Christopher Pagli
William Raveis Legends Realty Group - Tarrytown, NY
"I Stay Open Until You Close"

I love this topic.  I've overheard so many agents state that they just want to get through it and be done.  I actually understand that the more I know the more I can be of service and an asset to my clients.  I couldn't imagine not continuing my education.  Have a great day!

Sep 09, 2014 07:19 AM
Rick Rickert
Mesa, AZ
16 Years of Trustee Sale Experience.

Thanks for the response, Christopher! I strive to offer courses that agents actually get valuable knowledge from, instead of just trudging through to get the hours. What particular courses, if any, have been of great use to you?

Sep 09, 2014 07:33 AM
Wendy Remley
Utah Prestige Real Estate - Syracuse, UT

I've been to some very, very fascinating classes. In fact, I'd say about 90% of the time, I'm glad I attended, and felt like I learned something.

Sep 10, 2014 04:45 AM
Eddie King
Keller Williams on the Water - Sarasota - Venice, FL
Serving all of Sarasota and Charlotte Counties, FL

I always try to take at least some sort of online training every month.  Not only do I feel I learn something from it, but it also refreshes skills and knowledge that I might not have used in awhile.

Sep 10, 2014 04:48 AM
Gene Riemenschneider
Home Point Real Estate - Brentwood, CA
Turning Houses into Homes

I enjoy the on line courses I take and I do learn things.  Other then review I would like classes that focus heavy and deep on specialized topics like investing and such.

Sep 10, 2014 04:54 AM
Travis "the SOLD man" Parker; Broker/Owner
Travis Realty - Enterprise, AL
email: Travis@theSOLDman.me / cell: 334-494-7846

Alabama requires 15 hours every two years. This last cycle, I had 102, the time before I had even more than that. So, obviously, I'm a CE Junkie. PLUS CRS, GRI, SRS, SFR, BPOR, e-PRO, ABR, and paid for but not done yet - SRES & Green. And I'm on our Board Education Committee.

I over do, as I often do, but still believe in the importance of Education. It gives new Agents Confidence and older Agents (experience wise, not age wise) a refresher.

Sep 10, 2014 05:14 AM
Christi Farrington
Dagny's Real Estate - Wilton, CT
~ Your representative in Fairfield County, CT

I love CEC.  I'm always going to classes that don't give credit but give knowledge! I still feel as though I need to know more; there is 'always' more to learn. Thank you for the post.

Sep 10, 2014 05:34 AM
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

Rick, I taught the Principles of Real Estate, Post licensing classes, Broker's classes and Continuing Education for a little over five years. I can't recommend any particular classes for Arizona. I found if you keep the classes interesting and stimulate discussions, students will interact better and walk away learning more and feeling the class was worth it.

Sep 10, 2014 06:03 AM
Rick Rickert
Mesa, AZ
16 Years of Trustee Sale Experience.

Thanks for the great comments! It's fantastic to see agents so enthused about continuing education!

Sep 10, 2014 06:44 AM
Thomas McCombs
Century 21 HomeStar - Akron, OH

Now that we can take classes online I have not seen so many attendees reading and writing emails, surfing websites and playing games.

CE is good when properly presented, but so often the material is stale and the presentation uninspired.

I take a lot of classes I do not need for CE if the subject looks interesting, but I am very happy to take required classes online when I think there would be very little new information.

I would like to see more time management and office organization courses. I always have too much paperwork sitting around in my room-sized inbox, that I never have time to get to.

Instead of handling this stuff, I spend time learning about the newest internet systems and software in order to stay current and relevant.

 

Sep 10, 2014 07:06 AM
Jeanne Gregory
RE/MAX Southwest - Sugar Land, TX
The most important home I sell is YOURS!

I strive to be a life long learner.  The last MCE course I took was a JOKE.  All we heard about was the instructor's failed attempts at online dating.  Waste of my time, but it was a "required" course.  I always try to take the courses on the latest techie stuff and new contracts, not so much for MCE, but just to know how stuff works.

Sep 10, 2014 07:30 AM
Mike McCann - Nebraska Farm Land Broker
Mike McCann - Broker, Mach1 Realty Farmland Broker-Auctioneer Serving Rural Nebraska - Kearney, NE
Farm Land For Sale 308-627-3700 or 800-241-3940

I will admit that most years I take online classes approved by the Nebraska Real Estate Commission rather than attend in person. 

My reasons are just what you mentioned...waste of my time to attend a mundane class.  I can do mundane on the computer.  Add in the extra cost of driving and lunch and the last 3 renewals I did do online!!

I am always looking for great classes that educate me in areas I need (such as trusts) but many times over the years the material is average at best.

This next year (2015) I do plan on attending some classes in the metro areas to try and work out some referrals and that is the only reason for going in person.    

Thanks for letting us share our thoughts!!

Sep 10, 2014 07:49 AM
Kimo Jarrett
WikiWiki Realty - Huntington Beach, CA
Pro Lifestyle Solutions

You can never get enough education regardless of the subject, yet taking courses just to get designations doesn't make sense to me because most consumers don't know or care about an agents designations, they only care that you care about securing their goals and objectives. With the Internet, an education is only a click or two from being knowledgeable depending on your resources.

Sep 10, 2014 10:42 AM
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Personally, I love CE.  We are taught the ABC's (always be closing) but I prefer to always be learning.  Since I became a REALTOR 20 years ago I cannot think of one week that has gone by that I did not learn something new. Our business is everchanging, and we need to stay on top of those new trends ... I know I have a long way to go, but I have a teachable spirit and I try to learn new things whenever I can. Thank Rick for letting us share our opinions.

Sep 10, 2014 11:13 AM
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

It's rare for me to learn much from CE classes. I wish that wasn't true because - like many who've commented here - I love to learn. There's too much stale information in most of the classes, repition of what we already know (or at least should know). We I attend a really informative class I always compliment the teacher because it's so refreshing.

Sep 10, 2014 12:01 PM
Chris Lima
Atlantic Shores Realty Expertise - Port St Lucie, FL
Local or Global-Allow me to open doors for you.

With the constant changes in this industry (ie our software, our contracts, the government's tax credits and penalties, etc.)  KNOWLEDGE IS POWER! Sign me up

Sep 13, 2014 08:16 AM
Sharon Parisi
United Real Estate Dallas - Dallas, TX
Dallas Homes

I chose my office because there is an emphasis on education.  I believe in life long learning!  There is no such thing as knowing it all , so we must constantly be in learning mode!

Sep 14, 2014 05:32 AM
Jan Green
Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ
HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

As an instructor I can tell you what my topic is that is garnering lots of interest, but it takes a learning curve exponentially for the instructor!  I teach green courses.  From an agent perspective, there isn't much information out there about selling homes with solar panels, leased specifically.  There is a lot an agent needs to know and there are pending lawsuites.  FYI!

Sep 15, 2014 10:56 AM
Jeff Jensen
The Federal Savings Bank/Lending in 50 states - Greenwich, CT

Continuing Ed has become a big business in this country and we are paying the tab.

Sep 23, 2014 07:59 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I look forward to my annual CE update--we always have so many changes in  our laws, our contracts, etc. it's really critical to stay on top of changes. I would love to see more practical CE classes regarding technology.

Sep 25, 2014 07:44 AM
Winston Heverly
Winston Realty, Inc. - Atlantis, FL
GRI, ABR, SFR, CDPE, CIAS, PA

This was a wonderful read, glad I came across it in the archives. Thanks for sharing.

Apr 01, 2015 06:55 AM