Metro Brokers Patrick Armbrust is the expert on Colorado DORA rules and Regulations.  Confused about who, what, where and HOW to upgrade from a Broker Associate Colorado Real Estate License to becoming an Independent or Employing Real Estate Broker.  Watch this six minute video for all of your answers.

Kathy Soltero:  Hi, I am Kathy Soltero with Metro Brokers TV.  Today we have the distinct pleasure of having Patrick Armbrust with us from Metro Brokers Southridge Realty, as well as Armbrust Real Estate Institute, thanks so much for coming in with us today and talking to us.

Patrick Armbrust:  My pleasure.

Kathy Soltero:  One of the things that we are going to talking about today and the most important thing is becoming or upgrading your broker associate license to becoming an independent broker.

Patrick Armbrust:  Yes.

Kathy Soltero:  Or an employing broker and there is so much confusion about this Patrick so.../

Patrick Armbrust:  Yes there is.

Kathy Soltero:  Explain that to me, why is there so much confusion?

Patrick Armbrust:  Well I think it goes back to the law changes Kathy in 1997.  Prior to those years people were either sales persons or brokers in Colorado and everyone in 1997 had to upgrade to a broker at that time and the existing sales people had two choices then.  They could either complete the broker transition course or pass the state portion of the exam.  Well now today people that have most folks chose the transition course that was the easier path and now today as so many people are joining Metro Brokers who are licensed prior to 1997 and completed the transition course, they are being told now that they have to pass the state portion of the exam to upgrade themselves to an independent broker or an employing broker.

Kathy Soltero:  Okay so if I get this straight, if you are a licensed prior to 1997...? 

Patrick Armbrust:  Correct.

Kathy Soltero:  And you just took that one exam or that one the transition course...? 

Patrick Armbrust:  The transition course, yes.

Kathy Soltero:  You could be a broker then?

Patrick Armbrust:  You would upgrade at that point to a broker associates.

Kathy Soltero:  Okay.

Patrick Armbrust:  And then later upgrading to independent broker or employing broker as so many people are joining Metro Brokers as independent or employing now they have to take that state exam.

Kathy Soltero:  What made this all happen?

Patrick Armbrust:  Well I think it was the opinion of the real estate commission that they wanted to raise the bar in real estate and provide the public a higher level of competency.  Prior to 1997 it was relatively easy to get your real estate license I believe it was 90 hours of education.  Since 1997 its a 168 hours, those people by the way have come into the business since 1997 with two years as an active licensee, then they can go ahead and upgrade to independent for a 24 hour course and they can upgrade to employing, so its very easy if you are licensed after 1997, the confusion comes for those that were licensed before that time.

Kathy Soltero:  So it's all of us before because we kind of all after that we all were instructed what it would take.

Patrick Armbrust:  Agreed yeah.

Kathy Soltero:  Okay so what happens to the folk's post 97, if for instance they missed some of the classes and that sort of thing, I mean why is that make that any more difficult than [Voice Crossover]?

Patrick Armbrust:  That's another big issue that we are seeing today Kathy is the real estate commission wants all current licensees in Colorado to complete the four hour commission update course each year.  They feel that doing that will keep us all up to date on forms changes, law changes and so a couple of years ago of the 24 hours that we were used to completing in our three year cycle, now 12 hours of that has to be the commission update course taken once each year in a different version of that course each year.  Well if a licensee misses a year, then the choice is to renew your license become much more difficult, they go back to taking the state portion of the exam to renew a broker's administration course which his the course that you would be required to be an employing broker.

Kathy Soltero:  Right.

Patrick Armbrust:  You could, you could complete that course but only once in your career.  So often we have exhausted that possibility in our last licensing cycle and so that leaves us to either as I said the state exam or 72 hours of pre licensing education.  So I think its very important that our current licensees remember to take that commission update course once each year and we recommend about the same time each year that way you know you are getting a different version each time and you are going to fulfill that portion of the requirement and then you take 12 hours of qualifying elective continuing education and we don't have a proper renewing your license.

Kathy Soltero:  Okay is there any distinct difference between becoming an independent broker or an employing broker as far as what the requirements are?

Patrick Armbrust:  Well I think the only difference is the brokerage administration course.  To go independent with two years active and presuming the state exam has been completed either prior to 1997 or today to go independent is a simple matter making application to the state and paying a fee.  To employ and supervise licensees then you do have to complete the 24 hour brokerage administration course.

Kathy Soltero:  And that's post 97 or...?

Patrick Armbrust:  Anyone.

Kathy Soltero:  Anyone?

Patrick Armbrust:  Yes.

Kathy Soltero:  Who wants to be an employing broker period?

Patrick Armbrust:  Yes and I think brokers today they, if there is any question at all they can call an institution like ourselves they can look up their records on the commission's database, there is opportunity to call the real estate commission and they can pull up the records and then identify if a brokerage administration course is needed for instance or identify that state exam component, but typically most brokers went through that transition course post, pre 1997 and probably have to complete their state exam today to move forward.

Kathy Soltero:  Well and the CREC is the requirement that we need to take to though I mean we have only been doing that probably well for the last nine years?

Patrick Armbrust:  Well its been sometime but the rules have changed in terms of the frequency, the Colorado Real Estate Commission update course is what you refer to and that's, that's that four hour course that you want to make sure to take every single year.

Kathy Soltero:  Right.  Okay so bottom line, is it difficult for us to do this it just seems like we call the real estate commission we can't figure out what do we do?

Patrick Armbrust:  I don't think so, once we understand the rules we can play the game.

Kathy Soltero:  Okay.

Patrick Armbrust:  So really the biggest question that I have to do with day to day counseling people in this issue, is when would if you were licensed before 1997 how did you transition from a sales person to an associate broker?  If the answer was the broker transition course, then to move forward to independent and employing we just have to get you ready to pass that state exam.  If you are licensed after 1997, or took the state exam as you are transitioned, then it's very, very easy.

Kathy Soltero:  All right well Patrick hopefully we have clarified some of this...? 

Patrick Armbrust:  I hope so.

Kathy Soltero:  For so many people out there who are maybe thinking of joining Metro Brokers and...?

Patrick Armbrust:  Absolutely.

Kathy Soltero:  And having their own business as a broker manager or is an independent broker themselves?

Patrick Armbrust:  Either one yeah.

Kathy Soltero:  Thank you so much for joining us two on Metro Brokers TV. 

Posted in Education And Training, Join Metro Brokers, MBI FAQ

Hi. This is Joe Bennell. I am coming here today from the Metro Brokers Longmont office Franchise and I just wanted to clarify a couple of things regarding the metro Brokers monthly fees. I have had some brokers approach me and ask me whether or not there are any fees in excess of the Metro Brokers $80 dollars and my answer to them is yes. There are other fees if you want to have an office here. You would have to sign a lease and have some dedicated space. You are an independent broker and you are responsible to pay for your office. If you would like to use common space, that's fine as well. There is a different fee associated with that. However, the point is that the $80 dollars a month gets you all the success tools that you need, your branding, your marketing, your CTM contract software, and the Metro brokers Brand Name recognition that you need to be successful.

Posted in Metro Brokers TV Advantages, Who's New, MBI FAQ

MetroBrokersTV: I am Amy Chase with Metro Brokers. We are here today at Metro Brokers TV with Joe Bennell. Joe is with Tailor-Made Real Estate in Longmont, Colorado. Welcome Joe.

Joe Bennell: Thank you.

MetroBrokersTV: So, tell me a little bit about how the brand and name recognition from Metro Brokers is working out for you as the only office in Longmont.

Joe Bennell: So far it is fantastic. It is definitely a recognizable brand even up in our little neck of the woods up in Longmont. Longmont has been considered kind of a smaller area and I think previously it may not have been a good fit for Metro Brokers, but it is now. We are at a size where it is recognizable; people who have seen the commercials, people who have seen the signs. There are other Metro Brokers from the northern Denver Metro area listing properties in Longmont as well. So, there is a lot of added benefit to the brand and people see it and they know it.

MetroBrokersTV: Tell me a little bit about the return on your investment from Metro Brokers. It is a great opportunity for our monthly dues. Tell me what your experience has been and what you like about that.

Joe Bennell: For the $80 bucks a month membership fee, it is really, it is just an unbeatable price. I mean you get television commercials, you get a wonderful website that incorporates all seven Colorado MLS systems into it. Included with that website you get your own personal agent page, which is a tremendous amount of money if you were to go outside and do that on your own. For instance, when I was trying to brand my independent company, I was looking at the television commercials and the cost of that and just for me to run a little 10 second ad between the hours of 1 am and 3 am four times a month was going to cost me $6,000 dollars. I am really pleased that I benefit from television commercials and I am only spending $80 dollars a month. I am spending a total of under 1000 dollars a month for an entire office to benefit from literally hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of advertising and marketing.

MetroBrokersTV: How have you been received in the community? Do you find that you are a respected agent or have you really had to kind of fight to earn that reputation or how has that been going?

Joe Bennell: Prior to my membership with Metro Brokers, people still hadn't really heard about Joe Bennell or Tailor-Made Real Estate. That was just because it is so cost prohibitive to market and brand an independent company and since I have opened up the doors, the word is getting out quickly, there is no other plan like it and it just makes a lot of sense for a lot of people who want to be successful in this business.

MetroBrokersTV: Tell me a little bit about your plans for expansion.

Joe Bennell: Well, I own an office right now on Main Street and it is a fairly large space and I need to get that one filled. I would like to fill that one up with professionals in the industry who are going to help promote the positive image of Metro Brokers brand and then I am looking forward to opening up some other offices in and around Longmont.

MetroBrokersTV: So, seasoned agents, are you also looking to bring on newer agents?

Joe Bennell: Not so much. Not so much. I am looking for the folks that have at least three years experience and understand how to do a transaction and want to be independent.

MetroBrokersTV: Well, there is no doubt in my mind you will continue to grow and do great.

Joe Bennell: Thank you.

MetroBrokersTV: Thanks Joe for coming.

Joe Bennell: You're welcome.

Posted in Metro Brokers TV Advantages, MBI FAQ, Franchise Opportunity

MetroBrokersTV: Hi. I am Amy Chase with Metro Brokers. Thanks for joining us again today on Metro Brokers TV. I am here this afternoon with Joe Bennell. He is out of our Longmont office. Joe, welcome.

Joe Bennell: Thank you.

MetroBrokersTV: So, tell us a little bit about how long you have been in real estate and what your background is.

Joe Bennell: Well, I have been in real estate now for five years. My previous background was in telecommunications engineering.

MetroBrokersTV: And your situation is a little bit unique because my understanding is when you got into real estate, you started a franchise immediately. So, you are not only an agent, but you are also a site owner with Metro Brokers.

Joe Bennell: That's correct.

MetroBrokersTV: So, tell me a little bit about that process and how you decided to join Metro Brokers. I understand you looked at other franchises. What was that like for you?

Joe Bennell: Well, I had been independent for a while, a business partner of mine and I who started Tailor-Made Real Estate and we were truly independent. I was under his license for the requirement of two years, which is the Colorado regulations and after that point, he decided to retire from the business and I was on my own with this Tailor-Made Real Estate and I just really couldn't get enough forward motion and just decided that I need to get a brand. So, at that point in time, I had looked into RE/MAX and Coldwell Banker. Most of the franchises that I looked into were roughly on an average $20,000 to $25,000 dollars just to get in the door and open up a little satellite office. So, I just put the word out to some of the brokers that I knew and came back and found Metro Brokers through actually one of the current board of directors.

MetroBrokersTV: So, why Metro Brokers? What was the good fit?

Joe Bennell: I am able to run my business the way I want to run my business. There is no particular franchise fee associated with it. There is a membership $80.00 monthly fee. The Metro Brokers brand was designed purely as a marketing co-op and really the marketing co-op and the brand recognition is huge in my business. It is just... you need it to convert buyer and seller prospects into actual clientele. They need to know who you are working for and they need to know that you are backed by a solid company.

MetroBrokersTV: And what was the application process like and tell us about that fee.

Joe Bennell: It was very simple. I just made one $900.00 application to open an office and they asked a few questions about my operating budget and where I am planning the office, what my venue would be, and I think once I submitted the application, it was... I had to wait for a committee meeting to approve the new office. There was maybe a three week turnaround time before I got approval.

MetroBrokersTV: So, a three week turnaround time, low fees, simplicity, now everything is online, kind of a no-brainer.

Joe Bennell: That's no-brainer, absolutely a no-brainer.

MetroBrokersTV: Terrific. Well, congratulations on a job well done.

Joe Bennell: Thank you.

MetroBrokersTV: Thanks for being here.

Joe Bennell: You're welcome.

Posted in Metro Brokers TV Advantages, Join Metro Brokers, MBI FAQ, Franchise Opportunity

MetroBrokersTV : I am Mark Eibner and welcome to metrobrokerstv.com. Today, we are with Bruce Mitchell and Bruce has just recently opened an office up in the Breckenridge area and Bruce welcome to the show.

Bruce Mitchell: Thank you.

MetroBrokersTV : Just a quick question. With Metro Brokers having good brand recognition down here in Denver, what possessed you to perhaps pick the Metro Brokers brand name up in the mountain community?

Bruce Mitchell: Actually, the Front Range is very important to us. Over 60% of our business comes from the Front Range and Metro Brokers has such a strong presence in the Front Range of Colorado that I feel like it is going to be a great asset.

MetroBrokersTV : So, a lot of your clients, customers up there are actually familiar with the name Metro Brokers.

Bruce Mitchell: I would say two out of three buyers in the mountains are very familiar with Metro Brokers.

MetroBrokersTV : Wow. Excellent. Why don't you tell us a little bit about your office, how long you have been in the business, where you came from before?

Bruce Mitchell: I have been in the business for eight years. I have been with Re/Max. I have been very successful at Re/Max, but I was looking for an opportunity to open my own business. Sometimes you feel like you are beating the beast a little bit at Re/Max. It is a big company. Their rates have gone up quite a bit over time and I think that 30years ago, they were very innovative in bringing the 100% concept to traditional real estate, but today I feel like Metro Brokers has created a model for today's real estate market and in the future.

MetroBrokersTV : I mean it is hard to believe Metro Brokers started 32 years ago and we were a 100% shop back then with one set membership fee per month and 32 years later, we have a one set member fee... membership fee per month, no franchise fees, no advertising fees, no corporate fees, no any fees. Is that something that really attracted you to their franchise?

Bruce Mitchell: It seems like every dollar that you pay into Metro Brokers you get double your money back with the technology that they provide. The website is fantastic and it seems more like we are all here sharing costs rather than feeding the corporate beast like we did at Re/Max.

MetroBrokersTV : Opening expenses, I mean were you kind of shocked at how low it really cost to acquire the Metro Brokers trade name?

Bruce Mitchell: I was very surprised. I don't think most brokers realize how easily they can open their own shop with Metro Brokers.

MetroBrokersTV : Yeah, like office application fee, was it $950?

Bruce Mitchell: That is correct, yeah.

MetroBrokersTV : It is kind of hard to believe. I don't know, I know some of the even, let us just say lesser known Internet based franchises are running ten grand at a minimum and you really get no support, no anything. Have you been pleased with how Metro has worked with you and the support you have got here from corporate down in Denver?

Bruce Mitchell: The people here at Metro Brokers have been wonderful to work with and I have been really blown away by the support that they provide, with the technology, the website, is really going to be a big deal in our business in the mountains.

MetroBrokersTV : Great. Well, Bruce, we really appreciate having you on board and we also appreciate you coming in for the interview today. For more information about Metro Brokers, its people, our concept, keep your browser tuned on metrobrokerstv.com.

Posted in Metro Brokers TV Advantages, Join Metro Brokers, MBI FAQ