Class Descriptions

5 Homeowners Insurance Changes in Colorado That Every Realtor Needs to Know

The homeowners' insurance market in Colorado is arguably the craziest that it has ever been. To find a way to be profitable, not only are homeowners' insurance companies skyrocketing their premiums, but they are also making big changes that will impact every homeowner and buyer in the state. Jared Ullrich from Ullrich Insurance promises that this isn’t just useless insurance information, but this is actionable information that you can apply to your clients and yourself right away.

5 Levels of Asset Protection for Real Estate Investments

Real estate investors face more risk than other investors. If you're serious about serving real estate investing clients, you need to understand the steps needed to protect real estate investments. This training will cover proper estate and business planning, as well as the various business law and estate planning components your team may encounter. This includes discussions about how to best own investment properties, legal considerations in business transactions, the advantages and disadvantages of using a Limited Liability Company, and when your clients should form these entities.

1031 Exchange: Advanced Topics for Real Estate Professionals

Learn why, when, where and how investors use, or should use, § 1031 Exchanges. Identify Exchange opportunities to increase your business and income. Understand key requirements for a successful Exchange. Consider best practices for selecting a QI (Qualified Intermediary). Recognize common Exchange opportunities and challenges. Gain a thorough understanding of Reverse 1031 Exchange structures. Explore "drop-and-swap" and "swap-and-drop" solutions. Review owner-carry note scenarios in conjunction with a 1031 Exchange. Examine the power of 1031 Exchange long-term strategies.

1031 Exchanges and Passive Real Estate Options

This class is packed full of valuable information and will cover the following topics:

History of the 1031 Exchange
1031 Exchange Process
Benefits of a 1031 Exchange
Passive Real Estate Options
The Fiduciary Difference

If you're not sure what a DST (Delaware Statutory Trust) is—or you've heard the term but aren't quite sure what it means, then this class is for you! We'll explore how DSTs offer a unique alternative for investors looking to complete a 1031 Exchange without the headaches of active property management. This is especially valuable for your clients who have held investment properties for decades and are ready to sell but want to avoid paying capital gains taxes. DSTs could be the solution they’ve been waiting for. Yes, we all know what a 1031 Exchange is…but this is different—and potentially game-changing.

Artificial Intelligence and the Real Estate Industry

Explore the transformative impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the real estate industry in this dynamic continuing education course. In an era of rapidly evolving technology, understanding how AI is reshaping the way real estate professionals operate is essential for staying competitive in the market.

This course delves into the various applications of AI within the real estate sector. Participants will gain an in-depth understanding of how AI is revolutionizing property valuations, market analysis, customer interactions, and more.

By the end of this course, participants will:

Recognize the various applications of AI within the real estate industry and their potential benefits.
Evaluate the effectiveness of AI tools in property valuation, market analysis, and decision-making processes.
Understand the integration of AI-powered virtual assistants and chatbots for improved customer interactions.
Identify potential challenges, legal considerations, and ethical dilemmas associated with AI implementation in real estate.
Position themselves to leverage AI-driven insights and tools to enhance their real estate business strategies.

Beyond the Grave Probate

This two-part class equips real estate agents with essential knowledge to handle probate-related transactions. Part I - Understanding Probate Gain - an overview of Colorado's probate process, including the legal requirements for selling a property from an estate. Part II - Probate Alternatives - explore why people seek to avoid probate and learn common strategies such as trusts, joint tenancy, and beneficiary deeds. Both sessions will help agents confidently discuss probate and probate alternatives with clients, ensuring smoother transactions when these ownership situations arise.

Colorado Water Law

This class will not make you a water expert, but it will teach you what you need to be aware of when selling property with water, water rights, and wells.

Course Topics Include:

Where Colorado gets its water from, the agreements Colorado has with downstream states, and the importance of protecting water quality.
How to acquire a water right and the effect of federal water right claims on use and value of Colorado water rights.
Practical knowledge that you can apply in your day-to-day sales activity.

Down Payment Assistance Programs

Gain the knowledge and tools to guide your first-time and repeat buyers through a variety of local and state-backed programs that can make homeownership more attainable. We will cover an overview of major down payment assistance (DPA) programs in Colorado, including CHFA, metro DPA, and local municipal offerings. Learn eligibility requirements, application process, and how to partner with lenders to educate your clients confidently.

Home Inspections and the Realtor

The home inspection is one of the most crucial parts of the home-buying process. Offers are finalized or revoked due to a home inspector's report. A home inspection can be a source of anxiety for buyers, sellers, and real estate agents. However, real estate agents can ease some of their clients' anxieties by helping them to be better educated and prepared for the home inspection. A good home inspection should be thorough so all parties have confidence when completing the home-buying process.

Homes Through the Ages

Because construction codes, construction practices, and building materials have dramatically changed over time, we are able to quantify common areas of concern that tend to arise in the home inspection process as a result of when the house was built. This class will enable participants to identify some potential primary issues that are common to different eras of home construction. This will aid them in preparing their clients before and after the home inspection has been completed, reducing stress during the inspection process.

How to Improve the Home Inspection Process

The home inspection is one of the most crucial parts of the home-buying process. Offers are finalized or revoked as a result of a home inspector's report. A home inspection can be a source of anxiety for buyers, sellers, and real estate agents. However, real estate agents can ease some of their clients' anxieties by helping them to be better educated and prepared for the home inspection process. Many aggravations can be avoided if the real estate agent prepares the buyer and seller before the inspection takes place.

How to Protect Your Clients from Metro Districts

This class has been my most popular class with approximately 2,000 attendees and I still LOVE teaching this class as most attendees leave my class with a look of shock and awe on their face over how Metro Districts have been used over the last 10-15 years.

And Metro Districts are making housing more expensive with their high property tax bills. And the property tax bill is something very few consumers even know about or even consider when buying a home. I am trying to change this.

Here is what you will learn in this 1-Hour CE Credit class—

What are Metro Districts and why we have them in Colorado.
The 2 types of debt issued including the most dangerous one with examples.
How Metro Districts impact consumers’ property tax bills and why the property taxes are so high with examples.
What should homebuyers & homeowners do to protect themselves?
The website you and your clients NEED to review before purchasing a home and we will review this website together in class.

Metro Districts in Colorado

All across Colorado, cities and counties are utilizing metro districts to provide the amenities people want, like parks, trails, and pools, and the public infrastructure, like roads, sewer, and sidewalks, that communities need. Learn more about how these special districts are created, how they are financed, and the laws that govern them.

Topics that will be covered:

What is a metro district?
Why are metro districts used?
How are metro districts financed?
What are the laws that govern metro districts?
Helpful tools to find information about your metro district.

New Construction & Warranty Inspections

New construction purchase options have become very popular for new buyers, especially recently, with the shortage of inventory we have seen. In many cases, home buyers are not getting a 3rd party inspection on new construction purchases and regretting it later. This can be due to the builder discouraging this, or just new buyers not realizing the benefits to them of having a non-biased inspection done of the property. As your buyers start the process of considering buying a new construction home, this class will better assist you in equipping them with the knowledge to make a wise decision and prepare them for that process.

New Home Construction 101

Gain an understanding of residential construction practices! In this class, discover how an empty field is transformed into a welcoming neighborhood...

Land Acquisition
Home Site Development
Why Building Codes are Important
Energy Efficiency = Saving Money
Builder Required Appointments
Fundamentals of Foundation Types
Looking Behind the Drywall
Custom vs. Production Builders
Vendors to Support New-Build Transactions

Primary Structural Concerns

The overall structure of a home is the backbone that holds everything in place. For many, the structural integrity of a home is often viewed as the most crucial part of the home-buying process. By being able to observe and report on these critical matters during the structural portion of a home inspection, real estate agents are in a unique position to offer expertise and peace of mind to all parties involved in the home-buying process.

Profiting with New Home Sales

New-Build Homes Now Account for 35% Of all Homes Sold Nationally. Discover How You Can Earn More Representing Buyers in New Home Transactions.

Earnest Money: PROTECTING YOUR CLIENTS
Compensation: PROTECTING YOURS
Benefits of New-Build vs. Resale Homes
The Homebuilder's Contract
How Homebuilders Improve Your Productivity
How Homebuilders Improve Your Cash Flow
Setting & Managing Expectations During Longer New Home Transaction

Selling Real Estate after Death - Navigating Probate & Avoiding Pitfalls

This class equips real estate agents with essential knowledge to confidently navigate the sale of property after an owner's death. Learn the probate and estate administration process, how to handle real estate in probate, and the role of beneficiary deeds. Gain clarity on joint ownership, trusts, and how title impacts property transfers. Avoid common legal pitfalls and better support clients during complex, sensitive transactions.

Selling to Senior Homebuyers

This course introduces real estate professionals to the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage for Purchase (H4P), a financing solution tailored for homebuyers 62 and over. Learn how to increase your clients' purchasing power, attract new customers, and turn more prospects into homeowners by incorporating H4P into your business strategy. Gain a competitive edge in the growing senior homebuyer market and help your clients purchase their dream home without taking on a monthly mortgage payment (must pay property charges like taxes and insurance).

Learning objectives:

Understand the basics of the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage for Purchase (H4P) and how it works.
Learn how to help homebuyers 62+ afford the home they truly want while preserving their financial security.
Explore real-world scenarios and strategies to expand your client base and boost home sales.
Gain a competitive advantage by offering H4P knowledge to stand out in the real estate market.

The 10 Most Common Home Defects: For Real Estate Agents

The home inspection is one of the most crucial parts of the home buying process. Many issues identified during the home inspection, if left untreated, can lead to significant costly repairs later, or even unsafe and hazardous living conditions. Offers are finalized or revoked as a result of a home inspector’s report. A home inspection can be a source of anxiety for buyers, sellers, and real estate agents. However, real estate agents can ease some of their clients’ anxieties by helping them to be better educated and prepared for the home inspection process. This course will identify the most common problem areas in a home inspection and provide real estate agents with tools and strategies they can use to allay their clients’ concerns.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Better equip the buyer for the home inspection
Advise and prepare the seller
Assist their clients in understanding issues of concern raised by the home inspector
Anticipate frequently asked questions regarding the home inspection process

The Realtor's Guide to Divorce Related Property Transactions

Divorce can significantly impact real estate decisions, presenting unique challenges for all involved parties. In this class, we delve into the intricate world of real estate transactions within divorce situations. We will discuss how to navigate these sensitive circumstances with empathy and expertise.

We will cover:

Empathetic Guidance
Strategic Advisor
Mediating Conflicts
Handling Sensitive Information
Objective Assessment
Expert Appraisals
Division Strategies
Neutral Presentation
Maintenance and Repairs
Facilitating Fair Negotiations
Drafting Agreements

...and much more

Understanding the Appraisal

This class will present a broad understanding of the appraisal process and how it relates to real estate transactions. We will cover a brief history of the profession, common problems, current concerns in the industry, and audience questions and answers.

Understanding the Role of Debt in Real Estate

Debt plays a crucial role in real estate, and understanding debt is essential for agents like you. In this course, you’ll learn why financing is so important, the differences between fix and adjustable rate mortgages, residential and commercial mortgages, common loan challenges and how to help clients navigate the process smoothly.