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Jump Start -- by Mark Sproxton
When it comes to choosing a career, some people are lucky, they know what they want. Shannon Hughes is one of those people.
For years she has been interested in real estate. Now she's on her way to becoming a commercial realtor taking the mandatory introductory real estate course offered through Mount Royal College.
"For as long as I can remember I have been interested in real estate because it offers more flexibility than traditional positions," she explained. "And due to the fact that it is commission based, you generally receive the benefits of your own hard work, not some big corporation. I also love working with, and meeting, new people which is an important part of the industry."
Currently working as an assistant at Moss Realty, a local commercial firm, Hughes had the opportunity to gain some hands-on knowledge of the industry prior to taking the Real Estate 1000 course. She believes the combination of work and education will help her once she completes her licensing requirements and would recommend the same path to others.
"I think a great way to start out in the industry, especially if you are
young, is to be an assistant," she said. "This will help individuals to learn about the industry first hand with the guidance of someone more experienced and I believe it will also lend more credibility to someone who does not have much prior experience."
Many of the positions covered in this issue require sound people skills.
Working in sales and/or marketing, for example, provides a good base to
gain an understanding of how to deal with a variety of people in a
variety of situations. Developing the ability to listen to what others are saying, and then being able to think on your feet are the skills many in the real estate industry say are key to success.
Working summer jobs with surveying, engineering or land agent companies will also allow you to gain some hands-on understanding of the issues surrounding the legal transfer of land and/or buildings.
Taking courses in the construction trades and working in the field may
also serve as a good base to enter the real estate industry. Have a look
at the June 1999 edition of nextSteps for more ideas.
Those looking to work as resident managers should consider the course offered through Bow Valley College. The 48-hour course covers topics such as landlord and tenant law, tenant selection, rent collection and unit preparation.
Lakeland College offers a two year Business Administration diploma with a major in Appraisal and Assessment. This program is offered at Lakeland's Vermilion campus. Students completing the requirements will be awarded a Diploma in Business Administration-Appraisal and Assessment, and a Certificate in Real Property Assessment from the University of British Columbia (UBC). Lakeland College graduates are given the opportunity to write the CRA (Canadian Residential Appraiser) comprehensive examination, which accords them all academic requirements towards the CRA designation.
The basic 90-hour course required to become a realtor or realty broker is
offered through Mount Royal College. The Alberta Real Estate Board also offers the mandatory introductory course, only via distance education, however.
The Real Estate Division at UBC offers all of its real estate courses by distance education. You can choose from programs such as Urban Land Economics, Mortgages, Sales Pre-Licensing, Real Property Appraisal, and Real Property Assessment.
Olds College offers a two-year Land Agent program for anyone with an interest in becoming a landman. The program is a mix of classroom, laboratory and field studies and includes a work experience component.
A call to the Calgary Apartment Association at 265-6055 may also prove valuable to career planners. The association is made up of people who own, manage and service apartments in Calgary.
Numerous associations and societies -- in addition to those covered in the Site Seeing section of this magazine -- also exist that offer good information, or access to information, that may be useful for those considering a career in real estate. Here are a few more:
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