Courses for Fiduciaries and Attorneys
 

An In-Depth Look at the Probate Process

This course provides an in-depth look at the probate process and includes your real estate agent's role within it.  The process is broken down into phases, then into steps within the phases, and presented with diagrams to make the information more digestible.  First, the initial phase of the general probate process is reviewed.  It is then followed by the full and limited authority probate processes.  

The course is based on the book by Orit Gadish: The Practitioner's Handbook for Probate Real Estate

Pre-Marketing Strategies for Probate Properties

This course covers pre-marketing strategies for vacant and occupied properties.

The pre-marketing strategy that you select for the probate property you are selling significantly impacts the type of return you will achieve for your client.  Understanding the various strategies that may be used for residential and commercial vacant and occupied properties, and determining which strategy to use, is critical in the ultimate successful sale of the property.  

The course is based on the book by Orit Gadish: The Practitioner's Handbook for Probate Real Estate

Valuation of Real Estate 

This course looks at establishing a realistic value of a real estate asset you are handling.  A property's value is critical in establishing a property's list price before disposition.  It is also important to establish value when helping with real estate acquisition to determine what maximum amount it makes sense to pay for properties.

The course looks at the components of a typical Broker Price Opinion (BPO) / Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) report for residential properties and a Broker Opinion of Value (BOV) report for commercial properties.  It then discusses appraisals.  It concludes with discussions on establishing list prices for residential and commercial properties based on these reports.

The course is based on the book by Orit Gadish: The Practitioner's Handbook for Probate Real Estate

Handling of Occupied Properties - Cash for Keys and Evictions

This course provides a perspective on handling the disposition of occupied properties in situations where the occupants' presence substantially reduces the likely sales price. 

            It looks at possible issues with occupied properties. It then covers relocation assistance, the eviction process, and the handling of abandoned personal property.  

The course is based on the book by Orit Gadish: The Practitioner's Handbook for Probate Real Estate

Handling of Vacant Properties - Getting the Properties Ready for Market

This course provides a perspective on handling the disposition of vacant properties to maximize the likely sales price.

It is vital to ensure the property is secured and, if not, take appropriate actions to secure it.  A decision must be made if to sell the property as-is or renovate it, if to clean it and/or stage it.  Actions must be taken to preserve the condition and value of the property.  Hazards and vandalism need to be handled if encountered.

You might want to handle all or some of the tasks discussed in this course yourself, have your team handle them, or ask your agent to handle them for you.  An experienced agent should be able to help you with any or all of these pre-marketing and ongoing tasks.  Your agent should have a network of trusted vendors ready to assist as needed.

The course is based on the book by Orit Gadish: The Practitioner's Handbook for Probate Real Estate

Real Estate Disclosures in a Probate Transaction

This course covers real estate disclosures in probate real estate transactions.  Disclosures in a probate transaction are not much different than that of a standard real estate transaction.   In a probate transaction, the seller’s disclosure form, the Exempt Seller Disclosure (ESD), replaces two detailed seller disclosure forms required in standard real estate transactions.  The seller is not exempt from disclosing and should do so to mitigate liability.  Your agent should prepare a listing package and provide it to you for completion.   The package should include all disclosures. It should be provided to buyers for review before initiating the offer negotiations process to ensure successful closings and prevent buyers from reducing their offer price.  This process is especially critical in probate transactions that require court confirmation and should also be implemented for probate transactions that do not require court confirmation. 

The course is based on the book by Orit Gadish: The Practitioner's Handbook for Probate Real Estate

Marketing Probate Properties

                This course discusses the various marketing channels and components that deliver a comprehensive marketing solution to limit your liability and ensure your probate real estate sales success.

Marketing your probate property is a critical component of the real estate sales process.   Your agent should be diligent in defining a multi-pronged marketing strategy that utilizes as many marketing channels as possible.  The goal is to cast the broadest net possible to draw as many eyes to the property and ultimately generate the highest possible sales price. Your agent should be diligent in documenting all buyers inquiring about the property, conducting the proper follow-up to bring buyers closer to making an offer, and driving those buyers to come to the courtroom and overbid on probates requiring court confirmation.

The course is based on the book by Orit Gadish: The Practitioner's Handbook for Probate Real Estate

Probate Specific Terms in Purchase Agreements

The contract terms used for probate real estate transactions vary for those requiring court confirmation and those that do not.  In this course, the terms used for limited authority and full authority probate real estate sales are reviewed and interpreted. 

The course is based on the book by Orit Gadish: The Practitioner's Handbook for Probate Real Estate

Offer Management in Probate Transactions

The course covers the offer management process in probate transactions. Proper execution of the offer management process is critical to a successful probate real estate sale.  Your agent’s adoption of the appropriate methodology and procedures will ensure an efficient and error-free sale, saving you time and making the process an easy one for you.   Given the nature of probate sales transactions, it is prudent for your agent to provide the buyer’s agent community with offer submission instructions to educate them and identify which contract forms to use and what the acceptable contract terms are.  The California Association of Realtors has developed a purchase agreement probate addendum specifically for probate transactions, and it is vital to understand the probate-specific terms incorporated.  

Your agent should provide you with a summary of offers received and make recommendations on how to respond.  Inducing a multiple offer situation when only one offer is submitted is possible using the proper strategy, which results in generating the highest possible sales price for your client.

Setting the proper buyer expectations before offer acceptance encourages a smoother escrow process.  Understanding what you, the seller, and your agent, are required to disclose is critical in mitigating your liability. Therefore, a careful review of the Probate Advisory is highly recommended.   

Establishing a checklist that ensures all contract components are included in the contract package is critical to being efficient and ensuring no oversight and missing documents.  Ensuring your agent conducts a detailed contract review before submitting it to you for execution is a required step to avoid errors and cause delays.

The course is based on the book by Orit Gadish: The Practitioner's Handbook for Probate Real Estate

Closing and Settlement in Probate Transactions

This course covers the escrow process in probate transactions.  The escrow process in a probate transaction requires a pre-escrow phase where a lot of due diligence is handled by your agent to avoid closing delays and escrow failure.  There are five phases in the probate escrow process.   Each phase includes procedures used to protect the seller of real estate property.  

The course is based on the book by Orit Gadish: The Practitioner's Handbook for Probate Real Estate

Introduction to Real Estate

This course provides an overview of real estate.  It introduces the basics of real estate as well as of the real estate industry.  It also surveys the different types of residential as well as commercial real estate.

The course is based on the book by David Gadish: The Practical Guide to Career Opportunities in Real Estate

Introduction to Real Estate Finance

This course provides a review of what loan officers and mortgage brokers do.  The key characteristics of loans are reviewed, and we then proceed to discuss the four elements of obtaining financing.

            The course then details the financing process and concludes with a discussion of financing options. 

This course will allow you to better understand the types of financing buyers obtain on properties you are selling.  It will allow you to ask your agent the right questions to better qualify buyers who submit offers. 

The course is based on the book by David Gadish:  Introduction to Real Estate - Beyond Residential Sales: Real Estate Finance, Property Management, Residential and Commercial Leasing, Investing, 1031 Exchange, Auctions

Introduction to Real Estate Property Management

This course provides a look at what property managers do.   The course starts with a discussion about signing a management contract and then defining and deploying takeover procedures.

            It looks at the ongoing reporting relationship between you and your property manager/agent, establishing rents, marketing properties for lease, screening tenants, negotiating leases, helping tenants move in, collecting rents, renewing leases, handling tenant issues as they arise, and assisting tenants with moveouts.

            The course concludes with a discussion about handling legal matters, performing regular inspections, handling maintenance, repairs, and remodeling, and of course, handling financial matters and reporting those to you.

The course is based on the book by David Gadish:  Introduction to Real Estate - Beyond Residential Sales: Real Estate Finance, Property Management, Residential and Commercial Leasing, Investing, 1031 Exchange, Auctions

Introduction to Real Estate Auction

This course presents the benefits of auctions and the differences between auction sales and standard real estate sales.  The course then proceeds to look at different types of auctions, as well as the various steps of the auction process.

            The course concludes with a look at some specific scenarios common to auctions of real estate assets.

            The course will provide you with a basic understanding of real estate auctions so that you can decide if this is something you want to pursue for any of the properties you need to sell.

The course is based on the book by David Gadish:  Introduction to Real Estate - Beyond Residential Sales: Real Estate Finance, Property Management, Residential and Commercial Leasing, Investing, 1031 Exchange, Auctions

Introduction to Residential Leasing

This course looks at some of what residential agents do. It introduces the steps involved in the residential leasing process.  It looks at the possible terms of the lease and commission.  It proceeds to discuss property marketing and showings.

            The course also covers tenant screening, the lease application, as well as lease negotiations.  The course concludes by discussing the three essential topics of contract management, start of lease term activities, and applicable federal and state laws.

The course is based on the book by David Gadish:  Introduction to Real Estate - Beyond Residential Sales: Real Estate Finance, Property Management, Residential and Commercial Leasing, Investing, 1031 Exchange, Auctions

Introduction to Commercial Leasing

This course looks at some of what commercial leasing agents do. It starts with reviewing the components of a commercial leasing application package and then looks at such applications' review process. 

            The course proceeds to survey the different types of commercial leases and the key terms included in them. 

The course is based on the book by David Gadish:  Introduction to Real Estate - Beyond Residential Sales: Real Estate Finance, Property Management, Residential and Commercial Leasing, Investing, 1031 Exchange, Auctions

Introduction to 1031 Exchange

This course looks at what 1031 exchange specialists do.  It outlines the reasons to participate in a 1031 exchange.  It then discusses what can be exchanged.

            The course concludes with a discussion about each of the four types of exchanges and explains various 1031 exchange rules.

The course is based on the book by David Gadish:  Introduction to Real Estate - Beyond Residential Sales: Real Estate Finance, Property Management, Residential and Commercial Leasing, Investing, 1031 Exchange, Auctions

Introduction to Real Estate Investing

This course examins what real estate investors need to know and what they might do.  It starts with a look at the yield, safety, and liquidity of real estate investments. It proceeds to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of investing in real estate.

            The course concludes with a look at different real estate investment strategies.

The course is based on the book by David Gadish:  Introduction to Real Estate - Beyond Residential Sales: Real Estate Finance, Property Management, Residential and Commercial Leasing, Investing, 1031 Exchange, Auctions

Marketing and Business Development to Grow Your Trust and Estate Business

This course provides a survey of the activities fiduciaries can undertake to grow their business.

Embracing Technology to Grow Your Trust and Estate Business

This course provides a survey of technology tools and applications fiduciaries can utilize to grow their business.

The course is based on the book by David Gadish: The 9-Step Approach to Embracing Information Systems for Increased Professional and Business Success

Embracing Project Management to Grow Your Trust and Estate Business

This course provides an introduction to project management methodology and discusses how fiduciaries can apply it to grow their business.

The course is based on the book by David Gadish: The 6 Step Approach to Embracing Project Management For Increased Personal, Professional, and Business Success (Really Simplified)