Comments on: Do We Need Separate Licenses? http://www.realestatezebra.com/do-we-need-separate-licenses Your Comprehensive Resource for Creative Insight and Commentary on All Things Real Estate Mon, 06 Sep 2010 03:20:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Brad Nix http://www.realestatezebra.com/do-we-need-separate-licenses/comment-page-1#comment-91058 Brad Nix Sun, 25 Nov 2007 14:08:50 +0000 http://realestatezebra.com/do-we-need-separate-licenses#comment-91058 I am a commercial Realtor and I like the idea of separate licenses for residential and commercial real estate. Having practiced both in my 10 year career, I can tell you they are completely different skill sets to succeed. Commercial is much more analytical and finance based (Cap Rates, IRR, NOI, etc...) and contracts are much more complicated. Commercial licensing courses should focus on financial analysis of real estate and contract law. I am a commercial Realtor and I like the idea of separate licenses for residential and commercial real estate. Having practiced both in my 10 year career, I can tell you they are completely different skill sets to succeed. Commercial is much more analytical and finance based (Cap Rates, IRR, NOI, etc…) and contracts are much more complicated. Commercial licensing courses should focus on financial analysis of real estate and contract law.

]]> By: Scott Rogers http://www.realestatezebra.com/do-we-need-separate-licenses/comment-page-1#comment-89370 Scott Rogers Tue, 20 Nov 2007 06:24:09 +0000 http://realestatezebra.com/do-we-need-separate-licenses#comment-89370 Separate licenses would almost certainly better serve consumers --- it would prevent residential agents from doing commercial work when it's not their expertise, and vice versa. The only downside is to the agent who wants work outside of their expertise. I imagine that with such a change it would be possible to acquire both licenses --- perhaps contingent upon having a brokers license instead of a salesperson license. Thus, with the ability to obtain both licenses, it wouldn't overly restrict agents from pursuing the type of business they desire. Separate licenses would almost certainly better serve consumers — it would prevent residential agents from doing commercial work when it’s not their expertise, and vice versa. The only downside is to the agent who wants work outside of their expertise.

I imagine that with such a change it would be possible to acquire both licenses — perhaps contingent upon having a brokers license instead of a salesperson license. Thus, with the ability to obtain both licenses, it wouldn’t overly restrict agents from pursuing the type of business they desire.

]]> By: Jeremy Hart http://www.realestatezebra.com/do-we-need-separate-licenses/comment-page-1#comment-89288 Jeremy Hart Mon, 19 Nov 2007 19:37:35 +0000 http://realestatezebra.com/do-we-need-separate-licenses#comment-89288 I don't think that, under the current system, separate licenses are needed. To the best of my knowledge, a commercial agent can just as freely go and sell residential as a residential agent can go and sell commercial. The consumer is the one who should decide who they want to work with - I'm not qualified to sell certain commercial properties, not because I don't have the license but because I don't feel I have the expertise to provide to my clients. One of my business partners does, however, so all commercial clients are funneled through him. His background in commercial leasing and management give him a much broader perspective to offer our clients. It's an issue of "you can't be everything to everyone". Or "do a few things and do them well". Either one works, but the point is that we don't need multiple licenses. I don’t think that, under the current system, separate licenses are needed. To the best of my knowledge, a commercial agent can just as freely go and sell residential as a residential agent can go and sell commercial. The consumer is the one who should decide who they want to work with – I’m not qualified to sell certain commercial properties, not because I don’t have the license but because I don’t feel I have the expertise to provide to my clients. One of my business partners does, however, so all commercial clients are funneled through him. His background in commercial leasing and management give him a much broader perspective to offer our clients.

It’s an issue of “you can’t be everything to everyone”. Or “do a few things and do them well”. Either one works, but the point is that we don’t need multiple licenses.

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