FOCUS | EDUCATION Online Realtor training helps fuel rush of students BY MARC LAROCQUE | Larocque@PBN.com
A COMBINATION OF A RED-HOT residential real estate market, the rising popularity of house-flipping reality shows, the “great resignation” and the convenience of Zoom-based education are unleashing a flood of people who are looking for training to become real estate agents, according to local industry leaders. “It’s kind of an alignment of a lot of factors,” said Ann Enos, professional development director for the Rhode Island Association of Realtors. “A lot of people got laid off. A lot of people don’t want to go back to the office anymore. They don’t like being in a 9-to-5 job. They like having their professional and personal lives work well together.” At the start of 2022, there were 6,153 Realtors in Rhode Island, and the state association says it experienced a 10% growth membership between 2020 and 2021, exceeding the growth rate in prior years. There are now more than 9,956 people who are licensed as real estate salespeople and real estate brokers in the state, including those who are not members of the organization, said Enos, referring to figures from the R.I. Department of Business Regulation. Before COVID-19 struck, anyone going through the required 45 hours of pre-license training had to do so in person, but in March 2020 members of the state’s real estate industry lobbied the DBR to allow virtual remote learning classes. The state quickly granted a temporary emergency authorization to accommodate, Enos said. Then, as of May 1, 2021, the DBR made interactive, livestreamed classes an option on a permanent basis for pre-license training. While other states offer self-paced, online video courses for pre-license training, Rhode Island does not, as a consumer protection measure, Enos said. Enos said the virtual classroom has played a major role in increasing participation among would-be Realtors in Rhode Island. “It’s definitely opened the door to more people,” she said. “Everyone had the time to make the effort when we were on lockdown. You can only binge TV so much. For people who were laid off or working remotely 9 to 5, they’re now able to log in at 6 p.m. and take the course. Travel is no longer an issue. Inclement weather is no longer an issue. It has made our industry more and more desirable to get into.” It was a quick pivot for pre-license training, said Enos, noting that in 2020 the state initially put rules in place that required all classes to be recorded for regulatory review, although that’s no longer the case for the 60 certified real estate education schools throughout Rhode Island. Enos said the Realtors association must, however, make information available proving that students participated in the 45 hours of virtual courses, and the organization also uses staff to monitor the classes to make sure everyone is paying attention. “We can be audited at any time to show Zoom reports on when someone signs in or signs out,” Enos said. The group had to purchase some more laptops for instructors, professional information technology support and a Zoom videoconference software subscription, she said. But it has paid off for the as-
sociation, said Enos, who credited two instructors, “Many television programs glamorized real Denise Mancini and Kevin Dumont, for leading the estate for younger demographics, and enticed them charge, which was supported by Pamela Hansonto enter the field,” Del Borgo said. “It’s becoming Carbone and Andy Goulet. more high-tech oriented, too, which also appeals “All of this technology now has really changed to younger demographics. In some cases, folks are the dynamic,” Enos said. “It has not depleted the turning hobbies into careers.” quality of lectures. There were a whole bunch of Del Borgo also agrees that the lifestyle of a real guidelines we’ve had to follow during the Zoom estate agent, and being able to work an accomclasses.” modating schedule, has been attractive to people Agueda Del Borgo, a longtime real estate profeslooking for a new job. “As folks were furloughed, I think that real sional in Rhode Island and the recently appointed estate has been seen as a great second career for president of the association, says the COVID-19 many people,” Del Borgo pandemic came with insaid. “I think a big draw creased demand for homes is it’s a flexible career. amid a shrinking supply of People like the idea of being new housing, while buyers independent contractors, looked for houses in the and their own bosses. One suburbs and others sought doesn’t necessarily have to more-affordable housing work from an office. I have options. This all amounts to an office but have always more work becoming availpredominantly worked able for real estate agents, from home for many she said. years.” “COVID drove the While virtual education demand for homes,” Del for pre-license training Borgo said. “With housing is here to stay in Rhode being so tight, it was just Island, Enos says, in-person magnified.” education courses will Del Borgo says she bereturn eventually for those lieves the increased popuwho prefer face-to-face inlarity of TV shows about fixing up homes and flipteraction with instructors. ANN ENOS, Rhode Island ping them for more money “In-person will come Association of Realtors has inspired interest in back as soon as it’s safe and comfortable,” Enos said. “A the real estate industry – professional development lot of people in our industry especially among younger director really miss it.” n people.
‘All of this technology now has really changed the dynamic.’
APPEALING BENEFIT: Agueda Del Borgo, left, president of the Rhode Island Association of Realtors, and Ann Enos, professional development director for the association, agree that the lifestyle of a real estate agent, and being able to work an accommodating schedule, has been attractive to people looking for a new job. PBN PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY
28 | FEBRUARY 4-17, 2022 | PROVIDENCE BUSINESS NEWS | www.pbn.com
