How Real Estate School Is Like "War and Peace"

I'll be testing in another state soon. My concern is I won't be able to ask "what they're asking" instead of what I know to be practical.  

Mine was about 3 months long...then state test ...then applying with a broker and the commission. I still had no clue...and the best way I started learning was going through a transaction. The language was so new and different that I had to have hands on and kept asking and asking.  No amount of education could have prepared me for that first transaction.... At that point it came together.

I've taken the class and test 3x in 3 different states....it was 3 weeks of being taught nothing that was really what's out there in the real world.  But I aced the test all 3 times and that's what counts!

I lucked out in my teacher.  I took several courses over the course of a couple of months.  She did, indeed, "teach to the test" in that she told us that the curriculum was what we needed to know to pass the test, but then each class she set aside some time to tell us (as a 20+ year veteran agent, broker, and real estate investor) about the real world things we would run into.  I say I lucked out, but I lucked out in having her for my first class (two weeks for each course, 5 days a week).  After that first class, I made a point of signing up for the remaining ones that she was teaching so I could get more "real" information.  It served me well.  No one, I think, can really entirely prepare you, but some do a lot better than others with the same curriculum.

 

Sarah - I'm not sure what the tests you folks take consists of, but I'm quite sure it's all about the teacher as far as what you get out of it.  By the way, I've loved Woody Allen quotes ever since I was introduced to him at 22 years of age.

Hi Sarah,

It's sort of like the doctors that have to become residents first.  There are always those companies that assign Mentors.  But much like becoming a Parent, being a real estate agent involves on the job training only.  The good thing is that you could always refer to the manual or take additional courses.  Parenting doesn't even offer that!  I won't argue with you because I sort of agree with you!  I also like to be prepared.

Yes, the state test in Michigan only teaches you the law. Then the REAL STORY begins. People need a good broker or to be on a TEAM until they learn how the "real world" of real estate is. Hey that would make a good reality show.

The Real World of Real Estate. We could have the Activerain Stars all in it, including blogging Bertha. Lynn and all her maps, all the top bloggers. Locked in a office for 10 weeks. Anybody up for it ? Maybe some of our LA bloggers could sell the script to Hollywood ?

Our instructor told us flat out "If it isn't on the test I won't waste time covering it". It moved fast and since I had an expired license I wasn't paying as close attention as I should. Confession, I had a my laptop and was IM'ing my MS Rep during chunks of it. I swear when I took the state test I had Utah instead of NM! CE is where you learn more and hopefully good training at your office or with a mentor. I was lucky I had a good trainer the first time around. I don't think they make it clear in RE school that you won't know "jack" about selling when you get your license.

No argument from me. My class was 2 weeks. 100% about how to pass the test. I hated it. I really wanted to learn something. The broker class was just as simple.

I have always enjoyed Woody Allen's humor, and this is a great quote.  Have you read any of his books?  Hilarious!  I think "Without Feathers" was my favorite.  As for your post, I firmly agree with you here, and I have interviewed and worked with so many agents that clearly have no real-world understanding of this business, yet they are licensed. 

The Colorado test was a ten day "crash".  While there was nothing that explained an understanding of buyer/seller needs, etc., it provided basic information.  The NY test, 20 years later, was a JOKE- I took the classes while my father was in "hospice", driving from NJ to NY to make the classes, and passed with no problem.  Each state is different; some are appallingly simple and ridiculous.  I could never have passed the Colorado test under the same circumstances.  Dad would have laughed at the simplicity of the NY test.

When I got my license in Arizona many years ago, I took a six week in person course.   I didn't know a thing  despite that class.  When I moved to California, I took my classes online without every studying one minute.  It is far to easy to get in the business.  I crave good educational courses, which is why I earned my GRI designation and am now working on my CRS.   There need to be reforms in my opinion.   A mandatory mentor program would be great!

SARAH:  This problem begins at the state level.  I wrote about this in my 2-part blog about why realtors leave the business.  It is long and involved, and would take up too much space in this section, but ultimately, we're all working within a broken system.  The most powerful force that could fix this problem would be NAR and the large corporate brokerages, but it goes against their business model to have less agents passing the test.  This is kind of a joke when NAR pushes the REALTOR "status."  What possible status can there be if there are over 1.4 million members, who achieved this "status" by passing an easy course, an easy test and paying local board dues, which is more of a necessity than a choice if you want to have access to MLS.  Real estate schools are no exception to the rule.  They are paid to help you achieve a goal, which is to pass the test.  However, I will say that I had a great instructor when I took the broker class.  He gave a lot of real world information that wasn't on the test.  The other instructor (they split time) was so boring that I almost fell asleep several times as he basically read us the text book.  Ok, I'm done.  If I don't quit now, it will be a blog within a blog.  Good topic and post.  Very funny Woody Allen quote.

Sarah: I became a REALTOR® in 1975. Back then in Minnesota, Real Estate companies would recruit a bunch of people with promises about how much money could be made in real estate. We were “trained” in-house by one of the senior agents and taught just enough to pass the test. There were no continuing education requirements. There was no discussion of how much the prospective agent should have in reserve to survive until sufficient commissions were earned. There was little or no mentoring of new agents.

Although I’m no longer an agent (I lasted about 5 years), there have been big improvements in the training and continuing education requirements. More is needed.

After hearing of the antics of a few licensed REALTORS® my lovely bride of 27 years, Teresa, has encountered, and similar such encounters that have been posted by AR members—I am of the opinion that at least, an “Associate’s” degree from an accredited school (or equivalent) be required before licensing, and even more aggressive continuing education requirements be instituted to maintain the license.

Too much? When one considers that REALTORS® are in the business of assisting people with the most expensive purchase most will ever make—I think not.

Jack (we miss you, BTW)

Sarah the classes that I went to in my area were great. The instuctors did tell us though that we were learning what we needed to pass the test but not what we needed to perform as REALTORS®. The broker that I am with adds an additional 90 hours of new agent training to what you need for the state if you want to take advantage of it.

Connecticut requires 90 hours of boring stuff.  A whole lot of it requires memorizing laws and other facts to pass the test. I think there should be "required mentoring" before a new agent is allowed to go out and practice on innocent buyers and sellers.

Everything you need to know, you did not learn in Pre or Post License Real Estate school!

Prior to obtaining my license, I worked as a RE Administrative Assistant and am thankful for the wealth of knowledge gained about daily processing in real time (not found in text books).

I took Pre-License, KW 4 Listings 4 Sales in 3 Months Course, and 25 hour Post License back-to-back for 8 months while working part-time as Assistant.  Whew!  These courses, combined with my prior RE experience, started me out on the right foot.  And through my Broker - Keller Williams Realty's continuous training courses offered, I will never stop learning!  Education, experience and support are key to success!

b/c every transaction is different --nah -- b/c schools would be 12 months long.