Maine Real Estate Continuing Education Courses

• Take a unique look at contracts including their history, evolution and definitions 
• Learn how to create a valid contract and the proper format
• Gain insights on contract types and Statute of Frauds 
• Learn how to recognize a breach of contract

• Review the history of agency law and common law 
• Explore the key elements of fiduciary responsibility and the consequences for failing to carry them out 
• Discuss different ways an agency relationship may be formed and terminated

•  Explore the Americans with Disabilities Act and whom it protects 
• Uncover the purpose, history, application and enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act

ABRIDGED DESCRIPTION: 

Continuing education in ethics is a requirement for all real estate licensees and the NAR also requires its members to complete and approved ethics course every three years. The three-hour Charting Your Success: The Code of Ethics, Buyer Representation, and Your Value Proposition is designed to meet the continuing education in ethics curriculum requirements as well as the NAR Code of Ethics requirement. The chapters cover the purpose, structure, and applicability of the Code of Ethics with an in-depth look at Articles 1 and 3 against the backdrop of recent litigation aimed at the real estate industry’s cooperative compensation model. The course demonstrates how buyer representation and ethical practice are part of a licensee’s value proposition and provides perspective on how high ethical standards can be used when adapting to market changes. Case studies and examples help bring the content to life and help licensees apply ethics to their real estate practice.

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS: 

• The purpose of the National Association of REALTORS®, and the overall structure of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.
• How the Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice aligns with and yet differs from general business codes of conduct.
• Aspirational concepts contained within the Preamble to the Code of Ethics.
• The role of the professional standards enforcement process of NAR boards and association when an ethics complaint is lodged.
• An overview of Articles applying to duties to clients, customers, the public, and REALTORS® and their Standards of Practice.
• An in-depth look at Article 1, violations of Article 1, and its applicability to today’s real estate landscape.
• An in-depth look at Article 3, cooperation, possible violations of Article 3, and its applicability to today’s real estate market.
• A review of the ethics of buyer representation.

Do you feel prepared for a cyber attack? This course will help you to identify scams and how cybercriminals gain access to organizations’ network systems with the intention of stealing data or holding files hostage. You will learn why real estate organizations are targeted, preventative measures to protect your data, and guidelines for establishing a cybersecurity policy manual.

Course Highlights

•    Learn about types of cybersecurity attacks
•    Understand why cybersecurity is necessary
•    Explore why real estate organizations are targeted for cyber crimes
•    Gain knowledge on how to prevent cyber attacks
•    Learn how to establish a cybersecurity policy
 

• Gain confidence teaching buyers about the buying process 
• Learn to show buyers how to get their finances to purchase a home
• Know how to help buyers systematically search for a home in in their current market 
• Understand how to teach buyers how to negotiate like a pro 

• Educate your sellers during the listing presentation. 
• Teach your clients of the importance of staging to sell.
• Help sellers understand strategies when their home hasn’t sold.
• Teach sellers how to evaluate and handle multiple offers.
• Help sellers better navigate contract negotiations.

Fair and equitable treatment in housing and real estate transactions is a right by law. This course covers information to ensure licensees comply with the federal Fair Housing Act, including protected classes, exemptions, prohibited conduct, and enforcement. The course is approved for two hours of continuing education.

COURSE HIGHLIGHTS

• Learn why fair housing laws are necessary by learning about the history of housing discrimination and its lasting impact.
• Review the laws that make housing discrimination illegal, and the actions prohibited and required by these laws in the business of real estate.
• Recognize the personal characteristics that federal law protects from discrimination in housing, and state and local government protections that may exceed federal protections.
• Gain an understanding of what steering is and strategies to avoid it.
• Recognize the danger in making assumptions based on stereotypes, and the importance of allowing consumers to choose which communities/neighborhoods they want to live in.
• Describe what reasonable accommodations and modifications for people with disabilities may be required by fair housing laws.
• Apply best practices in fair housing marketing and advertising.
• Use interventions to aid in the interruption of implicit biases so that consumers are treated with equal concern, respect, and fairness.
• Discover fair housing resources to assistance your clients.

• Discuss fair housing law developments through the years
• Examine advertising policies and exemptions through case studies
• Pocket useful tips on how to stay clear of discriminatory practices in sales, rentals, and financing of real estate

• Learn how homebuyers can reduce their environmental footprint 
• Examine the costs of sustainable materials 
• Explore pros and cons to eco-friendly materials and homes

• Learn techniques to help buyers prioritize their must-have list 
• Explore how you can simplify the home-buying process for your clients

This course will cover a brief history of the mortgage industry and introduce the players. We will discuss financing, security instruments, and legal clauses commonly included in these instruments. We’ll look at various loan types, including government-backed mortgage programs and discuss mortgage fraud and predatory lending. Finally, we will examine the loan process, qualifying standards for borrowers, and mortgage laws.

• Explore insights on the investor market and uncover opportunities to grow your business 
• Learn the skillsets, terminology and experience required to work with investor clients 
• Gain confidence in evaluating an investment property 
• Supplement your learning with real world case studies, worksheets, audio, and video

• Gain confidence in evaluating real estate investment properties  
• Examine cash flow, NOI, depreciation, rate of return, cap rate, cash on cash and more 
• Learn how to leverage five different methods to determine a rental property’s value

• Learn about the types of properties managed.
• Identify the factors examined in a market analysis.
• Know the steps in a risk assessment
• Know how to develop a maintenance program.

• Review some basic environmental laws regarding lead. 
• Learn the laws surrounding this toxic element 
• Recognize the basic health effects of lead exposure on children and adults. 

• Explore the Millennial generation and how they affect the real estate market 
• Uncover their wants and fears when it comes to homeownership 
• Learn strategies for recruiting Millennials to your brokerage

• Narration
• Learn how to use an investment property worksheet to analyze a property 
• Explore how to determine a property’s investment value quickly and effectively 
• Uncover the ins and outs of the passive loss rules 
• Examine how to maximize the tax-savings benefits of depreciation through a bifurcation strategy

This course provides an overview of various forecasts and predictions made for the real estate market in 2023 and describes adaptive reuse and accessory dwelling units. Additionally, it provides a review of economic cycles and the economic theory of supply and demand, which is the backbone of real estate markets.

It is intended to enhance the knowledge and effectiveness of real estate licensees and is approved for 3 hours of continuing education.