Spent a great morning with Kendall Laine the owner of Hommati’s Orange County Office.

What a wonderful person to work with.  Love what Hommati is doing to help real estate agents with 3D Interactive Tours,

Aerial Videos, 2D Ultra HD Photography, Guided Tours, Virtual Staging, and Augmented Reality.

Kendall Laine can be reached at 929-466-6284, Email Laine@hommati.com or Web  hommati.com/office/182

Jim Forde Ignites Real Estate Students

Jim Forde believes that to have a great real estate com­pany you have to have great Real Estate Agents and he is 100% committed to providing Real Estate students with all the tools they need for success.

>Young home buyers are more comfortable texting than talking, which means big changes for agents and lenders.

By: Stephanie Guiles

Editor, OCRENews.com

Both Tim Walsh, the Division Manager at Ditech Mortgage in Tustin, CA and Dale Cheema, the Broker of Record and Designated Officer for Keller Williams Realty – Irvine, know from their own experience as fathers of “millennial children” that they quickly had to learn a new way to speak to their sons. Dale Cheema remembers trying to call his son, Alex, with no results, so he sent his son a quick text and to his surprise got a quick answer back. Welcome to the new world.

What Tim and Dale are discovering is that while millennial homebuyers rely on technology, they still value face-to-face contact with an agent and lender.

For decades, the telephone has been the real estate agent’s tool of the trade, but a new wave of younger homebuyers is changing the way agents use those phones. Millennials, those born between 1980 and the late ’90s, don’t want to talk. They want texts.

“We’re on our phones all the time and this generation does not like to pick up the phone,” says George Chriest, Branch Manager at Ditech in Tustin. “They don’t want to bother with a conversation if it can be texted.”

As the millennial generation, also known as Generation Y, takes a greater role in the housing market, young people’s preferences are starting to shape the way real estate business is done. Dale Cheema predicts that his Keller Williams real estate portal, KW.com, will have more and more millennials and will overtake baby boomers as the generation purchasing the largest number of homes this year.

“Because of their size, whatever they decide to do will have an impact on the housing market,” says Jim Forde, Director of Approved Real Estate Academy in Irvine. Forde is now the leading trainer of new Millennial Agents that want to get into the real estate business. Forde is advisor to Keller Williams Realty, Ditech Mortgage, and the Real Estate License trainer for Diamond Resorts International.

It goes without saying that this group relies on technology. According to data from the National Association of Realtors, more than 50 percent of millennials search for homes on their phones, and among those, 26 percent end up buying a home they found that way.

“Mobile traffic to our app has outpaced traffic to our desktop site dramatically,” says Dale Cheema, “Folks first go to their iPhones and their iPads.”

Dealing with these tech-savvy buyers has posed a challenge for the nation’s real estate Agents who are considerably older than the home buying population they serve. A NAR survey of its members in 2012 found that only 3 percent of agents were under 30 and 81 percent were older than 45 of which 25 percent were over 65. This is a problem that Jim Forde hopes to solve by spending most of his time talking to students at universities in Southern California.

“We’re seeing a population on the consumer side that is not being served by its own age group,” Forde says. “It’s causing a significant change in the way experienced agents are having to communicate.” At Approved Real Estate Academy we teach the basics, but have added new sections on how to “communicate” to different groups.

To meet the needs of Millennials, Jim Forde creates groups of young agents in Southern California to help Diamond Resorts International, Keller Williams, and Ditech meet the needs of younger customers and recruit young agents. We do this, said Forde, since many millennials had a negative image of real estate agents and loan officers. When we show them the technology and have them meet similar-age agents they quickly see the endless possibilities and sign up for our school.

“Millennials are driving change in a lot of industries,” Forde says. “They’re making these industries revisit some traditional practices.”

Keller Williams Realty is an example of a company that has changed some of the traditional ways real estate is bought and sold, with technology taking a key role. Customers can ask for home tours online or via the company’s app, as well as sign up for alerts about new listings. They can use their phones to search for open houses near them. The KW.com app lets customers keep tabs on the process of their transactions 24/7.

“We find that our buyers, and particularly millennials, like having that information at their fingertips,” Cheema says.

Both Ditech and Keller Williams Realty have found that customers still value face to face contact with an agent. Predictions that technology would make agents obsolete have proved unfounded.

“Agents are needed because they are that trusted resource when it comes to signing a contract,” Cheema says. “If you are on your own, it can be overwhelming. It would be a second job.”

Both Tim Walsh of Ditech and Dale Cheema of Keller Williams see the following ways millennials are changing real estate:

Don’t call us and we won’t call you. Many millennials prefer to communicate by text, but some prefer email. It’s important for agents and customers to clarify upfront how they will communicate and how often, as well as how quickly they can expect a response.

We’ve done our homework. Millennials rarely need agents to find homes for them to see. They usually have their own list, and they’ve already researched comparable sales and chosen a neighborhood. “With millennials, we do not control information,” Walsh says. “What they need is for us to interpret the information.” At times, that can mean demonstrating that the information is not accurate. This generation may not simply take the agent’s word without proof and visuals.

We don’t like surprises. Younger buyers want to know what to expect and when. “I see them wanting to understand what’s going on at any time in the process more than any other generation,” Cheema says. They like timelines, checklists, and charts. “If they don’t know what’s coming around the corner, it could cause paralysis when they get to the next step,” Walsh of Ditech says he sees this every day.

We want customer service and we want it now. Millennials expect to be partners in the home search and they want quick answers to questions. “They want information – valid information – and they want it right now,” Walsh says. “They’re the generation of Google at your fingertips.”

Is there an app for that? Younger buyers live on their smartphones and use them as a key tool in their home searches. Apps are often their preferred method to check listings and collect other information.

For more information on Millennial Agents contact:

Tim Walsh
Divisional Manager
Ditech Mortgage
Email: Tim.Walsh@ditech.com
Phone: 657-218-2310

Dale Cheema
Broker of Record and Designated Officer
Keller Williams Realty – Irvine
Email: DaleCheema@yahoo.com
Phone: 949-246-2000

Jim Forde Director
Approved Real Estate Academy
Real Estate Agent Trainer
Email: Jim@ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com
Phone: 714-875-0979

Now is the best time to start real estate school in Orange County with Approved Real Estate Academy

This is a very good post by John Barney. It is so true that now is the time to get into real estate.

“Now is the accepted time” You only fail if you refuse to try”.

“If you pay too much attention to market conditions, you will be too afraid to make a move”

Interesting quotes. And yet they convey the feeling many people have about real estate. Is it the right time? Should I move now or wait? What about all the things I don’t know about real estate?

Some call it the “paralysis of analysis”. If you look too long at the reasons why you can miss the fact that now is a great time to get into investing. Why am I saying that? Because real estate has been and still is one of the foundations for building lasting wealth that can impact future generations.

I got introduced to this business in the late 1980’s. I have seen interest rats shoot up over 15% on residential mortgages. Points were 3 to 5%. FHA was becoming the way to go because of the down payment requirements. At one time FHA did loans to investors. And REO’s were not the norm for the average investor. All you had to do is find an area you wanted to be in and then look for deals. It was not hard to find them.

Property has certainly been on a ride since then. Interest rates have been in single digits for years. Investors have found it much harder to get traditional forms of financing and Hard Money loans have soared. The concepts of wholesaling and flipping properties have become national past times with many teachers and gurus being raised up looking for students.

I still believe that NOW is the best time to get into Real Estate. Why? Because it isn’t going anywhere. People will always need a place to live, businesses and factories will need a place to operate and many other professions are dependent on a solid housing market.

The key to getting into real estate now is finding the right deal for your circumstances. If you don’t want the hassle of landlording, then consider learning how to wholesale properties to other investors. If you want to be a landlord, then find properties you can manage for their cash flow. If you like doing repairs and construction work, consider fixing a property and flipping it to a consumer. Based on your current level of skills you can find the place to put your expertise to the test and become an Investor.

If you are considering getting into real estate now, don’t hesitate. Why? Because prices are not dropping, interest rates wont be getting much lower and the need for people to own and control real estate is growing stronger.

APPROVED REAL ESTATE ACADEMY
4010 Barranca Pkwy., Ste. 100
Irvine, CA 92604
Phone: 714-875-0979
Email: Jim@ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com

MAILING ADDRESS

Approved Real Estate Academy
PO Box 4163
Tustin, CA 92781

Gail Swindler
Director of
First Impressions
KELLER WILLIAMS

Imagine being in a job that you love, where integrity, teamwork, and helping others is foremost. Think of a place where everyone wants the best for you personally and professionally.

This wonderful place really exists! This is where I work, at Keller Williams Realty. Honestly, the only way to know what I am writing about is to experience it! Please call me and I’d be happy to give you a tour and have you attend any of our training classes. I think that the best way to experience who we are, is to come to our Sales meeting, Tuesdays.

You can also call Jim Forde at 714-875-0979 for more information about Approved Real Estate Academy.

For new agents we have a wonderful school called Approved Real Estate Academy.   Jim Forde is the Director and makes getting your license fun.    You can also visit their web site:  www.ApprovedRealEstateAcdemy.com

#jimforde #approvedrealestateacademy

Orange County, CA Real Estate Education Company is not just surviving in this market, they are growing. What is their secret? No surprises, just some fundamental business management 101.

ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com sells , including licensing and continuing education for real estate agents in Southern California. First, they had the foresight to remain debt free and sock away a sizable chuck of earnings for just such an opportunity. In the midst of this economy, most companies are not finding much opportunity. ” Opportunity indeed!”, says Jim Forde, the company’s Director. “We are using this downturn in the real estate market to significantly re-invest in the breadth and depth of our online real estate library.”

“Secondly, we have also had to get more creative about how to find our customers”, says Forde, is entering into creative partnerships with real estate brokers and Colleges. “It’s a win-win says Jim Forde, Director of Approved Real Estate Academy. They gain new agents and students while we expand our customer base”. Forde adds that no potential customer is off their radar. “Our students have included the likes of 80 year old Fletcher “Woody” Woodruff, Service men stationed in Iraq, sailors aboard US aircraft carriers, and probably your neighbor down the street. Challenging times call for creative minds”, insists Forde.

ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com has also re-designed their web site and made numerous other technology and process improvements to make things even easier for students.

As Forde says, “We hear everybody moaning about the market. At ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com, we are investing in our future and any company, large or small, that intends to thrive in the years to come, better be thinking the same way. Frankly, we are excited about the turnaround. When? We don’t know. But when it does, we will be ready for lift off.”

About Approved Real Estate Academy:

Approved Real Estate Academy is located in Irvine, California, It is one of the best Real Estate Schools in Orange County, California. Approved Real Estate Academy is one of the only providers of online real estate education in Orange County that been offering online real estate license courses and real estate exam prep since with live sales teaching.

For more information about Approved Real Estate Academy, go to www.ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com.
Contact:

Jim Forde
Director
Approved Real Estate Academy
4040 Barranca Pkwy., Ste. 150
Irvine, CA 92604

Phone: 714-875-0979
Email:Jim@ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com

#jimforde #approvedrealestateacademy #kellerwilliamsrealtyirvine

With the unemployment rate reaching shocking new levels and the urgency for career solutions that don’t require years to ramp up, many are taking a second look at a career in real estate. Sound crazy? Actually it makes perfect sense.

Companies that provide online real estate education note the following reasons for this career rotation into real estate:

• A Fast Start – it requires only about 10 weeks of education
• A Low Cost – Tuition is generally less than $500
• A Great High-Paying Job – You should be able to get a job where you can earn $50,000 in the first year if you work at it

Jim Forde, the Director of the ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com a real estate education company, ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com notes, “There is no career path that allows you to train so rapidly, and start the income rolling in so quickly, as that of a real estate professional. In California, you can take your entire training curriculum online.”

When compared with other careers one can attain online, such as medical biller, paralegal, secretary, or any of the 2-4 year degreed professions, none can offer such short training or immediate payback. Most of these non real estate alternatives range from 1-4 years of education and cost between 3 – 10 times the cost of becoming a real estate agent. Mr. Forde the director of Approved Real Estate Academy, known o the internet as www.ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com, has posted a comparison of the top ten careers one can get attain online compared with becoming a real estate agent. That comparison, seen here, provides compelling evidence to support his assertions.

What is as convincing as Mr. Forde’s data is that he is hands on working with the agents every day. Mr. Forde asks, “What are these future real estate agents saying? They are saying that a new career in real estate makes perfect sense.”

About Approved Real Estate Academy:

Approved Real Estate Academy is located in Irvine, California, It is one of the best Real Estate Schools in Orange County, California. Approved Real Estate Academy is one of the only providers of online real estate education in Orange County that been offering online real estate license courses and real estate exam prep since with live sales teaching.

For more information about Approved Real Estate Academy, go to www.ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com.

Contact:

Jim Forde, Director
Approved Real Estate Academy
4010 Barranca Pkwy., Ste. 100
Irvine, CA 92604
Phone 714-875-0979

Jim@ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com Email: Jim@ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com

Email: Jim@ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com

#jimforde #approvedrealestateacademy #kellerwilliamsrealtyirvine

Have you ever heard people say they were too far along in years to start a new career? Have you also heard that computers are hard to learn if you haven’t grown up with them?

Here is a story that blows those stereotypes out of the water. Earlier this year, 80 year young Fletcher Woodruff also known as Woody of Midway City, decided to start a new career in real estate. Woody loves people. He loves to manage his own time and he loves to be physically and mentally active, “What better career than a Real Estate agent?”, said Woody.

And since much of the research that agents do is on computers, Woody realized she “needed to learn a bit more about computers”. What better way, thought Woody, than to do his real estate agent licensing training on the internet? Woody found a company in Irvine, CA called Approved Real Estate Academy. “I have no background in computers”, said Woody, “and really didn’t know much more than how to turn the computer on. But it didn’t matter; the staff at ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com walked me through everything I needed to know to complete my training. And I never had to leave my house. If I needed help, I would just call them. They became my friends and supporters. In fact, when I passed my state licensing exam, they called me and asked if I would like to be an Keller Williams Realty Agent.”

Woody is now a licensed real estate agent at Keller Williams Realty in Irvine, CA. At last check, he was on his way to a closing – impressive for the 81 year old rookie! More and more seniors are getting into second careers to earn a little extra money or just to stay active.

ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com recognized this and has courses specifically designed for those wishing to serve the senior market. They have also redesigned their website so that even a customer with no computer experience can easily complete their online real estate training.

For those who think they are too old to start something new, don’t admit that in front of Woody or you will hear his story, loud and proud.

About Approved Real Estate Academy:

Approved Real Estate Academy is located in Irvine, California, It is one of the best Real Estate Schools in Orange County, California. Approved Real Estate Academy is one of the only providers of online real estate education in Orange County that been offering online real estate license courses and real estate exam prep since with live sales teaching.

For more information about Approved Real Estate Academy, go to www.ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com.

Contact:

Jim Forde, Director
Approved Real Estate Academy
4010 Barranca Pkwy., Ste. 100
Irvine, CA 92604
Phone 714-875-0979

Email: Jim@ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com

Email: Jim@ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com

#approvedrealestateacademy #jimforde #kellerwilliamsrealtyirvine

Approved Real Estate Academy, known online as ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com, reports an increasing number of high school grads are inquiring about a career in real estate as an alternative to the traditional college career path.

Inquiries to Approved Real Estate Academy‘ online school increasingly relate to questions of age and eligibility requirements in regards to securing a real estate license. Their school rosters indicate young post-high schoolers are re-evaluating the traditional career path of college and seeking an alternative that is more expedient, less costly, and affords a faster way to make money.

ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com also reports that brokers with whom they affiliate are seeking younger agents to connect with their younger buyer demographic. Jim Forde, Director of Approved Real Estate Academy, notes, “Local brokers say they’re reaching out to younger recruits.” He went on to say “Younger workers like to work in a team, like to have mentorship and support and have other options for career development. The Gen X and Gen Y consumers are a hot topic in real estate right now.”

Representative of a younger agent at Keller Williams Realty, has indicated that he uses different tools to communicate with the younger buyers; tools that some younger sellers like himself are aware of such as social networking, twitter, and texting. According to Forde, “Buyers in their 20s, I automatically assume that they want to text-message with me, that they want to instant message, that they want to use technology. People who are older, I give them the option.”

Says Jim Forde, the Director of Approved Real Estate Academy, “If this trend continues, we should expect to see a much younger, much hipper, much more technologically enabled real estate agent.

About Approved Real Estate Academy:

Approved Real Estate Academy is located in Tustin, California, It is one of the best Real Estate Schools in Orange County, California. Approved Real Estate Academy is one of the only providers of online real estate education in Orange County that been offering online real estate license courses and real estate exam prep since with live sales teaching.

About Approved Real Estate Academy:

Approved Real Estate Academy is located in Tustin, California, It is one of the best Real Estate Schools in Orange County, California. Approved Real Estate Academy is one of the only providers of online real estate education in Orange County that been offering online real estate license courses and real estate exam prep since with live sales teaching.

For more information about Approved Real Estate Academy, go to www.ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com.

Contact:

Jim Forde, Director
Approved Real Estate Academy
4010 Barranca Pkwy., Suite 100
Irvine, CA 92604
Phone 714-875-0979

Jim@ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com Email: Jim@ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com

#approvedrealestateacademy #jimforde #kellerwilliamsrealtyirvine #kellerwilliamsrealty

In the midst of one of the worst financial crises our nation has seen since the Great Depression, a national provider of state-approved online real estate licensing courses is making a huge investment in its future and encouraging those who are considering a career in real estate to do the same.

For the last few months, Approved Real Estate Academy (known on the internet as ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com has been telling prospective students that “now is the time to get your real estate license in preparation for the next big upswing in real estate”. Company executives acknowledge the economy is struggling but when it turns around, some very smart, forward thinking people stand to make a lot of money. ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com is strongly encouraging people to put themselves in a position to benefit from the start of the next real estate upswing by getting licensed now.

ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com who has been offering online real estate license courses and real estate exam prep in Southern California. They were among the first real estate schools in the Southern California to make the jump from classroom to online education.

Jim Forde, the company’s director tells us, “About a year and a half ago we sensed this downward trend was approaching. Like most others we didn’t realize that it would go this deep or that it would last this long. Many experts tell us that the true bottom may not come until late Spring 20109. But those same experts also tell us that the next boom will begin at the same time and that it will be big.”

The Approved Real Estate Academy has taken a proactive approach during the months of this downward trend and has made significant investment in the expansion of the company.

They have also just completed a massive re-design of their website and education delivery system. The new site is easier to use, more visually appealing and filled with helpful information for those investigating a career in real estate in California.

They have also produced 2 videos encouraging those considering a career in real estate to get licensed now. These videos are being widely distributed on the internet and can be found on YouTube.com among others.

This has all come at a high price at a time when enrollments in real estate school have seen a steep decline and revenues for real estate schools are down. But this is the point, often the time to prepare for the next upswing is exactly when things are at their worst. It may seem risky, and it may be a little risky, but as they say “no risk, no reward”. Those who take a little risk are almost certain to see big rewards very soon.

ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com isn’t just talking the talk, they are walking the walk. When they say that “now is the time to make the investment in a new career” they are putting their money where their mouth is.

About Approved Real Estate Academy:

Approved Real Estate Academy is located in Tustin, California, It is one of the best Real Estate Schools in Orange County, California. Approved Real Estate Academy is one of the only providers of online real estate education in Orange County that been offering online real estate license courses and real estate exam prep since with live sales teaching.

For more information about Approved Real Estate Academy, go to www.ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com.

Contact:

Jim Forde, Director
Approved Real Estate Academy
4010 Barranca Pkwy., Ste. 100
Irvine, CA 92604
Phone 714-875-0979

Jim@ApprovedRealEstateAcademy.com

#approvedrealestateacademy #jimforde #kellerwilliamsrealtyirvine #kellerwilliamsrealty