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I believe that before you trust any advisor to help you make significant decisions, you should know as much as possible about the advisor, both professionally and personally. Professionally I've been licensed as a realtor in the province in Alberta since the summer of 1997, when I was 19 years old. I consider the educational requirements to become a realtor to be woefully inadequate; a 4 week course followed by a simple multiple choice test is all that is required. In the last couple of years, all new realtors must also have a high school education (or equivalent). After we are licensed, the only ongoing education that is mandatory is a few courses a year for continuing education. Due to this inadequacy, I urge everyone to ask pointed questions about their realtor's education and experience beyond the license.
In terms of actual real estate knowledge, even when I was licensed in 1997, I had a huge advantage over most of my classmates. My father has been a realtor as far back as I can remember, and he taught me much more than the licensing course ever did. The other criteria that I would use to judge realtors is what their clients think of them (testimonials) and how many properties they themselves own. The rationale is if they think real estate is such a good investment, they should have some rentals of their own. I'm a part owner a half a dozen units, and plan to buy more (and/or land development/commercial property). Personally Although
I find it very difficult to objectively talk about myself personally,
I will try. I am single and I enjoy a broad range of activities from snowmobiling,
downhill skiing, inline skating, water skiing, golf (very poorly) and
various team sports. I also enjoy relaxing with a good book or watching
a favorite television show. Technology, Internet, and computers are also
a hobby of mine.
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