WPAR Offers Top Tips for Choosing a Real Estate School

Feb. 24, 2011 - PRLog -- Whether you’re seeking a real estate license or continuing education classes,  the Westchester Putnam Association of REALTORS®  (WPAR) School of Real Estate is offering its Top Five Tips for choosing a real estate education provider in New York State.  

“Since all licensees require 22.5 hours of continuing education every two years, it’s important that they be aware of what to look for when selecting a real estate school,” said Eileen Taus, Director of Education for the WPAR School of Real Estate.    “These are questions you’ll definitely want to ask when considering a real estate education provider.”

1.   Is the provider up-to-date with New York State real estate laws?  Real estate legislation changes often.  Make sure the provider has first-hand knowledge of those changes as well as a current copy of New York’s Department of State (DOS) regulations.

2.   How current is the course and how is the classroom environment?  All course material should offer the most up-to-date information, reflecting the newest legal changes, such as the new Agency Disclosure forms.   It’s also a good idea to visit their location and take a look at their classrooms.  Are they spacious and bright, or dark and dingy?  Where you learn also affects how you learn.

3.   How experienced is the staff?  Instructors should be currently working in real estate and have expertise in the fields they are teaching.  Are these instructors constantly out there in the trenches or have they been inactive for a long time?
                                                       
4.   Are the classes approved by DOS and ARELLO?   New York’s DOS must approve all live and on-line courses, and the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials  (ARELLO) approves all online courses. ARELLO comprises the official governmental agencies and other organizations around the world that issue real estate licenses/registrations, in addition to regulating real estate practice and enforcing real estate law.  

5.   How quickly can you get your transcripts once a course has been completed?    New York State law stipulates that you should receive them within two weeks of the completion of a course.  

Founded in 1970, the WPAR School of Real Estate is one of the largest and most successful real estate schools in New York State.  It offers a faculty of more than 30 instructors, many of whom are leaders in their respective fields of expertise, and were instrumental in developing New York’s current real estate licensing curriculum.  

In addition to licensing classes, WPAR’s School of Real Estate offers a myriad of continuing education classes every year on subject matter as diverse as property tax grievance, short sales, foreclosures, fair housing, financial skills, appraisals, credit, ethics and much more.  Classes are offered at both its White Plains and Brewster locations.

For more information about the Salesperson Licensing classes or any other classes, please visit www.wpar.com and click on “Education.”
The Westchester Putnam Association of REALTORS® Inc. is a not-for-profit trade association covering over 7,000 real estate professionals doing business in Westchester County and the surrounding area.  It's predecessor organizations, the Westchester County Board of REALTORS®, Inc. and Putnam County Association of REALTORS® Inc., were founded in 1916 and 1923 respectively. The Association owns and operates the Empire Access Multiple Listing Service that serves more than 900 real estate offices with listings in the Bronx, Dutchess, Putnam and Westchester Counties.

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The Westchester Putnam Association of REALTORS®, Inc. (WPAR Inc.), a non-profit trade association, represents 7,500 real estate professionals in Westchester and Putnam Counties. It also owns and operates the Empire Access Multiple Listing Service.