“It’s to everyone’s benefit to learn about real estate,” says Rick Boone, a professor and chair of the Real Estate program at Irvine Valley College (IVC). “Regardless if we are renters or homeowners, we all have to live somewhere – so it’s essential to learn about the legalities and nuances of the real estate industry.”
With that in mind, he has focused on expanding IVC’s real estate pre-license curriculum to include a series of noncredit courses aimed at fostering general knowledge of real estate - furthering educational, practical or career goals. The coursework encompasses four new classes: Real Life Real Estate, Personal and Real Estate Finance, Real Estate Investing and Franchising and Real Estate Inspections.
Free of charge and open to anyone who wants to learn more about real estate – all offer practical, real world insights from teachers who have succeeded in the real estate field, Boone says. “Students can learn everything from tax strategies to insurance analysis to financing and credit. These are topics beneficial to anyone looking to boost their real estate knowledge, including real-estate sales professionals, first time home buyers, and aspiring financiers and investors.”
Boone, who conceptualized the new coursework with the help of an advisory team, says his goal is to bring real life industry knowledge into the classroom. “We are working to bring authentic experiences and insight to our students,” says Boone, who had a lengthy career in both real estate investment sales and academics before joining IVC nine years ago. “Our teachers are leading professionals in all aspects of the industry – from lending to appraisals to sales – with invaluable expertise and know-how which students can apply to real life situations.”
Learn more about IVC’s Real Estate program »