Real Estate

You juggle many daily duties as a working professional and it may seem almost impossible to fit in education to pursue a fulfilling, lucrative career in real estate. With online distance learning, you can take real estate classes at your own time and pace rather than having to attend scheduled classes. Because distance learning is so flexible and convenient, the Washington Post reports that by 2008, one in ten students pursuing higher education will be enrolled in an online learning program.

Imagine moving mountains to make money in real estate! Selling land, selling houses, listing houses for sale and determining the value of homes are a sampling of the exciting professions available in real estate. Distance learning courses are offered online in several areas of the real estate profession, such as:

Real Estate salesperson or brokers license.

To sell houses, land or other real property, you need a real estate license. This course will prepare you for the licensing exam with courses in forms of ownership, recordation, rights and interests in land, license law, agency, rules and regulations, contracts, closings and closing costs, seller’s net, leases, title transfer, finance, appraisal, Fair Housing and taxes. At the end of the required course, you can take the final exam with a proctor, such as a librarian. A student who passes the final exam is qualified to take the State Real Estate Licensing Examination to work in real estate sales. Students may also pursue a brokers license after performed as a salesperson. A real estate broker is allowed to transact business for their own company and employ other people who hold a real estate license.

Real Estate courses to prepare for exams.

If you are anxious about taking state examinations to become a real estate salesperson or a real estate broker, you can take preparation courses online prior to the big test. Preparation courses traditionally offer practice questions, activities to help you remember the material covered in the course, a list of relevant real estate terms and basic tips for taking an exam. These courses are not a requirement to take the real estate examination but they help to put many students at ease about taking the test.

Real Estate courses to meet continuing education requirements.

When you earn you real estate license, continuing education is required to maintain the license and qualify for renewal. Distance learning gives busy real estate professionals a chance to fulfill these necessary continuing education requirements while they continue to earn money.

Real Estate courses in home inspection

Real estate inspectors educate buyers about the physical condition of a perspective home to assist them in making a wise decision. Inspectors ensure a home is suitable to reside in and does not violate local laws according to the guidelines of the National Association of Home Inspectors (NAHITM). The online course in real estate inspection teaches you the basic standards of performance for a residential home inspection written report.

Real Estate courses in appraisal.

Requirements for appraisers vary from state to state but all students basically have to complete certain courses and pass a state licensing examination. Real estate appraisers decide the value of a home based on its condition, amenities and the current market value of similar homes in the area.

Distance learning gives you an accessible way to learn how to become real estate professionals. For current realtors, online courses are a flexible way to fit continuing education into your hectic schedules. With online education, you can land that long-awaited, lucrative position in real estate you always dreamed of.

Green homes are eco-friendly homes that are energy efficient and use ecological design and sustainable resources. There has been a tremendous increase in awareness of the benefits of green building in America among builders and home owners alike. With home builders finding it easier to construct green homes, the number of green homes constructed throughout the country has gone up remarkably.

Ecological concerns and the increasing awareness of the advantages of green homes have led to an upsurge in green homes in the country. Concerns about the impact their homes have on the environment have prompted some homebuyers to opt for green homes.

Building green homes is no longer a remote concept these days. Over disturbing facts about global warming and indoor air pollution, today, the top priority of the National Home Builders Association and the American Institute of Architects is constructing green buildings.

There is sufficient data around that indicate that the building of green homes is on the rise. According to the figures provided by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) (who developed the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building rating system), the number of buildings with LEED status in America has increased from 38 in 2002 to 669 now. Green buildings are progressively entering the mainstream with more and more buildings getting LEED certification.

Given that green buildings do not cost very much more than traditional buildings, and that they actually reduce energy bills, the building of green homes is on the rise. A green building is not only less expensive to live in but also spikes in value by 7.5 percent on average and improves return on investment by 6.6 percent on average.

Green building concepts begin to rise everywhere as the number of individuals who want to remodel, build or buy green homes are rapidly increasing. Architects and developers are responding to satisfy this growing demand. Green buildings have been found to appreciate faster than traditional buildings.

What was once a patchwork of green buildings in several cities has now increased to encompass whole communities and neighborhoods. According to a McGraw-Hill Construction survey in 2006, about two-thirds of builders would be building green homes in America this year. Green buildings are firmly mainstream now with federal government and 15 states requiring new public buildings to meet the LEED standards. In fact, four U.S. states and 17 cities offer incentives for private buildings built to LEED standards.

With rising government initiatives, consumer interest and the number of green developers and builders, the green building revolution is all set to go to a new level.

Eager to know the top cites in America where one can safely invest? Here are the best real estate markets in the entire country according to a recent report from Business 2.0 Magazine. The November 2006 edition of the magazine lists the top ten cities that are ideal to buy a home. These are – Panama City and Vero Beach in Florida, Bridgeport in Connecticut, Lakeland in Florida, McAllen in Texas, San Luis Obispo in California, Wilmington in North Carolina, Manchester in New Hampshire, Fort Collins in Colorado and Atlanta in Georgia. The report cites the appreciation rates of home prices projected over a period of five years.

Florida enjoys the status of having three of the top four cities to invest in. Panama City, which tops the list of best places to buy real estate is expected to have a real estate appreciation of 72% over the next five years. Major real estate development projects such as the building of a new airport and low property prices are expected to boost the economy and the housing market.

Vero Beach, projected to have an appreciation of 64%, comes second for its excellent weather, low property taxes and a lower cost of living. Lakeland, with a 59% projected gain in home prices is a tempting option with homes selling for a fifth less than the national median price.

Buying a home in Bridgeport, CT is a bargain now with median home prices at a very low $280,000 compared to the rest of the Fairfield County. Home prices in McAllen, TX which holds the fifth place, are expected to soar by 57%.

It is estimated that homes in the McAllen, TX area may appreciate 57 percent with an increase in the median home price from $70,000 to $109,000.

Homeowners making an investment in San Luis Obispo, California, today, are expected to get a good appreciation (40%) on their homes over the next five years.

The median home price in Wilmington, NC is expected to increase to $297,000 by 2011, up from the current price of $217,000, an increase by 37%.

Manchester, NH, which has twice been rated as the ‘best place to live’ in America by Money Magazine, sits at eighth place with an expected appreciation of 35%.

Fort Collins and Atlanta follow in the ninth and tenth places of top cities for real estate investment in the USA. Fort Collins, one of the most popular cities in America, has been ranked as the ‘No.1 small city’ this year by Money Magazine. Recent price reductions in the housing market makes ‘now’ the best time to buy a home or condo in this city with an estimated property appreciation of 28%. Atlanta is poised for a significant appreciation too with an expected rise of up to 24% in home prices over the next five years.

So, if you are a prospective homebuyer set to take a plunge into any of the top ten real estate markets, it is the right time to enlist the services of a good real estate agent who can guide you through the complicated home buying process.