Green Building: New Building Practices to Make the World a Better Place

Whether you are a veteran in the real estate industry, or are just taking the first steps into the field, you will inevitably hear the phrase ‘green buildings.’ And don’t worry if you aren’t sure at first what this means, as the concept has only recently emerged in the industry.

But while it may be a new notion, the concept of green building and green building practices are at the forefront of a new revolution, one that lets you continue your passion while simultaneously contributing to the preservation of the environment.

Saving the Earth

Green building, also known as sustainable building, is a set of environmentally responsible practices that erects structures in a resource-efficient way, all while leaving the smallest carbon footprint possible. Although these processes are partially a benefit of advances in technology, they are also a result of a conscious and collaborative effort made by the architect, engineers, design team, and everyone else working on the project.

Long Term Investment

Because green building processes often rely on the use of advanced technology and newly developed resources, the cost of construction of any structure can often be well above what would be expected during regular projects. Because of this, many veterans in the field, as well as those looking for a quicker payoff, choose to abstain from these practices, instead opting for more traditional methods.

But while the cost of the projects may seem high during the initial phases of building, the true payoff of green building projects lies in its return on investment, yielded over the course of years or even decades.

Learn About Green Building with Real Estate Classes in Brooklyn, NY

Though green building practices may be a great way to make a long-term investment while helping to conserve the environment, they require a comprehensive understanding by any real estate agent or designer that wishes to take their business in this new direction. And from the concept of green design, to specific technologies available in the field, there is a plethora of information that should be covered before moving towards sustainable building.

And if you are interested in this revolutionary new set of building practices, there is a new Green Buildings and Practices course at the Brooklyn School of Real Estate that will teach you everything you need to know to get started on your own project. In these real estate classes in Brooklyn, NY, you will cover everything from environmentally conscious procedures, to concepts of fair housing, to even the history of green building practices and how they have developed over time.

And once you have completed the four sessions at the Brooklyn School of Real Estate, you can begin working on the front lines of one of the most advanced fields in the real estate industry today.

3 Easy Steps to Become a Real Estate Broker or Associate

If you have dreams of pursuing a career as a real estate broker or associate, but haven’t yet begun, you may be hiding behind fears of hours spent in a classroom, late nights studying material, and a brutal exam that tests the expanses of your real estate knowledge

But while all this may loom, splitting it into three manageable steps can make the process enjoyable as you work towards your license. And in fact, with the resources available from a real estate school in Brooklyn, NY, you can work from the comfort of your own home as you take this next step in your life.

1. Learn from Home

Like with any professional certificate or degree, you must possess a demonstrated amount of knowledge on the subject before you can advance. But while you may assume this requires your undivided attention in a classroom setting, it is now possible for you to carry on your regular schedule as you learn from the comfort of your home.

As long as you have an Internet connection, you can take online real estate classes in Brooklyn at your own pace, and with useful resources that can guide your hand. You can register for full-length classes to start from the beginning, or, if you only need a brush up on the subject, try this online 30-hour remedial course to get working immediately. It comes with textbooks and reviews containing everything you need to know.

2. Take the State Licensing Exam

Once you have completed the required education to become a real estate broker or associate, it is time to put your knowledge to the test by taking the state-licensing exam. This exam is administered through the New York Division of Licensing Services, takes a full 2 ½ hours to complete, and requires that you answer 70 percent of the questions correctly in order to pass.

And while you may initially fret about the contents present on the real estate licensing exam, it only covers information available in the pre-licensing education courses. Once you have finished and passed the real estate classes in Brooklyn, you will be fully prepared to pass the licensing exam whenever you have the time.

3. Apply to Become a Real Estate Broker or Associate

After you have completed the required amount of pre-licensing education, and have passed the real estate licensing test, you can take comfort in the fact that the most difficult processes are well behind you. Once you have finished these steps, all you have left is your application to become a licensed real estate broker or associate.
The application will be given to you upon completion of the exam, or will be available online through the New York Division of Licensing page. Send in your completed application with the fee within a year of completing your exam, and sit and wait patiently as they process the paperwork.

Get Involved with the Real Estate School in Brooklyn, NY

Becoming a licensed real estate broker or associate can help you pursue the goals that you have always envisioned. And with a little help from real estate classes in Brooklyn, along with a well-managed plan towards success, you will quickly be on your way to starting a career that you love.

Why Becoming a Construction Project Manager Could Help Your Career

Having the knowledge and skills of a project manager could benefit your real estate career, no matter which field you are pursuing. Whether you are a real estate broker, a lawyer, an investor, or engineer, understanding and overseeing the building process, as well gaining comprehensive knowledge of the industry itself are invaluable skills that are pertinent to nearly every professional real estate field.

Gaining the requisite knowledge and skill isn’t difficult with the proper training. The Express Real Estate School offers a course on construction project management that will cover the following areas:

Business Structure and Risk Management

The great football coach Vince Lombardi allegedly began each new season with an advanced course in football that went something like this; “This is a football. This is a football field. This is your helmet.” Likewise, the first module of this course covers basics such as; the business entities involved in the construction industry, your responsibilities as project manager, and how to deal with risk management companies and processes.

Plan Design and Contract Administration

As a construction project manager you will be responsible for overseeing the design of the plans and the bidding process, as well as the administration of contracts to those on board. This includes understanding the nature of the work on site, where and how to seek permits, and your duties as manager of a team of employees. Performing in such a position can help you grasp the concept of managerial employment, as well as the relationships between entities that allow for construction.

Accounting and Record Keeping

In most situations, the construction project manager is responsible for estimating projected costs of the completed work, as well as the payment schedule to those involved in the project. Additionally, a manager must keep a vigilant watch on the records and the project budget, ensuring that deadlines are met in a timely manner. Though this may seem intricate, the Express Real Estate School can help you become a proficient and effective manner with an extensive training course.

Onsite Safety

No matter your career field, knowledge of workplace safety is an important concept that can help prevent catastrophic injuries. And of course, with construction being an interactive and labor-intensive industry, this type of management is of the utmost importance. A course from the Brooklyn School of Real Estate can help you understand and master the information necessary for enforcing a safe and secure site.

Hands-On Experience

It does not matter how much written information you can recite on the nature of construction project manager – the true skills of a qualified manager come from time spent on the job site, observing the work and becoming involved in the process. Although you may not have the option to spend time on a work site on your own, a class with the Express Real Estate School can place you in the action and put your skills to the test.

Learn with the Brooklyn Real Estate School

Becoming a certified construction project manager is not a difficult process, and can have vast benefits for you in your current career. If you are ready to take this step, contact the Brooklyn Real Estate School today to start your new work in this fascinating field.

Who is Behind the Curtain? Become a Construction Project Manager in Brooklyn

Forward, always forward we look. Humankind is ever expanding outwards and upwards. We are often defined as a species by our impressive feats of engineering—the Pyramids, the Taj Mahal, the Roman aqueducts, the Parthenon, the Great Wall of China, and Stonehenge to name a few.

But it’s not just jaw-dropping world wonders, it’s the homes we live in, the office buildings we work in, and the stores we shop in. We are builders, molding and shifting our environment to suit our needs. And no single individual can do these things. It takes organization, leadership and know-how. It takes construction managers.

Yes, You!

At the Real Estate Institute of Brooklyn, we offer a Construction Project Management Certification Program that can help put you in the great tradition of construction managers.

There’s a lot more to construction management than telling rank-and-file workers where to put the nails. In the modern era, a good construction manager knows about construction insurance, proposal and bidding practices, permits and the bureaucratic side of construction, project budgeting and record keeping, scheduling, the nature of construction work, safety compliance, green technology, and much more.

It sounds like a lot, but it’s important and we know how to teach it. You can learn all of this at our conveniently located Real Estate School in Brooklyn. Our certification program consists of 22.5 hours of coursework to get you up to speed and get you started in a rewarding and important field.

How Classes Work

Our course does contain academic, theoretical knowledge of construction management, but that’s not all. Your learning process includes hand-on experience during an interactive field trip to a living, breathing construction site. Furthermore, you’ll hear about the industry straight from the mouths of those who live it everyday. We bring in a guest speaker every class period to discuss their specialization within the construction management field. These tend to be quite popular with students and have included such stimulating topics as ‘Women in Construction’ and ‘Doing Business in NYC.’

This certification is also highly beneficial for those whose work overlaps with construction projects, including bankers, lawyers, engineers, contractors, investors, brokers and real estate salespeople. Many of the students in this course are looking to expand their expertise in related industries, and this is the Brooklyn real estate school to help them do it.

It’s as Easy as Signing Up

Whether you are looking to expand the breadth and depth of your knowledge in a related industry, or you are interested in becoming a construction project manager because it seems like an interesting and beneficial career move, this course will give you the knowledge you need.

Perhaps it is time for you to join the pantheon of the great minds that operate behind the scenes minds and make possible our human need to build, grow, expand and manipulate our surroundings. It’s a calling, and it can be made possible for you right here in Brooklyn. What are you waiting for?

How About a Career in Property Management in Brooklyn?

They say nothing’s certain but death and taxes.

It’s a nice, though slightly morbid, turn of a phrase, though wildly inaccurate. Of course, among many other things, it’s quite certain that people need a place to live.

With the volatility and uncertainty of the property ownership game being what it is, we can be ever more certain that renting will maintain its popularity. And where people rent they need property managers.

What is Property Management all About?

Thinking that property management is all about collecting the rent is all the more reason to bone up on the ins and outs. This isn’t something you generally just jump into.

Consider, for example, that property management requires that one knows a good deal about building compliance and a fair amount of contractual legalese. You’re going to be expected to understand zoning and debt-equity load issues.

Furthermore, there are different types of property management. This is a field in which you’re given the opportunity to specialize in areas such as commercial property, industrial property, medical, government, hotel/resort and more.

Of course, there is dealing with renters, owners and the public, so you’ll want some know-how in public relations and effective communication.

How to Get Started in Property Management

At this point, you might be thinking: “Forget it, I didn’t know it was so involved.” That’s understandable, but there is a simple, easy and affordable way to get the information and insight you need to put you on solid footing when you start your new career as a property manager.

At the Brooklyn Real Estate Institute, we offer an express real estate school that offers hands-on training in a variety of fields within real estate, one of them being property management.

Our real estate school in Brooklyn will fit right into your schedule while preparing you for the realities of property management. We connect you with professionals who spend their days out in the field. Our eight-course program brings in property management specialists from all over the property management spectrum to lecture and answer questions regarding their area of expertise. You will leave the class with a well-rounded perspective of property management.

Property Management’s Application to Other Fields

We’ve noticed this particular class being enjoyed by professionals whose work borders on issues inherent in property management. It’s a smart class to take for bankers and loan officers, attorneys specializing in property law and real estate law, real estate salespeople and brokers, investors and property owners. And at only 22.5 hours, it’s the definition of a quick, effective study. We do, after all, consider ourselves Brooklyn’s express real estate school, and we don’t skimp on quality.

Property management is a field with almost limitless demand, good pay and fulfilling work. Or, for those whose already-established work includes aspects of property management, it is a great way to gain a broad view of the specifics of the real estate industry. It’s a standalone class or a great addition to your comprehensive real estate studies. And at under 25 hours, why not just go for it.

You Have Your Real Estate License…Now What?

You finally got into the real estate business, a career field that you have always dreamed of. And you are getting into this field at exactly the right place and time – some sources, including the Wall Street Journal, have raved about the recent housing market boon in Brooklyn.

But if you are running into difficulty with how to move forward, you are not alone – countless agents acquire their license, yet never take the necessary steps to achieve their buying and selling potential.

Don’t let this happen to you; instead, get some help from a Real Estate School in Brooklyn, NY to take your name to the next level.

What You Can Get at Brooklyn Real Estate Institute

Just because you have received your license, doesn’t mean that you should be finished learning about the business. The additional information and resources at the Brooklyn REI that can help you progress even further in your career.

For one, you can participate in a variety of investor training programs. If you have the time, a real estate coaching program might be beneficial to you as you work with someone who has established himself or herself in the business.

If you would rather learn alongside other real estate professionals, you can enroll in an investor-training program that teaches many inside tips and key information from a seasoned investor. This group setting gives you the chance to ask questions, listen to advice, and take down information that will help take your buying and selling skills to new heights.

You can also take a ride on the REO Bus Tour around the area, looking at the outside and inside of several properties. While you may know many things about an area, the trained professionals at Brooklyn REI can teach you things about local properties that you would have never known otherwise.

Ultimately, further education on the real estate market can only help you progress in this new job. If you are interested in taking your real estate abilities to the next level, get the training you need from our Real Estate School in Brooklyn.

What a Class Will Do for You

You may think that you are already an expert in the field, doing well in your newly established career.

That may be true, but don’t bigger sales sound nice? How about higher commissions and a larger client base?

Even if you are a real estate superstar, these specialized real estate and investor training classes can help you achieve your full potential in the business, becoming the real estate agent that you have always dreamed of. This Express Real Estate School is full of professionals that were once standing in the same spot as you – and they all want to see you reach the top.

Getting a Real Estate License in New York

New York is home to some of the most magnificent real estate properties in the world. New structures sit alongside landmarks. And despite its ever-burgeoning size, people still are anxious to move here. Who wouldn’t want to go into a business with so many opportunities?

If you are looking to become a real estate agent in New York, you may not know exactly where to begin. There are many resources available, not all of which will get you what you want. If you are set on becoming a real estate agent then, here are a few ways you can learn about the business and finally land your dream job.

Take Real Estate Classes in Brooklyn

Think back to your days in school – remember how much easier it was to retain information when the teacher was lecturing every day? Your mind retains information well if you have a guide and mentor leading you along the important steps of the process.

The real estate business requires a large amount of specialized knowledge and demands a strong sense of dedication and attention to detail. If you are serious about a real estate career or even a great part-time profession, you should enroll in classes at the Brooklyn School of Real Estate. You will gather a strong foundation of knowledge that can help lead you into the business. It is an established institution staffed with experienced real estate professionals ready to help.

Take Online Real Estate Classes in Brooklyn

Not everyone has the free time available to take an in-person real estate course. If you have a job, family, or other responsibilities, then you may find yourself in this situation. Or maybe you just don’t want to make the commute from your office downtown.

Don’t fret, though – this doesn’t mean you can’t still gain an education on the real estate business. The Brooklyn School of Real Estate offers comprehensive and intuitive online courses that can help you complete your real estate salesperson license, all from the comfort of your own home. And best of all, you can complete it on your own schedule.

Make Connections

Just like in any other business, making connections with people already involved can greatly advance your chances of succeeding. Of course, making friends with other real estate agents or brokers isn’t necessary to obtaining your license, but it can give you insight into the community and industry, and might even help you with references in the future.

Additionally, while acquiring a salesperson’s license is relatively simple on your own, if you wish to achieve a broker’s license in the future you will need the sponsorship of a current broker. Making connections now with an individual of this status can help you immensely down the road as you continue on your career.

Get Started Today

If you are interested in the real estate business in New York, get started today. Taking real estate classes and speaking with others in the business puts you closer to participating in this exciting potentially lucrative profession.

How To Get Your NY Real Estate License

Before you can buy and sell real estate in New York, you must obtain your Real Estate Salesperson License.

Most folks think of the words “broker” and “agent”, but the first license you get is called a Salesperson license. Your Salesperson license allows you to buy and sell real estate, and represent buyers and sellers.

Your Salesperson License allows you to sell both residential and commercial real estate – anything from houses to apartment buildings and strip malls. Plus, as the real estate market recovers, jobs and income are expanding. Prices have stabilized as both residential and commerical real estate are selling more often.

The first step to obtaining your Salesperson license is taking the Salesperson Licensing Course from a qualified school. The course teaches you standard practices for buying/selling real estate, as well as important aspects of real estate law. The 75-hour Salesperson Licensing Course can be taken in flexible segments at your convenience, and you can finish as quickly as 10 days.

At the end of the course, you’ll take the school exam, then take the DOS (Department of State) exam. Upon passing the DOS exam, New York State issues your Salesperson license.

Next, you’ll find a Broker to sponsor you, since you cannot operate alone with your Salesperson license – you must work under the supervision of a sponsoring Broker or brokerage company. You might work inside the Broker’s office, or work remotely from home.

Later, after 2 years as a licensed Salesperson, you might choose to obtain a Broker license. Your Broker license will allow you to operate independently, without the supervision of a sponsoring Broker.

To apply for either license, you must be at least 18 years old. Your Real Estate Salesperson License is valid for 2 years, and to keep it active, you must take a total of 22.5 hours of Continuing Education courses before it expires.

To learn more about getting your Real Estate Salesperson License, or to register for the Salesperson Licensing Course, click here.

Answers To Common Questions

(from the New York Department of State)

Do I need to be licensed?

Generally, Article 12-A of the Real Property Law provides that anyone who, on behalf of another and for a fee, 1) negotiates a sale, exchange or rental of real property, 2) collects rent, or 3) negotiates a commercial loan secured by a mortgage must be licensed as a real estate broker.

What is the difference between a real estate broker and a real estate salesperson?

A real estate broker is responsible for the supervision and conduct of the real estate brokerage business. He or she applies for and holds the license on behalf of the brokerage. This person is known as the “representative broker.” A real estate salesperson works for and is supervised by the representative broker. The salesperson acts as the representative broker’s agent. All listings, although perhaps negotiated by a salesperson, are accepted by the representative broker.

How do I become a real estate salesperson or broker?

  • Real Estate Salesperson: In order to qualify for licensure as a real estate salesperson, an applicant must have satisfactorily completed a 75-hour salesperson qualifying education course in real estate approved by the Secretary of State, and have passed a qualifying examination administered by the Department of State. An applicant who completed the 45-hour salesperson qualifying course prior to July 1, 2008 may complete the 30-hour remedial course in order to qualify for licensure.
  • Real Estate Broker: In order to qualify for licensure as a real estate broker, an applicant must have at least two years of experience as a licensed real estate salesperson or at least three years of experience in the general real estate field (e.g., buying and selling your own property, managing property owned by your employer), have satisfactorily completed both the qualifying salesperson course of 75 hours and an additional 45-hour real estate broker course as approved by the Secretary of State, and have passed a qualifying examination administered by the Department of State.

How do I manage my real estate license on line by using eAccessNY?

eAccessny is a secure, password-protected occupational licensing management system available online 24/7. See eAccessNY FAQ

What are the Continuing Education Requirements?

All licensees are required to successfully complete 22.5 hours of approved continuing education, including at least 3 hours of instruction pertaining to fair housing and/or discrimination in the sale or rental of real property or an interest of real property, within the two-year period immediately preceding a renewal.

Any salesperson who successfully completes an approved broker qualifying course (which requires passing the final exam), within their current term, will receive continuing education credit for completion of that course.

Please note:The broker course does not satisfy the mandatory 3 hour fair housing requirement.

Exemptions: Either of the below are exempt from the continuing education requirements:

  • Any licensed real estate broker who is engaged full time in the real estate business and who has been licensed prior to
    July 1, 2008 for at least 15 consecutive years immediately preceding renewal or
  • An attorney admitted to the New York State Bar who holds a real estate broker’s license.

To learn more about the Salesperson Licensing Courseclick here.