As
an
industry,
the
real
estate
world
is
truly
unique.
Think
about
it:
The
business
has
a
low
barrier
to
entry,
many
paths
to
success,
and
almost
limitless
growth
potential.
It
may
be
the
only
field
that
can
turn
an
18-year-old
into
a
millionaire
without
the
need
to
go
viral
on
social
media.
What
more
do
you
need
in
a
career
field?
Newcomers
may
have
a
mentor
or
know
someone
in
the
field
or
a
great
brokerage
to
guide
them,
but
some
don’t
always
get
a
well-defined
path
to
success
when
they
enter
the
door,
and
that
level
of
success
early
on
is
rare
without
someone
on
your
side.

Many
prospective
agents
are
told
that
their
careers
aren’t
aligned
with
modern
industry
expectations.
You
may
ask:

Why
can’t
agents
rely
on
traditional
education
and

licensing
classes
to
catch
up?
The
answer
is
simple:

People
have
lives,
and
classes
can
make
those
lives
complicated.
Beyond
that,
licensing
classes
mostly
dive
into
the
law
and
theory
behind
being
a
real
estate

agent.
They
don’t
get
down
to
the
nitty-gritty
of
ethical
dilemmas
like
buyer-seller
agreements,
concessions,
etc.

New
agents
need
two
things:
flexibility
and
relationship-centered
training.
Fortunately,
one
industry-leading
school
is
equipped
to
deliver
that
via
a
leading
real
estate
education
program
designed
for
a
comprehensive
list
of
students.

In
this
conversation,
HousingWire’s
Content
Studio
sat
down
with

Amy
Adams,
a
national
real
estate
expert
at

The
CE
Shop.
Adams
explored
her
journey
into
the
industry,
transferable
skills,
asynchronous
learning,
and

The
CE
Shop’s
ProPath
program.

This
conversation
has
been
edited
for
length
and
clarity.

Bringing
customer
service
skills
to
the
real
estate
world

HousingWire:
You
had
a
fascinating
journey
into
the
real
estate
world.
How
did
your
early
experiences
shape
how
you
approach
clients
and
the
industry
today?

Amy
Adams:
I’ve
spent
most
of
my
life
in
the
service
industry,
which
is
quite
common
among

real
estate
agents.
That
background
strengthened
my
people
skills,
and
I’ve
learned
to
“read
the
room.”

Real
estate
is
more
than
just
an
investment;
it’s
a
personal
and
emotional
decision
for
most
people
—
it’s
where
they
lay
their
heads
at
night.
The
hardest
part
of
this
job
is
dealing
with
clients’
emotions,
especially
when
making
such
a
huge
financial
decision.

But
that’s
also
the
most
rewarding
part
of
the
job.
My
service
background
helped
me
develop
those
crucial
people
skills.
I
may
not
have
appreciated
it
at
the
time,
but
now
I
see
the
value
in
every
cocktail
I
served
and
every
head
of
hair
I
styled.

Transferable
skills
and
finding
your
niche

HW:
Many
professionals
entering
real
estate
later
in
life
carry
a
wealth
of
transferable
skills.
What
do
you
say
to
those
who
worry
their
backgrounds
might
not
“fit”
the
industry?

Adams:
I
understand
that
concern,
but
I
firmly
believe
that
you’ll
attract
a
clientele
that
values
what
you
bring
to
the
table.

If
you’re
detail-oriented
or
a
numbers
person,
you’ll
probably
attract
similar
clients.
If
you’re
focused
on
lifestyle
and
living
a
certain
way,
you’ll
find
a
client
base
that
appreciates
that.
The
industry
can
accommodate
all
kinds
of
personalities
because
our
country
has
so
many
diverse
ones.

Using
asynchronous
learning
for
real
estate
education

HW:
You’ve
said
that
online
education
made
room
for
you
at
the
table.
Why
is
asynchronous
learning
so
important
for
people
looking
to
build
their
confidence
and
enter
the
real
estate
profession?

Adams:
Asynchronous
learning
is
vital
because
it
makes
real
estate
education
accessible
to
people
who
might
not
have
the
time
or
ability
to
attend
full-time,
in-person
classes.

I
started
my

real
estate
education
with
an
infant
at
home,
and
I
lived
far
from
the
nearest
school.
Asynchronous
learning
allows
people
to
work
at
their
own
pace
while
continuing
their
day
jobs
or
managing
other
commitments.
This
flexibility
makes
it
possible
for
people
from
diverse
backgrounds
to
enter
the
profession,
and
that
diversity
in
the
real
estate
world
is
incredibly
valuable.

Building
a
strong
foundation
with
core
competencies

HW:
The
CE
Shop’s
ProPath
program
helps
agents
build
a
professional
foundation
that
doesn’t
come
with
standard
licensing
classes.
What
core
competencies
do
you
believe
every
agent
should
develop
to
stand
out
and
build
trust?

Adams:
You
need
to
be
a
self-starter,
motivated,
and
ethical.
It’s
a
job,
but
it’s
also
about
putting
the
client’s
needs
first,
even
if
it
might
not
always
align
with
your
immediate
financial
needs.

The
industry
requires
fiduciary
duties
that
prioritize
your
client’s
interests.
Sometimes,
that
means
telling
a
client
that
the
house
they
love
could
be
a
financial
or
legal
nightmare.
That
honesty
builds
trust
and
demonstrates
your
commitment
to
doing
right
by
your
clients.
Ethics
and
a
moral
compass
are
key.

Dual
licensure
and
cross-industry
expertise

HW:
Dual
licensure
is
becoming
a
very
popular
topic
of
conversation.
How
can
understanding
adjacent
roles,
like
appraisal
or
mortgage,
enhance
an
agent’s
value
and
collaboration
within
a
transaction?

Adams:
Dual
licensure
is
a
great
idea
because
it
broadens
your
skills
and
enhances
your
value
in
the
real
estate
transaction
process.
If
you’re
an

MLO
(Mortgage
Loan
Originator)
or
an

appraiser,
you
can
guide
your
clients
in
selecting
the
best
loan
or
help
them
understand
a
property’s
value
before
buying
or
listing.
Knowledge
is
power,
and
having
multiple
streams
of
income
is
always
a
plus,
especially
in
a
cyclical
market.
Being
knowledgeable
in
adjacent
areas
can
also
help
you
stand
out
and
offer
more
comprehensive
services
to
clients.

The
Future
of
real
estate
education
and
training

HW:
Looking
ahead,
what
trends
or
innovations
in
education
do
you
think
will
be
most
important
for
real
estate
professionals
in
the
next
5–10
years?

Adams:
In
the
next
5–10
years,
real
estate
professionals
will
need
to
be
more
on
top
of
their
game
than
ever
before.

With
consumers
becoming
more
educated
about
their
rights
and
seeking
the
best
possible
service,
staying
updated
on
state
legal
requirements
is
crucial.
The
NAR
lawsuit
and
changing
contract
requirements
are
examples
of
how
the
industry
is
evolving,
and
real
estate
agents
will
need
to
demonstrate
their
value
more
than
ever.