With the ever expanding reach of the internet and proliferation of internet devices, online learning has become an increasingly common form of education. How you approach your online learning course will determine your success. When enrolling in a course with RealEstateExpress.com, keep these suggestions in mind.

Don’t Presume Online Equals Easy
While online courses offer many advantages over traditional methods, do not assume the content will be easier or less comprehensive. Oftentimes an online course is more comprehensive due to the additional regulations placed upon online providers to earn accreditation.

Keep a copy of the Course Orientation handy to double check policies and procedures for completing the course, taking exams, and using the different resources available for assistance. Be sure to check out the objectives provided at the beginning of each unit and make sure you can fully explain them before moving onto the next unit.

Be Realistic with your Expectations
With online learning, you are in control of when you ‘attend’ class. There is a reason that most traditional classroom schools do not schedule 8-hour classes –sustaining concentration for that long is nearly impossible for most people. So don’t plan on spending your entire Saturday working in your course. Break your study times into manageable 1 – 2 hour ‘chunks’ throughout the week with a 5 – 10 minute break every hour to step away from the computer. To maximize retention, make sure you are ‘touching’ the course material daily – whether you are delving into new content or just reviewing what has already been covered.

If a course is written to be a 48-hour course, plan 48 hours of study time. Even if you can read the entire course in half that time, your retention will be lower than if you spend the actual time. It is difficult to pass any course – regardless of delivery method – if you only attend half of the time.

Use the pace bar on your student homepage to be accountable to yourself. As with any other long-term goal, if you miss a day or two of scheduled time, do not take it as a failure. Get back on schedule as soon as you can.

Take it Seriously
Just because you can study on-the-go does not always mean you should. External distractions can diminish your ability to retain new or complicated material. Designate a study area so you are mentally prepared to learn each time you go to that area. Use your on-the-go time for reviewing past material. Spotty internet coverage while you are away from your study space? Download your textbook to read during those times or review notes you have taken while reading the course.

Establish a support network before starting your course. Make sure your family and friends are aware you are starting a new challenge and are willing to honor your time commitments and be available assounding boards as you are learning new material. Use the ‘Grant Access to your Manager’ feature to have your future Broker become part of your support network. Brokers can request a free Manager Account by emailing Affiliates@RealEstateExpress.com.

Anticipate Issues
As everyone who has touched a computer or used the internet knows, technology is not infallible. Sometimes computers crash, the internet acts in strange ways, or signals can be lost at inopportune moments. Do not allow a technology issue to sideline your education. Plan to have your course completed well before the expiration date and, when possible, plan to take course final exams during office hours when tech support is easy to reach.

If a technical issue does occur, notify student support right away so they can begin troubleshooting. Anticipate some time for them to look into the issue and respond. If more than a re-boot is needed, time will be needed as well.

When reaching out to your instructor – through email, voicemail or the Ask the Expert Forum – allow time for a thorough response. While your course is available 24/7, your instructor is allowed time to eat and sleep.

Be an Active Participant
The more senses you get involved with your learning, the higher your retention rate. Don’t just read a screen, but take notes on what you read. Writing the information in your own words triggers deeper thought. It also lessens the chance you will skim over important information. Read some of your screens out loud to yourself (or pet or random passersby). This way you are hearing in addition to seeing and writing. Do not allow yourself to believe that reading something once will commit it to memory.

Attach each new concept to ones you already know. When you read something new, ask yourself how it applies to what you have already learned either in terms of the course or in life. Making that attachment will make the new concept easier to remember and deepen your comprehension.

Finally, communicate with your instructor. If you do not understand something, reach out to your instructor before you get to the course final exam. Interact with classmates and the instructor in the Ask the Expert forum (Student Tools dropdown menu). You may find the answer or clarification you need from another student’s post which saves you time.

Succeed
Following these guidelines will yield not only a completion certificate for your course, but the knowledge you need for the next step in your real estate career.

Want to find out if you have what it takes to be a Real Estate Agent or Broker?

About Geoff Thompson — Geoff Thompson is an Owner and Founding Partner of Express Schools, LLC. which operates online education providers Real Estate Express, Insurance License Express and License Tutor. Follow him on Twitter.

Whether you’re getting licensed for the first time, meeting your continuing education requirements, or looking to enhance your career, make RealEstateExpress.com your real estate school of choice.

After years of a constant up and down pricing battle, the U.S. housing market is finally returning to its’ normal state. Fiserv Case – Shriller is predicting home prices will increase by an average of 3.3% annually over the next five years. With the housing market resembling normalcy for the first time since 1997, there is not a better time than now to get into the real estate industry.

Students who enroll with Real Estate Express will find a library of over 150 original dynamic state-approved courses to choose from. The American School of Real Estate Express not only provides, convenient, easily accessible real estate courses, but an entire career plan; from training, to passing your exam, to the hiring process. With over 500,000+ successfully trained real estate students, our courses and exam prep programs provide informing content and knowledge that allows students to pass their state exams, the first time.

In today’s market, agents need to stand out from the crowd, Real Estate Express’s Career Launcher package provides everything an agent needs to set themselves apart and gain new customers. Agents can build their brand, choose any field specialization course of their choice, and provides two customizable websites to target new clientele.

With America’s favorite online real estate school, agents have the opportunity to make themselves more marketable by completing any of Real Estate Express’s four professional designation courses. Upon completion of the required course curriculum, agents earn the right to use their official designation abbreviations behind their name on all business cards, letterhead, and professional correspondence.

Take the first step and enroll today, real estate education in the palm of your hand!
Want to find out if you have what it takes to be a Real Estate Agent or Broker?

About Tom Davidson — Tom Davidson is Vice President of Express Schools, LLC. which operates online education providers Real Estate Express, Insurance License Express and License Tutor. Follow him on Twitter.

Ah, yard work; one of the many chores that come with home ownership. As the long cold winter finally loosens its grip, now is the time to get the yard cleaned up and ready to grow. Doing a few special maintenance chores at the start of the season can set up the yard for the whole year, giving you the most “bang” for the effort. Early-spring yard work can provide an appreciable and lasting improvement in the health and appearance of your yard and make regular yard maintenance easier.

The Grass is Greener
Getting that picture-perfect green lawn can be frustrating for late starters. Spring is the time to seed, feed, and develop the healthy grass that will flourish through the summer. One huge tip is to customize your grass seed to your yard. Certain grasses do better in different agricultural zones, soil types, and moisture levels, and in different levels of sun and shade. Do a little research and pick the best type of grass for your yard. Many seeding attempts fail due to inappropriate seed choices. Picking the right grass for your yard conditions gives it the best chance of growing.

Once you seed, consider applying a fertilizer or weed killer. In some parts of the country, a pest control method may also be needed (like for fire ants!). As your grass grows, be sure to mow it regularly. Young lawns need frequent mowing at a high setting. The longer grass allows the chlorophyll-filled green blades to produce food for the plant, but frequent mowing encourages root development. By mowing it at a high level, you can foster healthier, stronger plants that will last longer and endure the harsher late-summer conditions better.

Landscape for Life
The key to landscaping is planning. By working out the moisture and sun levels for the areas of your yard, and selecting plants that thrive in your zone, you can create a beautiful and long-lasting yard. Low-maintenance yards are all about perennials. An annual plant grows for one year and then dies. While some Annuals are self-seeding, meaning if you let the plant wither in its natural cycle it will drop seeds that will grow in the same place next year, the most reliable decorative plants are the ones that stay alive. Plant annuals only with the understanding that they will have to be replaced somewhere down the line. Some go-to annuals are roots and bulbs, like daylilies, tulips, and daffodils, that die back in the summer and pop back up again each year. Other constant yard staples are the greenery: trees, bushes, and flowering shrubs. Most persistent greenery needs only a little trim-work during the dormant winter period or just after the flowers fade. You can get great information from local arboretums, nurseries, and landscape professionals to select the best mix of plants to suit your yard conditions and maintenance preferences, and set your yard up for year-long attractiveness.

Problem Solving
Spring is the best time to tackle yard problems. One common yard issue is when plants and grass keep dying off around the base of a tree means the tree isn’t getting enough water and is leaching it off of the surface. Try surrounding it with a thick circle of well-watered mulch to trap moisture and replenish the nutrients in the soil. Loosen compacted soil with aerators, apply lime (limestone) to acidic soil, till compost into poor soil, fill and level holes and ruts… the list goes on. Tackling problems in small projects early not only makes the work easier (when it’s cool and the soil is moist and workable), it gives the growing things time to take advantage of the improvements before the stress of summer heat can deter them.

Want to find out if you have what it takes to be a Real Estate Agent or Broker?

About David Goldstein — David Goldstein is an Owner and Founding Partner of Express Schools, LLC. which operates online education providers Real Estate Express, Insurance License Express and License Tutor. Follow him on Twitter.

There is a lot of dismal news about the real estate market if you are a seller, but if you are a buyer or an investor, the deals that you can find right now are unbelievable. In a report by Inman News, the top ranked real estate investment markets are in some of the most desired states to live in the country.

Texas has fared rather well through the economic storms of the last few years. In fact, in a recent report by the Bureau of Economic Analysis, Texas has passed New York to become the second largest economy in the United States. The booming economy is just one of the reasons why Texas appears on the top ranked markets to invest in. San Antonio, Texas ranked seventh on the large investment list. On the mid-size investor market Texas made the list three times: McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas is at number eight, Corpus Christi, Texas at number seven, and Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas tied for third.

California is the largest economy in the United States, and has been long considered one of the dream places to live in the country. It has some of the most desirable real estate in the nation, and it is now at the most affordable pricing it has ever been. It is no surprise that California has made both the mid-size and large investor lists with Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, California being the fourth on the highest ranked large investor market and Bakersfield, California making the mid-size list at number nine.

Along with California, Florida is one of the most sought after destinations in the United States. The Sunshine State has the fourth largest economy in the US, and it also has many of the markets that experts think are worth investing in. Port St. Lucie-Fort Pierce made the mid-size investor list at number six and Lakeland, Florida rounded out the top ten. When it comes to the large investor market, Florida makes up almost half of the top-ten list. Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater came in at seventh, Jacksonville came in fifth, Orlando-Kissimmee grabbed the second place spot, and the top ranked large investor market in the country is Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Miami Beach.

After years of a constant up and down pricing battle, the U.S. housing market is finally returning to its’ normal state. With the housing market resembling normalcy for the first time since 1997, there is not a better time than now to get involved with the real estate industry.

Want to find out if you have what it takes to be a Real Estate Agent or Broker?

About Tom Davidson — Tom Davidson is Vice President of Express Schools, LLC. which operates online education providers Real Estate Express, Insurance License Express and License Tutor. Follow him on Twitter.