real estate course: If You Want a Real Estate License - 01/03/17 07:41 PM
The holidays are over, the tree is down, the kids are back in school, and now it’s time to get down to business.  If you have a real estate license, STOP!  This blog is not for you!  If you want a real estate license, continue on.  This blog is especially for you!
 
I was first licensed in 1983, so I know stuff.  Some of the stuff is good and some of the stuff is worthless.  What I do know is that if you want a real estate license, you need to kick off 2017 by enrolling in a real estate course with … (3 comments)

real estate course: A Checklist Will Remind You - 11/13/16 05:04 AM
We recently heard a sermon in church that discussed “divine checklists,” which gave me an idea for this blog.  As the preacher went through the checklist of things God gave us to do, I began to relate the sermon to the practice of real estate.  Recalling the many times I would go on an appointment only to discover I had forgotten an important document or didn’t mention something I thought would be instrumental in the consumer choosing me to help them.  A checklist will remind you – if and when you use the checklist.
 
Life is a collection of checklists as far … (0 comments)

real estate course: Back to School - 09/06/16 08:20 PM
Labor Day has passed, the days are slightly cooler, clearance sales abound, and Autumn feels like it’s right around the corner.  That can only mean one thing – it is back to school time!  Yaaay! 
 
We are empty nesters and are more in our “golden age,” so back to school has a different meaning to Bob and me.  This is the time of year when some parents realize their jobs are boring or they’ve reached the limit in pay grades or they just need a change.  For many parents, when the kids go back to school, the parents go back to … (2 comments)

real estate course: Real Estate Myths - 08/28/16 10:48 PM
Before you get a real estate license you are a consumer who thinks all real estate agents make big bucks while doing very little.  That is one of the first real estate myths that quickly dissolves once you are no longer the consumer, and now become the agent.
 
Another real estate myth is that most real estate agents were quite financially comfortable before they even got their license, so they didn’t need to worry about money.  You can find many agents who struggled their first few years, but through consistent work, they managed to survive and even began making a … (0 comments)

real estate course: A Tortoise or a Hare? - 08/23/16 05:28 AM
Many brokers disagree with my philosophies in training new agents.  For me, it’s about slow and steady winning the race.  I tried to teach my new agents to be a tortoise rather than a hare when it came to getting their feet wet.  Lots of brokers believe in the sink or swim mentality, and others want new agents to come out of the gate running.
 
Are you a tortoise or a hare?  Because the market is busy right now, many new agents are impatient; they don’t want to take time to learn properly and to plant seeds that will grow … (3 comments)

real estate course: Is Title Insurance Really Necessary? - 08/16/16 07:13 AM
Being an instructor, we get asked all kinds of interesting questions.  One question that is pretty popular among students happens to deal with a subject near and dear to my heart, i.e., “Is title insurance really necessary?”  Coming from a paralegal background, I had an opportunity to witness all kinds of peculiar lawsuits.  One I recall vividly was back many years, and I happened to have been a REALTOR® at the time, rather than a paralegal. 
 
A Mr. and Mrs. Buyer purchased a house and closed on their new home after having paid cash for it.  Mr. Buyer appeared … (0 comments)

real estate course: The Olympics of Real Estate - 08/13/16 10:54 PM
The U.S. has done outstanding during these Summer Olympics and we should be proud of all of the athletes involved. Watching some of them has been a real pleasure and they have reminded me that you real estate agents have your own Olympics of Real Estate.
 
Sometimes practicing real estate can feel like a never-ending marathon, and sometimes it can feel like a quick sprint.  The Olympics of Real Estate exist daily in our lives as we start with a customer and, hopefully, will finish with a closing.  The in-between time will determine whether the meet is a long one … (1 comments)

real estate course: How Can My Granddaughters Remind Me of Real Estate? - 08/11/16 10:27 PM
My younger daughter, Sarah, and two granddaughters have been visiting us from Illinois.  Grace is 5 and Anna is 3.  We have been having the most wonderful time ever because this is the first time Sarah has been here without her husband, Marc.  We love Marc, but this has been a time I can have Sarah and the kids all to myself.  So, how can my granddaughters remind me of real estate?  They are so cute at that age, and doting on them is just part of the plan as you other grandparents already know.
 
We have a 16’ above-ground … (0 comments)

real estate course: A Look Into One of Our Classes - 07/27/16 11:44 PM
I would love to let you take a look into one of our classes.  TEAM Hughes is a unique type of real estate school in that we have a history of serving others.  Bob and I were blessed to have had an opportunity to serve in an RV ministry for about 9 years, and through that ministry, we came into contact with many people.  Our classes are kind of an extension of that heart service that he and I both share.
 
Let’s take a look into one of our classes.  We’ll go into the One-Week Fast Track Class and I’ll … (1 comments)

real estate course: REALTOR® or Real Estate Agent - 07/25/16 09:53 PM
In my line of work, I have a great opportunity to explain to my students the difference between the terms REALTOR® and Real Estate Agent.  Then I explain that each student will make the choice of becoming a REALTOR® or Real Estate Agent.  The brokerage firm where they “hang” their license will either be a member of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) or not, and that membership dictates the student’s official status of REALTOR® or Real Estate Agent.
 
I am a licensed Real Estate Broker in South Carolina, as well as Florida.  I am no longer a REALTOR® because … (1 comments)

real estate course: Commitment - 07/24/16 09:15 PM
Yesterday we tested our July students.  The exam included students from our One-Week Fast Track class as well as our Three-Week Evening Class.  Yesterday was a pretty good example of commitment.
 
Between both classes, we had three students commuting from Alabama, and I don’t mean right across the state line.  Nothing replaces commitment when there is a goal in sight.  One of our students, Ashica, drove from Mobile each day, which is at least an hour from the school.  Another drove from Brewton, AL, which is about an hour as well.  The third student got out of work at 5:00 … (1 comments)

real estate course: Real Estate Agents Need to be Nudged - 07/21/16 08:47 PM
When you were in school, you put off doing your homework until the day before it was due.  You wait as late as possible to file your tax return.  You still dislike having to do certain things by deadlines.  Procrastination is something you’ve experienced many times.  If you can relate to some of these scenarios, then you can understand even real estate agents need to be nudged.
 
At the time Florida real estate licensees are issued their license, they have anywhere between 18 and 24 months to complete an additional 45 hours of post licensing education.  That’s a year and … (0 comments)

real estate course: What are the Costs to Get Started in Florida? - 07/06/16 07:15 AM
Many prospective students call our school and their first question is, “What are the costs to get started?”  This question can be answered in one of two ways.  We can either talk about the initial costs to get a license or we can talk about the costs to really get started in a real estate career.
 
Many times over the years, I’ve reminded students that some professions require a whole lot more money than real estate agents need to consider.  To become an attorney, the average cost is exorbitant!  Pretty expensive stuff!    Doctors require even more! 
                                                                                      
Some … (3 comments)

real estate course: Today Could Be Your Personal Freedom Day - 07/02/16 10:48 PM
It’s the 4th of July!  TEAM Hughes wishes you the most joyous and safest 4th of July ever!  Just think – today could be your personal freedom day.  Today could be your very own declaration of independence!  Why would you want to wait to break the chains that are binding you to a dead-end job or to a career that makes you feel you’re in a constant state of servitude?
 
Today could be your personal freedom day by taking that HUGE step toward the passion that’s been burning inside of you.  I recently read a quote by David Ramsey that … (1 comments)

real estate course: Who Are Our Students? - 06/26/16 10:03 PM
We have a myriad of students who seek us out and who use our services to get their real estate license.  We have affluential students, students who need our financial help with tuition, students who feel they’re stuck in a job and going nowhere, and we have students who want to change the course of their destiny.  So, just who are our students?  Our students are your friends and your family; they are your neighbors and your co-workers.
 
Who are our students?  Sometimes our students are going through a divorce or have experienced a huge loss in their lives.  Just … (1 comments)

real estate course: The Thing About Blogging - 06/26/16 09:29 PM
The thing about blogging is that if you are committed to regular scheduled posts, it is always going to be a project that has to be done.  Blogging doesn’t get done until and unless you make a concerted effort to do it.
 
The thing about blogging is that, no matter the reason for your blog, someone somewhere is going to read it and determine whether or not it contains newsworthy information.  If you blog about cooking, a reader will find value in a recipe.  If you blog about politics, someone is going to be on your side, and someone is … (2 comments)

real estate course: Is Your But Too Big? - 06/04/16 09:51 PM
Is your but too big?  I’m a rather large-framed woman and believe me, sometimes my but is too big and sometimes my but shrinks to allow for success.  You may be wondering what I’m talking about or how my anatomy can change so quickly.  Let me explain.  The “but” I’m referring to has nothing to do with your physical stature; it has to do with your mental thinking.
 
If your but is too big, it’s because not only do you doubt yourself, but you verbalize those doubts.  Is your but too big?  Does your but come out of your mouth … (2 comments)

real estate course: What I Love About America - 06/03/16 08:01 PM
We visited Taiwan, and while we thoroughly enjoyed our vacation, I need to remind myself what I love about America.  The food was amazing, the culture is beautiful, and the way of life is more basic.  There were more scooters than cars, people didn’t exhibit road rage, and respect for others was shown continually.
 
What I love about America, though, is that this is my home.  Growing up, I learned we are the land of the free and the home of the brave.  Our culture is a melting pot, which hasn’t been kind to us in many ways, but it’s … (3 comments)

real estate course: Sean Lost 40 Pounds! - 05/12/16 10:32 PM
My nephew, Sean, recently lost 40 pounds.  I am very proud of him and he has me thinking about my own health issues.  It’s not easy to lose 40 pounds.  Sean is 45 years old and up until now, had been pretty sedentary.  Now he runs a few miles every day or so, and it seems he’s found his key to a balanced life of eating well and burning calories.
 
So, how did Sean get to the point in life where he wanted to lose weight?  How do we get to the point in our lives where we want to … (0 comments)

real estate course: Can our Fast Track Help You? - 05/04/16 09:55 PM
Let’s face it.  Not all real estate courses are equal and not all real estate courses will be easy.
Can our Fast Track help you?  This is a question each prospective student must weigh before registering for a real estate pre license class here in Florida.
 
Our Fast Track class is not for everyone.  We manage to cover oodles of information in a very short time.  Other schools cover the same information over a period of a month or more, and some schools cover a little information before setting you loose to take the course on line.  Can our Fast … (0 comments)