Central Florida Realtors, Other Real Estate Professionals to Receive More Training

In Polk County, the housing market hasn’t floundered.

Nor has it crashed, deflated, failed or fizzled out.

It’s just changed. And Realtors are going to need to make adjustments to stay competitive in the market and cover their personal bills.

Training can help with that, said Bryan Chavis, president of The Landlord Academy in Tampa. The school is partnering with the Ed Klopfer Schools of Real Estate and will begin offering classes in Lakeland in February.

This year, a declining Florida housing market has forced sales down by 34 percent around the state compared to 2005. And home inventories are growing at an exponential rate. Translation: Homes aren’t selling like hotcakes.

And instructors at Ed Klopfer Schools of Real Estate have seen the same thing in all locations around the state, Chavis said. People are looking for another avenue within the real estate industry to earn an income.

“Whether you’re a Realtor trying to ride out a tough market, an investor who bought with the intention of flipping and became an accidental landlord or a homeowner who can’t afford to sell your house at a loss, we have solutions,” Chavis said.

With Florida mortgage rates still at relative lows, experts believe that a rebound is not far off - or, at the very least, that the worst of the crash is over.

Landlord Academy offers continuing education courses and is recognized by the Florida Real Estate Commission. The school offers classes in evaluating rental areas, fair housing law, cash flow, property management, landlord/tenant issues and marketing techniques.

Klopfer has locations throughout the state, from the Panhandle all the way down to Naples and even the Broward County housing market. The curriculum is developed and updated regularly with input from business and industry experts.

Licensing and certification courses range from real estate to Florida mortgage broker, property appraiser, home inspector and now certified property management.

It’s not all bad news for the Central Florida economy.

While Florida mortgage refinancing activity has declined over the past year and the Central Florida housing market has taken a dip, other areas of the industry, like investment properties and commercial development, are on the rise.

“The Realtors are really hurting right now. It’s a tale of two sides,” Chavis said.