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Rainmaker
4,572,173
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Education never stops.  That's an important lesson. 

Sep 30, 2019 09:03 AM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

high enough????? it's laying on the floor.....

Sep 30, 2019 09:37 AM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Education is not the answer or solution.  I know people with Masters and PhDs who appear challenged navigating through life.  

I know people who "only" have a high school education that runs circles around people with higher education.  

Training is what is missing, IMHO.  Extensive training at the onset and mandatory training throughout. 

Obtaining a license is just that. It does not mean the one who holds it knows squat about business, customer service, or doing the right thing no matter what! 

Don't get me started (LOL)!

 

Sep 30, 2019 09:15 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,291
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

In IL you need to be a broker to sell now. Sorta raised the bar. 

Sep 30, 2019 08:40 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Brian,

I have PhD's who haven't a clue as to how to live life!

Sep 30, 2019 08:31 AM
Ambassador
3,587,960
Anna "Banana" Kruchten
HomeSmart Real Estate - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

I've long said that a mentoring or apprenticing type program, much like appraisers etc would be of great value to new agents - and the public.

Sep 30, 2019 02:19 PM
Rainmaker
1,052,211
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Prelicensing? Sure. The real education begins in the trenches.

Afterwards? Well. Let's hope your broker can properly guide you. 

That's the big problem and I see it with lots of rookies. No one minding the store and they don't know how to do anything, they don't understand the contracts etc because they need guidance. 

And brokers who got their license right out of the minimum required time and '1 year repeated 3x'. We saw this during the building boom when all the agents I went to school with went to work for builders. ONE contract, lather rinse repeat. Then got broker's license and opened shop in General RE. Knowing NOTHING. Decades later = still don't. But they can sell you a new build! LOL

Sep 30, 2019 09:52 AM
Rainmaker
758,035
Peter Testa
Nationwide Homes - Danbury, CT
PETER TESTA

Yes the bar is fine. Most of what is learned in class is useless in the real- real-estate world.  You learn nothing about strategies and daily tasks that will ensure you are a successful agent. The proof of what I am saying is in the turnover rate for new agents. Now personaly speaking I dont need more competition, but let's not make believe that real estate school will make you a good agent- it will just give you the vocabulary & letter of the law. 

Sep 30, 2019 08:29 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Yes and no.  Yes, because this is one of the few fields left where people with little or no education, but a desire to learn and earn, can do really well for themselves.  I've known people who were highly successful agents who came to this country with the clothes on their backs, barely any money and little to no understanding of the English language.  By the time I met them at a Mike Ferry Superstar Retreat, he was a multi-millionaire, selling more houses per month than there were days in the week, had his own MLS and was fluent in English.  In other words, you could have made a movie about his life and called it "The American Dream".

 

On the other hand, no.  I've dealt with many agents who don't know what they're doing, lie and cheat their client, violate any number of regulations and have no excuses for doing so.

 

In summary: I think raising the bar will not keep the idiots out of the industry, but will hurt those who don't have much but can be "rockstars" in the field.

Sep 30, 2019 02:30 PM
Rainmaker
469,510
Dan & Laurie Pittsenbarger Team
Keller Williams Western Realty - Bellingham, WA
Lakeside & Coastal Single Family Homes

As the prelicensing education has little to do with the day to day activitites of a successful agent, I'm fine with the current education bar (having more of it will do little to create "better" agents in my opinion).  One of the draws about becoming a realtor is to be able to get started in a very challenging industry with unlimited potential fairly easily and without a college education.

Sep 30, 2019 08:44 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

The education bar to obtain a real estate license, just like in all professions, is sufficient for the individual to obtain the real training from their company. I don't care if the training was writing code. soldering pipes or data entry, the company will need to add a bunch more training for the freshly graduated student to be competent.

In Real ESTATE the failure in education lies completely with BROKER who promise train'n  and deliver squat.

This would change if brokers were REQUIRED to compensate those they take on board. 

When the student does not achieve, it IS the TEACHER. In this case the obligation of the BROKER! 

But the broker delegates this responsibility to Teams, none practicing trainers or an agent with lots of time on their hands. And the outcome is what you are experiencing.

Sep 30, 2019 08:44 AM
Rainmaker
1,311,397
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

A few years back, California lawmakers tried to change the requirements to get a real estate license to "raise the bar" to loud applause from the existing body of license holders. (No surprise there.)

The Governor vetoed the law saying that it stood in the way of "job creation" and was not in the best interest of those who were seeking a career in real estate.

Sep 30, 2019 03:27 PM
Ambassador
1,076,551
John Meussner
Mortgages in AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, MD, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NV, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI - Fair Oaks, CA
#MortgageMadeEasy Fair Oaks, CA 484-680-4852

Yes - education has little to do with success.  Morals, ethics, drive, and the motivation to be good at what you do and self respect are far more important than education, IMO.  

 

I've taken many hours of education, continuing education, and spend a ton of time educating myself - rarely does a course or class cover the things I need to know in my day to day business.

Sep 30, 2019 10:48 AM
Ambassador
2,178,603
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

No. But, with that said, education doesn't guarantee common sense, integrity, or a good work ethic. 

Sep 30, 2019 03:39 PM
Rainmaker
390,348
Mayra Espinosa Realtor San Mateo Pacifica Homes
Mayra Espinosa Broker- Realtor | Call 650-996-8961 - Pacifica, CA
San Mateo County Real Estate | Buy | Sell | Invest

Each real estate transaction has its own challenges. We learn the most while doing our everyday routine. What we need to keep in mind every day is our fiduciary duties with our buyers and sellers.

Sep 30, 2019 03:06 PM
Ambassador
6,393,179
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Imagine how many people here would be denied a license if they required a degree to get into this game.

Sep 30, 2019 11:56 AM
Rainmaker
613,494
Eve Alexander
Buyers Broker of Florida - Tampa, FL
Exclusively Representing ONLY Tampa Home Buyers

It will never be enough education...

The problem is that once a person gets their license, they think that they know it all and are finished learning...so there are a lot of "dummies" in the real estate business.

Then you have the brokers who think that the "brokers license" means that they already know everything so they are too smart to take advanced classes...so much of what they tell their agents is plain wrong.

Eve

Sep 30, 2019 09:21 AM
Rainmaker
617,935
David Gibson CNE, 719-304-4684 ~ Colorado Springs Relocation
Colorado Real Estate Advisers LLC - Colorado Springs, CO
Relocation, Luxury & Lifestyle residential

Brian,

Not even close.

 

# 1 There needs to be good solid education about the systems of a modern house. Something like the InterNACHI® House of Horrors® which is an entire house with 1,000 defects. Everyone is welcome to visit, attend a chapter meeting or training provided by inspectors or experts in the industry that InterNACHI® may help facilitate, take a tour of the PRO-LAB® laboratories, and experience inspecting the House of Horrors®.

I’m not suggesting agents try to be inspectors but they need at least a reasonable knowledge.

https://www.nachi.org/school/

# 2 There needs to be simulation training. Put candidates through 100 or more different simulated deals on a computer and/or live role play.

 

# 3 A pre-license internship.

# 4 More training in law as it pertains to real estate.

I’ll let others add more.

Sep 30, 2019 08:34 AM
Ambassador
5,229,951
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Sadly, there is no bar, Brian. We seriously need more extensive training and a serious mentor program for ALL new agents. 

Sep 30, 2019 11:32 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I've been saying for years and years and years that the entry bar into this profession is way, way, way too low.

Sep 30, 2019 10:28 PM
Rainmaker
183,505
James (Jim) Lawson, DBA
DomainRealty.com LLC - Bonita Springs, FL
Broker Associate, RSPS, BPOR, HI & PE

High enough for what? Hopefully, the answer is to serve clients well and that takes appropriate experience and continuous education. Also, an earned doctorate in any field is indicative of a person who is quite adept at formulating issues and developing quality solutions. It certainly has helped me in real estate, especially at the beginnin!

Sep 30, 2019 09:54 PM
Rainmaker
2,071,025
Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
SIB Realty - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

It is not high enough.

Sep 30, 2019 09:42 PM
Rainmaker
1,598,452
Valeria Mola
SIB Realty - Miami, Sunny Isles Beach - Sunny Isles Beach, FL
305-607-0709 SIB Realty Condos for Sale and Rent

No, not high enough.

Sep 30, 2019 08:07 PM
Rainmaker
2,390,620
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

I can only speak of North Dakota's RE education and I think it stinks. All the focus is on how to pass the test. There is nothing on being a good real estate professional or how to survive in this business Brian DeYoung . It could be worse however, it could be run like that Utah RE school.

Sep 30, 2019 02:41 PM
Rainmaker
7,836,134
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

No.

Sep 30, 2019 02:12 PM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

Needs to rise and educate to the higher levels

Sep 30, 2019 01:53 PM
Rainmaker
634,531
Jason E. Gordon
CMG Mortgage, San Diego, CA - San Diego, CA
Sr Loan Officer, CMA, CMPS, CDLP, CDRE, RCSD, CDPE

Not even close.  The barriers to entry (and re-entry) to the Real Estate & Mortgage Industries are far too low (in my humble opinion).  

Sep 30, 2019 12:26 PM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

For Silicon Valley probably not.

All these esquires who are showing homes stipulating lines and lines of conditions. Some say their liability as a broker and lawyer is just $15K.  I make sure the sellers initial that they have read. All the rest offers are as is no contingency w/o a JD education.

Sep 30, 2019 12:10 PM
Rainer
117,135
Christine Kankowski North SD and Temecula
House Match Inc - Poway, CA
Excellent Sales and Property Management

In a lot of licensing - whether it be plumbing or massage, there is a practical training requirement.  I do think new agents would be best supported by having the follow other agents for a required number of hours - including negotiation, inpsections, showing property, research, cold-calling, property mgmt, paperwork, etc.  

This would lead to agents knowing some practical aspects and also being aware of the wide variety of real estate jobs that do exist .  not everyone is best suited to be a residential sales person.  Just my 2 cents.

Sep 30, 2019 10:21 AM
Rainmaker
4,936,677
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

I think it can still be higher!

 

Sep 30, 2019 09:39 AM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

A BIG NO. We need a higher bar on education, testing and common sense. 

Oct 01, 2019 05:29 AM
Rainmaker
629,608
Tom Bailey
Margaret Rudd & Associates Inc. - Oak Island, NC

Not just one, but HELL NO! It can't get much lower

Oct 01, 2019 03:33 AM
Rainmaker
4,882,355
Richard Weeks
Dallas, TX
REALTOR®, Broker

No for real estate and lending.

Oct 01, 2019 03:22 AM
Rainmaker
711,852
Lynnea Miller
Bend Premier Real Estate - Bend, OR
Premier Real Estate Service in Central Oregon

In Oregon you have had to be a Broker since 2001. And the state association has a push to "raise the bar" with additional education.

Sep 30, 2019 01:14 PM
Rainer
134,184
Brian DeYoung
also affiliated with Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Heritage Realty - Ithaca, NY
The Realtor with personal investment background

Thank you all for your responses.

I think education matters, butthat the classroom portion is just the begoinning.

I also see an incredible drop out rate, which means people were not prepared.

Continued education is of course essential.

The Oregon and Illinois requirements are fascinating.

Sep 30, 2019 01:59 PM
Rainmaker
1,196,798
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

Not really. Do you?

Oct 01, 2019 06:30 AM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

Don't even start this... seems everything about real estate has to be reviewed and improved and providing new licensees with a more useful education would be a good step to start this process. 

Oct 01, 2019 10:28 PM
Rainer
337,854
Adam Feinberg
Elegran - Manhattan, NY
NYC Condo, Co-op, and Townhouse Advisor

The bar is as low as it can be. I memorized enough of the glossary in the back of my study guides, memorized a few worthless figures that I never use in actual practice (i.e. sq ft in an acre...umm in NYC, you typically own an apartment in the sky) and did little else to prepare and that was more than sufficient enough to pass. I used to create training materials for the Series 7 stockbroker exam (and other exams) in the financial industy. While the bar is set much higher there- there are a lot of questions on these required exams that aren't overly relevant to the practice of your job. 

Apr 12, 2021 08:53 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,538
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Nope

Oct 12, 2019 03:43 PM
Rainmaker
5,216,398
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

No is the simple answer. Most states make memorization of useless facts the basis to pass a test. Nothing practical.

Oct 07, 2019 04:21 AM
Rainmaker
1,751,129
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

I'm sure it could be higher. And, I have plenty of stories of  that would prove it, but I wasn't complaining when I went through the process. 

Oct 01, 2019 11:48 AM