Educate for the Future

We’re well into the fourth quarter and like many businesses, we’re already thinking of 2010. It’s been a rough year for some in the real estate industry, while many others are reporting one of their best years yet! Many will say it’s all in the preparation. RE/MAX is preparing for the New Year with more educational opportunities for agents.

In the third quarter, RE/MAX unveiled its partnership with the CE Shop. Now RE/MAX agents can now get MCE course credit online through RE/MAX University’s partnership with the CE Shop, Inc. RE/MAX agents receive a 20% course discount, (and, as a little bonus, are automatically entered into a drawing to win FREE MCE for life!)

This strategic partnership with The CE Shop is vital in providing RE/MAX Associates with a better way to do business and serve their clients. RE/MAX is fortunate to have associates with more advanced professional designations than agents from any other national real estate network and this partnership will allow us to give our agents even more opportunities to be successful The CE Shop uses EASYTrack to help professional real estate agents manage their online education, which includes courses on real estate appraisals, the basics of real estate taxation, the mortgage process, foreclosures, the environmental movement in real estate and more.



To all this we’ve added an alliance with REALTOR® University, the National Association of REALTORS’ (NAR) Online Education Destination, to give members of the global real estate network, access to an additional 400 hours of online designation, certification and professional continuing education.
Combined with RE/MAX International’s industry-leading education platform, RE/MAX University (RU), RE/MAX Affiliates are positioned to remain the most trained and educated real estate agents today.

Through REALTOR® University, NAR offers a variety of professional designations and certifications which uniquely position real estate agents to be experts in certain niches of the market. RE/MAX Associates can sign up for several of these designation courses like e-Buyer, ABRM, Real Estate Professional Assistant (REPA) and more, and receive 5% off the total cost of the designation. RE/MAX University also delivers educational programs to its Associates through classroom training, online streaming video, downloads, conferences and via RE/MAX Satellite Network (RSN), the company’s exclusive satellite TV network.

Of course, we’ll be packing the schedule with more great speakers, seminars, Free Power Start and Technology Tour classes throughout the New Year (and it’s not to late to catch some of them in 2009). Just check www.remaxtexas.com/education for everything you need in Realtor education, and be sure to leverage the resources available through RE/MAX Satellite Network and Agent Training on Demand via RE/MAX University on RE/MAX Mainstreet. When 2010 hits, RE/MAX agents will be ready!

How Green is Your Valley?

Demand for green is growing nationwide, and so is consumer savvy on the subject. While some companies are embracing green as a trend and revamping their products and services to be environmentally responsible, others are “green washing”, attracting clients with pseudo-green business practices that are more marketing than reality.

In the housing industry, the business of sustainability is complicated, and the need for expert guidance from Real Estate Professionals competent in what makes a home energy efficient and environmentally-friendly is greater than ever. Real estate professionals well-versed in sustainability and green building are in the best position to provide value to clients and to educate them on the difference between green and green washing.

But before you launch your business into the green movement, determine if it’s worth your while by looking at your resources. Now we aren’t telling you to ignore environmentally-friendly business practices, just make sure the needs of your market justify any shift in your business plan.

Some places to get started

1.) Evaluate your market:
What is the demand for Green homes and sustainable features in your market? Better yet, what does the inventory look like? Are there city-spawned initiatives to enhance energy efficiency and sustainability? Talk to your colleagues and put the feelers out for any indication that buyers in your market are indeed interested in green homes, but may need the guidance of an experienced REALTOR to find what they are really looking for.


2.) Get Educated
More green educational opportunities are developing every year in the housing industry, from the NAR’s Green Designation, to the groundbreaking EcoBroker’s Green Designation and other green REALTOR education programs throughout the country. Do some research and find out which educational avenue suits your needs and your schedule. The designation will show your client that Green has more than a vague meaning to you. For our RE/MAX Agents, don’t forget that earning anyone of the NAR recognized designations entitles you to use of the RE/MAX GREEN marketing materials available on RE/MAX MainStreet.



3.) Hook up with a Builder or Green Remodeler
Builders appreciate REALTORS who express an interest in their product, and are interested in working with professionals who can best represent that product. Green builders are the best source for learning the smallest details about sustainability in building and are valuable contacts. A quick Google search can help you determine what’s available and where.


So what’s green been doing in your market? Leave a comment and let us know about local demand for greener housing practices and how it’s affecting business in your area.