Two Real Estate Firms in Hot Water in Hawaii

Posted on September 27, 2019 by Kaylee

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has settled with both Century 21 Homefinders of Hawaii in Hilo, and Coldwell Banker Island Properties of Kahuhui, Maui for violating the federal Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Collectively the companies have agreed to pay more than $26,000 in penalties for failing to provide proper lead-based paint disclosure to buyers and renters of homes built before 1978 in Maui and the Big Island.

The companies were cited under the TSCA’s lead-based paint disclosure rule, which applies to housing built before the residential use of lead-based paint was banned in 1978. The rule requires sellers and lessors of pre-1978 homes to provide prospective home buyers and tenants with a federal brochure about lead-based paint, any information known about lead-based paint in the home, and a warning statement about the potential dangers of lead-based paint. Buyers also have the option to inspect pre-1978 homes before becoming obligated to make a purchase. With this knowledge, potential home buyers and tenants can make informed decisions about whether to buy or rent a specific residence.

Century 21 Homefinders of Hawaii has agreed to pay a $6,962 penalty to settle alleged disclosure violations. Coldwell Banker Island Properties paid a $19,344 penalty in an earlier settlement. Both real estate companies have certified that they are presently in compliance.

High levels of lead in blood can cause permanent damage to the nervous system and widespread health problems, according to the EPA, including reduced intelligence and attention span, hearing loss, stunted growth, reading and learning problems, and behavioral difficulties. Young children with developing nervous systems are most vulnerable. “Reducing childhood lead exposure and addressing associated health impacts is a top priority for the EPA,” said EPA Pacific Southwest Regional Administrator Mike Stoker in a news release. “These settlements protect Hawaii communities by ensuring that lead paint rules and regulations are followed.”

Click here to learn more about the Disclosure Rule.

Nebraska Real Estate Professionals – It’s time to renew!

Posted on August 28, 2019 by Kaylee

Brokers and Salespersons in Nebraska are required to complete 18 hours of continuing education each two-year licensing cycle.

If your license starts with an odd number your renewal is November 30, 2019.

The speedy housing market in Nebraska is thanks not only to fierce competition over a scarce selection of homes, but also the healthy economy and Nebraska’s “Nice” factor. Compared to East and West coast negotiations, which are like a sport, Nebraskans are nice, decisive and unwilling to take too much time or deal with the hassle of a long negotiation. Both Lincoln and Omaha are on the road to expanding their job market, inviting even more newcomers from larger more expensive cities causing homes to be bought even quicker. Nebraska home values are expected to remain stable. The job market in Nebraska is on the rise and the demand for housing is expected to increase. It is a great time to be a real estate agent in Nebraska!

Keeping up with your education is vital to your prosperity in Real Estate. Without completing the requirements, your license will be just another card tucked in a corner wallet pocket or the candy covered bottom of your purse.

Don’t let your continuing education be the reason you miss out on all the commissions from the hours of hard work you put into listings, showings, contracts etc. We understand as an agent, your time is extremely valuable. We know in the last few years “For Sale” signs have been flying off homes in Nebraska and thoughts of CE have been on the back burner.

In a recent interview Doug Dohse, president of the Omaha Area Board of Realtors, informed us that the market is about to change. He stated “There are just not enough homes for sale, that’s what’s driving [the fast market] more than anything else.” As the housing market begins to slow, now is the time to get your Real Estate CE courses complete. Currently, in both Omaha and Lincoln (more so than any other big metro area across the country) homes are spending on average only 32 days on the market before being snatched up. That doesn’t give you much time to get your continuing education done but that’s what makes our program so great! You can take your courses from anywhere, at any time and on any internet connected smart device, making it simple and time effective to complete your CE today!

We provide: Nebraska approved continuing education that meets all of your requirements. We will report your CE to the Nebraska Real Estate Commission after completion.
All classes are HD VIDEO or FULL NARRATION with PRINTABLE TEXT

Kansas’ Millennial Market

Posted on July 24, 2019 by Kaylee

If you’re looking to buy a home in your 20’s, look no further than Kansas. According to recent market research, Wichita is one of the top 10 cities where 20-29-year old’s have been taking out mortgages. In 2018 29.4% of mortgages were issued to buyers in their 20’s. Kansas has become a favored watering hole for 20 somethings. You may be wondering what makes Kansas so desirable for young millennials? Wichita has a strong local economy with reasonable home prices and a spotlight on local night life. There are plenty of things to do for the younger generation, from the Midwest Beerfest to the Autumn and Art festival. Wichita is also the home to large employers such as KOCH Industries and Cessna. A growing economy combined with a seller’s market has raised home values 78%. In a nut shell…Wichita is so popular because home buyers get a lot of house for the same price compared to bigger cities– and cost of living is low.

While Millennials have been the biggest chunk of U.S. home buyers for a few years now, we’re about to see the younger half hit the housing market en masse. This group will decide where the next “hot” markets are. As a real estate professional trends are crucial in marketing your business, knowing what’s coming is a big benefit so now is the time to take your continuing education courses and renew your license. While fulfilling your requirements brush up on your social media presence with our Social Media Marketing course. The opportunity to make considerable money is just around the corner, so jump on over to our Kansas Real Estate Continuing Education page and learn something new!

With a booming housing market, real estate agents are in high demand. Make sure you stay up to date with state requirements so you can remain licensed.

Do you need Kansas real estate continuing education?

Salespersons and Brokers in Kansas are required to complete 12 hours of continuing education every two years. Salespeople must include a 3-hour Required Salesperson and Broker Core course; the remaining nine hours can be elective topics approved by KREC. Brokers must also complete a 3-hour Required Broker Core course. The remaining six hours may be filled with KREC approved elective courses.

Complete 12-hours of Salesperson or Broker approved online continuing education in HD video and narrated courses with Real Estate Training Institute!

Florida Real Estate License Fees Cut 50%

Posted on July 23, 2019 by Kaylee

A little relief comes to FL Real Estate professionals beginning July 1, 2019. Gov. Ron DeSantis and DBPR joined FREC in announcing a fee change for 200,000 licensees in Florida.

The lower renewal cost begins with the next renewal cycle that ends on Sept. 30, 2019. The temporary fee reduction, which lowers license renewal fees by 50% for licenses of real estate brokers, real estate sales associates and real estate broker branch offices will continue through the renewal periods of licenses expiring March 31, 2020, Sept. 30, 2020, and March 31, 2021.

License renewal fees for real estate brokers will drop from $72.00 to $36.00 and from $64.00 to $32.00 for renewal as a real estate sales associate or broker branch office.

The upcoming license fee reduction is projected to result in an estimated savings of over $8.8 million dollars for eligible license holders in Florida. Pursuant to section 455.219, Florida Statutes, FREC is authorized to implement a waiver of license renewal fees for a period not to exceed two years when the profession’s trust fund monies exceed the amount required to cover the necessary functions of FREC.

Don’t let your license expire!

Here are the requirements needed to renew your Florida real estate license:

How do I renew my Florida real estate license?

Florida requires all real estate licensees to renew their license through their Online Service portal. If you have not already registered, you will need to do so before you may renew your license. Once you have registered, you will receive an email with a temporary password and then you will create your own unique, secure password. (Check your spam or junk mail folder if you don’t receive that email right away.) After you have successfully logged in you will be able to link your license to the online account you created.

Create your Online Account
Link Your License to Your Online Account

How much does it cost to renew my Florida real estate license?

$32 | Sales Associates
$36 | Brokers

CE Requirement 1st Renewal:

Sales Associate – 45 hours
Brokers – 60 hours

CE Requirement Subsequent Renewal: 14 Hours
Required Courses: 3-Hour Florida Core Law

Do you report my continuing education to the Florida Real Estate Commission?

Yes! We will report your course completion to the Florida Real Estate Commission. Rosters are submitted three times a week and can take 24-48 hours to be reflected in the FREC database.

The El Paso Real Estate Market Is Growing Rapidly

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Sara

People are moving to El Paso, Texas. Until recently, El Paso has been known as a small, quiet town on the U.S.-Mexico border. These days, the city’s abundance of low-cost homes is causing a housing boom.

A lot of the new homeowners are coming from Arizona and California to enjoy the city’s low cost of living or to live near the Fort Bliss military base. A brand-new three bedroom home with stainless steal appliances and granite counter tops can be bought for just $150,000-$165,000.

Realtor.com® has released the following forecasts for El Paso, TX:

Median home price: $150,000
Sales growth: 7.9%
Price growth: 2.5%

With a booming housing market, real estate agents are in high demand. Make sure you stay up to date with state requirements so you can remain licensed.

Do you need Texas real estate continuing education?

Sales Agents and Brokers must complete 18-hours of continuing education classes every two years. Salespeople must include 8-hours of TREC Legal Updates I & II (These are 4-hours each). The other 10-hours can be based on elective training topics that are approved by TREC. Brokers must also complete a 6-hour TREC Broker Responsibilities course. The remaining 4-hours may be filled with TREC approved elective courses. Sales Agents must complete 90 hours of qualifying education during the first renewal cycle.

Complete 18-hours of TREC approved online continuing education in HD video with Real Estate Training Institute!

Las Vegas Real Estate Market Expected to Grow in 2019-2020

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Sara

Las Vegas, Nevada is one of the only housing markets expected to grow over the next year and a half. This is in stark contrast to the market they faced just a decade ago. Las Vegas was among the first and hardest hit during the 2008 housing crash. Entire neighborhoods were plagued with foreclosure signs and new construction came to a complete halt.

Today’s market is made up of young buyers relocating for tech jobs. They are attracted by the low mortgage rates, affordable housing, and Nevada’s lack of income tax. With these features combined, houses are flying off the market just days after becoming available.

Realtor.com® has released the following forecasts for Las Vegas, Nevada:

Median home price: $277,574
Sales growth: 0.9%
Price growth: 7.9%

With a booming housing market, real estate agents are in high demand. Make sure you stay up-to-date with state requirements so you can remain licensed.

Nevada Real Estate Continuing Education:
Brokers and salespeople in Nevada must complete 24-hours of continuing education classes every two years, half of which (12 hours) may be completed online. First-year licensees (brokers and salespeople) must complete 30 hours of specific courses. Requirements for subsequent licensing cycles are 24-hours of continuing education include:

Complete 12-hours of online continuing education online in HD video with Real Estate Training Institute!

Minnesota Real Estate 6/30 Deadline

Posted on May 22, 2019 by Sara

How do I renew my Minnesota real estate license?

Minnesota real estate salespeople and brokers must renew their licenses every two years by June 30^th. To meet renewal requirements, you must

Complete 30 hours of continuing education
Pay a fee
- Salesperson: $60 + $10 technical processing fee
- Brokers: $120 +$10 technical processing fee
Go to the Minnesota Real Estate Commission portal and renew your license be 4:30 pm central time on June 30th.

What continuing education is required to renew my Minnesota real estate license?

You must complete 30 credit hours of approved courses each 2-year cycle. Courses are broken into two 15 hour modules. Courses must include:

1 credit hour of Fair Housing
1 credit hour of Agency Law
1 credit hour of Residential Contracts for 2016-2017 renewal
You cannot take the same course twice in a licensing cycle

When must my Minnesota real estate license continuing education be completed by to avoid license lapsing?

Continuing education must be completed by June 30th, however, if you wait until the last two weeks of June to complete your continuing education you risk having your license lapse as well. It takes the state time to process realtor renewals, if your renewal is not processed by July 10th your license will lapse.

Where do I find courses to renew my Minnesota real estate license?

Real Estate Training Institute offers Minnesota approved online continuing education courses to renew your license. We offer a 15-hour package and individual courses to meet requirements for your 2017 module. Individual courses are also available.

Who submits my continuing education to the state of Minnesota?

Real Estate Training Institute will submit all Minnesota resident continuing education. Nonresidents are responsible for submitting their own continuing education to the state. Continuing education certificates are available immediately after completing courses.

Renewing Your Ohio Real Estate License

Posted on April 19, 2019 by Sara

How do I renew my Ohio real estate license?

Complete 30-Hours of approved continuing education
Log in to the Ohio Department of Commerce Division of Real Estate eLicense Center
Enter your license information and pay the appropriate fee

What is the fee for renewing my Ohio real estate license?

Salespersons: $135
Brokers: $180

How do I tell which continuing education requirements I have completed?

The certification number includes a letter that serves as a course-type designator

D – Core Law
G – Civil Rights
C – Canon of Ethics
E – Elective*
F – Computer Specific Elective*
B – Computer Basic Elective*
*A licensee may only take a maximum of 15 hours of computer electives

How can I find my Ohio real estate continuing education due date?

Visit www.com.ohio.gov/real to look up your license requirements

Do my 10-hour post-education courses count towards my 30 hours of continuing education?

No, the state of Ohio requires you to complete the 10-hour pre-licensure course and 30 hours of continuing education.

I have extra continuing education credits; can I use them for the next renewal cycle?

You may roll over 10 hours. These hours will count for elective courses, they will not count towards the 9 core course hours.

Where can I find Ohio real estate continuing education?

Visit www.realestatetraininginstitute.com and choose from the selection of state-approved courses.

Who Submits Completed Continued Education?

Ohio Division of Real Estate requires that both the course sponsor and the licensee submit certificates of completion. Real Estate Training Institute reports course completions to the Division within two business days of completion. A course completion certificate will be available to print immediately upon completion of the course. It is the licensee’s responsibility to submit all completed continuing education certificates to the Division when renewing their license.

Hot Real Estate: Shopping Center Sold in Saint Paul

Posted on March 22, 2019 by Sara

A multi-tenant shopping center in a growing area is now off the market, after being sold for $3.1 million.

Mid-America Real Estate corp. sold the Lexington Shoppes, 34,000 square feet of retail area. The shopping center is in the booming neighborhood of Saint Paul, which has seen increasing real estate interest in recent years.

The market is hot, and for good reason.

Saint Paul is 20 minutes outside of Minneapolis and a rising business star. According to the Greater Minneapolis-Saint Paul Regional Economic Development Partnership, the labor force has increased faster than the rest of the state and country. It’s also expected to keep growing by 5.2 percent over the next half-a-decade.

Saint Paul consistently ranks one of the best places to live, for factors including low housing costs and cost of living.

Saint Paul’s community is attractive to potential homeowners for its sports, recreation and art and attraction. The city ranks has a high density of artistic opportunities, and large numbers of theaters – only second, behind New York City.

The partnership’s website also highlights that the region is conducive to working moms and young college grads. Income opportunities and affordable housing make it an attractive place for people to settle down, both young and old.

Price-per-square-foot in homes on the market increased from last year and closed-sales went up too.

Saint Paul is definitely a city to keep your eye on.

For more data, visit http://maar.stats.10kresearch.com/docs/lmu/x/SaintPaul?src=page

Kansas Real Estate Sales Down, Home Prices Remain Strong

Posted on March 20, 2019 by Marie McCarthy

Overall real estate sales have decreased and prices remain stable in 2019, according to new data from the Kansas Association of Realtors.

Home Sales

The most recently available statistics from January show that home sales in the sunflower state are down 8.2 percent compared to January 2018. These numbers mirror national trend: American home sales across the board are down 8.5 percent over 2018.

Home Prices

The good news: Kansas home prices are stable and in some cases, increasing. The average sale price in January was $200,772. Home prices are generally increasing across the Midwest and country.

Listings

The number of active listings is also increasing. There were 9,828 Kansas listings in January, up 2.3 percent from the same time last year.

Days on the Market

The number of days on the market is growing smaller. The average Kansas home was up for sale 66 days, a decrease compared to last year.

Mortgage Rates

Rates have been dipping even lower recently, according to FreddieMac.com.

On average, the commitment rate on a 30-year conventional mortgage was 4.41 percent across the country, as of March 6, 2019.
That percentage is 3.83 percent on 15-year FRM rates
Finally, 5/1-year ARM mortgages have a 3.87 percent commitment rate.

FreddieMac.com says that in late 2018, mortgage rates rose over a full percentage point compared to 2017, which is what caused a delay in home sales in the first few weeks of the new year.