It's Time For Online Continuing Education

By
Real Estate Agent with Front Gate Real Estate Broker 11085

Three months ago, I checked my renewal status as a licensed Real Estate Agent. I needed to take a couple of CE classes to complete my Continuing Education requirements for the next two years, so I hopped online and promptly ordered the required Agency and Law Classes. I had 90 days to complete the courses; plenty of time, right?

As usual, life and work (and procrastination) got in the way. June arrived and I was facing a deadline. In my mind, I had until June 15th to complete the courses. Not ideal, but eleven days was plenty of time to tackle the two 4-hour classes.

Except when I found the link for the classes, I discovered I had four days to finish both classes, plus exams to get my certificates for the MS Real Estate Commission.

FOUR DAYS! Ouch!

Sunday afternoon, I quickly started the first course, MS Real Estate Agency Law. I tried to work outside but with the heat, traffic, birds chirping, and other distractions, the air conditioning beckoned me inside. As of 9:30 pm CST, I've completed one of the two required classes. The next class will be done tomorrow so I can download certificates and renew my license.


Fax meme

UPDATE: The second required course, Contract Law, was completed this afternoon. The course provided 4 hours of Continuing Education, and I completed the course in exactly 4 hours and 2 minutes. I'm elated to have completed these courses without filing an extension or losing my registration fee.

One funny tidbit on today's Contract Law course was the reference of using fax machines in the delivery of offers and to ensure confidentiality when sending offers via fax. When was the last time any of us used a fax? Wasn't it the early 90's?

At any rate, I am legal for two more years. Onward and upward!

Comments (20)

Paddy Deighan MBA JD PhD
http://www.medicalandspaconsulting.com - Vail, CO
Paddy Deighan J.D. Ph.D

Fitting that you posted about faxes in the Old Farts Club LOL ! I hate to use a fax but when I have to, I use the print PDF email option !

Jun 05, 2023 06:41 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

My FAX machine is good for sending, but the ink dried up years ago! For a while my son, a general foreman for a power line building company,  was using it to send in weekly payroll reports. But then the company got a bit more techie and now he does all that on line. 

I guess the only reason I still have it is that it isn't hurting anything just sitting there.

Good for you for getting your CE out of the way!

Jun 05, 2023 06:43 PM
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
Tropical Beachside brokered by eXp - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

I know that feeling all too well of thinking there was plenty of time when there was not! 

 

I still fax from time to time since I work with some clients who are elderly and don't even do email! And doctors want everything faxed, business or personal, so I accommodate them. I still have a fax machine at the home office but also have efax for mobile use.

 

Fax may be making a come back since it is more secure than most email and cannot be hacked like email can.

 

Jun 05, 2023 07:48 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Had to laugh I wrote a post and quoted Marcus Aurelius and it was about procrastination, check it out:))Endre

Jun 05, 2023 10:18 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Realtor - Retired

It is always a good feeling when continuing education classes are completed.  I remember procrastinating a couple times, and having the pressure put on me.

Jun 05, 2023 11:24 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Los Angeles Pasadena 818.516.4393

Hello Pat - I can still hear the character Joe Friday from the Dragnet television series saying "just the facts. . .".   Reading your post reminds me of when the fax machine was thought to be the latest and perhaps the greatest innovation.  Changes continue to live among us.  🤣

P.S. speaking of "time" congratulations on making it work for you.  

Jun 06, 2023 04:52 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Hi Pat... glad you got your CE done in time! I always get mine done very early in each new licensing year. And I only do in-person classes. The quickest way to get me to fall asleep is to put me in front of a class on a computer. I love the in-person interaction in a live class and also getting to see some local agents I wouldn't normally see or even meet new ones.

Jun 06, 2023 05:05 AM
Bruce Minter

Yup, and when you walk out the door you know your done!

Jun 06, 2023 05:52 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Long & Foster Real Estate Inc 610-225-7400 - Devon, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

I was thrilled the first time I was able to invoice a client using a fax machine and getting paid much quicker than sending an invoice by mail, but that was a long time ago. 

Jun 06, 2023 06:41 AM
Ed (Edward) Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

I appreciate the convenience of taking CE courses online but will still opt for one of the many freebies classes our board offers. It is also a great way to catch up to fellow agents.

Jun 06, 2023 07:02 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Pat, glad you got your credits in within the allotted timeframe!   I never wait to the last minute, too stressful.   For sure that is when you will get too much business, and forget about the CE credit!

Jun 06, 2023 07:13 AM
George Souto
George Souto NMLS #65149 FHA, CHFA, VA Mortgages - Middletown, CT
Your Connecticut Mortgage Expert

Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty I find online classes much more difficult than in person classes.  Something about online that I cannot concentrate and my mind is off into outer space within minutes.

Jun 06, 2023 08:06 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Paddy Deighan MBA JD PhD - it was most appropriate! :-)

Marte Cliff - my two or three fax machines were big and bulky, taking up too much space. Once I did away with my land line, they were obsolete. 

Jun 06, 2023 08:26 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Hi Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate - great to hear from you! I remember reading that doctors offices still prefer faxes and some legal and financial businesses do as well. Many of us would have to start over with land lines and new equipment since we did away with them so long ago.

Endre Barath, Jr. - I'll look it up!

 

Jun 06, 2023 08:30 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Michael Jacobs - of course I am old enough to remember that quote. Or did I watch it in reruns? It was so long ago!

Nina Hollander, Broker - somehow I knew you would complete yours early :-) My best friend is like that. And truthfully, I like being done with them earlier as well, but the two classes I needed were both required and there wasn't a convenient time to take them in person. And you are right on another subject too. It is hard to pay attention to a laptop!

Jun 06, 2023 08:40 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543 - funny you should say this. This year instead of snail mailing our renewal notices, the REC emailed them. It's so easy to overlook an invoice via email! I'm thankful it popped up when I was searching "CE classes".

Ed Silva - oh, I agree. I would have preferred in person classes. No test at the end! But the dates and times didn't line up with my schedule. These last two classes were non-electives; they were my core requirements of Agency and Contract Law.

 

Jun 06, 2023 08:44 AM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

This is the one time I was thankful for no last-minute clients - Joan Cox 

You are 100% correct George Souto. I wanted to sit outside while taking the online course but within 5 minutes all the sounds around me kept distracting me. I had to go inside and sit in total silence to get it done.

Jun 06, 2023 08:47 AM
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

Glad you made it to the finish line Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty 

My husband and i try to get it done early so we don't have to stress at the last minute.

Jun 06, 2023 05:56 PM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

It does create stress Diana Dahlberg. Next thing I have to tackle is the 4 hour Code of Ethics.

Jun 07, 2023 09:05 AM
Diana Dahlberg

I know because I have waited (one time) and it was too stressful for me!  I said we would never wait again.  Too many things can pop up and get in the way that are also important!

Jun 07, 2023 11:03 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Good for you, Pat. Lucky you discovered time was running out before it actually did. Nothing like being under pressure to finish CE to motivate. I have 2 years before my license renewal is due.

Jeff

Jun 08, 2023 04:32 PM
Pat Starnes-Front Gate Realty
Front Gate Real Estate - Brandon, MS
601-991-2900 Office; 601-278-4513 Cell

Those two years fly by so fast Jeff Dowler, CRS. You'll be renewing in no time!

Jun 08, 2023 04:46 PM