So here I am again, back in Real Estate School. Only this time it is 2009 and I am in Scottsdale, Arizona. We are once again in a recession (while I do not have the benefit of hindsight, I do not believe history will show this one as being mild). The Real Estate market has slumped, stocks have tumbled and now we have bail outs for the banks. The employment rate has exceeded 9% and appears to still be increasing. What a great time to start a new business – one of the many reasons my business partner and I started 1 Click Rents. I guess I am still crazy after all these years.

Some things have changed; at least as far as Real Estate school goes. For one thing there is no such thing as a small class (ok we are in a much larger city and I did pick a large Real Estate school). Now everything is in “modules”. 18 to be exact, with each class 4 to 4 1/2 hours long. This is great for our busy schedules. We can complete the required 90 hours anywhere from 10 days to 6 months.

The classes have been packed, with some classes having over 100 students in them. I never know who the teacher will be for the module we are in, yet for the most part they are all characters with larger then life stories to make it interesting (but I have to admit, I do have my favorites).

I very rarely see the same students, but have gotten to know a few. I am meeting students that have moved here from other states – hoping the opportunity will be better, housewives looking for ways to make extra money and others just starting their careers.

Then there are the students with new reasons to return to school. Many have lost there jobs in related fields. They are looking to expand on their years of experience. Then there are those whose requirements to continue with their current jobs are changing. The state government has been busy changing the laws requiring many people in Real Estate associated professions to become licensed in the near future.

According to last night’s class this includes, but is not limited to, Residential Leasing Agents, Commercial property managers and Commercial Leasing Agents. Even Government employees are being affected. This is also affecting my old industry, Mortgage Lending. Loan Originators are going to be required to have 20 hours of education (unless they have the required amount of recent experience) and have a background check done through fingerprinting to qualify for a 2 year license. They have to be licensed by January 1, 2010. They are expecting more laws to be passed, requiring more professions to get licenses (Maybe my new business choice should have been opening a Real Estate School).

It is amazing to me how things change, yet basically say the same. Our main topic of conversation still is passing the test. Once again they are putting the fear of … in us, mentioning how a few have had to take it up to 6 times before they passed. The cool thing is they give the test every hour, 6 days a week, so there is no waiting. But I think taking it more then once is still not an option I want to explore.

So for now – only time will tell how we do, who will be successful, who won’t and if our class will follow the time honored statistics of success. But I believe the odds are great and there is not a better time then now to enter the ever changing world of Real Estate.

Please think good thoughts for me next week when I take my test. Enjoy the weekend, relax, have fun and I will be back next week on a computer near you!!!