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25% of My Broker's License

Six weeks ago I wrote that I was Taking the Next Big Step in Real Estate and starting classes to get my Virginia Broker's License. Many of you commented back then about your experiences in getting a broker's license and wished me luck in this new endeavor.

Well, here's an update. I'm 25% of the way there towards my Broker's License.

After 6 long full-day sessions, I have completed the first series on Broker Law. Not only did I finish the class, but I got the highest grade of all the students -- not all the students in the class, but all the students who have ever taken the class with this instructor!! 99 out of 103 points.

When we finished the exams we swapped with our neighbor in the class and then graded them as the teacher read out the answers. I handed mine in, and he was taken aback -- almost speechless, and then proceeded to tell the entire class that he was shocked by my super high score and "Boy, he really stayed awake." Ironically, the guy next to me actually dozed off for about an hour in today's class!

Little did the teacher know at the time that I am also an attorney. (SEE The Difference Between Realtors & Lawyers) I resisted telling him during the six week course for two reasons: 1. for fear that he would call on me constantly and expect me to know every answer; and 2. he was the teacher and I didn't want all my classmates coming to me with questions and expecting me to have all the answers when the reality was that some of the material was new to me.

But I finally e-mailed him tonight informing him of my undercover Realtor/Attorney status and thanking him for a well-taught, informative and at times very humorous class.

A couple of the new things I learned:

Michael Vick plead guilty but according to our teacher, pit bulls are some of the nicest dogs that he knows.

The Rule Against Perpetuities confuses Realtors and lawyers alike (I thought I saw the last of this rule back in law school).

Riparian rights is a waste of a subject matter unless you are selling riverfront properties, and even then there will likely only be one question about it on the Broker's exam.

The single word "Hello" when spoken with the right inflection can be a funny punchline, but it was way overused by our teacher.

Divorce can really mess up your joint property ownership, but it does provide lots of business to lawyers and Realtors!

Read the darn contract (I knew this already!)

Next week starts 6 weeks of Broker Finance.

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Posted by Brian Block -- Northern Virginia & D.C. Real Estate on 09/26/2007 06:49 PM

Comments (29)

broker license, brian block, northern virginia real estate blog, law, lawyer

29 Comments on 25% of My Broker's License

SEP

2007

Brian - I really enjoy your perspective... thanks for sharing.

Ha!!! I can do better than all of the above. The broker's exam is a LOT easier than the tests in the broker's course.

Leave it to Lenn to give a punchline for this hehe! Good job Brian...sounds like you're enjoying it so far and that makes all the difference in the world. The use of the word 'hello' is probably better than the RE teacher I had who walked in barefoot and picked his ears with his keys while talking..ugh!

MELISSA: Thanks for your comments and for reading my blog. I hope you had a bit of a laugh while reading this.

LENN: Funny. I'm not worried about the exam at all. If it is anything like the salesperson licensing exam in VA or D.C., I can't imagine having a problem. While the law course was pretty much a review for me, I do very much look forward to learning more about Finance, Appraisal, and Management.

Brian-congratulations on the first class done. The exam is a snap but they always through in that one question that makes you wonder if you had any real estate experience once so ever. See you soon :-)

SALLY: Thanks for commenting. Lenn can have a zinger every now and then. I am enjoying the classes so far. Barefoot and picking ears with keys -- YUCK!

CINDY: Thanks for your comments. I look forward to lunch tomorrow.

Hi Brian! Congratulations on doing so well on the exam. I'm curious about your laws out there regarding Real Estate licensing. In Virginia can you be a real estate sales person and not a "broker"? In Oregon we have to have a brokers license to buy and sell real estate. Un-licensed assistants can't even say the address of a property that a buyer is calling about. How is it different in your state?

Brian - No surprise that you are at the head of the class! Keep up the good work my friend it won't be long.

Brian, the guy who taught the law section back when I took the broker course was a riot. It was the high point of the gazillion classroom hours. And the secret? The test is really easy, especially if you're a total compulsive and actually study for it.

Brian - I laughed out loud at the "Hello" part. This is overused by many. Great post, buddy. Congratulations on the highest score EVER!

Good for you smarty pants!! Congrats on being 1/4 way there. In California, you don't even have to take the classes if you are an attorney, just the broker exam. I earned my brokers about 3 years ago. You are supposed to read the WHOLE contract? I thought you only had to read the hand written parts :o )

BRIDGET: Thanks for your comments. In Virginia, you have to be a real estate salesperson for 3 years before taking the broker licensing exam. The salesperson license requires a 60 hour course. The broker license requires a 180 hour course. There are 4 parts -- broker law, broker finance, broker management, and broker appraisal. I know that some states have all brokers and don't make a distinction between salesperson and broker, but Virginia has this distinction. In order to open your own brokerage, you need a broker's license.

BILL: Yes, it's really just a matter of putting in the time right now. Thanks for the comment and compliments.

PATRICIA: Our instructor was quite funny, and he even had some "recovery jokes" for when his other jokes fell flat. It livened up the class a bit. I'm not totally compulsive, but have always been a good test-taker. Thanks for your comments. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow. I'll bring my copy of your book and am expecting an autograph :) !

JASON: Thanks for your comments. It was funny -- he used the "Hello" so much, I actually started to count one day when I was a bit bored with the material in class. Thanks for the congrats. Have a great night.

GINGER: I know that it's the same way in New York. I don't mind the classes. Being an attorney doesn't mean you know anything about appraisal, finance, or management. Granted the Broker Law class was a breeze since I'd learned almost all of it either in law school or in legal practice.

Just because it is pre-printed, doesn't mean it's boiler plate -- you still need to understand the contract :)

Thanks for your comments. Good to see you back.

SEP

2007

Brian, Nice Job, the Law was the funnest class for me. Finance was the hardest and Management was a breeze (I take that final tomorrow) I still have Appraisal Class to go. Maybe I'll do a Blog on it! My wife says that (after reading your blogs) that you and I are way to much alike. Sorry I did not get your call last Monday, I was looking forward to getting to know my Northern Blogger! You must have been busy with classes. I was too. regards Charles

CHARLES: Thanks for your comments. I'm glad to hear that you're going through the Broker classes as well. Good luck on the final in Management. This has been a busy week -- my sister was in town for a couple of days and I've had several new clients. Let's plan on chatting next week.

BRIAN: I have no doubt that you'll fly through the rest of this course and the test at the top of your class. I was amazed when I took the class at some of the truly stupid questions being asked, considering that these were already agents that had enough transactions to qualify to be a broker. Keep up the good work. Good luck with the rest of the test.

Brian,,, Good luck with the courses... The Finance is the tough one (tough to stay awake, interactive, and interested) thank God for Gummy Bears... They kept me going. The rest should be a cake walk. Have fun been there done that and better you than me when it comes to the Finance Classes.

ADAM: Thanks for the vote of confidence. Yes, every class has those 2 or 3 people who constantly pepper the teacher with some inane questions. Some that the teacher basically had to politely shut up. We don't have a transaction qualification that I know about in Virginia. I think you could be an agent for 3 years with 1 or 2 transactions and still become a broker. Thanks for your comments.

DONNA: Thanks for your comments. I'm actually looking forward to finance because that's one of the issues that is always on clients' minds and I often tell them a bit but that the mortgage lender will go into more detail. Gummy bears -- guess you like that sugar high and great chewy flavor.

OCT

2007

Brian:

Conrats! I am just trying to keep up with you. I just finished Broker Management a few weeks ago, and found it to be extremely easy. I hope I find broker law to be more challenging. I am sure it will in no way come as easy as it did for you with your background. Good luck. I am on to appraisal now.