Advanced School of Real Estate Preferred Courses

This course introduces Virginia real estate professionals to the essential aspects of escrow requirements in the state. It covers the rules and regulations for handling escrow funds, explains the concept of escrow and its protective role, and discusses the selection and responsibilities of escrow agents. The course also addresses common violations and associated penalties related to escrow maintenance, equipping students with the knowledge to maintain high professional standards and protect their clients' interests. By completing this course, students will gain a comprehensive understanding of escrow management in Virginia, enabling them to navigate real estate transactions with confidence and expertise.

The topic of agency is one of the most challenging subjects that a new licensee encounters. To help ensure that they are in compliance, this three-hour post licensing course reviews relevant sections of the Code of Virginia and the Virginia Real Estate Board Licensing Regulations. It focuses on key definitions, allowable brokerage relationships, agency disclosure requirements, brokerage agreements, and the duties that Virginia real estate licensees owe to their clients and customers.

Virginia Post Real Estate-Related Finance is designed to provide licensees with a thorough understanding of the financial mechanisms that drive real estate transactions. Licensees will learn about conventional loans, which are not insured by the government, and government-backed loans such as FHA loans, VA loans, and USDA loans. The course also reviews the loan process, including prequalification and final approval. Licensees will also gain insights into the loan application, documentation requirements, and the role of credit reports. 

This course is approved for the required two-hour post course on the topic of fair housing. By completing this course, licensees will discover how civil rights and fair housing laws have evolved. Additionally, licensees will learn how to comply with the federal Fair Housing Act and Virginia Fair Housing Law in providing equal opportunities for housing for all persons, and how to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act in providing public accommodations.

Taking this course will help the licensee be able to identify the Ethics and Professional Standards of Practice as they apply to the profession of real estate. Knowledge of ethical behavior standards helps ensure that all aspects of the real estate transaction are taking place with the client/customer's best interests and protections in mind.

The NAR Code of Ethics is being used only as a teaching tool. The NAR Code of Ethics provisions that are outside of the Virginia Real Estate Board's laws and regulations are not applicable to Real Estate Board licensees.

This Virginia Risk Management course is approved to provide the required three hours of post-licensing content addressing the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA), antitrust laws, and relevant environmental laws. The course aims to equip real estate licensees with essential information to navigate legal and ethical challenges, ensure compliance with regulations, and minimize risks in their professional practice. Topics include settlement-related statutes, closing costs and calculations, closing procedures, antitrust laws, misrepresentation issues, and environmental concerns such as lead-based paint, mold, radon, and the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act.

For real estate licensees, technology has become a vital asset, transforming everything from how they conduct business to how they serve their clients. That is why it is vital for licensees to understand how to select and work with evolving technology such as customer relationship management systems, social networking platforms, and even artificial intelligence and augmented reality technology. When used in accordance with state and federal laws, this technology can help protect consumer privacy, and provide homebuyers and sellers with more support and resources to find and sell properties.