washington real estate training: Restaurant Review: Nibbana
- 08/13/15 01:19 AM
For today’s restaurant review, we decided it was time to pay a visit to one of our very favorite Thai restaurants, Nibbana. Located in downtown Bellevue, Nibbana is a bit further out for real estate students attending our live lecture real estate class, and it tends to be overlooked as a lunch option. But when we do go, invariably the first bite of food is followed by “Why don’t we come here more often??” Nibbana’s menu is fairly large, with plenty of options for both Thai food newbies (such as the green curry or pad thai) as well as more adventurous eaters (try … (0 comments)
washington real estate training: Restaurant Review: Caspian
- 02/18/13 10:35 PM
Today’s lunch spot suggestion for our real estate students is Caspian: a Persian restaurant just a few blocks from Rockwell, tucked away amidst several high-end car dealerships here in Bellevue. Originally located in Seattle, Caspian moved to Bellevue in April 2011. It’s a pleasant, nicely decorated space—a welcome addition to the neighborhood. We’re just sorry it took us so long to try it out! Caspian’s lunch menu includes soups, salads, beef, chicken, and lamb kabob plates and sandwiches, and a variety of appetizers. We tried the chicken kabob and ground beef kabob plates (served with hummus, salad, and rice) and both … (0 comments)
washington real estate training: FHA Increases Cost of Mortgage Insurance
- 02/14/13 12:06 AM
Home prices are on the rise, but apparently they aren’t rising fast enough to make the Federal Housing Administration feel entirely secure about the solvency of its mortgage insurance fund. So the FHA is raising the annual insurance premiums it charges for new loans as it did last year about this time. This year, effective April 1, the annual mortgage insurance premium (MIP) for most new mortgages will go up by one tenth of one percent (0.10%, the same increase as last year). Premiums on jumbo mortgages ($625,500 and up) will rise by only half that amount—0.05%. (Generally, however, refinances … (0 comments)
washington real estate training: This house is NOT for sale! Happy holidays!
- 12/20/12 10:32 PM
I’ve always loved gingerbread houses. There’s something about all that architecture reproduced in miniature scale that reminds me of an edible dollhouse—from the peppermint stepping stones, to the royal icing icicles, to the bubblegum shingles. The child in me remains fascinated by them, and I’ve shared the love of decorating them with my own children each Christmas. Gingerbread itself has a long history. Crusaders returning to Europe brought ginger and gingerbread back from the Middle East around the 11th century. Ginger was used to preserve bread, and it was crumbs from this ginger bread, mixed with honey or other sweeteners, … (0 comments)
washington real estate training: Restaurant Review: Bai Tong
- 12/06/12 11:32 PM
For today’s restaurant review, we’re spotlighting Bai Tong, a Thai restaurant located about a mile from Rockwell. You may be thinking, “Really? Another Thai place?”—but Bai Tong is definitely worth checking out. It’s the second location of a well-established, very popular restaurant in Tukwila, and we’re happy that the owners chose to expand into our neighborhood. We’ve tried a number of noodle dishes, include the pad thai (rice noodles with tamarind sauce, bean sprouts, peanuts, egg, meat, and tofu), pad sie-eiw (wide rice noodles with meat, egg, broccoli, and soy sauce), and pad khi mao (wide rice noodles with meat, veggies, … (1 comments)
washington real estate training: Test-taking Tip: Looking for a Mental Edge? Try Yoga!
- 11/08/12 03:07 AM
Need a little extra help while you prep for your real estate exam? Most of us have heard that yoga is great for reducing stress and increasing flexibility. But did you know that yoga also has mental benefits as well? Studies have consistently shown that practicing yoga improves mental clarity, memory, and concentration. The reason is twofold: first and most obviously, yoga reduces the physical effects of stress, known to be a major aggressor to the nerve endings that are responsible for information flow. Second, the meditation aspect of yoga helps to train and discipline the mind, enabling more focused thinking. Brain … (1 comments)
washington real estate training: Attention anyone seeking a California broker’s license!
- 11/05/12 10:42 PM
Are you thinking about getting your California real estate broker's license? Are you planning to use a four-year degree as a substitute for the requirement that you have two years of full-time, licensed salesperson experience? If so, and you didn’t minor or major in real estate, you’d better act quickly. Beginning January 1, only four-year degrees with a minor or major in real estate can be substituted for the work experience requirement. The new broker education requirement doesn’t apply if you have your complete broker exam or broker exam/license combination application postmarked to the DRE on or before December 31, 2012. (Alternatively, … (1 comments)
washington real estate training: Happy Labor Day!
- 08/30/12 07:45 AM
Here at Rockwell, we're all excited about the Labor Day weekend! For us, Labor Day means two things: 1) the end of summer [well, maybe we're not excited about this part], and 2) a day off from work. But we realized that we take Labor Day for granted--we weren't even sure why we get a 3-day weekend every year as September rolls around.
In case you're wondering, too, here's the scoop: Labor Day began as a way to honor our nation's workers. Labor unions began holding celebrations in the late 1800s as a way to show their strength and … (0 comments)
washington real estate training: Major Apartment Building Owner Snuffs Out Smoking
- 06/19/12 04:42 AM
The Towbes Group of Santa Barbara, owner of 2,000 apartment units spread across 13 complexes in California, recently announced that tenants can no longer smoke in any of the units. (Current tenants that smoke were given a grace period to comply.) Towbes’ move was at least partly motivated by a California law passed last fall that gave apartment house owners a statutory right to ban smoking inside tenant units. Very possibly owners already had this power, but the law provides a clear-cut defense against potential lawsuits filed by angry apartment-dwelling smokers. The president of Towbes explained the company’s decision in … (0 comments)
washington real estate training: What's Your Favorite Real Estate Tech?
- 04/27/12 01:40 AM
A couple of months ago we surveyed our Fundamentals class asking why people were going into a real estate these days. (You can see our blog entry summarizing the results here.) With the real estate market picking up a bit, we’re inspired!
A few weeks ago we spotted an article in Inman News summarizing the results of a survey on tech use among real estate agents. The story reported that “75 percent of the 110 real estate professionals who participated . . . selected ‘iPad presentation’ as the marketing tool they would most like to have.”
This got … (0 comments)
washington real estate training: "Keep Learning!" Instructor of the Month: Gail Stockin
- 02/29/12 07:00 AM
Welcome back to our Instructor of the Month series. This month, we’re talking with Gail Stockin, who teaches Business Management and other real estate courses at Southwestern College in Chula Vista, CA. Rockwell: How long have you been teaching? Gail: I have been teaching at Southwestern College for 12 years.
Rockwell: What do you like best about teaching? Gail: I love the students—and keeping track of them all and enjoying the stories of their successes in life. I so love to see them learn, receive job promotions, and go from a community college student to earning a Master’s degree! What … (0 comments)
washington real estate training: Math Phobias? Conquer Them With Common Sense!
- 02/21/12 05:35 AM
Are you the kind of person who is intimidated by math questions? If so, you’re not alone. Studies show that for many test takers, adults in particular, test anxiety increases when the questions involve math. What does this mean for you as you prepare for the real estate exam?
If you're one of the many adults who are plagued by both math and exam anxieties, we have some good news: there is a simple tool you can use to help you select the right answer to a math problem, and it’s something you probably already possess. It’s called common sense, … (0 comments)
washington real estate training: Improving Equal Access to Housing
- 02/15/12 02:51 AM
Recently, HUD announced new regulations designed to improve equal access in housing. The new rule, formally titled Equal Access to Housing in HUD Programs – Regardless of Sexual Orientation or Gender Identity, contains the following provisions: Requires all owners of HUD-assisted housing (or housing that’s financed with HUD-insured funds) to make housing available to all applicants without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity. Prohibits lenders from considering actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity in determining eligibility for an FHA-insured mortgage. Clarifies the definition of families eligible for HUD programs. Families that are otherwise eligible will continue to be … (1 comments)
washington real estate training: Homepath vs. Homesteps: Foreclosure Programs Explained
- 02/14/12 03:00 AM
If you have buyers who might be interested in foreclosed properties, you should know about Fannie Mae's Homepath program and Freddie Mac's Homesteps program. Both programs are designed to make buying foreclosed properties more tempting to buyers, who can benefit from some really nice incentives. For more information on the benefits of each program, check out Rhonda Porter's helpful blog entry, "What's the difference between Fannie Mae Homepath and Freddie Mac Homesteps?" … (2 comments)
washington real estate training: Can You Discriminate When Picking a Roomate?
- 02/07/12 02:26 AM
Most real estate agents know the basic mandate of the federal Fair Housing Act: no discrimination in residential housing on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap, or familial status.
Most agents are also aware that there are some exceptions to this rule, including--perhaps most famously--the “Mrs. Murphy exemption.” This exemption states that the owner of a one- to four-unit property may make discriminatory choices when considering tenants, as long as the owner will also be living on the premises and no real estate agent is used in the transaction.
So what happens when a … (1 comments)
washington real estate training: Book Review: The Death Contingency
- 01/25/12 04:47 AM
This month our book review departs from the usual, more serious fare and takes a look at something fun: The Death Contingency, by Nancy Lynn Jarvis (2008). Jarvis has been a California real estate agent for more than 20 years and owns a real estate brokerage in Santa Cruz with her husband. In recent years, she has turned her talents to writing the well-received Regan McHenry Real Estate Mysteries. The Death Contingency is the first in this series. I’m not normally a fan of the mystery genre, but I found this book to be quite entertaining. Regan McHenry is a Santa Cruz … (1 comments)
Sugee’s (pronounced “Shugee’s”…as in, short for “Sugar”) is located right across the street from our office complex, but it can be a little hard to find. It's a bit tucked away in a parking lot, but don't give up! This hidden gem is worth seeking out. Their box lunches feature delicious hot or cold sandwiches on freshly baked bread, along with a bag of Tim’s Potato Chips, an adorable baby dill pickle, and a truly delicious chocolate chip cookie. … (2 comments)
washington real estate training: From Kelly Girl to Real Estate Guru, our Instructor of the Month: Nancy Adelson
- 12/15/11 04:56 AM
Welcome back to our Instructor of the Month series. This month, we’re talking with Nancy Adelson, who coordinates North Seattle Community College’s Real Estate Program. She teaches Real Estate Fundamentals, Practices, and Finance, as well as Introduction to Business and Introduction to Marketing. Rockwell: How long have you been teaching? Nancy: Even before I joined North Seattle Community College in 1988, I always found a way to teach. When I was a Realtor in Anchorage and Seattle, I taught classes to other Realtors as well as buyers/sellers. When I was an underwriter and account representative for private mortgage insurance companies, I taught … (0 comments)
washington real estate training: Professional Designations: The Dark Side
- 10/27/11 03:32 AM
In the past few weeks we've written entries on the benefits of professional designations (Does Your Career Need a Jump-Start? and Want to Attract More Clients?). Clients and customers appreciate the practical skills and extra training indicated by bona fide designations, such as NAR’s Green Designation or the National Association of Home Builders' Certified New Home Specialist Designation.
Unfortunately, the drive for business advantage provided by designations has led to practices that are questionable or even downright fraudulent. Most of the problems center around both licensed and unlicensed individuals using various designations such as "expert," "certified," or "specialist" in … (3 comments)
Rockwell: How long have you been teaching? Bruce: I’ve been teaching real estate courses since 1993 (the past 13 years here at Rockwell Institute).
Rockwell: What do you like best about teaching? Bruce: Teaching keeps me sharp, both as a real estate professional and as a person. And I’ve never taught a class where I felt I didn't learn more than the students!
Rockwell Institute is a real estate school and publisher since 1974, and we've trained thousands of real estate students in Washington and California. We've learned a lot over the years about getting a real estate license and studying for license exams, and we've often got news about changes in real estate laws and regulations. So we’ll let our writers and instructors share some of their wisdom and pass on the answers to some of our common student questions.
For today’s restaurant review, we decided it was time to pay a visit to one of our very favorite Thai restaurants, Nibbana. Located in downtown Bellevue, Nibbana is a bit further out for real estate students attending our live lecture real estate class, and it tends to be overlooked as a lunch option. But when we do go, invariably the first bite of food is followed by “Why don’t we come here more often??”
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