Staying up to date on the law is vital to your career. First-time homebuyers are new to the real estate game completely, and people selling their homes may not have given real estate a second thought for 20 or 30 years. The ability to discuss new legislation, speak plainly with hesitant consumers, and thoroughly understand how state and local laws affect the industry impacts how you think, act, and speak about real estate, no matter the consumers’ level of experience.

This course covers recent Maryland laws and amendments that passed in the 2020 and 2021 legislative sessions, and pays particular attention to laws that relate to the real estate industry and your everyday real estate practice, ensuring that your knowledge of the law is as up-to-date as possible, and that you’re equipped to identify how new legislation can benefit your clients and customers.

Course Highlights:

• The Maryland Real Estate Commission’s mission, powers, and duties, and authority
• Home Builder Guarantee Fund award limits
• Lien priority
• License reciprocity
• Signage penalties
• Additional fair housing protections in Maryland
• Ethics and professionalism components to continuing education
• Recent laws regarding sink holes and septic inspections
• Tax credits for persons with disabilities, those who engage in historic revitalization, and other consumers
• The Housing Opportunities Made Equal Act
• Amendments to common interest community declarations and governing documents
• Recording of easements and CC&Rs
• Other recent landlord-tenant laws in Maryland

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

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.

Aligned to the requirements of the current NAR cycle, this three-hour 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
• State and federal legislative and regulatory efforts to stop predatory lending and illegal property flipping
• 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.

Fair housing law stands as a cornerstone of civil rights legislation, aiming to eliminate discrimination in housing markets and ensure equal opportunities for all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, disability, or any other protected characteristic. By understanding the importance of fair housing law, licensees recognize its pivotal role in fostering inclusive communities and combating systemic inequalities. This course explores the historical context, key provisions, and practical applications of fair housing law, equipping licensees with the knowledge and tools necessary to uphold these principles in their professional endeavors.

Real estate licensees play a vital role in upholding fair housing principles and safeguarding the rights of all individuals in the housing market. As gatekeepers of property transactions, licensees must stay abreast of fair housing laws and practices to ensure ethical and nondiscriminatory conduct. Beyond legal compliance, embracing fair housing principles fosters trust, promotes diversity, and enhances business success in an increasingly diverse marketplace. This course will empower licensees to navigate complex fair housing issues with confidence, fostering a culture of inclusivity and advancing the vision of fair and equitable housing for all.

This course was designed to meet the REALTOR® Fair Housing Training Requirement. Please confirm that your local association, who administers the Fair Housing training, will accept this course.

Real estate wholesaling is not a new concept, but its practice, regulation, and public perception have changed significantly in recent years. For real estate professionals navigating a market where wholesaling is becoming more popular and increasingly problematic, understanding its legal, ethical, and professional implications is more important than ever.

This four-hour course provides a straightforward examination of wholesaling: how it operates, when it crosses legal and ethical boundaries, and why it faces greater scrutiny from lawmakers and the public. You’ll examine how some investors use wholesaling as a legitimate and transparent strategy to build wealth, while others exploit it to bypass licensing requirements, mislead sellers and buyers, and disrupt housing stability, particularly in vulnerable communities.

Whether you are new to wholesaling, advising clients involved, or simply looking to avoid legal issues, this course is designed for you.

Course highlights include:

• Differences between wholesaling and traditional real estate transactions
• Pros and cons of wholesaling
• State laws and licensing implications for wholesaling
• Identifying red flags with wholesaling
• Ethical pitfalls in wholesaling
• Recognizing predatory patterns
• When wholesaling becomes illegal
• Collateral damage, legal fallout, and civil penalties
• Wholesaling's impact on housing markets and housing inequity
• Wholesaling and technology
• Interactive activities, case studies, and scenarios to frame the content in everyday context