back to top

Today’s Environmental Issues – Guidelines, Trends and Opportunities

Doug McClure

The environmental legal landscape is constantly shifting.  Learn the current best practices for avoiding environmental deal breakers, protecting the parties from environmental liability and taking advantage of current financial incentives and development opportunities for contaminated "brown fields" sites.

back to top

Methamphetamine Contamination Response in Kalamazoo County

Jim Rutherford

Jim discusses the necessity for the development of a local Methamphetamine Contamination Response Program for Kalamazoo County.  In addition, the challenges of the development and implementation of this program are discussed as well as the successes that have been experienced.

back to top

Michigan Property Tax Appeal Basics

Micheal Lohmeier

This session will cover topics including identifying relevant valuation terms and concepts, mass appraisal used by assessors versus singular appraisal used by appraisers, the background of Michigan Tax Tribunal and its two divisions, how to file a petition to the Tribunal, in addition to what to expect in the Small Claims Division versus the Entire tribunal division.  

back to top

Creating Value

Nelson Zide

Nelson's presentation covers his top ten ways to “build value and protect commission.” Some of his ideas to create value are learning the difference between marketing and advertising and mastering target marketing and marketing on the internet.

back to top

Home Staging – The Winning Way to Sell Real Estate

Barb Schwarz

Barb gives an informative and exciting session that will teach you how to incorporate Home Staging as a key marketing tool in your real estate business. Barb is the leading expert on this valuable service and will share useful information, ideas, and tips you can use right away in your business.

back to top

Don’t Feed ‘em to the Sharks:  The Facts About Predatory Lending

Kathy Ballard

Kathy’s course will cover the definition of predatory lending and the differences between sub prime and predatory lending practices.  In addition she will cover signals that alert consumers to predatory lending practices and current law regarding the subject

back to top

10 Tips for Exceptional Customer Service

Marcus Wally

Everyone says it, everyone promises it, but when was the last time you can remember receiving truly exceptional customer service? This inter-active session guarantees you the tips and a checklist to keep you at the top of your game!!

back to top

I've Got The Power!!

Marcus Wally

Being aware and in control of how our brain functions is the key to unlocking your "true potential". Discover and learn how to turn your dreams into reality.  Development of your leadership skills and visioning your goals are two ways to insure that life’s obstacles don’t stop you from reaching the top!!

back to top

Building the Perfect Team

Marcus Wally

Conquering your market in today’s Real Estate world requires more than just us. We must form a team of professionals to partner with in order to have balance in life. Working from sun rise to sun set is not working smart!! Learn the advantages and capture added value when you hire a personal assistant and recruit others to achieve more than we deliver individually.

back to top

Recruiting the Experienced Agent

Jon Cheplak

Experienced agent recruiting is not a sales process. It’s about demonstrating your skills and attracting the top-agents. This session will cover the most important areas of experienced agent recruiting.

back to top

Be the Leader Not the Manager

Jon Cheplak

Agents aren’t looking for a manager; they want a leader that can transfer skill-sets to them. In this session, Jon will present several critical ways to transition your role from management to leadership.

back to top

Commercial Real Estate 101: 10 KEY TRAITS FOR A SUCCESSFUL BROKER

Joe Banyai

Joe Banyai presents several basic, but key traits for successful commercial real estate brokers.  He covers topics such as work ethic, creativity, tenacity and integrity in the work place as they are relevant to brokers specifically.

back to top

Foreclosures

Jerry Holloway

This class familiarizes students with the laws that govern foreclosure in the United States. Students will learn how different states deal with a borrower's default, what laws primarily govern foreclosure and the courts that take jurisdiction of this process. Additionally, students discover what a borrower can do to avoid foreclosure and what rights the borrower retains throughout the process. Finally, the roles of the lender, sheriff, trustee, receiver, and buyer are also studied.

back to top

 

Parliamentary Procedures sponsored by WCR Michigan Chapter

Tom Kotzian

This session is a quick look at the principles underlying parliamentary procedure showing how the application of Robert's Rules will eliminate the majority of meeting problems that eat valuable time and eventually discourage enthusiastic members. This program features practical illustrations, role play, humor and excellent reference material.

back to top

 

Sync Your Technology and Boost Your Income

Joe Sabella

With so many choices today it is imperative Realtors make the right decisions in choosing the best hardware, software and Internet technology to run their business.  This presentation covers various ways to update your business including incorporating technology into your listing Presentation.

back to top

Meet Your Smart Phone

Joe Sabella

Joe introduces you to your PDA or smart phone and all the ways you can make it work for you as a real estate professional.  This session will hit on email set-up and other PDA basics.

back to top

The Mystery of Procuring Cause

Brian Westrin

Procuring a Cause is an educational experience designed to inform attendees of the best risk reduction measures to implement when working with a client. Specifically, the session will analyze the confusion surrounding the doctrine of procuring cause and provide approaches for understanding and adhering to the doctrine in a safe, ethical and professional manner.

back to top

Don’t Gamble on Your Success, Plan for It! A Business Planning Primer for REALTORS®

Dwayne Carte

Every business needs to take time to develop a business plan and your real estate business is no exception. This session will cover the key components of a business plan and you will have the opportunity to begin the goal setting process in the personal, financial and business areas of your life. Carte will also touch upon task and budget management.

Helping Your Community Assess its Capacity to Grow Smart

Mark A. Wyckoff

The Land Policy Institute at MSU has recently completed an online tool to help communities assess their capacity to implement the Ten Tenets of Smart Growth. Communities that score high on Smart Growth are much more likely to attract new development and have a sustainable economy over the long term. REALTORS® can make their community aware of this new Smart Growth Readiness Assessment Tool and help educate their community about the economic benefits of Smart Growth.

back to top

The Internet and Real Estate: What's There and How to Profit From It

Andrew Tillman

This presentation will focus on the current state of technology in the real estate market.   Tillman will discuss how you can introduce technology like blogs, pod casts and digital video into your business to make them work for you as a REALTOR®.

back to top

Mortgage Fraud and the Real Estate Industry

Carole Bullion

This session will explain the different types of fraud schemes that have been identified all over the country and the new schemes fresh out in the market. It will help protect you from the disastrous consequences associated with these types of transactions and will also give tips to identify the red flags that often accompany mortgage fraud.

back to top

The Future of Technology, the Web and the Real Estate Industry

Saul Klein

Turn the threat of internet technologies into opportunities. Learn where to find the buyers and sellers of tomorrow, today. Build your future with a sound understanding of today. Join Saul Klein, the real estate industry’s first technology evangelist as he discusses:Web 2.0, social networking, the National Listing Service,the future of MLS and more

back to top

Is Your Business Ready for the Convergence of Voice and Data?  Do You Need to Be?

Andrew Eyres, Quick Connect

There are major technology changes happening, which are forcing us to conduct business differently.  Attendees will learn how the changes will affect the business community, how agents and brokers can take advantage of these changes and how they can use these changes to become more effective and better service their clients.

back to top

Cover Your Assets

Lisa Scoble, Pearl Insurance

This one-hour presentation identifies the risks and challenges that arise in a typical “day in the life” of a real estate professional and will help guide you in implementing important and effective risk management.

back to top

Building Relationships

Dan Farr, Top Producers

Attendees will learn how to effectively stay in touch with past customer's who are the primary source of income for most agents in an industry where retention is typically poor.  Given that consumer's are using the internet as a primary source of information, agent's will learn how to respond instantly with relevant information, positioning themselves as the local market expert.

back to top

Crossing the Bridge from Residential to Commercial: LoopNet’s Tools for Success

Cynthia Holm, LoopNet

Whether you are ready to focus on a career in commercial real estate or you simply need to market your occasional commercial listings, this session is for you.  Learn from a product expert and get key tips on maximizing the searching and marketing tools found on the #1 commercial listing service online, LoopNet.back to top

 

Selling More Rural Development Financed Homes

Danielle Eason & Gregory Stevens, USDA Rural Development

Attendees will learn more about the USDA Rural Development Guaranteed and Direct loan programs for home purchase. The session will cover the requirements of both, as well as sale of inventory real estate owned properties.

back to top

 

Attract Today’s Internet Savvy Consumers with What They Want

Chris Griffin, Visual Tour Marketing System

During this session, Chris will identify important trends in consumer behavior when using the Internet to shop and will prepare you to make purchasing decisions for real estate and other venues.  You will learn how to spend less money on advertising and marketing and get superior results with Internet marketing.

back to top

Pricing Strategy

Debra Asher

The session will cover ways to equalize the selling price the seller had in their minds and your Market Evaluation.  You will learn to incorporate price reduction techniques and strategies into your Listing Presentation BEFORE sellers challenge your Market Evaluation.

back to top

Confidentiality

Kern Slucter

Kern will touch on three objectives in this session, including, clarifying the definition of “confidential information,” identifying when it is appropriate to share information and realizing there are dangers when breaching confidentiality. 

back to top

What Every Commercial AND Residential Realtor Should Know about Tics &1031s

Thell Woods, Exchanges

This session will cover the history of industry statistics and will Review 1031 Exchanges and TIC  Investments, as well as touch on the use of Tics in 1031 exchanges and as independent Investment opportunities.

back to top

Real Zero-Down Mortgage Programs for Real Buyers

Sharon Brown, Independent Bank

Attendees will gain understanding on basic realistic mortgage programs still available to assist buyers in obtaining financing for homes with little to no funds out-of-pocket.  Products to be highlighted will be FHA, MSHDA, Freddie Home Possible, Fannie’s My Community Mortgage, etc.  Also, insight into how to structure a Sales Contract to best meet the buyers financing needs.

back to top

Highest and Best Use of the Land

Carole Bullion

Highest and best use analysis is a weak point in many appraisals. The highest and best use of the land may sometimes be to remain vacant for future use or be put to an alternative use. After this session, attendees will understand that depending on the use of the land, new properties that are being constructed may not follow the same selling patterns as properties from previous years.

back to top

Where Can You Grow Your Real Estate Firm, Even in Challenging Times

David Layne

This session addresses key planning areas including Recruiting, Coaching, Retention and “How to become ‘The Place’ where agents want to come… and stay!”

back to top

Delivering the Dream to Michigan Families

Carol Bitro, MSHDA

REALTORS® will spend time in the classroom learning to utilize MSHDA’s products to provide homes for their low- to moderate-income customers. The course will show attendees how to utilize the income limits for MSHDA’s mortgage programs to reach more customers.

back to top

Understanding the Value of Geothermal Heating and Cooling Systems in Today's Market

Art Thayer, Water Furnace Int., Inc

Attendees will learn how geothermal systems work and will understand the usefulness of their applications and how to sell the value to the homebuyer.  The session will also cover the benefits to the environment and to the economy. 

back to top

Tenants in Common and the Commercial REALTOR®

Tom Heinemann

This session will review the state of the Tenants In Common industry and its regulations. Attendees will learn where NAR stands on discussions with the SEC.

 

back to top