the largest area of contention between property managers and tenants.  When it comes to returning security deposits, both landlords and tenants often find themselves unsure of how to proceed. The confusion likely stems from the fact that the regulations governing security deposits vary at the city, county and state level.  

This class will cover the laws regarding security deposits and how to handle security deposit dispositions and complaints.  The cirriculum will cover factors such as normal wear and tear as well as depreciation, and how the courts can view and rule on security deposit disputes. Lastly, the course will conclude by answering some common discrepancies landlords and tenants have about security deposits. 

Vacant land and acreage properties are a unique real estate specialty that requires specialized professional education and competency. By taking this course real estate professionals can become land and acreage experts. The cirruculum of this course includes:

• How does a ranch sale differ from a crop land sale?
• In what ways do soil types affect land use?
• Where are the best resources for land information?
• How do land specialists use aerial photography and mapping and location systems?
• How does the USDA work with land owners?
• What are the impacts of water rights and related government regulations?
• What are the water and waste water issues/options?

The purpose of this course is to educate students on the myriad of issues that affect land and acreage properties.

As foreclosures rise, bank-owned properties will likely become a larger part of the listing inventory in our market.  Bank-owned proeprties are unique as the seller is an institutional lender likely located in another state.  Navigating the requirements for both listing and helping a buyer purchase bank-owned property can be tedious and confusing.  This class dives into the processes and potential land mines of both trying to list bank-owned properties and how to help a buyer successfully purchse a bank-owned property.  

This class will take a close look at the residential property management lease.  Not only the must have’s and the should have’s but clauses and inclusion that Rob has gathered from property managers around the state.  Rob will go into detail why even clauses not enforceable in court might be a good thing to include in your residential lease.  This interactive class, yes, even on Zoom will allow you to either make sure your lease is covering the vital parts of the lease plus setting tenant expectations or if it’s possibly time to have your lease updated. 

Every year, Property Management is the leading area of complaints against Real Estate Brokers.  Many times these complaints morph into a full investigation simply because the property manager was not familiar with the requirements under license law.  Want to know how to avoid lawsuits against your brokerage firm? Train your managers. This course covers the do's and don'ts for property management including:  what needs to be in a property management agreement, how to choose a lease, concerns about eviction, information about the Warranty of Habitability, discussion about rent and security deposits and more.  If you are doing or thinking about doing property management, this is a must take class.   

In this 3-hour class, you will learn from a real estate attorney constructive and integrative negotiation techniques as well as how to stay out of trouble when negotiating!

Class Topics include: 

• Constructive/Integrative Negotiation Techniques
• BATNA - Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement
• Understanding the Other Side
• Communication
• Determining and Communicating Your Role
• Techniques to Overcome Negotiating Problems
• CREC Complaint Process
• Litigation

If you are in the property management business, you should be familiar with trust accounts. If a property manager is conducting traditional property managment, a trust account must be created by the property managers brokerage firm to hold and manage funds belonging to their clients.

In this course you will learn the required procedures for handling trust accounts including security deposit trust accounts and operating trust acounts for rents collected and bills paid.

Top-earning real estate brokers have one thing in common: They know their local real estate market. Ask them any question about the area, and they can answer it—or at least they know where to go to find the answer. If you want to make it in real estate, you have to know the ins-and-outs of the local marketplace, including:

• Identifying Current Market Conditions As Brokers. 

• Setting Expectations With Buyer’s and Seller’s In Today’s Market.  

• Putting Together A Successful Contract as Brokers 

• Inspections

• Clients and the Inspection Process. 

• Inspection issues and representing our Clients

• Handling Appraisal Issues as Brokers 

The goal of this course is to help you become a local market expert. Upon completion of this course studends will have gained an understanding of the local real estate market, and significantly improve your chances of success.

This course is designed to help real estate brokers uncover the hidden ability of clients and prospects to purchase real estate. Students will learn what typical consumers do with their money to see if it is getting them where they want to be in the future. The curriculum includes:

• Compare and contrast how the masses versus the wealthy manages money.
• How to build toward successful wealth creation.
• Evaluate real estate as a tool to generate wealth, the role real estate plays in a person's life, and the vast array of ramifications it creates when compared to the usual places money resides.
• Review exit strategies and how real estate compares to other typical financial and marketing strategies employed by the masses.

If anyone has ever said to you they would like to buy additional real estate, but they don’t feel financially prepared to do so, this class is for you!

Many residents and businesses in Colorado pay public utilities, such as Denver Water, to receive their water supply. In rural and even not so rural parts of Colorado, however, many residents and businesses receive their water via a well or other type of water right that they own. Water rights in Colorado are regarded as real property, similar to real estate, and ownership is very flexible. A water right can be bought, sold, moved and switched from one use to another, such as from farming to domestic.  Understanding the water rights that run with a property can be crucial to real estate transactions that include water rights.  

This course provides real estate brokers with a basic understanding of the legal concept of water rights in Colorado, and addresses issues that can arise with their conveyance.  Understanding water rights issues in real estate will help real estate brokers facilitate smoother transactions where water rights are involved.

Many homeowners applied for mortgage forbearances during the COVID-19 pandemic in an attempt to save their homes from foreclosure.  Mortgage forbearances are now expected to have mixed results as to their effectiveness helping homeowners avoid foreclosure as homeowners must now find ways to pay them back.  This class will give students a deeper understanding about mortgage forbearances, how they work, what there limitations are and how they potentially impact homeowners.  By having this deeper understanding, brokers will be better equipped to advise homeowners of their options surrounding mortgage forbearances. 

Will we see a rise in short sales and foreclosures again?  Many experts predict a wave of evictions and foreclosures that could lead to a drop in equity and an increase in seller's needing a short sale.  The purpose of this course is to give students a deep knowledge about the short sale process, the foreclosure process and step by step training on the logistics of achieving a successful short sale for their real estate clients. The class provides instructions on how to connect clients with the correct advice needed to achieve the best outcome in the event that they find themselves in default under their current loan. Additionally the course will help employing brokers to teach their brokers about the short sale process and the logistics of achieving a successful short sale.