About the Course

National Association of REALTORS' statistics from 2002 indicate that more than 70 percent of home buyers look to the Internet FIRST in researching information on the home they eventually purchase. In addition, a majority of them find the agent they will work with through Internet research as well.

Just as the Internet has clearly changed the business world, real estate licensees must recognize they need new skills and knowledge to serve “wired” consumers. And because paperless real estate transactions are now a reality, licensees who lack cyber competencies cannot even participate fully in their client’s transaction and certainly cannot protect their client’s interests.

At the completion of this course, the student will know ...

• Who among their clients are using the 'Net, and why

• How the online culture changes the real estate business

• Useful web sites that provide real estate-related information

• Research regarding the consumer’s on-line behavior in real estate transactions

• 8 benefits 'Net users expect when online

• 12 essential Web browser skills (with complete click streams for each skill)

• 22 essential e-mail skills (with complete click streams for each skill)

• Simple and Boolean searching skills using search engines

• Simple and advanced searching skills using subject directories

Special Note:
This course, "Using Internet Resources to Serve Consumers," is a 7-hour MCE Elective. It also is the first half of a longer, 15-hour and two-day Broker Elective titled "Using the Internet to Serve Consumers." The longer course, and not this MCE portion alone, is required to earn the Real Estate CyberSpace Specialist designation from the Real Estate CyberSpace Society. Students who take “Using Internet Resources to Serve Real Estate Consumers” and then take the second day separately to complete "Using the Internet to Serve Consumers" will fulfill both their 7 hours of elective MCE and the educational portion for the RECS designation, but will NOT be entitled to broker elective credit.

This is a full-day course. It fulfills 7 hours of the 14 hours of mandatory continuing education (MCE) required by the Pennsylvania State Real Estate Commission for salesperson's or broker's license renewal in the 2002-2004 renewal period.