Do you remember the last time you did something to benefit your real estate career? You may not realize it, but continuing education in real estate is a crucial element to success in the industry and can help you earn more money and advance your career.
There are many benefits to continuing real estate education with the right institution. Let’s take a look at some of them!
Fulfilling State Requirements
This is the most common reason for taking CE classes. Real estate agents must meet the minimum criteria of each state. In most states, to keep your license valid, you must complete 30 hours of continuing education every two years.
If you don’t, you risk having your license suspended, or being issued penalties. You must research your state’s criteria to ensure that you are meeting educational requirements. There are a few conditions that must be met as well before you may work as a real estate agent in Indiana, including:
- Having completed a 90-hour real estate pre-licensing (Internal link to IREI’s course) course that the state has approved
- Completing a Background investigation
- Scheduling and passing the Indiana broker license exam
Discover New Opportunities
What does the future hold for the real estate industry? One upcoming phenomenon is the wave of buyers and agents looking into sustainable housing and environmentally-friendly amenities. By staying up to date on the latest trends and developments in the industry you will set yourself up for success.
Real estate continuing education is the most effective strategy to keep up with these industry trends. Topics such as ethical concerns and taxation are covered in depth in these courses. Real estate agents benefit from learning about fair housing legislation, risk management, and the financial aspects of home purchase, which help improve overall skillsets.
Taking extra courses will also help you figure out where your business is going and whether you’d like to branch out into other areas of real estate in the future. For example, perhaps you excel at selling residential real estate but want to learn more about what it takes to work as a commercial real estate agent. Taking a course on the laws and practices governing that field will help you decide if you’re ready to make the switch. Taking classes also helps you explore these options in a secure, educational setting.
Build Your Credibility
Increasing trustworthiness is an excellent and necessary part of all marketing strategies for real estate agents. Agents can show their knowledge in specialized areas by displaying what they know and have learned through real estate continuing education on their websites. Those with credibility and proof to back it up will be the most compelling choices for buyers seeking a real estate agent to work with. It’s also worth noting that improving your trustworthiness is one of the most effective techniques to attract new clients through referrals.
These courses can also help you understand specific areas like green living or auction-style sales. As a result, your skillset will be a notch above the competition, allowing you to attract more clients.
Takeaway
Are you looking to further your real estate education? Contact our team at the Indiana Real Estate Institute today for more information on taking online and correspondence courses. You have the option of learning at your own pace or in a classroom setting where you will be given everything you need to become a top-performing real estate agent.
