FARMING AND PROSPECTING FOR THE REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL.

Gold Coast Schools is excited to give you more detail about another one of our “Foundations for Success” courses. The Farming and Prospecting for the Real Estate Professional course consists of a detailed look at different methods of prospecting for sellers. It gives a step by step approach to building various prospecting data bases, selecting and building a farm area, direct mail, writing advertising copy and the use of color in marketing and prospecting – all central topics to the core curriculum.  The use of social media and its various aspects in prospecting are also covered along with motivational concepts for the real estate professional.

Topics covered in this course include:

• It’s Your Business
• Technology
• Ways to Develop a Positive Attitude
• The three keys to prospecting success
• Sphere of Influence including Social Media
• Expired Listings
• FSBO’S
• Farm Area
• Past Clients
• Working With Sellers
• Prospecting For Sellers
• There are basically five sources of listing prospects
• Prospecting Concepts to Consider
• PUSH MARKETING
• PULL MARKETING
• Prospecting Tips and Facts
• Social Media to consider
• Start a Real Estate Blog
• Marketing the Property on the Internet
• Some Seller and Buyer Facts To Consider
• Internet Facts to Consider In Florida
• Basic Prospecting Tips
• Color in Prospecting and Marketing
• Things to Start Doing Today
• To-Do List Everyday
• To-Do List Weekly
• To-Do List Monthly
• 10 Common Mistakes Agents Make
• 10 Rules for Success

By the end of this course, the student will have a clear understanding of various prospecting concepts including how to get started along with a detailed outline of what to do every day, every week and every month to build a successful real estate business.

The class takes place at our Broward campus on February 7th 2012 9am to 4 pm and is only $69!

Call our career counselors at 1-800-732-9140 for more information or to enroll now. Or you can click here to enroll online.

Gold Coast Schools would like to share some important information regarding the state of Florida’s new initiative to put a stop to unlicensed activity.  This just released from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation warns of the consequences of conducting unlicensed activity in the state of Florida, as well as the risk an individual takes when hiring an unlicensed contractor or professional.  The bottom line is this: DON”T engage in unlicensed activity…period!  The risks and consequences will be sever.

See below for a recent release from the DBPR:

December 16, 2011

Dear Friends,

This week, our Department unveiled its annual media campaign to educate the
public about the dangers of unlicensed activity. The multi-component media
campaign focuses on encouraging Florida consumers to check for professional
licensure before hiring someone to do any work that would require a
professional license.

Florida law sets specific rules and guidelines for obtaining professional
licensure, and the people who have met these requirements are held to
professional standards. Unlicensed activity not only takes jobs away from
law-abiding, state-licensed professionals; it can also pose serious personal or
financial harm to consumers.

The most effective way to stop unlicensed activity is to hire only licensed
Florida professionals. To verify professional licensure, please visit www.myfloridalicense.com or use the
Department’s Smartphone app, available through the iPhone and Android markets.

Unlicensed activity is illegal and can result in misdemeanor or felony
charges if an individual is convicted. Floridians should report any suspected
unlicensed activity by emailing ULA@dbpr.state.fl.us
or calling the Unlicensed Activity Hotline at 1-866-532-1440.

Sincerely,

Ken Lawson

Secretary
Department of Business and Professional Regulation
1940 North Monroe Street
Tallahassee, Florida 32399
Customer Contact Center:
850.487.1395
www.MyFloridaLicense.com

Another Successful Toy Drive 

Thank you to all Gold Coast School’s students and staff who participated in our annual toy drive to benefit Joe DiMaggio Children’s hospital. More than a hundred toys were collected and delivered to the children at Joe DiMaggio on December 17.

Marc Liebeskind of the Principal group asked Gold Coast Schools to get involved back in 2008, and Gold Coast owners gladly accepted. “It’s always great to see how our staff and students come together not only during the holidays, but all year long” said Gold Coast owner John Greer. This is the fourth annual toy drive for Gold Coast. Greer noted “It’s wonderful to see everyone giving back to kids who unfortunately will be in the hospital over the holidays. A small toy always creates a huge smile!”

Gold Coast staff participates in a variety of charity events each year including the Joe DiMaggio toy drive, Light the Night for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, and hockey clinics for Children Battling Cancer. “We have even started a Gold Coast cycling team this year and have a couple of events planned for next year” Greer said.

According to a recent article in REALTORMag, pending home sales significantly increased in October 2011 over both the previous month and year.  This again supports the notion of a recovering real estate market.  As cash buyers/investors sweep up the great deals on distressed properties, move-in ready properties are holding their own for buyers who are getting financing.

Only time will tell the true direction that the housing market will go in, but all the indicators point towards increased prices and a recovered market.  As the number of distressed properties that are casting a shadow on prices continue to diminish, value will be held in quality houses listed on the market.

Learn more about this article provided by REALTORMag by clicking here for the complete story.

This Course Will be Held on December 3rd, 2011 9:00am-1:00pm
Broward- 5600 Hiatus Road Tamarac, FL 33321

Call 1-800-732-9140 to Reserve Your Seat!

As homeowners continue to look for ways to save money, Wind Mitigation Inspections are becoming increasingly popular. These inspections, performed by qualified inspectors can literally save homeowners many hundreds of dollars annually off their insurance premiums. Qualified Wind Mitigation Inspectors can expect to receive $150 – $200 per inspection. Don’t miss this opportunity: enable yourself to earn additional income by serving and educating your clients with this valuable service!

Gold Coast School’s NEW Wind Mitigation course meets all requirements that will allow licensed Home Inspectors to legally perform the Wind Mitigation Inspection. Additionally, this course will help existing Contractors Inspectors fine tune their skills to properly document and report on the uniform inspection form.

Licensed Home Inspectors: Wind mitigation can be performed along with your scheduled home inspections which can effectively double your income per customer. Our 4 hour course meets all the requirements that will allow you to legally perform this inspection as well as providing you with a step by step review on what to look for on your inspection and how to properly fill out the report. Avoid the costly mistakes of having your wind mitigation report rejected or costly audits by the insurance companies by attending this course.

Licensed Contractors, Architects & Engineers: Although you are allowed to perform the Wind Mitigation Inspection there is no flexibility in the accuracy of the report. Failing to understand all the terminology and the insurance companies interpretations of their meanings can result in audits or rejections costing you and your customer time and money. Our course will review the uniform inspection report line by line giving valuable illustrations and practical examples at every step.

The advantages of this course include:

• Live instruction from Jorge Urrutia (Certified General Contractor, Certified Roofer, Licensed Building Inspector, Licensed Home Inspector, Mold Assessor & Mold Remediator)
• 4 hours of hands on practical information specifying the “do’s and don’ts” of Wind Mitigation Inspections
• Detailed examination of the required reporting form and explanation of all the definitions on it
• How to avoid errors that will trigger an audit by Citizens Insurance

Gold Coast Schools is excited to announce the release of our 2012 course schedule. Many have committed to starting a new career in the coming year and have been anticipating the announcement of our upcoming course dates. If you have been thinking about starting a new career, Gold Coast Schools is committed to helping you do so.

With five campus locations in Doral, North Miami, Broward, Boca Raton, and Lantana offering day, evening and weekend courses, Gold Coast Schools has set out to provide the flexible scheduling to meet your needs. Have you considered taking your courses online? Gold Coasts Online Learning provides the same top quality courses we provide in the classroom, in a format that can be completed at your own pace from your computer. You can learn more about all of our courses by visiting us online at www.goldcoastschools.com, or by calling our helpful Career Counselors at 1-800-732-9140.

Whether you are looking to start a new career, maintain your current professional license, or enhance your career with industry training, Gold Coast Schools is Florida’s leader in Real Estate, Insurance, Construction, Mortgage, CAM and Appraisal education. Gold Coast is Florida’s largest school because from the beginning, we have continuously made the success of our students the primary focus of our business. See for yourself why our students stand behind out motto, “The Proof is in the Passing!”

Learn more about how Gold Coast Schools can help you by calling our Career Counselors at 1-800-732-9140 to discuss the options that we have available for you.

We came across an interesting that we would like to share with our students at Gold Coast Schools.  Things are significantly improving in Florida’s Real Estate and Construction market.  See below for the article in reference.

New-Home Building Soars 15% in September

Daily Real Estate News | Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Last month, home building was at its fastest pace in 17 months, rising 15 percent from August and posting the new-home sector’s best pace since April 2010, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday.

In September, single-family home building increased 1.7 percent, while apartment building jumped 53.4 percent.

Builders began work on a seasonally adjusted 658,000 homes in September. While that marks a big improvement, the level still remains only about half of the 1.2 million pace that economists consider healthy for the new-home sector.

Builders are continuing to struggle to compete against heavily discounted foreclosures and short sales that are plaguing many markets.

Building permits, which serve as a measure of future building, dropped 5 percent in September, the Commerce Department reported.

Yet, builders seem to be getting more optimistic that the new-home market is showing signs of improvement. The National Association of Home Builders reported on Tuesday that industry sentiment rose in October to 18, the highest level in over a year. However, overall sentiment about the industry remains low–any reading below 50 indicates negative sentiment about the housing market (a level that hasn’t been reached since April 2006).

Source: “September Home Building Rose 15%, But Permits for Future Homes Fell 5%” Associated Press (Oct. 19, 2011)

Starting November 1st, 2011 we will be offering the complete Foundations For Success program at our Gold Coast Schools Broward Campus.  For more information contact our Career Counselors at 1-800-732-9140 or visit us online at www.goldcoastschools.com.

Below are the complete details of the topics that will be covered:

Preparing and Understanding the FAR-9 Contract

The course consists of section by section, paragraph by paragraph hands on look at what the FAR-9 contract says and the meaning of each section as per the FAR-9 Preparation Manual.  This includes a detailed look at how to fill out every blank of the contract with the proper information and format along with required disclosures.

In addition it takes a look at how to access and use the forms program at FloridaRealtors.org in the preparation and delivery of the contract.

Topics covered include:

• Responsibility of preparation
• The Forms Program
• General Considerations for completing preprinted contracts
• Specific Considerations for completing preprinted contracts
• How to fill out the contract
• Things to look for in the contract
• Time lines in the contract
• Required addendums
• Tips for successful contract negotiation
• What to include in the pending File
• Proper handling of the escrow deposit when writing the contract
• Escrow deposit FREC RULE 61j2.4008(2)(b)

After completing this course the student will have a detailed understanding of the FAR-9 contract and its proper preparation. This will include an understanding and proper use of the FARA-9 addendums.

Building and Presenting the Listing Presentation

This course takes a detailed, hands-on approach to every aspect of the listing presentation. This includes but is not limited to building the presentation from scratch, section by section. What it should include and unique ideas to personalize it. In addition, we take a step by step look at the actual listing presentation from the time you arrive at the home until you leave, including handling objections, what to say, personality types and communication skills.

The Florida Realtors “Exclusive Right of Sale Listing Agreement” is also covered with a detailed look at how to fill it out and exactly what it says and things to look for.

The follow topics are cover in the course:

• Your Realtor Association and the Multiple Listing Service “MLS”
• Building the Listing Presentation
• The cover letter,
• Your professional resume
• Your professional affiliations
• Your company profile
• Your marketing plan
• Preparing your home for sale
• Staging the home for showing
• You compared to other Realtors
• The CMA
• Things to Bring to the Listing Presentation
• Four Personality Types
• Know Your Seller and Buyer by Generation
• Support Material
• The Listing Presentation
• Dress Appropriately
• Things to Tell the Seller at Time of Listing
• Things to Ask the Seller for at Time of Listing
• Handling Seller Objections
• Communication Skills
• Exclusive Right of Sale Listing Agreement
• Forms Program
• The Listing File
• 10 Common Mistakes Agents Make
• 10 Rules for Success

By the end of this course, the student will be able to build a customized listing presentation, handle the actual listing appointment from start to finish including handling seller objections, writing the listing agreement and mistakes to avoid. In addition they will be capable of creating the listing file with all required documentation.

Prospecting and Farming for Listings and Buyers

This course consists of a detailed look at different methods of prospecting for sellers. A step by step approach to building various prospecting data basis, selecting and building a farm area, direct mail, writing advertising copy and the use of color in marketing and prospecting are central to the core curriculum.  The use of social media and its various aspects in prospecting are also covered along with motivational concepts for the real estate professional.

Topics covered in this course include:

• It’s Your Business
• Technology
• Ways to Develop a Positive Attitude
• The three keys to prospecting success
• Sphere of Influence including Social Media
• Expired Listings
• FSBO’S
• Farm Area
• Past Clients
• Working With Sellers
• Prospecting For Sellers
• There are basically five sources of listing prospects
• Prospecting Concepts to Consider
• PUSH MARKETING
• PULL MARKETING
• Prospecting Tips and Facts
• Social Media to consider
• Start a Real Estate Blog
• Marketing the Property on the Internet
• Some Seller and Buyer Facts To Consider
• Internet Facts to Consider In Florida
• Basic Prospecting Tips
• Color in Prospecting and Marketing
• Things to Start Doing Today
• To-Do List Everyday
• To-Do List Weekly
• To-Do List Monthly
• 10 Common Mistakes Agents Make
• 10 Rules for Success

By the end of this course, the student will have a clear understanding of various prospecting concepts including how to get started along with a detailed outline of what to do every day, every week and every month to build a successful real estate business.

Servicing the Listing and Working with Buyers

Effective communication is what separates successful Real Estate Professionals from those that struggle.  Foundations for Success is a program that Gold Coast and instructor Rick Burch have developed to help agents hit the ground running and completely transform their business in less than thirty days.

Servicing the Listing and Working With Buyers

This six hour seminar is designed to set aside the basic principles taught in textbooks and drive home the real world skills that you need to be successful in the marketplace.  Topics include:

• Interviewing and qualifying the buyer
• Understanding buyers and sellers needs
• Effective marketing to make your listings stand out and draw attention
• Best practices for showing properties and showing agreements
• 10 most common mistakes agents make
• 10 rules for success
• And much more…

By attending this course you will receive 6 hours of FREC CE as well as gain the skills that every agent must know if they want to be successful in Real Estate.

For more details, feel free to contact our Career Counselors at 1-800-732-9140.

Preparing and Understanding the FAR/BAR “As Is” Contract

Don’t get backed into a corner when a buyer or seller has a question on the FAR/BAR contract that you may not know the answer to.  Your credibility as an expert is what nervous buyers and sellers rely on during the buying/selling process.

This course consists of a section by section, clause by clause, hands on look at what the FAR/BAR “AS IS” contract says and how to prepare it.  You will leave this four hour seminar with the confidence and ability to fill out every blank on the contract with the proper information in the correct format.

Topics covered include:

• Responsibility of preparation
• The Forms Program
• General considerations for completing preprinted contracts
• How to fill out the contract
• Things to look for in a contract
• Timelines in the contract
• Tips for successful contract negotiation
• What to include in a pending File
• Proper handling of the escrow deposit when writing a contract
• Escrow deposit FREC RULE 61j2.4008(2)(b)

After completing this course you will have a detailed understanding of the FAR/BAR “As Is” contract and its proper preparation.  Understanding this is a must for handling Short Sales and REO Properties.

For more details, feel free to contact our Career Counselors at 1-800-732-9140.

Prices are rising in Florida: Florida cities have had the largest year-over-year increases in average list prices, according to the latest real estate data from Realtor.com. Florida cities make up 9 of the top 10 places for highest year-over-year list price spikes, based off of August data of 2.2 million listings in 146 markets.

Nationwide, the average list price is $320,325, up 2.36 percent year-over-year.

Here are the top 15 cities boasting the highest percentage of year-over-year increases in average list prices.

1. Miami
Average list price: $640,332
Year-over-year increase: 27.4%

2. Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Fla.
Average list price: $443,570
Year-over-year increase: 26.27%

3. Central-Fla.-RSA
Average list price: $405,809
Year-over-year increase: 19.41%

4. Punta Gorda, Fla.
Average list price: $267,066
Year-over-year increase: 16.37%

5. Macon, Ga.
Average list price: $193,520
Year-over-year increase: 15.98%

6. Sarasota-Bradenton, Fla.
Average list price: $466,785
Year-over-year increase: 15.86%

7. Naples, Fla.
Average list price: $713,087
Year-over-year increase: 15.13%

8. West Palm Beach-Boca Raton, Fla.
Average list price: $591,895
Year-over-year increase: 14.68%

9. Ocala, Fla.
Average list price: $193,360
Year-over-year increase: 12.07%

10. Lakeland-Winter Haven, Fla.
Average list price: $181,409
Year-over-year increase: 11.48%

11. Orlando, Fla.
Average list price: $319,419
Year-over-year increase: 10.56%

12. Portland-Vancouver, Ore.-Wash.
Average list price: $314,537
Year-over-year increase: 10.52%

13. Boise City, Idaho
Average list price: $212,588
Year-over-year increase: 10.43%

14. Springfield, Illinois
Average list price: $174,537
Year-over-year increase: 9.12%

15. Shreveport-Bossier City, La.
Average list price: $211,414
Year-over-year increase: 8.34%

By Melissa Dittmann Tracey, REALTOR® Magazine Daily News

It’s time to set aside the text book and hone in on the skills that will make you a more effective real estate professional capable of reaching your full income potential. 

Gold Coast School’s Foundations for Success program is designed to provide the skills you need at a price that can’t be beat.  It can take years to gain the experience needed to reach your full income potential if you don’t have the guidance of those who have been in the industry and are willing to provide you with the knowledge that will give you a competitive edge.

Foundations for Success programs will enable you to jump start your career immediately.  The program consists of the following courses which can be taken individually or as a bundle:

• Preparing and Understanding the FAR-9 contract
• Building & Presenting the Listing Presentation
• Prospecting & Farming for Listings and Buyers
• Servicing the Listing and Working with Buyers
• Preparing and Understanding the FAR/BAR “As Is” Contract

Each seminar is only $69 and most provide up to 6 hours of continuing education credit.  A complete package including all 5 of these courses is available for only $249.

Getting your real estate license is a huge accomplishment, learning how to best put it to use can be done through the focused programs provided by Gold Coast School’s Foundations for Success.  Learn more by calling our Career Counselors at 1-800-732-9140.