Before
you employ a real estate professional be sure that they are professional
and qualified to best represent you.
I believe
there are only 3 licenses issued in California that are more widely
held than a real estate license. They are a drivers license, dog license
and marriage license.
Very few
of those holding a real estate license work full time and most have
worked most of their lives in non sales related jobs. I have been licensed
and active in real estate for the last 38 years.
The State
of California offers two real estate licenses. The most common is a
selesman's license. Most have a salesman's license which allows them
transact real estate as long as it is done under the supervision of
and through a licensed broker. I am a licensed broker not just a salesman.
It is also
beneficial for your real estate professional to be familiar with related
areas such as contracts, investments, insurance and taxes.
Unlike
most other real estate professionals I have an extensive background
in the above areas.
Experience
- Attended
the University of Northern Iowa in 1959 graduating with a BA in Marketing
in 1964
- US Naval
Reserve 1959 through 1966
- Viet
Nam era Vet with Active Duty 1964 to 1966
- 1966
Mutual of New York as a life insurance agent.
- 1967
Allstate Insurance where in addition to life insurance also licensed
as a Fire and Casualty Agent and NASD (National Association of Securities
Dealers) registered rep.
- 1968
left Allstate and moved to Advisors Financial Planning Corporation.
Unlike Allstate, where only Allstate Insurance products were sold
Advisors Financial was a brokerage firm handling many different companies
insurance products and a wide variety of investment products.
- 1969
Sessions Realty licensed as a salesman. This was in addition to Advisors
Financial who did not handle real estate.
- 1970
to 1992 Opened my own insurance brokerage firm handling all lines
of insurance and representing many leading companies products. If
it was insurable I could insure it. I also through 1987 offered a
wide variety of investments from gas and oil, cattle feeding, real
estate partnerships, financial, estate and tax planning. I also continued
to handle investments and real estate
- 1992
to present I merged my property and casualty portion of my business
with another agency and although still licensed and appointed to do
business with a number companies am inactive concentrating on Real
Estate.
A
home is one of your most important financial assets and it is only prudent
to get competent professional assistance when buying or selling.
What
does it take to make a real estate professional?
According
to one of San Diego's largest brokerage firms no matter what your present
job or past employment there has never been a better time to get an
unlimited income and be a real estate professional.
If you
are serious about becoming a real estate professional they will put
you through their intensive training program requiring that you attend
4 classes lasting 3 hours and 30 minutes each a total of 14 class hours.
The 4th class is a test covering the first three classes. You are only allowed to miss 40% of the questions to pass. If you don't know the answer you can look it up as it is an open book test.
You then
apply for a license exam and the weekend prior to your exam they give
you a 2 day Cram Course where you are given Master Exams to study (What
this means is that they have most of the actual exam questions and answers
and you learn the answers to the test questions)
After
14 hours of class and a 2 day review of the test questions (and answers)
96% of those wanting to be real estate professionals pass the exam first
time and are now real estate professionals.
A doctor
must go to 4 years of college, 4 years of medical school and 3 years
of residency to become a professional.
An Attorney 4 years of college and 3 years of law school.
A Beauty
School Graduate can call themselves a cosmotologist after 1,600 class hours. If they just want to do nails it only takes 400 hours. To just do skin care 600 hours. Less than 90% pass the exam first time.
A Real Estate Professional 10 1/2 hours of class and a week end cram class for a total of about 24hours.
If 96% of them pass the license exam on their first attempt.
You might want to avoid those that had to take the exam 3 or 4 times.
Another major firm says "Earn While You Learn". Easily earn $50,000 to $100,000+. Would you knowingly want or much less pay someone with the above qualifications to earn while they learned selling your home?
Your child
needs minor surgery and you have a choice between two doctors.
One graduated college taking all the pre med classes and then spent
another 7 years in med school and resedency to become a doctor.
The other was given a comprehensive 14 hour medical training program,
a two day cram course and the answers to pass his license exam.
Which would
you chose?
I have never had anyone choose the instant doctor even for a minor
health problem.
Yet people
will put their most valuable financial asset in the hands of an instant
professional.
Impressed by those professional designation initials on letterhead and business cards?
Like the exam and test a real estate professional can quickly add impressive real estate designations.
How about a real estate professional with the designation on their card of (Property Market Expert (PME)
The Property Marketing Expert® designation positions you as an expert property marketer. It impresses sellers!
If you complete an application that takes less than 2 minutes, take a 50 question test that can be answered by almost anyone in less than 20 minutes.
Send a check for $118 and keep up your $59 dues twice a year you are a designated Property Marketing Expert.
Remember
you always win using 1 - 2- 3 - to buy or sell property. It is a quick
and easy method to find your best representation at lowest cost.
