Georgia Real Estate Continuing Education

36 Hours
This complete package includes all 36 hours of CE required for Broker and Sales active license renewals.

Courses included in this package:

• Georgia Mandatory License Law (3 mandatory hours)
• The Code of Ethics in Action: Real-Life Applications (3 elective hours)*
• Did You Serve? Identifying Homebuying Advantages for Veterans (3 elective hours)
• Personal Safety (3 elective hours)
• Residential Property Management Essentials (3 elective hours)
• Attracting Online Consumers: Listings and Syndication (3 elective hours)
• Working With Real Estate Investors: Understanding Investor Strategies (3 elective hours)
• From Contract to Keys: The Mortgage Process (6 elective hours)
• Preparing a Market Analysis - Best Practices (3 elective hours)
• Today's MLS: New Paradigms: Better Results (3 elective hours)
• Diversity: Your Kaleidoscope of Clients (3 elective hours)

*This course meets the REALTORS® Code of Ethics Training (formerly known as NAR QUADRENNIAL) Requirement. You will need to confirm with your local REALTOR association if they will accept it.

36 Hours
This complete commercial package covers everything from foundations to contracts. This package is essential for agents with a focus on commercial transactions.

Courses offered in this package are:

• Georgia Mandatory License Law (3 mandatory hours)
• Commercial Ethics (3 elective hours)*
• Did You Serve? Identifying Homebuying Advantages for Veterans (3 elective hours)
• Personal Safety (3 elective hours)
• Residential Property Management Essentials (3 elective hours)
• Working With Real Estate Investors: Understanding Investor Strategies (3 elective hours)
• Preparing a Market Analysis - Best Practices (3 elective hours)
• The Fundamentals of Commercial Real Estate (3 elective hours)
• Determining Value of Commercial Properties (3 elective hours)
• Anatomy of Commercial Building (3 elective hours)
• Investment Strategies in Commercial Real Estate (3 elective hours)
• Commercial Landlord Representation (3 elective hours)

*This course meets the REALTORS® Code of Ethics Training Requirement. You will need to confirm with your local REALTOR association if they will accept it.

36 Hours
GA 36.0 hours Salespersons or Brokers Renewal Package contains

• 3.0 hours Avoiding Common Mistakes
• 3.0 hours Personal Safety
• 4.0 hours Property Management
• 4.0 hours Valuation, Marketing, and Listings
• 3.0 hours Managing Conflicts with Tenants, Clients, and Employees
• 3.0 hours Georgia License Law
• 4.0 hours Planning and Growing a Real Estate Business
• 3.0 hours Doing The Right Thing - The Code
• 3.0 hours Disclosure Is Not A Secret
• 3.0 hours Good Guys/Bad Guys - Who's Who in Mortgage Fraud
• 3.0 hours Risk Awareness

36 Hours
Strength in pricing real property is a huge benefit for your clients. The understanding of real estate valuation and the ability to establish accurate estimated value is crucial to your success in real estate. This 36-hour package meets all the requirements for real estate license renewal in Georgia.

Courses included are:

1. Commercial Finance and Investment Analysis (6 hrs.)
2. Pricing Property to Sell (6 hrs.)
3. Sales Comparison Approach (6 hrs.)
4. Cost Approach Overview (6 hrs.)
5. Income Capitalization Approach (6 hrs.)
6. Prequalifying your Buyers in Todays Market (3 hrs.)
7. Georgia License Law Core Course (3 hrs.)*

**As of July 1, 2015, all Georgia licensees are required to take 36 hours of CE each renewal cycle. This package also meets the 3-hour license law requirement that goes into effect on July 1, 2016.

36 Hours
Commercial real estate is drastically different than the residential real estate market. This 7 course/ 36 hour package is specifically designed for Georgia licensed commercial agents or those agents to satisfy their continuing education requirements or any residential agents who would like to expand their expertise in and understanding of the commercial real estate market. Commercial Real Estate Topics package meets all the renewal requirements for the state of Georgia.

Courses included are:

1. Commercial Leases (6 hrs.)
2. Commercial Finance and Investment Analysis (6 hrs.)
3. Commercial Sales and Exchanges (6 hrs.)
4. Structuring Ownership in Commercial Real Estate (6 hrs.)
5. Property Management (6 hrs.)
6. Federal law in Commercial Real Estate (3 hrs.)
7. Georgia License Law Core Course (3 hrs.)*

**As of July 1, 2015, all Georgia licensees are required to take 36 hours of CE each renewal cycle. This package also meets the 3-hour license law requirement that goes into effect on July 1, 2016.

36 Hours
Put yourself on the path for real success in your career! Designed specifically for newer agents or those who would like a refresher on the necessary fundamentals, our Mastering Your Career package completely fulfills the 36-hour requirement for renewal in Georgia. Strengthen your real estate education foundation.

Courses included are:

1. Pricing Property to Sell (6 hrs.)
2. Licensee as Principal (6 hrs.)
3. Tax Advantages of Home Ownership (6 hrs.)
4. Methods of Residential Finance (6 hrs.)
5. Understanding Closing Statements (9 hrs.)
6. Georgia License Law Core Course (3 hrs.)*

**As of July 1, 2015, all Georgia licensees are required to take 36 hours of CE each renewal cycle. This package also meets the 3-hour license law requirement that goes into effect on July 1, 2016.

36 Hours
Thinking about "going green?" This 36-hour package meets all the requirements for real estate license renewal in Georgia.

Courses included are:

1. Pricing Property to Sell (6 hrs.)
2. Writing Contracts (6 hrs.)
3. Tax Advantages of Home Ownership (6 hrs.)
4. Methods of Residential Finance (6 hrs.)
5. Green Home Construction (6 hrs.)
6. Georgia Real Estate License Law Core Course (3 hrs.)*
7. Environmental Hazards Disclosure (3 hrs.)

**As of July 1, 2015, all Georgia licensees are required to take 36 hours of CE each renewal cycle. This package also meets the 3-hour license law requirement that goes into effect on July 1, 2016.

6 Hours
A brief history of the savings and loan industry progresses into present commercial real estate financing practices. The different types of financing available to commercial properties and their characteristics are explained in detail. Investment evaluation methods including property comparison, appraisal, capitalization rates, and the time value of money are also covered.

6 Hours
It is widely known that government exists due to the taxation of you and your client's income and property. Your clients should be aware that tax consequences occur as a result of each real estate transaction. Although as a real estate professional you should not provide tax or legal advice, you can identify the potential income and other tax affects for your sellers and buyers, and advise them to seek appropriate legal and tax counsel.

Course Highlights

• Details outlining in-home office deduction requirements, and an explanation of how to calculate these deductions
• A clear definition of qualified residences
• Details about loans that commonly qualify for interest deductions
• Instructions on calculating an adjusted basis, a capital gain/loss, a net selling price, and a gain or loss on the sale of assets
• An overview of commercial real estate 1031 Like-Kind Exchange requirements

3 Hours
The trend to “go green” now extends beyond weekly recycling efforts and the latest Hybrid cars. In fact, the effects of this movement are becoming increasingly visible in the real estate market. This means that it is crucial for you, as an industry professional, to have a thorough understanding of green home qualifications, eco-friendly remodeling possibilities, and energy-efficient technologies.

This course provides you with the information you need to successfully guide your more eco-minded clients. Whether you’re helping a buyer find a newly constructed green home or advising a seller on green remodeling efforts to improve a listing, you’ll be able to provide your clients with support they need.

Course Highlights include:

• An overview of green footprints, sustainability, and the environmental effects of energy-efficient homes
• Information on green renovation options, such as the use of renewable flooring, tubular skylights, xeriscaping, and more
• Videos and Internet resources that provide details on programs, such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH), and ENERGY STAR®
• Details about green property requirements, as outlined by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)
• Statistics on the cost-saving benefits of green remodeling efforts and energy-efficient technology and appliances
• Tips for inexpensive, yet effective green makeovers that make homes more appealing to eco-conscious buyers

6 Hours
This course covers the steps in the cost approach to valuation, including methods for estimating cost and estimating depreciation. Students will apply what they learn using numerous examples.

6 Hours
This course covers the steps in the income approach to valuation, including estimating income and expenses and estimating capitalization rates. Both direct capitalization and yield capitalization are discussed. Students will apply what they learn using numerous examples.

6 Hours
This course covers the steps in the sales comparison approach to valuation. The course explains the data collection process and the various methods for estimating adjustments. Students will apply what they learn using numerous examples.

4 Hours
TIt is estimated that approximately $300 billion in real estate is transacted by investors each year. Grab your piece of the pie by understanding the driving forces in the dynamic residential real estate investment market. Possessing knowledge of the strategies and mindsets of investors will help you serve your valuable investor clients effectively, responsibly, and ethically.

Through this course, you will learn the impact of real estate investment in the United States, the opportunities that exist for investors, and your role in representing the residential real estate investor.

Course Highlights include:

• Resources from Keller Williams Publishing, National Real Estate Investors Association, OwnAmerica, and the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) that will help you serve your investor clients
• A Criteria Worksheet handout that can be utilized in your efforts finding properties for your clients
• Insights from The Millionaire Real Estate Investor, Personal Real Estate Investor Magazine, and Crash Boom! that will help you understand the mindset and strategies of investors
• Details about current real estate market conditions and the impact of investors on the market over time
• A look at recent data from the U.S. census, NAR surveys, and other independent studies, as well as a discussion about what it all means for today’s real estate investors
• Tips for acting ethically, providing a high level of service, and avoiding liability issues while working with investors
• Advice for becoming a real estate investor yourself, including legal landmines to guard against

3 Hours
Practicing real estate during a hot market is not business as usual. Ethical, legal and practical issues occur when buyers scramble to “get theirs” while listing agents guard the gate—sometimes using questionable means.

No matter the market dynamics, a licensee’s fiduciary duties do not change. A buyer’s agent still has the duty to put client needs first, and help buyers obtain properties meeting their needs for the lowest price possible. Listing agents also must put the seller’s interest first, and try to secure for them the best price and most favorable terms.

This course shows licensees how to navigate hot market dynamics ethically and legally, whether representing buyers or sellers.

Course highlights include:

• An overview of hot market dynamics, including low inventory, cash buyers, multiple offers, appraisal and lending issues
• How to stay ethical, legal and avoid violating MLS rules when taking a pocket listing
• A discussion of private listing groups and their potential risks for fair housing and anti-trust violations
• Buyer strategies for writing winning offers—and guerilla tactics to avoid
• Escalator clauses, what they are and how to respond to them
• Ways to assist sellers in evaluating offers based not only on price and terms but also on buyer strength
• Strategies for responding to multiple offers
• Options for buyers and sellers when properties do not appraise

6 Hours
This course analyzes the typical provisions of office, retail, and industrial leases. Formulas used to calculate rent, key negotiation points, and technical issues unique to industrial leases are also covered in great detail.

6 Hours
Aspects of the commercial sales transaction and tax deferred exchanges are covered in great detail. You will learn the essential elements of the contract, closing procedures, and documentation in a commercial sale along with the benefits and requirements of a tax deferred exchange.

6 Hours
The many different types of ownership available in commercial real estate and their implications are covered in this course. Issues addressed include liability, taxes, regulations, set up, and management as well as the benefits and drawbacks to each.

3 Hours
First and foremost, you, as a real estate professional, are an entrepreneur. This course guides you through proven methods to assist you in developing a successful, workable business plan. You will learn about creating a vision for your business and the tools necessary to achieve that vision.

Course highlights include:

• A Business Plan Worksheet that will help you reflect on your accomplishments and focus on your goals for the future
• Helpful ideas for defining your real estate business, vision statement and mission statement
• Details about identifying your strengths and weaknesses, and setting realistic, attainable goals
• A Business Plan Template that you can edit to create your business plan
• Instructions on analyzing your sphere of influence and tips for adding contacts to your sphere
• Tips on calculating the levels of productivity you will need to meet in order to achieve your income and profitability goals

3 Hours
While most real estate agents agree referrals are fundamental to success, the majority of agents are still beating the streets in hopes of attracting business from strangers. The Sphere of Influence approach to building your real estate business is based on nurturing relationships within your circle of friends, family, past clients, neighbors and acquaintances. This course helps you turn your acquaintances into your biggest advocates through respectful, non-intrusive methods.

Course highlights include:

• Tips to ensure you are presenting a professional, enthusiastic image to your Sphere of Influence contacts
• Suggestions on planning and implementing an ongoing SOI strategy
• Strategies on building and maintaining a contact database
• Ideas you can use in writing effective reconnection letters
• Things to keep in mind when pursuing and accepting referrals from family and friends

3 Hours
When licensees represent clients in a commercial transaction, whether marketing the building or assisting in the purchase, knowledge of the building’s structure and systems is vital. A building is comprised of its architectural features and its MEP (mechanical, electrical and plumbing) systems. In this course you’ll learn about:

Course highlights include:

• A foundational understanding of ... foundations! Includes footings and how they work with foundations to form a system, design concerns of foundations including soil conditions, water tables and live and dead loads
• Design considerations for roofs, walls, windows and doors
• An overview of HVAC types and considerations, including cost, efficiency and varying tenant needs
• A look at electrical, lighting, controls and fire and security alarms, and how they differ by building use and tenant need
• How external conditions can impact building design, occupancy and parking, including zoning and code location, topography, environmental factors

3 Hours
Client advocacy filters into every aspect of your real estate business, starting with the method you use to pursue new clients through your follow-up call after you have executed a transaction. This course takes the concept of advocacy and applies it to everyday actions in commercial real estate. Numerous examples populate the course, including strategies to employ when pursuing new business, opportunities to educate your clients, and effective discussion points to help your clients see when an expert is needed. Good service means being an effective advocate, and this course will help polish those advocating skills.

Course highlights include:

• Real life examples of complicated transactions and the key actions that made them successful
• Evaluation of how specialization expands your core competencies resulting in a more stable and successful business strategy
• A deep look at your client interactions with specific advice on how to improve the results

Ed Riggins, Senior Vice President with Cresa Atlanta, assisted in the development of Client Advocacy in Commercial Real Estate, serving as the course's subject matter expert. Ed is a Life Member of the Atlanta Commercial Board of REALTORS®, and he's among less than 1% of practitioners nationally to hold both the SIOR and CCIM designations. www.edriggins.com

3 Hours
Landlord representatives usually referred to as “leasing agents” or “leasing brokers,” serve a key role in commercial real estate: getting tenants for their clients’ buildings. Accomplishing that goal is a lengthy, multi-step process that includes positioning the product in the marketplace, identifying suitable prospects, creating and executing marketing plans, negotiating the deal, and managing all of the steps associated with the leasing process. Landlord reps must have their fingers on the pulse of their market. A thorough knowledge of tenant demographics, occupancy rates, leasing rates, and industry trends is essential. Beyond technical expertise, however, they must also be adept at relationship building, and must know how to coalesce the varying needs of tenants, landlords and leasing brokers into workable, win-win-win deals.

This course provides an overview of commercial leasing, the players involved in commercial leasing, their roles and goals.

Course highlights include:

• An analysis of the commercial real estate market as it stands today
• A description of the in-house and external landlord reps, and why landlords choose to work with landlord reps
• A survey of a panel of six landlord representatives who have a combined total of nearly 200 years of experience in commercial real estate
• A look at additional training, accreditation and associations for commercial real estate professionals
• A comparison of different types of commercial leases
• An overview of the tenant build-out process
• A timeline with activities for landlord reps from hire to full execution of a commercial leasing listing contract

Ed Riggins, Senior Vice President with Cresa Atlanta, assisted in the development of Client Advocacy in Commercial Real Estate, serving as the course's subject matter expert. Ed is a Life Member of the Atlanta Commercial Board of REALTORS®, and he's among less than 1% of practitioners nationally to hold both the SIOR and CCIM designations. www.edriggins.com

3 Hours
Real estate licensees who represent commercial clients, whether as buyers or sellers of commercial properties, must understand the process of valuing commercial properties. To best serve their commercial real estate clients, they need a solid understanding of how commercial properties are valued, how appraisers work, and how that important final number is determined.

Many of the tools and methodologies used by commercial appraisers can also be used by licensees to help their clients determine value when buying, selling or comparing commercial real estate. While a valuation prepared by a real estate licensee will never take the place of a formal appraisal, it is important for licensees to understand the definitions of value used by appraisers, the methodologies used, the three approaches to value, and how value of commercial properties is determined. It is also important for licensees to be able to read and extract information from a professional appraisal report.

Course highlights include:

• Definitions of commonly used commercial appraisal terms
• An in-depth look at the process of data collection, analysis and three approaches to value (cost, income and sales comparison) for commercial property valuation
• Faculty expert, Bill James, a 40-year veteran of commercial appraisal, takes students step-by-step through a real-life appraisal report, which includes the process of data collection, approaches to value, analysis and value determination
• More than two dozen handouts used in a real-life commercial appraisal, with a detailed explanation of each

6 Hours
Presents methods and principles for pricing property. Covers pricing compared to appraisal, basic concepts of pricing property, principles of value, approaches to pricing property and application of the market data and replacement cost methods.

6 Hours
Course covers types of tax benefits for homeowners and how to calculate the taxes that will impact the purchase of a home.

3 Hours
Commercial real estate investors have two goals: generate cash flow and produce higher returns. However, unlike other investment types, investing in commercial property is not simply a matter of buying at one price and selling for more. Commercial real estate must be considered in terms of the risks and rewards of the type of commercial property, income during the investment period, the investor’s own situation, and how value and return are impacted by the economic, market, tax, and legal conditions (particularly zoning) for the market niche.

This course presents an overview of the factors impacting value and investment potential of commercial properties, gives licensees a solid understanding of the financial aspects of commercial real estate investment, and better prepares them to provide professional guidance to their commercial real estate clients when evaluating investment properties for purchase or sale.

Course highlights include:

• The six main categories of commercial properties, and their specific challenges and opportunities for investors.
• A definition of transit-oriented communities, and why they are a growing type of mixed-use development.
• How zoning, building codes, title issues and the Americans with Disabilities Act impact commercial property development and investment potential.
• How licensees can use financial analysis and individual investor profiles to assist clients in analyzing commercial properties for purchase and sale.

3 Hours
Infinite prospecting and advertising opportunities are available to real estate professionals through social media, blogging, property listing website, and email resources. Whether you’re an experienced Internet-savvy professional or have yet to create a Facebook profile, this course will help you gain an understanding of the legal, regulatory, ethical, and professional issues that should shape your online content and conduct.

Course highlights include:

• Resources to help you in developing your online presence through personal websites, blogs, social media profiles, email campaigns, etc.
• Tech tips from Amy Chorew that will assist you in protecting your online image
• Details on reducing legal, ethical, regulatory, and practical risk you face through your online real estate activities
• Checklists with website best practices and email etiquette tips that can be used in your online marketing activities
• A handout with tips on avoiding E&O insurance claims stemming from your online real estate activities

6 Hours
Learn what you need to know and do as a licensee when you are involved in your own real estate transaction.

6 Hours
All of the various forms of residential real estate financing; including conventional, FHA, VA Loans, loan assumptions, purchase money mortgages, alternative financing are explained in this course. Also covers legislation relating to financing.

3 Hours
Electronic transactions and e-signatures can give you the competitive edge you need to attract new business, better serve existing clients, and improve your bottom line.

This course provides you with a comprehensive understanding of how national and international laws define an electronic signature, how e-signature technology is currently being used by real estate professionals, and how you can use it in your day-to-day transactions. Additionally, this course looks at the use of e-mail to conduct negotiations and at several real-life case studies currently affecting how you do business.

Course highlights include:

• A look at what it takes to make an e-mail a legally binding agreement, including a discussion of the “mirror image” rule
• Tips for ensuring that your e-mail communications remain blunder free
• A discussion of the pros and cons of e-mail disclaimers and how much protection they really provide users
• A look at how e-signatures are becoming more and more commonplace in the real estate industry, with institutions like the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and mortgage giants like Freddie Mac accepting e-signatures and the National Association of REALTORS® partnering with DocuSign, an e-signature provider
• A detailed discussion of several national and international e-signature laws, including the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (ESIGN), the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (UETA), and EU Directive 1999/93/EC
• A review of several precedent-setting case studies and their influence on the use of electronic negotiations in the real estate industry
• An examination of the financial and practical benefits of using e-signature technology
• Tips for selecting an e-signature technology that fits your needs as a busy real estate agent
• A description of the crucial security features and authentication methods to look for in an e-signature software
• Tips for successfully integrating e-signature technology into your day-to-day business transactions

3 Hours
The Fundamentals of Commercial Real Estate provides a solid foundation for your understanding of commercial real estate. The course covers the need-to-know information on a broad range of commercial topics.

If you're an experienced residential licensee, a few of the fundamentals of commercial real estate will be familiar to you—the importance of location, for example. In many other regards, commercial differs sharply from residential real estate. You'll be working with executives, investors, and business owners in commercial real estate, individuals whose focus is squarely on the bottom line.

Equipped with the information and advice found in this course, you'll be well-prepared to grasp the more complex aspects of commercial real estate as you gain more experience in the industry.

Course highlights include:

• Definitions of key terms and concepts that apply to commercial real estate.
• A detailed explanation of how to identify and meet the various needs of your commercial real estate clients.
• An analysis of the main differences between commercial and residential real estate sales.
• An overview of the most common valuation methods for real estate and businesses.
• Tips on gathering the demographic and location-related details that clients need to make well-informed decisions.

6 Hours
Defines key terms and identifies types of tenancies and rental agreements. Covers procedures for handling rental agreement termination, assignment, subletting, security deposits, trust accounts and trust funds and other practical topics.

6 Hours
Reviews the fundamentals of writing contracts. Topics include presenting offers, legal descriptions, suggested wording for the method of payment section, earnest money, special stipulations and problems to avoid.