My focus this week is on branding - a great topic to consider as one fiscal year winds down and the new one is around the corner. New year, clean slate, fresh opportunity to roll out a new image.

Here is what I’ve found the week of December 8, 2025 that looks interesting to me:

• 12/8/25, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Brand You. I hate being my own brand, but apparently it’s required now. (Humbug.)

• 12/9/25, 9:00 AM - Noon: Navigating 1-4 Family Contract Changes. Why do they keep changing the contract forms?! (Humbug!)

• 12/10/25, 10:00 AM - Noon: Lights, Camera, Impact! Realtors Guide to Success on Camera. Ugh, I hate seeing myself on camera. (Humbug, I say!!)

• 12/11/25, 9:00 AM - Noon: Open Houses, Open Doors. I guess if you want to boost your business and be around people, this is one way to do it. (Do I hear rattling chains?)

• 12/12/25, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Your Marketing Plan. Gotta have a plan to be successful. (You boy, what day is it?!)

If you know of an interesting class that you think deserves a shout-out in a future roundup, please email me at bart@edu.realestate.

See you in 2026!

Here is what I’ve found the week of December 1, 2025 that looks interesting to me:

• 12/1/25, 1:30 PM - 3:30 PM: Real Estate Market Trends. Great topic to get updated on before the end of the year.

• 12/2/25, 10:00 AM - Noon: Property Insurance Essentials for Real Estate Professionals. Great information about a topic that isn’t widely discussed in brokerage circles.

• 12/3/25, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM: 4 Skills You Need to Improve Your Transactions. Never hurts to go back to the basics and make sure you’re doing the simple things correctly.

• 12/4/25, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: How to Get Your Officer Accepted. Direct and to the point. It’s got my interest!

• 12/5/25, 9:00 AM - Noon: Building a Real Estate Consulting Business. This will be the last offering of this course until next Summer. Starting in January I’ll be running my “Property Tax Consulting for Real Estate Professionals” course instead.

If you know of an interesting class that you think deserves a shout-out in a future roundup, please email me at bart@edu.realestate.

Here is what I’ve found the week of November 17, 2025 that looks interesting to me:

• 11/19/25, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: So, You Think You Are Coastal Competent? I typically don’t like courses with aggressive names. But this looks an interesting starting point for those interested in learning more on this topic.

• 11/21/25, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Home Accessibility: Meeting Your Clients Needs. Most of us are far more likely to have a customer or client who has accessibility issues than we are to broker a property on the coast. Like the course above, this looks like a great starting point if you want to learn more.

I didn’t put the Broker Responsibility course I’m teaching on Nov. 18 on here. If you need the course, it’s easy enough to find as it’s being offered by like 8 or 9 boards around the state.

If you know of an interesting class that you think deserves a shout-out in a future roundup, please email me at bart@edu.realestate.

Here is what I’ve found the week of November 10, 2025 that looks interesting to me:

• 11/10/25, 9:00 AM - Noon: How to Become a Referral Rockstar. Referrals? Yeah, they’re important. Taking a class will either reinforce all your existing perfect habits or teach you a few new tricks.

• 11/10/25, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Understanding Contingency Situations. There’s never been a better time to become an expert in all aspects of the contract forms.

• 11/11/25, 11:00 AM - Noon: Being a Realtor is Not a Vocation. I love the premise of this class - learning all about how to properly use the Realtor trademark. Every time I hear someone say they’re a licensed Realtor I die a little inside.

• 11/12/25, 9:00 AM - Noon: Farm and Ranch 101. Yee haw.

• 11/13/25, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Texas Negotiation Law. Remember what I wrote earlier about becoming a contracts expert?

If you know of an interesting class that you think deserves a shout-out in a future roundup, please email me at bart@edu.realestate.

Here is what I’ve found the week of November 3, 2025 that looks interesting to me:

• 11/4/25, 9:00 AM - Noon: AI for Real Estate Marketing I - Top Writing Tools. Lots of talk about using AI in marketing - see how others are doing it as opposed to trying to figure it out from the ground up.

• 11/5/25, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Homeowner Associations. These aren’t going away, so you may as well learn about them in-depth!

• 11/6/25, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Doing Global Business in Texas. Texas is a huge international business center. No sense in leaving money on the table.

• 11/7/25, 9:00 AM - Noon: Building a Real Estate Consulting Business. Every single time I teach this, my students tell me they come out of it with a new idea for a product or service they can sell. Don’t take if you’re already too busy, I guess.

• 11/7/25, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Texas Ag Exemption: What is it and What Real Estate Agents Should Know. A little niche, perhaps, but if you deal with rural property this is excellent knowledge to have.

If you know of an interesting class that you think deserves a shout-out in a future roundup, please email me at bart@edu.realestate.

Here is what I’ve found the week of October 27, 2025 that looks interesting to me:

• 10/27/25, 9:00 AM - Noon: Agent to Investor: Strategies for Agents Venturing Into Real Estate Investment. So many people tell me they want to get into real estate in order to invest. Learn the basics before you jump in.

• 10/28/25, 9:00 AM - Noon: Texas, Can You Dig it? Oil, Gas and Other Minerals. Still very much part of the mythos of Texas, even if most real estate deals don’t involve subsurface rights.

• 10/28/25, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Platting 101. If you’ve ever thought about real estate development, this is a crucial topic you need to know more about.

• 10/29/25, 9:00 AM - Noon: Selling Farm and Ranch in Texas. Pairs nicely with the development course.

• 10/29/25, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Real Estate Wealth: Buy, Hold, or Fold. A great adjunct to the “Agent to Investor” course. If it’s an area of interest to you, the more you know, the better.

If you know of an interesting class that you think deserves a shout-out in a future roundup, please email me at bart@edu.realestate.

Here is what I’ve found the week of October 20, 2025 that looks interesting to me:

• 10/20/25, 9:00 AM - Noon: Texas: New Laws & Contract Updates. New laws are in effect now from the most recent legislative session, and more are going into effect January 1. Get informed before it’s too late.

• 10/21/25, 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Being a Realtor is not a vocation: Understanding the trademark. Oh my goodness, yes. If, like me, you are bugged by someone declaring themselves to be a “Licensed Realtor,” I think this will be a great way to spend an hour.

• 10/21/25, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: CMAs for Unique Properties. The instructor is an appraiser and a broker, so I can’t think of a better person to tackle this important subject.

• 10/22/25, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: The House Flipping Formula. So many people get into real estate because they’re potential investors. See what it will take to be successful.

• 10/23/25, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Commercial Real Estate Leasing Process. Won’t appeal to everyone, but great info for those who are thinking about branching out into the commercial space. Leasing is a more accessible way to do that than sales.

• 10/24/25, 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM: Broker Responsibility. Sure, it’s mandatory for designated brokers, brokers who sponsor sales agents, and sales agents who are delegated supervisors. And yes, starting next year it will be required for all brokers. But that doesn’t mean it won’t be an enjoyable experience. Taught by yours truly. Also being offered by 9 boards across the state if you want to enroll that way.

If you know of an interesting class that you think deserves a shout-out in a future roundup, please email me at bart@edu.realestate.

Here is what I’ve found the week of October 13, 2025 that looks interesting to me:

• 10/13/25, 9:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Commercial Sales 101: From Client to Contract to Close. This is the only “maybe” class that I’m recommending, simply from the fact that if you have no interest in commercial sales, you might not pick up anything useful. But I talk to a lot of agents who are interested in expanding into this niche.

• 10/14/25, 9:00 AM - Noon: Understanding How Solar Panels Affect Transactions. Crucial if you work in residential brokerage. End of description.

• 10/16/25, 10:00 AM - Noon: Evictions: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly. An important aspect of property management to learn about. If you’re going to work with tenants, you need to know about evictions.

• 10/16/25, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Crafting Conversations and Overcoming Objections. It was just the other day that I was recommending the books Getting to Yes, Getting Past No, and Secrets of Closing the Sale. All topics you need to understand if you’re going to sell your services to others.

If you know of an interesting class that you think deserves a shout-out in a future roundup, please email me at bart@edu.realestate.

Here is what I’ve found the week of October 6, 2025 that looks interesting to me:

• 10/7/25, 9:00 AM - Noon: AI for Real Estate Marketing II - Video Marketing Mastery. Will this makes sense if you haven’t taken AI for Real Estate Marketing I? I have no clue. But it’s $30 and you’ll probably learn something useful.

• 10/8/25, 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Negotiate Like a Pro. Too many people think negotiation just means haggling. Not so. Get educated.

• 10/9/25, 9:00 AM - Noon: Fair Housing. People keep screwing this up. So we need to keep learning about it until we stop.

If you know of an interesting class that you think deserves a shout-out in a future roundup, please email me at bart@edu.realestate.

Here is what I’ve found the week of September 29, 2025 that looks interesting to me:

• 9/30/25, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Intro to Commercial. Some people look at commercial real estate and see dollar signs. I see insurance certificates and 60+ page leases.

• 10/1/25, 9:00 AM - Noon: Deep Dive into Buyer & Seller Representation. Maybe you primarily work with just buyers or just sellers? Now’s the time to expand.

• 10/2/25, 9:00 AM - Noon: So you want to be a property manager. My first job in real estate was in property management. So I feel like the title of this course is being said by someone who’s very concerned about you. Find out more before jumping into this line of work!

• 10/3/25, Noon - 3:00 PM: Building a Real Estate Consulting Business. Yes, I’m going to keep plugging this course. Every time I’ve taught it, my students have come away with actionable ideas for broadening their real estate practice.

If you know of an interesting class that you think deserves a shout-out in a future roundup, please email me at bart@edu.realestate.

Writing a good contract is one of the most important skills a license holder can bring to a transaction. Level up your game with some contracts-focused courses from around the state this coming week.

Here is what I’ve found the week of September 22, 2025 that looks interesting to me:

• 9/22/25, 1 PM - 4 PM: Best Practices Using Constantly Changing Forms. This 3-hour course gives an overview of the latest forms from TREC and Texas Realtors.

• 9/24/25, 9 AM - Noon: Do You Know Your 1-4 Contract Addendums?. Or should it be “addenda?” This 3-hour course will answer that question and many more.

• 9/24/25, 1 PM - 3 PM: Avoid Common Contract Mistakes. If you’re going to make a mistake, it should at least be uncommon. 2-hour CE course focusing on effective contract writing.

• 9/26/25, 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM: The Forms You Need to Know. An excellent class and refresher covering this important topic. 3 hours of contracts CE.

If you know of an interesting class that you think deserves a shout-out in a future roundup, please email me at bart@edu.realestate.

With that in mind, here is what I’ve found the week of September 15, 2025 that looks interesting to me:

• 9/15/25, 8:30 AM - 5 PM: PSA - Pricing Strategies: Mastering the CMA. This 8-hour course leads to NAR’s Pricing Strategy Advisor certification. This is an important skill for any agent, so mastering it is a worthwhile goal.

• 9/16/25, 1 PM - 4 PM: Land CMAs. This 3-hour course focuses on the role of land pricing in preparing a CMA. For those who are familiar with the CMA process but who may not fully understand this particular nuance.

• 9/18/25, Noon - 2 PM: An Introduction to the CMA. Good as a refresher or even an introductory course (hence the name), especially if you don’t have the time for a full-day course. Taught by yours truly.

If you know of an interesting class that you think deserves a shout-out in a future roundup, please email me at bart@edu.realestate.

Here is what I’ve found the week of September 8, 2025 that looks interesting to me:

• 9/8/25, 9 AM - Noon: How to Become a Referral Rockstar. Building and maintaining a network is crucial to success, especially when you’re competing with tens of thousands of other agents.

• 9/9/25, 10 AM - Noon: The Joy and Pain of Solar Panels. Get three agents in a room and ask them what they think about solar panels. You’ll be in for a lively discussion.

• 9/10/25, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Landlord and Tenant Law. If you’re in any way involved in leasing or property management, you’ll need to take a class like this at least every two years, if not more frequently.

• 9/11/25, 9 AM - Noon: Texas, Can You Dig It? (Oil, Gas and Other Minerals). The instructor is a broker and a landman - should be a really interesting class!

• 9/12/25, 10 AM - 11 AM: From Relationships to Referrals. If you just want to spend one hour talking about referrals instead of three. But most of us could probably use both classes if we’re being honest.

If you know of an interesting class that you think deserves a shout-out in a future roundup, please email me at bart@edu.realestate.

Here is what I’ve found the week of September 1, 2025 that looks interesting to me:

• 9/2/25, 9 AM - Noon: Know the 1-4 Family Contract and Avoid Issues. 3 hours of contracts CE, offered by several boards but I found the lowest price through the South Padre Island board.

• 9/2/25, 2 PM - 4 PM: High-end Marketing on a Low-end Budget. Fun name and an interesting concept. Doing more with less is always a good habit to have.

• 9/3/25, 1 PM - 4 PM: CMA “Price it Right” - Matrix. Creating a CMA is a crucial skill for real estate agents. Never hurts to take a new look at the process.

• 9/4/25, 1 PM - 4 PM: TransactionDesk Essentials. We’ve all seen tools that are available to us but we’ve never explored. If this is one of those for you, taking this class might be a good idea.

• 9/5/25, 9 AM - Noon: Building a Real Estate Consulting Business. This is a new course that I’m offering through Collin College. Many agents are looking to expand the services they offer, and this course provides a blueprint.

If you know of an interesting class that you think deserves a shout-out in a future roundup, please email me at bart@edu.realestate.

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I like to focus on live courses that are taught remotely. I feel like this is the best of all worlds, with the interaction of live instruction and the versatility to take advantage of classes happening all over the state.

Here’s some classes happening this week you might want to take a look at:

8/26/25, 9 AM - Noon: Understanding a Condominium Contract, for those who need contract CE hours and also could use a refresher on the peculiarities of the Condo contract.

8/27/25, 9 AM - Noon: Agent to Investor: Strategies for Agents Venturing into Real Estate Investment - offered by several boards, the Greater Texoma Association has the lowest registration fee that I can tell.

8/27/25, 12:30 PM - 3:30 PM: Seal the Deal: Mastering Buyer Representation - once again the Texoma board is coming in with the best price. Representing buyers is only going to become more important as the real estate market becomes more balanced.

8/28/25, 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM: Texas Property Taxes - this is a crucial area where real estate agents need to be educating their clients. Get educated yourself first!

8/28/25, 1 PM - 4 PM: Commercial Sales Contracts 101 - if you prefer your contracts CE to be of the commercial variety, here’s a great option.

8/29/25, 9 AM - 4 PM: Broker Responsibility - almost literally your last chance to take it before the end of the month (and it’s taught by yours truly!)

Honorable mention this week goes to Being a REALTOR® is not a vocation: Understanding the Trademark being held at the Beaumont Board of Realtors (it’s listed as a remote class on the Texas Realtors website, but when you click through to register it shows as in person). As someone who gets very annoyed when people conflate the terms “Realtor” and “real estate license holder” this one is near and dear to my heart. I hope to see it offered on Zoom soon!

If you see an interesting class that you think deserves a shout-out in a future roundup, please email me at bart@edu.realestate.