The state of Maryland has been referred to as "America in miniature" since the natural terrain of the state's layout stretches from the Atlantic Ocean to the Appalachian Mountains. The Chesapeake Bay cleaves the state into two distinct areas: the Eastern Shore and the Western Shore. What does this short geography lesson mean in terms of real estate? The diversity in natural resources and wonders, along with the state's historic heritage, lends itself to a variety of contract needs. And the Maryland Association of REALTORS® and associated local boards deliver. A plethora of contract types are available to fit a range of transactions that help transaction parties—and their agents—avoid various potential pitfalls.

This three-hour course equips Maryland real estate licensees with a thorough understanding of the Maryland REALTORS® contract forms and how to write these contracts, preparing licensees to better serve their clients' needs.
Course highlights include:

• A paragraph-by-paragraph review of the Maryland REALTORS® residential contract of sale
• Common contingencies and addenda
• Financing contingencies
• Practice in determining how to write a contract

What's a consumer's #1 complaint about real estate licensees?

According to NAR’s recent Legal Scan, respondents frequently indicated "breach of fiduciary duty." In fact, more than 70% of respondents ranked this complaint among their top three issues.

Knowing what to disclose, when to disclose it, what to keep confidential, and all the other requirements of agency relationships is crucial for a successful and legal real estate practice.

This 3-hour course meets Maryland’s Brokerage Relationships & Disclosures core requirement. 

Course Highlights:

• Agency options in Maryland 
• Establishing agency in Maryland
• Real estate teams
• Open houses
• Property inspections
• Dual agency
• Intra-company agency
• Scenarios and examples demonstrating fiduciary duties in action
• Activities to reinforce agency concepts

This course takes a deep-dive into Maryland-centric laws and procedures. It's imperative that real estate licensees know the ins and outs of these practices as they guide and assist their clients in different real estate processes. Though each of the units in the course covers a different topic, they all come together to remind licensees of the important nuances to their daily real estate practice.

This three-hour course reviews Maryland rules and guidelines for advertising, incentives, and rebates, as well as the rules and regulations regarding the deposit, handling, and return of earnest money in Maryland. Finally, the course reviews what to look out for regarding common interest communities in the state.

Course highlights include:

• Advertising guidelines
• Incentives and rebates
• Open house rules
• Deposits
• Earnest money matters
• Returning a deposit
• Common interest communities
• Condominium operations and owner rights
• Private land use controls and restrictions
• Recent common ownership legal updates in Maryland

The real estate market is always changing. As housing prices increase, so does the number of renters who are shut out of the homebuying market. This increase naturally means more demand for knowledgeable professionals to manage those properties. There are many real estate licensees who take on these responsibilities to increase their practice, and although Maryland does not require a separate license for property management, there are still many legal and practical issues that accompany this role.

This three-hour course reviews the laws and guidelines that affect property management and offers strategies for managing the risks that property managers face to help licensees gain knowledge in this growing industry.

Course highlights include:

• Property management basics
• Fiduciary responsibilities of property managers
• ADA and Fair Housing compliance
• Property management agreements
• Landlord and tenant rights and obligations
• Lease agreements
• Security deposits and escrow accounts
• Recent landlord-tenant bills in Maryland
• Residential lease provisions
• The basics of commercial leases
• A licensee's role in commercial lease transactions

Financing is as integral to real estate transactions as the home itself, and it's beneficial for licensees to have a clear understanding of the financing process. This course will review key aspects of real estate financing, including loan programs, and will help you understand why certain financing options may be better for your clients.

Ethical real estate professionals who adhere to a high set of standards are the foundation for creating and maintaining confidence and stability in an ever-changing marketplace. Recognizing the need to promote ethical business practices, the Maryland Real Estate Commission maintains and enforces the Maryland Code of Ethics. Because some state licensees also are members of the National Association of REALTORS®, it's important to additionally be familiar with the NAR Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.

Designed to meet NAR Cycle 7 and MREC initial license renewal requirements, this course offers a full review of Maryland's Code of Ethics, as well as the NAR Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. In addition, the course includes a review of the enforcement processes and penalties associated with both codes. The course also includes workplace case studies that illustrate the codes in practice and touch on such relevant matters as agency, fiduciary responsibilities, disclosures, and more. The course protects consumers by reminding licensees that ethical practices aren't just the "right thing to do"—they're the law.

Course highlights include:

• The rules and obligations outlined in the Maryland Code of Ethics and the NAR Code of Ethics
• The penalties associated with state and NAR ethics violations
• Interpretation and enforcement entities for both codes of ethics
• The differences between mediation and arbitration
• Real-life case studies that illustrate workplace practices and code of ethics violations
• Activities and examples to seal in the new information and frame it in everyday context

*This course was designed by us to meet the REALTOR® Code of Ethics Training Requirement. Please confirm that your local association, who administers the Code of Ethics training, will accept this course.