Broker CE Live Course Calendar

Don’t miss this opportunity to maximize your financial bottom line! Get the latest facts from tax expert, Chris Bird, regarding the tax write-offs available to the self-employed.

Self-employed individuals are entitled to many tax deductions, so it’s important to stay abreast of the ever-changing federal and state tax codes. Our resident tax professional, Chris Bird, created this class to give independent business owners an understanding of the effective tax write-offs they may be missing.

Being self-employed can be a taxing issue. Starting with the federal tax system, you need to understand how to maximize your deductions. That starts with good recordkeeping. This course goes over specific business deductions, including: automobile use and expenses; travel, meals, and entertainment; home office expenses; employing family members; telephone expenses; and advertising expenses. Financial planning is also key to reducing your taxable income, through retirement plan contributions and health savings account strategies, for example.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7.5 hours of real estate continuing education.

Topics:

• Choosing the right structure of your business
• Common red flags—what will prompt an IRS audit?
• How to get the most from your deductions
• Recordkeeping necessary to take those deductions
• Income and expenses of self-employment
• Financial planning, including HSAs, 529 plans, and IRAs
• IRS audit priorities

What’s all the hype about?

Witness this emerging market segment as you learn about the new world of tiny house living. In The Tiny House: Is it a Phase or Craze?, you’ll learn the origin of the tiny house, different types of tiny houses, the structural elements, costs and considerations, valuation of property, and when a tiny house is considered real property. We’ll also identify financing options specific to the tiny house and introduce you to tiny house communities developing across the country. The tiny house is a reflection of expressed values by a growing number of buyers today: simple living in natural surroundings and smaller more-efficient living spaces. 

This course will reveal a client group whose needs may be unclear, until now. This course will prepare you to be knowledgeable of the construction and informed about market needs as well as provide you with options to discuss with your clients who are seeking this type of real estate.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

Topics include:

• Emerging Values Increase Demand for Tiny Houses
• Real Estate Solutions Addressing New Needs of Clients
• Momentum of Demand
• Concerns and Obstacles
• What A Tiny House Is and Is Not
• Basic Structural Elements
• Valuation and Financing the Tiny House
• Explosive Markets of Tiny House Communities across the U.S.

Today’s complex electronic real estate transactions are full of challenges and expose licensees to a number of high areas of risk. This course is designed to explore agency issues, disclosure requirements, advertising, negotiation issues, and will provide guidance on reducing data security risk liability exposure. (This module also satisfies the 1-Hour Broker Module Requirement.)

Learn what the experts are predicting and how you can prepare to respond effectively.

Place your finger on the pulse of today’s real estate market and learn why it has never been more important to you and your clients to comprehend the key market factors. You’ll learn how those factors impact today’s buyers and sellers, arming you with the knowledge to access not only today’s economic landscape but also the national and local real estate markets.

Our expert instructor will identify the demographics most significantly impacting real estate values, appeal, and sales. You’ll learn about the homebuyers changing appetite for alternative types of housing throughout a lifetime. Also, how to identify options, challenges, and potential solutions to address home sellers and buyer’s needs in these emerging situations. Plus, you’ll learn what technology advances your clients expect and how they want to do business with you.

You’ll also explore the local trends pertinent to your real estate backyard and learn how the experts are strategizing to anticipate client needs. This course will help you become a more knowledgeable and adaptive industry leader.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7.5 hours of real estate continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 4 hours of appraisal continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for 7.5 hours for contractor continuing education.

Topics Include:

• Market factors impacting your client’s decisions
• Options, challenges, and solutions for evolving client needs
• Technology advances impacting how you do business
• Trending real estate tools
• Market leaders advice for success

This course offers current, relevant industry topics and data that will help you navigate the ever-changing landscape of the construction industry.

Today’s complex electronic real estate transactions are full of challenges and expose licensees to a number of high areas of risk. This course is designed to explore agency issues, disclosure requirements, advertising, and negotiation issues, and will provide guidance on reducing data security risk liability exposure. (This module also satisfies the 1-hour broker module requirement.)

The only thing constant in the real estate business is change.

This course answers today’s compelling questions about what is happening in the real estate industry, including the required response to remain relevant in the changing environment. Rapidly changing market conditions require real estate agents to be adaptable. You must be ready to adjust and do your business in different ways with precise accuracy, employing the right tools and approach to provide the highest quality service (representation) to your clients.

The days of traditional real estate brokerage are becoming a memory. Property information that used to be proprietary to real estate licensees only is now available to the general public. These are only a few of several forces impacting the real estate industry today. Learn how to adapt in this changing environment. Enroll today!

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

Topics Include:

• New Factors
• How is the Game Changing?
• Who are the Game Changers?
• What is Required to Be a Player?
• Changed Landscape
• Where is the Impact Most Significant?
• Brokerage Structures
• Recognizing Client Needs: The Real Estate Licensee Response
• What is Necessary for an Agent to Be Effective and Essential to a Client?
• Service Beyond Expectations
• Expectations and Competencies

According to the EPA 2008 Lead Rule, anyone who disturbs greater than 20 square-feet of lead based paint on an exterior wall; or disturbs an area greater than 6 square-feet of interior paint per room needs to be trained in lead safe work practices. Brightwood's Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Program gives you all the information, training and forms you need to comply with this new federal requirement. This hands-on course will walk you through job set up, lead-safe construction techniques, and the proper methods for jobsite clean-up and verification.

The Lead Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Program fulfills the mandatory eight-hour EPA training requirement, and has been approved for accreditation by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency as well as the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for contractor continuing education.

Upon successful course completion you will be able to ensure overall compliance with the EPA RR&P Program, including:

• Using an EPA acceptable test kit to determine the presence of lead based paint
• Provide on the job training for workers regarding lead safe practices
• Establish work area containment fields
• Direct work being performed on site
• Perform project cleaning verification
• Prepare required documentation

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 8 hours of real estate continuing education.
This course has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for 8 hours for contractor continuing education.

Learn what the experts are predicting and how you can prepare to respond effectively.

Place your finger on the pulse of today’s real estate market and learn why it has never been more important to you and your clients to comprehend the key market factors. You’ll learn how those factors impact today’s buyers and sellers, arming you with the knowledge to access not only today’s economic landscape but also the national and local real estate markets.

Our expert instructor will identify the demographics most significantly impacting real estate values, appeal, and sales. You’ll learn about the homebuyers changing appetite for alternative types of housing throughout a lifetime. Also, how to identify options, challenges, and potential solutions to address home sellers and buyer’s needs in these emerging situations. Plus, you’ll learn what technology advances your clients expect and how they want to do business with you.

You’ll also explore the local trends pertinent to your real estate backyard and learn how the experts are strategizing to anticipate client needs. This course will help you become a more knowledgeable and adaptive industry leader.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7.5 hours of real estate continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 4 hours of appraisal continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for 7.5 hours for contractor continuing education.

Topics Include:

• Market factors impacting your client’s decisions
• Options, challenges, and solutions for evolving client needs
• Technology advances impacting how you do business
• Trending real estate tools
• Market leaders advice for success

As a real estate professional, encountering property that is on water, near water, or comes with a water feature is very common.

In this course, you will learn how to effectively guide your clients in making appropriate decisions concerning buying, selling, and assessing properties in which water is involved. By the end of this course, you will be able to answer the following questions and more: “What are the risks of a pond on the property?” “Does a rain garden increase the value of a property?” “Can those cattails be cleared for a better view of the lake?”

Our expert instructor also addresses issues that arise regarding storm water run-off, ponds, wetlands, and streams. You’ll learn the real estate value of safe drinking water from private and municipal well sources, as well as who owns water assets and who is responsible for associated costs. This course will inform you of essential facts and critical knowledge that can save you and your clients from making costly real estate decisions.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for 3.75 hours for contractor continuing education.

Topics Include:

• Who owns the water and what are the associated costs?
• Stormwater management and property effects
• Wetlands, ponds, and water features: assets or detriments?
• Private wells and municipal water sources
• Identification of potential real estate problems for clients

Congratulations! We have survived the recent economic crisis, and many indicators show that the housing market has rebounded and continues to grow. So what has changed in the last ten years in terms of the house and its components? What are homeowners expecting when building or remodeling a property?

This class will help both real estate agents and contractors achieve business success by understanding how the physical house has changed and what their clients are looking for when making housing decisions.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7.5 hours of real estate continuing education.

Topics include:

• How has new construction changed?
• How has the remodeling industry changed?
• What are other living styles that people are embracing?
• What housing components are considered “old” and what are considered “new”?
• What are the latest technical offerings in housing?
• How are occupant health and well-being being addressed?
• What are other considerations and how can obstacles be avoided?

Have you ever been curious about how land is developed, who is part of the process, and how it all comes together?

This course explains it all, including how the planned use of land has evolved over time and the course of action that a land developer must take today. You’ll learn about the importance of a comp plan that each city develops, understand the types of zoning, and learn how to best approach the city planner and planning commission and ultimately secure the city council’s approval. Our experienced instructor has decades of real life stories and implemented plans that will help illustrate the fascinating and complex land development process of today.

You’ll learn about the differences and similarities of development done in urban, suburban, and agricultural settings. Today, more than ever before, land developers must be thoughtful and practical about the needs of the future users of their projects—find out how this consideration can sink or swim a project. You’ll also learn about the essential steps of a successful planning process, and how to assess the financial feasibility of a potential project. This course unravels the mystery around land development and provides you with indispensable expert information whether you are merely curious or seriously considering land development in your real estate future.

Topics Include:

• The history of the land development process
• The players and their roles
• The planning process
• Profitability and reasons for developing land
• Class Discussion

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

Ben Franklin had it right: "A penny saved is a penny earned." 

Learn how to budget correctly to make sound purchasing decisions.

The numbers are startling: 43% of American households spend more than they earn each year. Learning how to budget is essential to getting out of debt and making the best decision when buying a home. Instructor Todd Rooker will teach you methods to help you and your clients decrease debt, improve credit, and save more of your hard-earned money.

Big changes come from small steps. In this course, you’ll learn how to create a plan and follow through with it to achieve financial freedom. Many people want to save more, but don’t know where to start or lack restraint to stop spending. Budgeting correctly will help you make effective and smart decisions when making any purchase, including home buying. Learn how to live on what you earn, to the penny!

Topics Include:

• The psychology of spending
• Budgeting with a purpose
• Decreasing your debt
• Credit card management
• Improving credit scores
• Avoiding financial pitfalls
• Managing a budget for the self employed
• Purchasing a home within your budget

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

Learn the ins and outs of Common Interest Communities, one of the fasting growing forms of ownership in Minnesota and across the country.

This half-day course describes various forms of CICs, including condominiums, townhomes, cooperatives, mixed use, and conversions. It identifies the characteristics of the leading buyers (both Millennials and Baby Boomers), as well as ways to assess the CICs financial security. Including a sample balance sheet and budget, and a discussion of how the real estate market’s unprecedented fluctuations effect associations, this course covers all the essentials, from financing to marketing to management. Enroll Today!

Topics Include:

• Common Interest Communities and How They Operate
• Marketing in a CIC to Get Your Client Top Dollar
• Is the Association Financially Sound?
• What’s important in a Resale Disclosure?

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

Today’s complex electronic real estate transactions are full of challenges and expose licensees to a number of high areas of risk. This course is designed to explore agency issues, disclosure requirements, advertising, and negotiation issues, and will provide guidance on reducing data security risk liability exposure. (This module also satisfies the 1-hour broker module requirement.)

The only thing constant in the real estate business is change.

This course answers today’s compelling questions about what is happening in the real estate industry, including the required response to remain relevant in the changing environment. Rapidly changing market conditions require real estate agents to be adaptable. You must be ready to adjust and do your business in different ways with precise accuracy, employing the right tools and approach to provide the highest quality service (representation) to your clients.

The days of traditional real estate brokerage are becoming a memory. Property information that used to be proprietary to real estate licensees only is now available to the general public. These are only a few of several forces impacting the real estate industry today. Learn how to adapt in this changing environment. Enroll today!

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

Topics Include:

• New Factors
• How is the Game Changing?
• Who are the Game Changers?
• What is Required to Be a Player?
• Changed Landscape
• Where is the Impact Most Significant?
• Brokerage Structures
• Recognizing Client Needs: The Real Estate Licensee Response
• What is Necessary for an Agent to Be Effective and Essential to a Client?
• Service Beyond Expectations
• Expectations and Competencies

Learn what the experts are predicting and how you can prepare to respond effectively.

Place your finger on the pulse of today’s real estate market and learn why it has never been more important to you and your clients to comprehend the key market factors. You’ll learn how those factors impact today’s buyers and sellers, arming you with the knowledge to access not only today’s economic landscape but also the national and local real estate markets.

Our expert instructor will identify the demographics most significantly impacting real estate values, appeal, and sales. You’ll learn about the homebuyers changing appetite for alternative types of housing throughout a lifetime. Also, how to identify options, challenges, and potential solutions to address home sellers and buyer’s needs in these emerging situations. Plus, you’ll learn what technology advances your clients expect and how they want to do business with you.

You’ll also explore the local trends pertinent to your real estate backyard and learn how the experts are strategizing to anticipate client needs. This course will help you become a more knowledgeable and adaptive industry leader.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7.5 hours of real estate continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 4 hours of appraisal continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for 7.5 hours for contractor continuing education.

Topics Include:

• Market factors impacting your client’s decisions
• Options, challenges, and solutions for evolving client needs
• Technology advances impacting how you do business
• Trending real estate tools
• Market leaders advice for success

NEW! Millennials: Challenging the Traditional Real Estate Model (3.75 Credits)

This course examines the factors driving today’s real estate market, beyond the newspaper headlines. Facts, trends, and hard data illustrate how the foremost factors for Baby Boomers no longer apply. You will learn how Millennials, today’s largest real estate client group, prefer to buy, sell, rent, strategize, and communicate with you. After this course, you will have a better understanding of how to represent these clients.

This course will challenge your approach to working with today’s buyers and sellers, and educate you about their specific preferences, including how builders and the real estate industry are responding to Millennials. Essential client expectations and patterns are explored, so you can re-tool your skill set of knowledge and practices, as well as reposition your branding and image to reflect an understanding of the new model. This course prepares you to work effectively and productively with Millennials, resulting in helping them achieve their real estate goals. Join us for this compelling look into the future of real estate.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

Topics include:

• Traditional versus Millennial real estate model
• Defining the market
• Wants, needs, and deal breakers
• Motivation
• The affected real estate market and model
• Effective strategies for working with Millennials

Today’s complex electronic real estate transactions are full of challenges and expose licensees to a number of high areas of risk. This course is designed to explore agency issues, disclosure requirements, advertising, negotiation issues, and will provide guidance on reducing data security risk liability exposure. (This module also satisfies the 1-Hour Broker Module Requirement.)

Learn what the experts are predicting and how you can prepare to respond effectively.

Place your finger on the pulse of today’s real estate market and learn why it has never been more important to you and your clients to comprehend the key market factors. You’ll learn how those factors impact today’s buyers and sellers, arming you with the knowledge to access not only today’s economic landscape but also the national and local real estate markets.

Our expert instructor will identify the demographics most significantly impacting real estate values, appeal, and sales. You’ll learn about the homebuyers changing appetite for alternative types of housing throughout a lifetime. Also, how to identify options, challenges, and potential solutions to address home sellers and buyer’s needs in these emerging situations. Plus, you’ll learn what technology advances your clients expect and how they want to do business with you.

You’ll also explore the local trends pertinent to your real estate backyard and learn how the experts are strategizing to anticipate client needs. This course will help you become a more knowledgeable and adaptive industry leader.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7.5 hours of real estate continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 4 hours of appraisal continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for 7.5 hours for contractor continuing education.

Topics Include:

• Market factors impacting your client’s decisions
• Options, challenges, and solutions for evolving client needs
• Technology advances impacting how you do business
• Trending real estate tools
• Market leaders advice for success

Learn what the experts are predicting and how you can prepare to respond effectively.

Place your finger on the pulse of today’s real estate market and learn why it has never been more important to you and your clients to comprehend the key market factors. You’ll learn how those factors impact today’s buyers and sellers, arming you with the knowledge to access not only today’s economic landscape but also the national and local real estate markets.

Our expert instructor will identify the demographics most significantly impacting real estate values, appeal, and sales. You’ll learn about the homebuyers changing appetite for alternative types of housing throughout a lifetime. Also, how to identify options, challenges, and potential solutions to address home sellers and buyer’s needs in these emerging situations. Plus, you’ll learn what technology advances your clients expect and how they want to do business with you.

You’ll also explore the local trends pertinent to your real estate backyard and learn how the experts are strategizing to anticipate client needs. This course will help you become a more knowledgeable and adaptive industry leader.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7.5 hours of real estate continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 4 hours of appraisal continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for 7.5 hours for contractor continuing education.

Topics Include:

• Market factors impacting your client’s decisions
• Options, challenges, and solutions for evolving client needs
• Technology advances impacting how you do business
• Trending real estate tools
• Market leaders advice for success

Today’s complex electronic real estate transactions are full of challenges and expose licensees to a number of high areas of risk. This course is designed to explore agency issues, disclosure requirements, advertising, negotiation issues, and will provide guidance on reducing data security risk liability exposure. (This module also satisfies the 1-Hour Broker Module Requirement.)

The only thing constant in the real estate business is change. Buckle up.

This course answers today’s compelling questions about what is happening in the real estate industry, including how you need to respond to remain relevant. Rapidly changing market conditions require real estate agents to be current and adaptable. Adjusting your business practices, with precise accuracy and timing, employing the right tools and approach to provide the highest quality service and representation to your clients is essential.

Learn about how the new players and options in the real estate world are impacting clients. While property information used to be proprietary only to real estate licensees, it is now available to everyone, just one click away. Join us for the exciting and informative course to learn more about the many forces impacting you, your clients, and the real estate industry today.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

Topics Include:

• What’s changing and who is causing it?
• Where is the impact most significant?
• Recognizing client expectations
• What’s needed to effectively satisfy today’s clients
• Trending real estate tools
• Defining and providing service beyond expectations

Prevent identity theft by thinking like a criminal.

Customers entrust their real estate and insurance agents with a wide variety of personal information. If it falls into the wrong person’s hands, the damage to the customer’s life and the agent’s reputation could be extreme. In this course you will learn the methods thieves use to steal identities and how to use that knowledge to limit your exposure. From the nuts and bolts of identity theft, to tips to avoid phishing scams and other ways to safeguard information, discover how a few simple steps can help you avoid being a part of an identity theft.

In this course, you’ll be introduced to real-life identity thieves and learn how they acquired the personal information they did. You’ll be put in the position of a victim and find out how it feels to have your identity stolen, and the repercussions it can have. From the wired world of the Internet to phone bills and confidential contracts, there’s never been more opportunity for identity thieves to work their horrific magic. This course will provide the tools that, when used properly, can significantly reduce your chances of becoming a victim.

Topics Include:

• Identity theft suspects and victims
• Types of identity theft
• How they gain personal information
• The damage identity thieves can do
• Tactics to avoid identity theft
• What to do when identity theft occurs

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

This is the 7-Hour National Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) Update Course, as developed by The Appraisal Foundation. The course focuses on changes to USPAP for 2018-19 and on appraisal issues that affect daily appraisal practice. It is unique in that the Course is developed by The Appraisal Foundation and is revised on a periodic basis to stay current with the latest edition of USPAP.

Course Objectives

• Present and explain the new revisions to USPAP adopted in 2017 and effective from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2019.
• Present the current changes to USPAP in a variety of scenarios for class discussion.
• Present scenarios that challenge participants to apply USPAP to situations they encounter in their daily practice.

In addition to lectures, the course includes discussion illustrations that show how USPAP applies in situations that appraisers may encounter in everyday practice. These examples primarily address issues frequently experienced by appraisers as professionals in the appraisal of real property.

This course is designed to assist appraisers in all areas of appraisal practice seeking competency in USPAP, including those subject to state licensing or certification and continuing education requirements imposed by professional organizations, client groups, or employers.

USPAP has been endorsed and adopted by major appraisal organizations in the United States. As required by federal law, USPAP must be used by states in their real property appraiser licensing and certification programs.

This course provides at least 7 hours of instruction in USPAP. There is no accompanying exam for the classroom course; however, some states may require an examination for distance education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7 hours of appraisal continuing education.

The Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA), passed by congress and signed into law in late December 2017, is the most significant piece of tax reform since the 1980s. This course will show how this legislation has changed both personal and business tax rates. Plus, learn how the new law has caused drastic changes to estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes, and alternative minimum taxes.

Learn about taxes and real estate investments.

Taxes are important to us all. This is particularly true for buyers and sellers of residential rental real estate properties. Parties to transactions are interested in the overall financial effect a purchase or sale will have on their taxes. For this reason, parties frequently consult their tax advisors in planning a purchase or sale of residential rental properties. The specific tax rules change periodically for one reason or another. In the past few years, the IRS has been aggressively auditing owners of real estate investment properties—and in many of these audits, the IRS has been successful in denying deductions due to either inadequate recordkeeping or failure of the owner to meet the so-called “real estate professional” rules of IRC 469.

The topics in the following sections are greatly important. However, tax law is a constantly changing area, and current developments should always be checked by the parties before relying on assumed tax treatment.

Topics include:

• The effect of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
• What is considered rental income?
• Allowable rental expenses
• Basis and adjusted basis
• Cost recovery (depreciation)
• IRC 179 first-year expensing
• Determining the value of rental property
• Determining the tax due on sale of rental property
• Passive loss rules
• The real estate professional rule

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

Homeownership has long been described as “living the dream,” though the U.S. Census Bureau reports just under 64% of the population are fulfilling that specific dream. Over the past decade, and especially during the housing crisis of the mid-2000s, many people lost that dream. Given today’s lower interest rates and more affordable home pricing in several markets, many of these people are re-entering the marketplace in search of homeownership. The benefits of privacy and personalizing a property have always been a motivator for owning a home, as have tax considerations.

You’ll learn exactly who benefits from the tax aspects of homeownership and by how much. These differences are due to mortgage interest, real estate taxes, excluded gains, and other tax issues, as well as how the increased standard deduction affects taxes. Become an indispensable resource for your clients by providing them with critical tax information to make the right housing purchase.

Topics include:

• Real estate taxes and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
• Home mortgage interest and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017
• Calculating basis and adjusted basis
• The financial advantages of homeownership
• Deductible expenses
• Nondeductible expenses and common errors
• Points paid when purchasing a residence
• Exclusions of gain when sold

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

The Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA), passed by congress and signed into law in late December 2017, is the most significant piece of tax reform since the 1980s. This course will show how this legislation has changed both personal and business tax rates. Plus, learn how the new law has caused drastic changes to estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes, and alternative minimum taxes.

Here are 20 cost-effective home improvements that add value and enjoyment for every homeowner.

Homeowners are spending more time and money on fixing up their places than ever before. In fact, U.S. Census Bureau statistics indicate that maintenance and repairs make up about 30 percent of the expenditures. The other 70 percent is spent for alterations, major replacements, additions, and outside additions and alterations.

Here is your guide to 20 home improvements that maximize resale value. You’ll learn where the money goes in a typical remodeling job, and how much is spent on kitchen and bathroom remodeling, plumbing, HVAC, roofing and more.

You’ll get many ideas to help you communicate with clients and customers about value-added improvements.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

Topics include:

• Trends in remodeling spending
• Setting spending priorities
• Maintenance and repairs
• Kitchen and bathroom remodeling
• Avoiding hidden mechanical costs
• Roofing and siding
• Window upgrades that save energy
• Environmental concerns
• Cost vs. value analysis

Today’s complex electronic real estate transactions are full of challenges and expose licensees to a number of high areas of risk. This course is designed to explore agency issues, disclosure requirements, advertising, negotiation issues, and will provide guidance on reducing data security risk liability exposure. (This module also satisfies the 1-Hour Broker Module Requirement.)

In this course, you will learn the universal language used by appraisers that contractors and real estate agents can translate to knowledge that pays when advising clients on everything from product selections to appropriate offers on property or identifying an appropriate listing price for selling a property. You’ll acquire an insider’s view of how value is defined and assigned by the appraiser.

According to the EPA 2008 Lead Rule, anyone who disturbs greater than 20 square-feet of lead based paint on an exterior wall; or disturbs an area greater than 6 square-feet of interior paint per room needs to be trained in lead safe work practices. Brightwood's Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Program gives you all the information, training and forms you need to comply with this new federal requirement. This hands-on course will walk you through job set up, lead-safe construction techniques, and the proper methods for jobsite clean-up and verification.

The Lead Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Program fulfills the mandatory eight-hour EPA training requirement, and has been approved for accreditation by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency as well as the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for contractor continuing education.

Upon successful course completion you will be able to ensure overall compliance with the EPA RR&P Program, including:

• Using an EPA acceptable test kit to determine the presence of lead based paint
• Provide on the job training for workers regarding lead safe practices
• Establish work area containment fields
• Direct work being performed on site
• Perform project cleaning verification
• Prepare required documentation

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 8 hours of real estate continuing education.
This course has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for 8 hours for contractor continuing education.

Today’s complex electronic real estate transactions are full of challenges and expose licensees to a number of high areas of risk. This course is designed to explore agency issues, disclosure requirements, advertising, negotiation issues, and will provide guidance on reducing data security risk liability exposure. (This module also satisfies the 1-Hour Broker Module Requirement.)

Stay current on the latest changes in real estate financing!

Understanding today’s mortgage and financing options is critical for real estate professionals. This course guides you through the complex choices in mortgage financing. Learn how to thrive in this business by understanding the current industry trends, laws, and requirements.

This course will bring you up to date and give you the information your clients are requesting. Learn about new loan programs and mortgage regulations.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

Topics include:

• FNMA HomeReady program
• Asset assist programs
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
• Determining PITI
• Credit scoring
• Steps for a successful closing

Income-producing real estate is a time-tested investment. Agents who understand the fundamentals can earn commissions helping investors while building their own investment property portfolio. This course provides a step-by-step introduction to understanding the fundamentals of investment real estate, including markets, timing, leverage, cash flows, tax benefits, principal reduction, and appreciation. A hands-on case study analysis of a 4-unit apartment building provides students an opportunity to use new skills to determine the after-tax return on investment.

By the end of the class, you will have a better understanding of:

• Performance measures, including cap rate, cash on cash, and ROI
• The real estate cycle
• How real estate impacts your cash flow and net worth
• Cash flow analysis
• Tax benefits
• Principle reduction
• Appreciation
• Cost recovery (depreciation)
• Capital gain tax at sale
• Calculating sale proceeds
• 1031 Exchanges

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7.5 hours of real estate continuing education.

As a real estate professional, encountering property that is on water, near water, or comes with a water feature is very common.

In this course, you will learn how to effectively guide your clients in making appropriate decisions concerning buying, selling, and assessing properties in which water is involved. By the end of this course, you will be able to answer the following questions and more: “What are the risks of a pond on the property?” “Does a rain garden increase the value of a property?” “Can those cattails be cleared for a better view of the lake?”

Our expert instructor also addresses issues that arise regarding storm water run-off, ponds, wetlands, and streams. You’ll learn the real estate value of safe drinking water from private and municipal well sources, as well as who owns water assets and who is responsible for associated costs. This course will inform you of essential facts and critical knowledge that can save you and your clients from making costly real estate decisions.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for 3.75 hours for contractor continuing education.

Topics Include:

• Who owns the water and what are the associated costs?
• Stormwater management and property effects
• Wetlands, ponds, and water features: assets or detriments?
• Private wells and municipal water sources
• Identification of potential real estate problems for clients

Join us for a journey through some of the weird, wild, and wonderful real estate trends in the industry today. We will examine your clients’ interests reflected in emerging trends, including design and product selection. You will see some non-traditional shelters and learn about a variety of the unusual products used as building materials, including recycled and reused products, and the potential and surprising hazards associated with them.

Next, you will take a walk on the wild side, exploring some new trends in living arrangements and how Mother Nature can affect real estate. This course teaches you how to recognize potential dangers, as well as what to do if a property has sustained damage from forces such as wind, water, and pest infestation. You will leave this class with an understanding of how weird and wild industry trends affect the real estate market and your clients’ preferences. Finally, you will learn about some wonderful new alternatives that will help you work with today’s clients like never before!

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7.5 hours of real estate continuing education.

Topics Include:

• Weird shelters in the market today
• Unusual building products and potential hazards
• Unique recycled and reused products
• Wild factors affecting real estate
• Wonderful energy efficiency advancements
• Alternative energy sources
• Air and water quality to improve occupant’s health
• Creative solutions to satisfy your clients’ requests and needs
• How real estate professionals can help clients with special considerations

Today’s complex electronic real estate transactions are full of challenges and expose licensees to a number of high areas of risk. This course is designed to explore agency issues, disclosure requirements, advertising, negotiation issues, and will provide guidance on reducing data security risk liability exposure. (This module also satisfies the 1-Hour Broker Module Requirement.)

The only thing constant in the real estate business is change. Buckle up.

This course answers today’s compelling questions about what is happening in the real estate industry, including how you need to respond to remain relevant. Rapidly changing market conditions require real estate agents to be current and adaptable. Adjusting your business practices, with precise accuracy and timing, employing the right tools and approach to provide the highest quality service and representation to your clients is essential.

Learn about how the new players and options in the real estate world are impacting clients. While property information used to be proprietary only to real estate licensees, it is now available to everyone, just one click away. Join us for the exciting and informative course to learn more about the many forces impacting you, your clients, and the real estate industry today.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

Topics Include:

• What’s changing and who is causing it?
• Where is the impact most significant?
• Recognizing client expectations
• What’s needed to effectively satisfy today’s clients
• Trending real estate tools
• Defining and providing service beyond expectations

Save money and time and limit your exposure by learning the law.

If your tenants know more about the law than you do, you are already in trouble. In Minne¬sota, nearly every aspect of the landlord-tenant relationship is covered by a law or regulation, from screening potential tenants to handling evictions. In today’s litigious society, failing to know the law is unaccept-able. Fines are attached to nearly every part of the process, making one misstep expensive. Repeated mistakes could mean your property will lose money. With the right information, you can stay legal and profitable.

This course provides a fresh review of the Minnesota Landlord Tenant Act. You’ll start with the steps before leasing, looking at background checks, security deposits, and more. You will cover various types of leases and dis¬closures, like inspections and foreclosure, as well as laws that govern leasing. You will also learn the impact of the new domestic violence law on landlords. Attend this course and learn to avoid the little known penalties that eat away at your profits.

Topics:

• Leasing and renting
• Obligations and covenants
• Inspection reports and code violations
• Utilities and evictions
• Tenant remedies actions
• Residential tenant actions

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

Learn what it takes to get an unpopular home sold!

Listing agents—are you tired of trying to sell a property that only needs a little work or various upgrades or improvements to make it a winner?

Buyer reps—are you tired of showing multiple homes to a potential buyer where each home is great, except for one or two factors that eliminates the property and causes you to drive to an endless number of properties to find the perfect fit for your client?

This course will help you guide your clients through the process of seeing not only what a property is, but what it has the potential to become.  You will start by helping your clients define exactly what they are seeking.  You’ll learn how to ask questions about both present needs and potential future requirements.  You’ll also learn about the shifting demographics of our maturing population and how to effectively communicate with multiple generations.

Learn about the opportunities to modify a home to make it saleable by tweaks, modifications, or major remodels.  You will learn about the costs associated with improvements and the Return on Investment (ROI) for a variety of house projects.  You will help your clients be able to visualize a property beyond what they can envision themselves.  Case studies will help you gain a new understanding of how properties changed to become clients’ dream homes!

Topics Include:

• Assess Client’s Specific Requirements
• Buyers/Listers Demographics
• Buyers/Listers Home Ownership
• Assessing and Developing a Strategy
• Appraising and Valuing Improvements
• Energy Matters
• New Scenarios in Today’s Market
• Financing Improvements
• Risk Management
• Listing Unsellable Inventory

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7.5 hours of real estate continuing education.

Corporations around the world still relocate thousands of their employees each year, despite the global move toward a more virtual work environment. In this course, you will learn how to become the world’s leading company A-listed relocation expert.

This course will give you a comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of relocation. You’ll learn about the players and the processes involved and how relocation listing transactions differ when a corporation purchases the property. You will also learn how to identify and negotiate common problems involving home sale timing, temporary housing, corporate benefit programs, tax implications and more!

If you want to open up a new business opportunity, skillfully representing relocation clients, increase your knowledge now. This course is an essential element to your business plan.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for 3/75 hours for contractor continuing education.

Topics Include:

• Critical partners: roles and responsibilities
• Process: Unique to relocation
• Addressing obstacles and resolving problems unique to relocations
• Cultivation of preferred networks to help generate more income
• Income and tax related considerations

Congratulations! We have survived the recent economic crisis, and many indicators show that the housing market has rebounded and continues to grow. So what has changed in the last ten years in terms of the house and its components? What are homeowners expecting when building or remodeling a property?

This class will help both real estate agents and contractors achieve business success by understanding how the physical house has changed and what their clients are looking for when making housing decisions.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7.5 hours of real estate continuing education.

Topics include:

• How has new construction changed?
• How has the remodeling industry changed?
• What are other living styles that people are embracing?
• What housing components are considered “old” and what are considered “new”?
• What are the latest technical offerings in housing?
• How are occupant health and well-being being addressed?
• What are other considerations and how can obstacles be avoided?

Today’s complex electronic real estate transactions are full of challenges and expose licensees to a number of high areas of risk. This course is designed to explore agency issues, disclosure requirements, advertising, negotiation issues, and will provide guidance on reducing data security risk liability exposure. (This module also satisfies the 1-Hour Broker Module Requirement.)

Increasingly, agents are encountering individuals and families who are financially secure in most areas, but find themselves severely “under water” on their home. While there are many options available, many are considering strategic default.

Todd Rooker will help attendees gain an understanding of the facts, process and ramification of strategic default as well as the effects of mortgage default on current and future credit and loan acquisition, retirement and other assets, and future insurability of a client. This course addresses the difficult decision to default, and provides the details and vital information to equip you to help your clients get on the path back to home ownership and credit viability.

Students will also gain an understanding of the steps to take in order to rebuild creditworthiness and help clients position themselves as attractive loan candidates after a default.

Topics Include:

• Impact on retirement and other assets
• Impact on future insurability
• Impact on future loan acquisition
• Moral and ethical dilemma issues

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7.5 hours of real estate continuing education.

You will learn about the issues that create problems in real estate transactions, and you’ll be able to identify what constitutes negligence and when it is fraud. Sharpen your understanding of what happens when a client makes a Breach of Contract claim, and learn how to avoid misleading statements that can have disastrous ramifications for you, your client, and your business.

Most appraisers have faced a difficult or distinctive residential property appraisal at some point in their careers.

These appraisal problems can take many twists and turns and create numerous challenges in reaching an opinion of value. In this course, we will look at some of the areas that provide these challenges and discuss the different directions available to the appraiser to problem solve. This class looks at how to use all three appraisal methods to assist in developing adjustments and explores how techniques used in one method can support a conclusion in a different method. Students will discuss distinctive property assignments and various solutions that may be available to determine value.

Topics Include:

• Problem identification and solving
• USPAP rules
• Client and user considerations
• Challenges in appraising distinctive properties
• Case studies

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7.5 hours of real estate continuing education.

Learn what the experts are predicting and how you can prepare to respond effectively.

Place your finger on the pulse of today’s real estate market and learn why it has never been more important to you and your clients to comprehend the key market factors. You’ll learn how those factors impact today’s buyers and sellers, arming you with the knowledge to access not only today’s economic landscape but also the national and local real estate markets.

Our expert instructor will identify the demographics most significantly impacting real estate values, appeal, and sales. You’ll learn about the homebuyers changing appetite for alternative types of housing throughout a lifetime. Also, how to identify options, challenges, and potential solutions to address home sellers and buyer’s needs in these emerging situations. Plus, you’ll learn what technology advances your clients expect and how they want to do business with you.

You’ll also explore the local trends pertinent to your real estate backyard and learn how the experts are strategizing to anticipate client needs. This course will help you become a more knowledgeable and adaptive industry leader.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7.5 hours of real estate continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 4 hours of appraisal continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for 7.5 hours for contractor continuing education.

Topics Include:

• Market factors impacting your client’s decisions
• Options, challenges, and solutions for evolving client needs
• Technology advances impacting how you do business
• Trending real estate tools
• Market leaders advice for success

Learn what the experts are predicting and how you can prepare to respond effectively.

Place your finger on the pulse of today’s real estate market and learn why it has never been more important to you and your clients to comprehend the key market factors. You’ll learn how those factors impact today’s buyers and sellers, arming you with the knowledge to access not only today’s economic landscape but also the national and local real estate markets.

Our expert instructor will identify the demographics most significantly impacting real estate values, appeal, and sales. You’ll learn about the homebuyers changing appetite for alternative types of housing throughout a lifetime. Also, how to identify options, challenges, and potential solutions to address home sellers and buyer’s needs in these emerging situations. Plus, you’ll learn what technology advances your clients expect and how they want to do business with you.

You’ll also explore the local trends pertinent to your real estate backyard and learn how the experts are strategizing to anticipate client needs. This course will help you become a more knowledgeable and adaptive industry leader.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7.5 hours of real estate continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 4 hours of appraisal continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for 7.5 hours for contractor continuing education.

Topics Include:

• Market factors impacting your client’s decisions
• Options, challenges, and solutions for evolving client needs
• Technology advances impacting how you do business
• Trending real estate tools
• Market leaders advice for success

The Fast Track to Real Estate Agent Success! 

Real Estate Accelerator is a two-day intensive boot camp that will bridge the gap between earning a license and developing a robust book of business.

This course is designed to arm you with business building skills and critical operating activities utilized by the nation's most successful real estate agents. You will leave this course prepared to implement the following tools immediately in your practice of real estate: 

• Business Plan
  • Writing SMART goals
  • Develop an actionable lead generation strategy
  • Understand a successful P&L statement and money management plan
  • Formulate a budget that accounts for taxes and insurance
• Marketing Plan
  • Develop a unique value proposition
  • Create an effective online persona
  • Learn to strategically use search engine marketing, Zillow/Trulia, and Realtor.com
  • Understand the value of a solid personal brand and logo
  • Determine and implement appropriate marketing strategies that align with your personality type, market, and budget
• Develop an Economic Plan
  • ​Set your financial goals
  • Calculate total lead generation and closing activities required to support your financial goals
  • Determine your work and vacation schedule
• 6-month CRM subscription to IXACT Contact and the skill to build your database and launch activities
• Sales Skills Best Practices checklist
• 6 weeks of access to KnowledgeDNA Goal Tracker
• 4 weeks of continued coaching and accountability to ensure your success

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

169735

Have you ever been curious about how land is developed, who is part of the process, and how it all comes together?

This course explains it all, including how the planned use of land has evolved over time and the course of action that a land developer must take today. You’ll learn about the importance of a comp plan that each city develops, understand the types of zoning, and learn how to best approach the city planner and planning commission and ultimately secure the city council’s approval. Our experienced instructor has decades of real life stories and implemented plans that will help illustrate the fascinating and complex land development process of today.

You’ll learn about the differences and similarities of development done in urban, suburban, and agricultural settings. Today, more than ever before, land developers must be thoughtful and practical about the needs of the future users of their projects—find out how this consideration can sink or swim a project. You’ll also learn about the essential steps of a successful planning process, and how to assess the financial feasibility of a potential project. This course unravels the mystery around land development and provides you with indispensable expert information whether you are merely curious or seriously considering land development in your real estate future.

Topics Include:

• The history of the land development process
• The players and their roles
• The planning process
• Profitability and reasons for developing land
• Class Discussion

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

Today’s complex electronic real estate transactions are full of challenges and expose licensees to a number of high areas of risk. This course is designed to explore agency issues, disclosure requirements, advertising, negotiation issues, and will provide guidance on reducing data security risk liability exposure. (This module also satisfies the 1-Hour Broker Module Requirement.)

As a real estate professional, encountering property that is on water, near water, or comes with a water feature is very common.

In this course, you will learn how to effectively guide your clients in making appropriate decisions concerning buying, selling, and assessing properties in which water is involved. By the end of this course, you will be able to answer the following questions and more: “What are the risks of a pond on the property?” “Does a rain garden increase the value of a property?” “Can those cattails be cleared for a better view of the lake?”

Our expert instructor also addresses issues that arise regarding storm water run-off, ponds, wetlands, and streams. You’ll learn the real estate value of safe drinking water from private and municipal well sources, as well as who owns water assets and who is responsible for associated costs. This course will inform you of essential facts and critical knowledge that can save you and your clients from making costly real estate decisions.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for 3.75 hours for contractor continuing education.

Topics Include:

• Who owns the water and what are the associated costs?
• Stormwater management and property effects
• Wetlands, ponds, and water features: assets or detriments?
• Private wells and municipal water sources
• Identification of potential real estate problems for clients

Ever wonder the difference between mediation, arbitration, and litigation and when each is best suited for the situation?

In this class, you will learn the features, advantages, benefits, and limitations of each of these three dispute resolution types in order to help you educate your clients concerning their choices at critical and often tense decision making junctures.

Each of the three dispute resolution types are examined and explained in simple yet comprehensive terms to enable your understanding and increase your confidence in communicating the specifics clearly to your clients when they need it most. Learn the difference between binding and non-binding arbitration, the defining elements and consequences of both, as well as the potential for an arbitration appeal.  Many situations and questions, such as: “Should a single arbitrator be selected or a panel?” are considered for each of the dispute resolution options.

You will also examine what your specific role is in each type of resolution, including what is NOT your role and when consulting an attorney is vital. You’ll learn what happens when one dispute resolution method fails and what choices remain.  You may be surprised to learn where each of these resolutions takes place and how that can influence the accuracy and outcome of the decision. Real life situations illustrate each dispute resolution option to help you gain relevant and applicable knowledge to use in future situations, limit you chances of being sued, and prepare you for the real estate world of today.

Topics Include:

• Mediation
• Arbitration
• Litigation
• Sellers Property Disclosure Statement
• Inspection
• Case Study
• Lawsuits
• Title Insurance

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

Today’s complex electronic real estate transactions are full of challenges and expose licensees to a number of high areas of risk. This course is designed to explore agency issues, disclosure requirements, advertising, negotiation issues, and will provide guidance on reducing data security risk liability exposure. (This module also satisfies the 1-Hour Broker Module Requirement.)

The Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA), passed by congress and signed into law in late December 2017, is the most significant piece of tax reform since the 1980s. This course will show how this legislation has changed both personal and business tax rates. Plus, learn how the new law has caused drastic changes to estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes, and alternative minimum taxes.

Don’t miss this opportunity to maximize your financial bottom line! Get the latest facts from tax expert, Chris Bird, regarding the tax write-offs available to the self-employed.

Self-employed individuals are entitled to many tax deductions, so it’s important to stay abreast of the ever-changing federal and state tax codes. Our resident tax professional, Chris Bird, created this class to give independent business owners an understanding of the effective tax write-offs they may be missing.

Being self-employed can be a taxing issue. Starting with the federal tax system, you need to understand how to maximize your deductions. That starts with good recordkeeping. This course goes over specific business deductions, including: automobile use and expenses; travel, meals, and entertainment; home office expenses; employing family members; telephone expenses; and advertising expenses. Financial planning is also key to reducing your taxable income, through retirement plan contributions and health savings account strategies, for example.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7.5 hours of real estate continuing education.

Topics:

• Choosing the right structure of your business
• Common red flags—what will prompt an IRS audit?
• How to get the most from your deductions
• Recordkeeping necessary to take those deductions
• Income and expenses of self-employment
• Financial planning, including HSAs, 529 plans, and IRAs
• IRS audit priorities

This is the 7-Hour National Uniform Standards of Professional Appraisal Practice (USPAP) Update Course, as developed by The Appraisal Foundation. The course focuses on changes to USPAP for 2018-19 and on appraisal issues that affect daily appraisal practice. It is unique in that the Course is developed by The Appraisal Foundation and is revised on a periodic basis to stay current with the latest edition of USPAP.

Course Objectives

• Present and explain the new revisions to USPAP adopted in 2017 and effective from January 1, 2018 through December 31, 2019.
• Present the current changes to USPAP in a variety of scenarios for class discussion.
• Present scenarios that challenge participants to apply USPAP to situations they encounter in their daily practice.

In addition to lectures, the course includes discussion illustrations that show how USPAP applies in situations that appraisers may encounter in everyday practice. These examples primarily address issues frequently experienced by appraisers as professionals in the appraisal of real property.

This course is designed to assist appraisers in all areas of appraisal practice seeking competency in USPAP, including those subject to state licensing or certification and continuing education requirements imposed by professional organizations, client groups, or employers.

USPAP has been endorsed and adopted by major appraisal organizations in the United States. As required by federal law, USPAP must be used by states in their real property appraiser licensing and certification programs.

This course provides at least 7 hours of instruction in USPAP. There is no accompanying exam for the classroom course; however, some states may require an examination for distance education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7 hours of appraisal continuing education.

The Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA), passed by congress and signed into law in late December 2017, is the most significant piece of tax reform since the 1980s. This course will show how this legislation has changed both personal and business tax rates. Plus, learn how the new law has caused drastic changes to estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer taxes, and alternative minimum taxes.

Appropriately preparing trainee appraisers is imperative for ensuring the integrity and quality of the industry is upheld.

The recent rebound of the real estate market has been a welcome sight for the appraisal profession. It is the crucial responsibility of supervisory appraisers to train, develop, and mentor these new professionals. This mentor relationship will produce competent, ethical appraisers to enhance public trust. The 2015 AQB Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria requires that both supervisory and trainee appraisers be educated regarding the expectations for these roles.

This course meets the national, AQB-required content and outline for supervisory and trainee appraisers. Minnesota has adopted criteria that exceed the minimum AQB requirements, and this course addresses the specific criteria that have been adopted by Minnesota with regard to supervisory appraisers and trainee appraisers. Discussions revolve around the requirements, expectations, and responsibilities of both types of appraisers in order for trainees to gain experience credit. A short history of the profession is followed by the structure of the entities that oversee appraisers, including The Appraisal Foundation, The Appraisal Subcommittee, and state regulatory bodies.

Students will understand the requirements for licensing levels and the use of trainees for Fannie Mae, FHA, and lender assignments. Also addressed are the USPAP requirements that apply to assignments involving more than one appraiser.

Topics Include:

• The AQB and its role in the profession
• 2015 AQB Real Property Appraiser Qualification Criteria
• Minnesota-specific trainee license requirements
• Minnesota-specific supervisory appraiser requirements
• Minnesota-specific requirements that exceed AQB minimums
• Trainee and supervisory appraiser expectations
• Significant assistance—what it is and how to report it

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 6 hours of real estate continuing education.

Don’t miss your EPA lead-safe certification renewal and lose your EPA Certified Renovator status. Secure your seat and enroll today!

Attention all everyone who became an EPA Certified Renovator in year 2010 or earlier. That certification will expire after 5 years. You must complete this new 4-Hour EPA Certified Renovator Refresher Training Course in order to maintain your Certified Renovator status. Kaplan offers this EPA-approved 4-hour refresher course that will add an additional 5 years to your Certified Renovator status. This new course satisfies all the refresher requirements and includes a hands-on training session on testing for lead and cleaning verification. At the end of this course, you will receive an EPA certification showing your successful completion of the course, including photo ID. Remember that the EPA is finding and fining uncertified contractors for not being certified or for not following the RRP rules and procedures. The fines are up to $37,500 per occurrence per day. Don’t take a chance—take this fast-paced hands-on course and renew your EPA lead-safe certification.

Topics include:

• RRP rules and procedures
• Lead and cleaning verification

EPA accreditation to Virginia College, LLC DBA Brightwood Career Institute for the purpose of certification under section 402 of TSCA for the renovator - refresher discipline.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for 4 hours for contractor continuing education.
This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 4 hours of real estate continuing education.

The only thing constant in the real estate business is change. Buckle up.

This course answers today’s compelling questions about what is happening in the real estate industry, including how you need to respond to remain relevant. Rapidly changing market conditions require real estate agents to be current and adaptable. Adjusting your business practices, with precise accuracy and timing, employing the right tools and approach to provide the highest quality service and representation to your clients is essential.

Learn about how the new players and options in the real estate world are impacting clients. While property information used to be proprietary only to real estate licensees, it is now available to everyone, just one click away. Join us for the exciting and informative course to learn more about the many forces impacting you, your clients, and the real estate industry today.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

Topics Include:

• What’s changing and who is causing it?
• Where is the impact most significant?
• Recognizing client expectations
• What’s needed to effectively satisfy today’s clients
• Trending real estate tools
• Defining and providing service beyond expectations

Income-producing real estate is a time-tested investment. Agents who understand the fundamentals can earn commissions helping investors while building their own investment property portfolio. This course provides a step-by-step introduction to understanding the fundamentals of investment real estate, including markets, timing, leverage, cash flows, tax benefits, principal reduction, and appreciation. A hands-on case study analysis of a 4-unit apartment building provides students an opportunity to use new skills to determine the after-tax return on investment.

By the end of the class, you will have a better understanding of:

• Performance measures, including cap rate, cash on cash, and ROI
• The real estate cycle
• How real estate impacts your cash flow and net worth
• Cash flow analysis
• Tax benefits
• Principle reduction
• Appreciation
• Cost recovery (depreciation)
• Capital gain tax at sale
• Calculating sale proceeds
• 1031 Exchanges

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7.5 hours of real estate continuing education.

In this course, you will learn more about Minnesota making the contractor registration program permanent, as well as the details of this program. You’ll also explore universal design and how contractors can achieve new certifications, which are part of this rapidly growing market. In addition, you will review eight energy-related sales opportunities and receive an hour of energy focusing on an energy-conscious remodel.

Topics include:

• Minnesota contractor registration program
• Universal design
• Eight energy-related sales opportunities
• Energy hour on an energy-conscious remodel

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3 hours of real estate continuing education.

Today’s complex electronic real estate transactions are full of challenges and expose licensees to a number of high areas of risk. This course is designed to explore agency issues, disclosure requirements, advertising, negotiation issues, and will provide guidance on reducing data security risk liability exposure. (This module also satisfies the 1-Hour Broker Module Requirement.)

Discover the things all supervisor and trainee appraisers should consider.

Aside from the AQB requirements and any state rules, there are other considerations in becoming a supervisor or trainee appraiser. For example, the appraiser must decide if the trainee will be an employee in the supervisor’s office, or if the trainee will be an independent contractor. Other practical office and personnel management best practices will be discussed in this course as well. In addition, case studies will be reviewed to aid the supervisor and trainee in understanding these best practices.

Topics include:

• Trainee and supervisory appraiser skill sets
• Limiting liability during training
• Compensating trainees and supervisors
• Applying the recommendations to case studies

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 2 hours of real estate continuing education.

Today’s complex electronic real estate transactions are full of challenges and expose licensees to a number of high areas of risk. This course is designed to explore agency issues, disclosure requirements, advertising, negotiation issues, and will provide guidance on reducing data security risk liability exposure. (This module also satisfies the 1-Hour Broker Module Requirement.)

The only thing constant in the real estate business is change. Buckle up.

This course answers today’s compelling questions about what is happening in the real estate industry, including how you need to respond to remain relevant. Rapidly changing market conditions require real estate agents to be current and adaptable. Adjusting your business practices, with precise accuracy and timing, employing the right tools and approach to provide the highest quality service and representation to your clients is essential.

Learn about how the new players and options in the real estate world are impacting clients. While property information used to be proprietary only to real estate licensees, it is now available to everyone, just one click away. Join us for the exciting and informative course to learn more about the many forces impacting you, your clients, and the real estate industry today.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

Topics Include:

• What’s changing and who is causing it?
• Where is the impact most significant?
• Recognizing client expectations
• What’s needed to effectively satisfy today’s clients
• Trending real estate tools
• Defining and providing service beyond expectations

Stay current on the latest changes in real estate financing!

Understanding today’s mortgage and financing options is critical for real estate professionals. This course guides you through the complex choices in mortgage financing. Learn how to thrive in this business by understanding the current industry trends, laws, and requirements.

This course will bring you up to date and give you the information your clients are requesting. Learn about new loan programs and mortgage regulations.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

Topics include:

• FNMA HomeReady program
• Asset assist programs
• Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
• Determining PITI
• Credit scoring
• Steps for a successful closing

This class is designed to dispel the usual excuses as to why the cost approach is seldom completed by some appraisers. It starts by viewing the approach as outlined by the FNMA form. Then it builds on the concept and provides methodology by which the amounts that are usually “guestimates” can become logically calculated estimates. By using these techniques, the approach can provide logical and supported estimates of value for virtually any single family home. This can be very helpful, especially in small markets where sufficient closed sales are often difficult or impossible to find without crossing the expected guidelines regarding distance, style, or other criteria—thus making the market approach less viable.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 8 hours of real estate continuing education.

Topics include:

• USPAP implications
• Interaction between approaches
• Using the FNMA 1004 report
• Other site improvements
• Land value methods
• Market approach
• Land residual method
• Allocation method
• Extraction method
• Depreciation calculations age-life
• Breakdown method
• Modified age-life method
• Component cost derivations
• Aggregated paired sales method
• Remaining economic life equation

What’s all the hype about?

Witness this emerging market segment as you learn about the new world of tiny house living. In The Tiny House: Is it a Phase or Craze?, you’ll learn the origin of the tiny house, different types of tiny houses, the structural elements, costs and considerations, valuation of property, and when a tiny house is considered real property. We’ll also identify financing options specific to the tiny house and introduce you to tiny house communities developing across the country. The tiny house is a reflection of expressed values by a growing number of buyers today: simple living in natural surroundings and smaller more-efficient living spaces. 

This course will reveal a client group whose needs may be unclear, until now. This course will prepare you to be knowledgeable of the construction and informed about market needs as well as provide you with options to discuss with your clients who are seeking this type of real estate.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

Topics include:

• Emerging Values Increase Demand for Tiny Houses
• Real Estate Solutions Addressing New Needs of Clients
• Momentum of Demand
• Concerns and Obstacles
• What A Tiny House Is and Is Not
• Basic Structural Elements
• Valuation and Financing the Tiny House
• Explosive Markets of Tiny House Communities across the U.S.

Learn the language and techniques of how to accurately classify and measure residential property from a pro!

Real estate licensees, appraisers, assessors, builders, and contractors have specific methods used to measure and describe residential real property. In this engaging course, we’ll clarify the standards and pinpoint common mistakes made in measuring property. You’ll also learn the proper terminology and definitions that agents, appraisers, and lenders use concerning a property. Learn to talk the same talk while more accurately representing the home, as well as enhancing the value you bring to your client with this knowledge.

It begins with the proper way to measure a house—where to start and what to include. You will learn the distinctions between above-grade and below-grade floor areas and other often misunderstood and miscalculated areas. The challenges of calculating attics, lofts, and low ceilings will be addressed, as well as caclulations and regulations for condominiums, townhomes, rowhouses, and commercial or industrial buildings. You’ll also learn how to deal with detached rooms, sunrooms, and other “hard to classify and measure” rooms. The course will also explain the industry standards for qualifying room counts, bedrooms, and bathrooms.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

Topics include:

• Property measurement language and definitions
• Geometry for big kids: size, shape, formulas, and math
• Nuances of styles and designs
• What to measure and how to measure it
• The best tools for the job, in the field and the office
• How to measure unusual structures, commercial buildings, and industrial spaces

Today’s complex electronic real estate transactions are full of challenges and expose licensees to a number of high areas of risk. This course is designed to explore agency issues, disclosure requirements, advertising, negotiation issues, and will provide guidance on reducing data security risk liability exposure. (This module also satisfies the 1-Hour Broker Module Requirement.)

When there’s nowhere to go but up, here’s how you do it.

Turmoil in the financial markets and depressed real estate values has had a dramatic impact on everyone’s financial picture. The result is that countless Americans and their families are facing complex real estate and financial challenges.

This course will give you tips to analyze and solve today’s problems, while also building a strong financial future. Timing is everything when considering your options: bankruptcy, foreclosure, short sale, loan modification, debt settlement, and credit counseling. When it seems like there isn’t enough money, learn about what options are still available and best fit your situation. Learn how building and managing a workable budget puts you back on the stable track.

Topics Include:

• Taking inventory of your finances
• What to do when there isn’t enough money
• What can I keep and what must I give up
• Making the hard decisions
• Establishing critical timelines
• Building a comprehensive budget
• Contingency plans for the future

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7.5 hours of real estate continuing education.

As a real estate professional, encountering property that is on water, near water, or comes with a water feature is very common.

In this course, you will learn how to effectively guide your clients in making appropriate decisions concerning buying, selling, and assessing properties in which water is involved. By the end of this course, you will be able to answer the following questions and more: “What are the risks of a pond on the property?” “Does a rain garden increase the value of a property?” “Can those cattails be cleared for a better view of the lake?”

Our expert instructor also addresses issues that arise regarding storm water run-off, ponds, wetlands, and streams. You’ll learn the real estate value of safe drinking water from private and municipal well sources, as well as who owns water assets and who is responsible for associated costs. This course will inform you of essential facts and critical knowledge that can save you and your clients from making costly real estate decisions.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for 3.75 hours for contractor continuing education.

Topics Include:

• Who owns the water and what are the associated costs?
• Stormwater management and property effects
• Wetlands, ponds, and water features: assets or detriments?
• Private wells and municipal water sources
• Identification of potential real estate problems for clients

According to the EPA 2008 Lead Rule, anyone who disturbs greater than 20 square-feet of lead based paint on an exterior wall; or disturbs an area greater than 6 square-feet of interior paint per room needs to be trained in lead safe work practices. Brightwood's Lead-Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Program gives you all the information, training and forms you need to comply with this new federal requirement. This hands-on course will walk you through job set up, lead-safe construction techniques, and the proper methods for jobsite clean-up and verification.

The Lead Based Paint Renovation, Repair and Painting Program fulfills the mandatory eight-hour EPA training requirement, and has been approved for accreditation by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency as well as the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for contractor continuing education.

Upon successful course completion you will be able to ensure overall compliance with the EPA RR&P Program, including:

• Using an EPA acceptable test kit to determine the presence of lead based paint
• Provide on the job training for workers regarding lead safe practices
• Establish work area containment fields
• Direct work being performed on site
• Perform project cleaning verification
• Prepare required documentation

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 8 hours of real estate continuing education.
This course has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for 8 hours for contractor continuing education.

Learn what the experts are predicting and how you can prepare to respond effectively.

Place your finger on the pulse of today’s real estate market and learn why it has never been more important to you and your clients to comprehend the key market factors. You’ll learn how those factors impact today’s buyers and sellers, arming you with the knowledge to access not only today’s economic landscape but also the national and local real estate markets.

Our expert instructor will identify the demographics most significantly impacting real estate values, appeal, and sales. You’ll learn about the homebuyers changing appetite for alternative types of housing throughout a lifetime. Also, how to identify options, challenges, and potential solutions to address home sellers and buyer’s needs in these emerging situations. Plus, you’ll learn what technology advances your clients expect and how they want to do business with you.

You’ll also explore the local trends pertinent to your real estate backyard and learn how the experts are strategizing to anticipate client needs. This course will help you become a more knowledgeable and adaptive industry leader.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7.5 hours of real estate continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 4 hours of appraisal continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for 7.5 hours for contractor continuing education.

Topics Include:

• Market factors impacting your client’s decisions
• Options, challenges, and solutions for evolving client needs
• Technology advances impacting how you do business
• Trending real estate tools
• Market leaders advice for success

Learn what the experts are predicting and how you can prepare to respond effectively.

Place your finger on the pulse of today’s real estate market and learn why it has never been more important to you and your clients to comprehend the key market factors. You’ll learn how those factors impact today’s buyers and sellers, arming you with the knowledge to access not only today’s economic landscape but also the national and local real estate markets.

Our expert instructor will identify the demographics most significantly impacting real estate values, appeal, and sales. You’ll learn about the homebuyers changing appetite for alternative types of housing throughout a lifetime. Also, how to identify options, challenges, and potential solutions to address home sellers and buyer’s needs in these emerging situations. Plus, you’ll learn what technology advances your clients expect and how they want to do business with you.

You’ll also explore the local trends pertinent to your real estate backyard and learn how the experts are strategizing to anticipate client needs. This course will help you become a more knowledgeable and adaptive industry leader.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7.5 hours of real estate continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 4 hours of appraisal continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for 7.5 hours for contractor continuing education.

Topics Include:

• Market factors impacting your client’s decisions
• Options, challenges, and solutions for evolving client needs
• Technology advances impacting how you do business
• Trending real estate tools
• Market leaders advice for success

Today’s complex electronic real estate transactions are full of challenges and expose licensees to a number of high areas of risk. This course is designed to explore agency issues, disclosure requirements, advertising, negotiation issues, and will provide guidance on reducing data security risk liability exposure. (This module also satisfies the 1-Hour Broker Module Requirement.)

Corporations around the world still relocate thousands of their employees each year, despite the global move toward a more virtual work environment. In this course, you will learn how to become the world’s leading company A-listed relocation expert.

This course will give you a comprehensive understanding of the fundamentals of relocation. You’ll learn about the players and the processes involved and how relocation listing transactions differ when a corporation purchases the property. You will also learn how to identify and negotiate common problems involving home sale timing, temporary housing, corporate benefit programs, tax implications and more!

If you want to open up a new business opportunity, skillfully representing relocation clients, increase your knowledge now. This course is an essential element to your business plan.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry for 3/75 hours for contractor continuing education.

Topics Include:

• Critical partners: roles and responsibilities
• Process: Unique to relocation
• Addressing obstacles and resolving problems unique to relocations
• Cultivation of preferred networks to help generate more income
• Income and tax related considerations

Prevent identity theft by thinking like a criminal.

Customers entrust their real estate and insurance agents with a wide variety of personal information. If it falls into the wrong person’s hands, the damage to the customer’s life and the agent’s reputation could be extreme. In this course you will learn the methods thieves use to steal identities and how to use that knowledge to limit your exposure. From the nuts and bolts of identity theft, to tips to avoid phishing scams and other ways to safeguard information, discover how a few simple steps can help you avoid being a part of an identity theft.

In this course, you’ll be introduced to real-life identity thieves and learn how they acquired the personal information they did. You’ll be put in the position of a victim and find out how it feels to have your identity stolen, and the repercussions it can have. From the wired world of the Internet to phone bills and confidential contracts, there’s never been more opportunity for identity thieves to work their horrific magic. This course will provide the tools that, when used properly, can significantly reduce your chances of becoming a victim.

Topics Include:

• Identity theft suspects and victims
• Types of identity theft
• How they gain personal information
• The damage identity thieves can do
• Tactics to avoid identity theft
• What to do when identity theft occurs

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 3.75 hours of real estate continuing education.

Today’s complex electronic real estate transactions are full of challenges and expose licensees to a number of high areas of risk. This course is designed to explore agency issues, disclosure requirements, advertising, negotiation issues, and will provide guidance on reducing data security risk liability exposure. (This module also satisfies the 1-Hour Broker Module Requirement.)