Broker CE Live Course Calendar

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.

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.

Mold is everywhere; why does it affect one house and not the next? The exact same question can be asked of radon!

Attending this full-day course will give you a sound insight into why mold and radon occur in some houses and not in others. You will also learn what steps to take to overcome what appears to be a major problem at minimal cost.

Whatever your view on mold or radon, you will come away from this class with a more balanced view of the issues and understand how to achieve physical control of these two concerns.

Brightwood's instructors are fully qualified to teach these subjects with skill and humor. Mold and Radon: Cause & Effect is an interesting way to cover these two subjects in a manner that will excite, educate, and entertain you.

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

Topics Include:

• MN Energy Hour
• What are mold and radon
• How to control mold and radon
• How code addresses the problem
• Cost-effective solutions

This class satisfies Wisconsin’s 13-hour education requirement to obtain a real estate salesperson license by endorsement. You qualify for this class if: A) you currently hold an active license in a state other than Wisconsin; or B) your license held in another state expired no more than two years ago. Minnesota students who complete this class also will receive 7.5 hours of Minnesota CE.

Now, in just two days you can complete your Wisconsin pre-licensing education requirements AND get 7.5 hours of Minnesota continuing education.
Are you one of the many Minnesota real estate licensees who have considered obtaining your Wisconsin real estate license, but haven’t wanted to deal with the hassle? Well, we have good news: The Wisconsin licensing process is a snap for Minnesota licensees!

Regulations in Wisconsin allow currently licensed Minnesota brokers and salespersons to obtain a Wisconsin license of the same level by attending approved education and passing the Wisconsin Real Estate Licensing Exam. To obtain a salesperson or broker license by endorsement (for applicants who have been licensed in another state within the past two years):

• Salespersons AND brokers must complete a board-approved 13-hour pre-license education program for salespersons. (Brokers must complete an additional six hours of education.)
• Pass the salesperson exam. (Brokers must complete the salesperson exam AND the broker exam.)
• Submit an application.

Complete Your Wisconsin Salesperson Education Requirements in Just Two Days
That’s right—just two days. Prepared, scheduled, and presented to meet the needs of busy Minnesota real estate professionals who want to obtain a Wisconsin license, this two-day program will teach you exactly how to comply with Wisconsin laws... and it will prepare you for success on test day.

Experienced Wisconsin Instructors Cover the Laws
Your instructors are experienced Wisconsin trainers. They cover all of the topics required by the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing and included in the exam.

Your Completion Certificate
Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive a completion certificate showing 13 credit hours of Wisconsin Salesperson licensing education. Individuals seeking a broker license will need to complete an additional 6 hours of education.

BONUS! Also Approved for 7.5 Hours of Minnesota Continuing Education
If you currently hold a Minnesota salesperson or broker license, you’ll be happy to know that you can complete the hours to obtain a Wisconsin license and fulfill 7.5 hours of Minnesota continuing education requirement at the same time.

Topics Include:

• Wisconsin Licensing Legislation and Rules
• Agency
• Ownership and Transfer of Property
• Land Use Controls and Regulations
• Valuing and Financing Property; Calculations
• Disclosures
• Contract Law and Approved Forms
• Business Ethics
• Fair Housing
• Federal Antitrust Law
• Trust Accounts, Responsibilities, and Leasing

This course has been approved by the Minnesota Commissioner of Commerce for 7.5 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.

Find clarity in a haze of misconceptions and false expectations regarding appraisal inspection.

“If you don’t have all the facts correct, you can’t apply judgment.”  G.N. Bloedow.

The appraiser’s ability to gather facts essential to the property has a direct coorelation to the integrity of valuation results. To complicate matters, appraisers, real estate agents, and clients all have  misconceptions and false expectations of the appraiser's role and responsibilities during the appraisal inspection.

This class sets the record straight and details the inspection from many points in the process, such as preparing for the inspection, neighborhood observations, expectations while at the property, comparable observations, and so much more. In this course, the instructor clearly articulates what an appraiser does and doesn't do during the inspection of a property when developing an appraisal. Together, the instructor and students will sort through how assignment conditions affect the appraiser’s inspection. Through instructor-led discussions, case studies, videos, and pictures, the students will leave this course with a complete understanding of real estate appraisal inspections.

Topics include:

• The appraisal inspection process: preparation, discovery, and comparable observations
• Understanding appraiser obligations and client expectations
• Five common measuring mistakes
• Legal access: a crucial consideration during the inspection
• Identifying a property’s use during inspection
• Understanding appraisal conditioning during the inspection
• Inspection misconceptions clarified

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 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.

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.

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.

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

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.

In this course, residential appraisers get a look into the world of the non-residential appraising.

The processes, data sources, appraiser peer actions, and reporting in commercial appraising is very different from residential appraisers. This course will provide the residential appraiser a look into these differences, including analyzing leases, the engagement process, highest and best use, capitalization rate derivation, and requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act that impact the appraisal of commercial properties.

Topics Include:

• Sources for commercial sales
• Research techniques
• Complex highest and best use analyses
• Cap rate derivation
• Narrative report formats
• Real-life case studies and examples

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

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.

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.

EPA accreditation to DF Institute, LLC dba Kaplan Real Estate Education for the purpose of certification under section 402 of TSCA for the renovator - refresher discipline.

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.

Appraisers have recently taken a lot of heat for the downfall of the real estate market. Much of the blame is unfounded, but some complaints are valid and could have been avoided if only the appraiser had followed some very simple steps.

This course will outline the most common complaints filed against appraisers and detail the very simple steps appraisers should follow to avoid finding themselves in hot water with state or other regulatory bodies. Students will learn how to avoid errors in the appraisal process and what supportive material must be retained in workfiles to be compliant for state or other investigations.

Review topics from investigations are included to highlight common issues in the investigation process. These review topics are analyzed to determine what the appraiser could have done to avoid discrepencies and what the proper procedures are. This is followed by a class discussion on what appraiser peers would do in similar situations. A brief review of the new national complaint hotline will also be discussed.

Note: The author of this course is an AQB Certified USPAP Instructor and a Certified Residential Appraiser in Colorado. She is also an approved work product reviewer for the State of Colorado. As a work product reviewer, confidentiality is required under USPAP as a peer reviewer and state confidentiality. Examples and case studies provided in the text have been modified to ensure confidentiality but maintained to provide students with a look into the process. Several appraisers who were under investigation were surveyed about the process. They agreed to respond, knowing their responses would remain anonymous. These appraisers are willing to share their experiences to help other appraisers avoid similar fates.

Topics include:

• Complaints about appraisers and who files them
• How the investigation process works
• Complaint statistics
• The most serious USPAP violations
• Common areas found to be noncompliant
• Case studies

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

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

The odds of experiencing business identity theft are ever-increasing. The risks your business faces are bigger yet.

From a criminal’s perspective, it is significantly more cost-effective to steal business identities than individual identities. Learn how not to let your clients or your business fall victim! One step beyond A Day in the Life of an Identify Thief, learn how business ID theft spells potential disaster for your livelihood and your clients’. Learn how to respond if your clients’ information or yours is compromised. Plus, learn how to spot and address the warning signs.

True stories reveal the methods thieves use and what red flags suggest. Learn how to protect your business from a potential data-breach disaster. There’s never been more opportunity for identity thieves to strike your business. You’ll get the tools and information you need to diminish the havoc of business ID theft.

 Topices Include:

• How business information is hijacked
• Red flags and appropriate actions
• How easy it is to get and misuse your business information
• Data breach prevention

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

Find clarity in a haze of misconceptions and false expectations regarding appraisal inspection.

“If you don’t have all the facts correct, you can’t apply judgment.”  G.N. Bloedow.

The appraiser’s ability to gather facts essential to the property has a direct coorelation to the integrity of valuation results. To complicate matters, appraisers, real estate agents, and clients all have  misconceptions and false expectations of the appraiser's role and responsibilities during the appraisal inspection.

This class sets the record straight and details the inspection from many points in the process, such as preparing for the inspection, neighborhood observations, expectations while at the property, comparable observations, and so much more. In this course, the instructor clearly articulates what an appraiser does and doesn't do during the inspection of a property when developing an appraisal. Together, the instructor and students will sort through how assignment conditions affect the appraiser’s inspection. Through instructor-led discussions, case studies, videos, and pictures, the students will leave this course with a complete understanding of real estate appraisal inspections.

Topics include:

• The appraisal inspection process: preparation, discovery, and comparable observations
• Understanding appraiser obligations and client expectations
• Five common measuring mistakes
• Legal access: a crucial consideration during the inspection
• Identifying a property’s use during inspection
• Understanding appraisal conditioning during the inspection
• Inspection misconceptions clarified

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

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.

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

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 how to make technology work for you in this informative class…beneficial for any appraisal or real estate professional. From online basics to the most cutting-edge applications, this course offers tech tips for nearly every stage of the appraisal process. Topics include blog basics, accounting software, cloud storage, and apps for pulling comps. It also discusses recordkeeping technology, the advantages of going paperless, and specific apps for improving photography. Covering the latest innovations with an eye to established practices, this course offers a valuable education for the tech-adverse, as well as the most digitally inclined.

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

Topics Include:

• Principles of Real Estate Appraisal
• Marketing and Blog Basics
• Spreadsheets and Accounting Software
• Management Software and Cloud Storage
• MLS Software and Other Apps for Pulling Comps
• Tech Items For use in the Field
• Going Paperless
• More Apps for Completing an Apprasal
• Open-Source Apps
• Apps for Photographs
• Digital Recordkeeping
• Passwords
• Workstations

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.

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.

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

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.

Learn new security tools and techniques to increase property values and insurability for homes or commercial property.

Stefan Salmonson will guide you through advances in technology that make sophisticated security tools and strategies once deployed only in large companies within the reach of nearly every home or business. Get first-hand knowledge of security components for both residential and commercial buildings. Electronic locking systems, for example, can replace the traditional deadbolt and key. The dramatic price drop of sophisticated lighting offers new alternatives for illuminating grounds and interiors.

Learn about the next generation of cameras, hard drives, and remote monitoring devices that can provide multiple levels of affordable security, enhance property values, optimize value-added features of homes for resale, provide insurability, and reduce insurance premiums. Learn proactive steps to take before the criminal comes.

Topics Include:

• Structural features and design
• Lighting and alarms
• Computer integration
• “Special needs” occupants

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

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.

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.

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.

EPA accreditation to DF Institute, LLC dba Kaplan Real Estate Education for the purpose of certification under section 402 of TSCA for the renovator - refresher discipline.

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

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.

This class satisfies Wisconsin’s 13-hour education requirement to obtain a real estate salesperson license by endorsement. You qualify for this class if: A) you currently hold an active license in a state other than Wisconsin; or B) your license held in another state expired no more than two years ago. Minnesota students who complete this class also will receive 7.5 hours of Minnesota CE.

Now, in just two days you can complete your Wisconsin pre-licensing education requirements AND get 7.5 hours of Minnesota continuing education.
Are you one of the many Minnesota real estate licensees who have considered obtaining your Wisconsin real estate license, but haven’t wanted to deal with the hassle? Well, we have good news: The Wisconsin licensing process is a snap for Minnesota licensees!

Regulations in Wisconsin allow currently licensed Minnesota brokers and salespersons to obtain a Wisconsin license of the same level by attending approved education and passing the Wisconsin Real Estate Licensing Exam. To obtain a salesperson or broker license by endorsement (for applicants who have been licensed in another state within the past two years):

• Salespersons AND brokers must complete a board-approved 13-hour pre-license education program for salespersons. (Brokers must complete an additional six hours of education.)
• Pass the salesperson exam. (Brokers must complete the salesperson exam AND the broker exam.)
• Submit an application.

Complete Your Wisconsin Salesperson Education Requirements in Just Two Days
That’s right—just two days. Prepared, scheduled, and presented to meet the needs of busy Minnesota real estate professionals who want to obtain a Wisconsin license, this two-day program will teach you exactly how to comply with Wisconsin laws... and it will prepare you for success on test day.

Experienced Wisconsin Instructors Cover the Laws
Your instructors are experienced Wisconsin trainers. They cover all of the topics required by the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing and included in the exam.

Your Completion Certificate
Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive a completion certificate showing 13 credit hours of Wisconsin Salesperson licensing education. Individuals seeking a broker license will need to complete an additional 6 hours of education.

BONUS! Also Approved for 7.5 Hours of Minnesota Continuing Education
If you currently hold a Minnesota salesperson or broker license, you’ll be happy to know that you can complete the hours to obtain a Wisconsin license and fulfill 7.5 hours of Minnesota continuing education requirement at the same time.

Topics Include:

• Wisconsin Licensing Legislation and Rules
• Agency
• Ownership and Transfer of Property
• Land Use Controls and Regulations
• Valuing and Financing Property; Calculations
• Disclosures
• Contract Law and Approved Forms
• Business Ethics
• Fair Housing
• Federal Antitrust Law
• Trust Accounts, Responsibilities, and Leasing

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

The odds of experiencing business identity theft are ever-increasing. The risks your business faces are bigger yet.

From a criminal’s perspective, it is significantly more cost-effective to steal business identities than individual identities. Learn how not to let your clients or your business fall victim! One step beyond A Day in the Life of an Identify Thief, learn how business ID theft spells potential disaster for your livelihood and your clients’. Learn how to respond if your clients’ information or yours is compromised. Plus, learn how to spot and address the warning signs.

True stories reveal the methods thieves use and what red flags suggest. Learn how to protect your business from a potential data-breach disaster. There’s never been more opportunity for identity thieves to strike your business. You’ll get the tools and information you need to diminish the havoc of business ID theft.

 Topices Include:

• How business information is hijacked
• Red flags and appropriate actions
• How easy it is to get and misuse your business information
• Data breach prevention

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

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.

EPA accreditation to DF Institute, LLC dba Kaplan Real Estate Education for the purpose of certification under section 402 of TSCA for the renovator - refresher discipline.

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

Learn how the most powerful force of nature impacts property.

This course will the show the challenges facing our finite amount of water and outline how to optimize the applicable scenarios to a client base.
The need to protect and manage our finite water will be expressed, and the reliance on clean water and the impact and importance to the real estate industry and clients will be detailed. The fact that local impact translates to global impact will also be delineated.

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

Topics Include:

• Water in and on the land impacting real estate
• Who owns the water and associated costs and problems
• Informing and protecting your client
• Avoiding liability related to radon in real estate transactions

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.

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.

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.

EPA accreditation to DF Institute, LLC dba Kaplan Real Estate Education for the purpose of certification under section 402 of TSCA for the renovator - refresher discipline.

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.

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

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.

This class satisfies Wisconsin’s 13-hour education requirement to obtain a real estate salesperson license by endorsement. You qualify for this class if: A) you currently hold an active license in a state other than Wisconsin; or B) your license held in another state expired no more than two years ago. Minnesota students who complete this class also will receive 7.5 hours of Minnesota CE.

Now, in just two days you can complete your Wisconsin pre-licensing education requirements AND get 7.5 hours of Minnesota continuing education.
Are you one of the many Minnesota real estate licensees who have considered obtaining your Wisconsin real estate license, but haven’t wanted to deal with the hassle? Well, we have good news: The Wisconsin licensing process is a snap for Minnesota licensees!

Regulations in Wisconsin allow currently licensed Minnesota brokers and salespersons to obtain a Wisconsin license of the same level by attending approved education and passing the Wisconsin Real Estate Licensing Exam. To obtain a salesperson or broker license by endorsement (for applicants who have been licensed in another state within the past two years):

• Salespersons AND brokers must complete a board-approved 13-hour pre-license education program for salespersons. (Brokers must complete an additional six hours of education.)
• Pass the salesperson exam. (Brokers must complete the salesperson exam AND the broker exam.)
• Submit an application.

Complete Your Wisconsin Salesperson Education Requirements in Just Two Days
That’s right—just two days. Prepared, scheduled, and presented to meet the needs of busy Minnesota real estate professionals who want to obtain a Wisconsin license, this two-day program will teach you exactly how to comply with Wisconsin laws... and it will prepare you for success on test day.

Experienced Wisconsin Instructors Cover the Laws
Your instructors are experienced Wisconsin trainers. They cover all of the topics required by the Wisconsin Department of Regulation and Licensing and included in the exam.

Your Completion Certificate
Upon successful completion of this course, you will receive a completion certificate showing 13 credit hours of Wisconsin Salesperson licensing education. Individuals seeking a broker license will need to complete an additional 6 hours of education.

BONUS! Also Approved for 7.5 Hours of Minnesota Continuing Education
If you currently hold a Minnesota salesperson or broker license, you’ll be happy to know that you can complete the hours to obtain a Wisconsin license and fulfill 7.5 hours of Minnesota continuing education requirement at the same time.

Topics Include:

• Wisconsin Licensing Legislation and Rules
• Agency
• Ownership and Transfer of Property
• Land Use Controls and Regulations
• Valuing and Financing Property; Calculations
• Disclosures
• Contract Law and Approved Forms
• Business Ethics
• Fair Housing
• Federal Antitrust Law
• Trust Accounts, Responsibilities, and Leasing

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

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.

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.

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.

Learn new security tools and techniques to increase property values and insurability for homes or commercial property.

Stefan Salmonson will guide you through advances in technology that make sophisticated security tools and strategies once deployed only in large companies within the reach of nearly every home or business. Get first-hand knowledge of security components for both residential and commercial buildings. Electronic locking systems, for example, can replace the traditional deadbolt and key. The dramatic price drop of sophisticated lighting offers new alternatives for illuminating grounds and interiors.

Learn about the next generation of cameras, hard drives, and remote monitoring devices that can provide multiple levels of affordable security, enhance property values, optimize value-added features of homes for resale, provide insurability, and reduce insurance premiums. Learn proactive steps to take before the criminal comes.

Topics Include:

• Structural features and design
• Lighting and alarms
• Computer integration
• “Special needs” occupants

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

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

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.

Alternate types of valuations are more common than ever with the appraisal shortage and changes in the regulatory requirements from the federal agencies. Dodd-Frank eliminated BPOs and AVMs as file documentation for residential lending in many loan packages. Discover when alternate valuations are being used, how to complete them, and how to remain compliant with appraisal reporting requirements. Understand how the Uniform Standards of Appraisal Practice (USPAP) view evaluations under the federal banking guidelines. You will discuss restricted reporting options and view sample report forms.

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

Topics Include:

• Identifying alternate valuations
• Federal agency appraisal and evaluation guidelines
• USPAP Advisory Opinion 13 relating to evaluations
• Sample forms and report options

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.

The odds of experiencing business identity theft are ever-increasing. The risks your business faces are bigger yet.

From a criminal’s perspective, it is significantly more cost-effective to steal business identities than individual identities. Learn how not to let your clients or your business fall victim! One step beyond A Day in the Life of an Identify Thief, learn how business ID theft spells potential disaster for your livelihood and your clients’. Learn how to respond if your clients’ information or yours is compromised. Plus, learn how to spot and address the warning signs.

True stories reveal the methods thieves use and what red flags suggest. Learn how to protect your business from a potential data-breach disaster. There’s never been more opportunity for identity thieves to strike your business. You’ll get the tools and information you need to diminish the havoc of business ID theft.

 Topices Include:

• How business information is hijacked
• Red flags and appropriate actions
• How easy it is to get and misuse your business information
• Data breach prevention

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

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.

EPA accreditation to DF Institute, LLC dba Kaplan Real Estate Education for the purpose of certification under section 402 of TSCA for the renovator - refresher discipline.