Continuing Education Course Offerings

2021 Annual Commission Update

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.

Avoiding Pitfalls In Real Estate

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.  

Basic Fair Housing

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.

Building a Compliant Team

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.

Compliant Transaction Files

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.  

Contract to Buy and Sell – Advanced

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.

Contract to Buy and Sell – Line by Line

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.

Ins and Outs of the Listing Contracts

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

Introduction to Commercial Real Estate

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.

Manufactured Homes

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.  

Mineral Rights

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.

Out of the Box Buyers

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 fall outside of their 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
• Asset qualification
• Loan options for investors
• Reverse for purchase

Owners Expectations and the Property Management Agreement

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.

Realtor® Code of Ethics Update

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.

Realtor® Professional Standards

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.

Residential Leasing and Property Management Expectations

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.

Reverse Mortgage Loans

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 Deposit Processes and Procedures

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. 

The Business of Bank-Owned 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.  

The Residential Lease

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. 

To Manage or Not to Manage: Management Done Right (and without lawsuits)

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.   

Totally Legal Negotiating Techniques with Criminally Good Results

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

Trust Accounting

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.

Water Rights Issues in Real Estate

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.

Your Clients and Mortgage Forbearance

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. 

Your Clients and Short Sales

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.