Tryon, North Carolina Rolling Art Antique Motorcycle and Car Show for 2018

Tryon Rolling Art Antique Motorcycle Show could not have had better weather.  On Saturday November 3, 2018 aboy 200 antique cars and 200 antique motorcycles came to downtown Tryon.

We had Harleys and Hondas and Huscavaras and Triumphs and Ariels and BMW and Suzuki's and Yamahas and Nortons and Indians and BSA and Bultacos and Ducatis

Lots of old bikes in Tryon, N.C.

As I was leaving on my 1981 Honda CB 750,
a guy sitting next to me on a Norton said, "Wow! That electric starter is a nice accessory.".  There were plenty of motorcycles at this show with no electric starter. An equal array of antique cars was on display.  There was Lamborghini, Ferrari, Austin,Packard, Studebaker, Boattail Riviera, 55 T Bird, Super Sport Chevelle, cool Jeeps, and lots of super cool trucks.

If you missed the Tryon Rolling Art antique car and motorcycle show in 2018, put it on your schedule for next year.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vZVHiFux20  Ride your bike to the show.  Tryon is a tiny little quaint charming delightful friendly town at the bottom of the steepest railroad grade east of the Mississippi, the Saluda Grade.  The railroad and the Pacolet River and  U.S. 176 follow the grade up the mountain to Saluda and Hendersonville.  This is one of the best motorcycle roads in western North Carolina.  http://rondclimer.blogspot.com/2016/02/ride-your-bike-to-pearson-falls-on-us.html

We had old cars, old trucks and old motorcycles in Tryon, N.C. 

If you are coming to Tryon from Asheville, get off that nasty old Interstate 26 at exit 53.  Come down U.S. 176 from Hendersonville through Saluda to Tryon.  It is a fun, beautiful ride.  If you are coming from South Carolina, get off the interstate at Inman and come up U.S. 176 through Landrum into Tryon.  Join us next year.  Bring your antique bike or your modern bike, the one with the electric starter.  Tryon Rolling Art is a great antique bike and car show.

A Harley Davidson K model came in from South Carolina

In North Carolina Real Estate, What is Difference Between Post License and Continuing Education?

When a real estate license applicant goes to real estate school and gets a real estate license in North Carolina, that applicant becomes a "provisional broker" We do not have real estate salespersons in North Carolina.

If a person graduated from First Real Estate School and passed the North Carolina real estate exam, that person would be provisional broker until that person has passed three real estate post license classes.   These post license classes are thirty hours each. 

Post license class is fun at First Real Estate School.  

These thirty hour post license real estate  classes are taught by most real estate schools.  A new real estate licensee can take these classes slowly or quickly.  The slow method would have the new licensee take their first post license thirty hour class BEFORE the first anniversary of passing the North Carolina real estate exam.  Before the second anniversary of getting their North Carolina real estate license, the new provisional broker would be required by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission  www.ncrec.gov  to take a second thirty hour  post license course.  Before that provisional broker celebrated his third anniversary of getting his real estate license, he would need to take a third thirty hour post license class.  That is as slow as a new licensee can go through that process. 

If a new real estate provisional broker wanted to go through this process as fast as possible, that new provisional broker could take these three post license classes very soon after getting their real estate license.  Why would a new real estate broker want to do that? 

When that new provisional broker finishes his third post license real estate class, he becomes a full broker.  He could open his own office if he wanted to. 

Simultaneously, once that provisional broker passes the North Carolina real estate exam, another clock begins to tick, the expiration clock that requires CONTINUING EDUCATION.  Every real estate broker, old or new, in North Carolina is required by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission to take eight hours of continuing education every year in addition to the post license requirement required of new provisional brokers.  Yes, I said in addition.  I did not say in lieu of. 

Every real estate broker's license in North Carolina expires on June 30 every year.  Every real estate broker in North Carolina has to take eight hours of continuing education every year.  At least four hours of that education has to be in a classroom with an instructor.  The first time that a provisional broker renews their real estate license, no continuing education is required.  Starting with a provisional broker's second June 30th, eight hours of  continuing education is required to renew that real estate broker's license. 

New real estate provisional brokers need post license AND continuing education.  Old real estate brokers only need continuing education. 

If you live anywhere near Hendersonville, First Real Estate School at 404 S. Main street.  would be happy to help with these educational requirements.  www.firstrealestateschool.com  Check our website.  Join us for postlicense education or continuing education.  

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Pass Fail Rate for North Carolina Real Estate Exam for September 2018

Last month, September 2018, four hundred and fifty two real estate license applicants took the North Carolina real estate exam.  All of these real estate license applicants had already passed a test at an accredited real estate school in North Carolina.  Two hundred and fifty eight of the real estate license applicants passed.  That is a 57% pass rate.  The North Carolina real estate exam is no joke. 

If you are soon taking the North Carolina real estate exam.  please do not underestimate this exam like 43% of the real estate license candidates did last month.  This is a $164 mistake.  That is what it costs every time you take the North carolina real estate exam.  Pass it the first time. 

Here is the problem.  Most test candidates study like they want to baaaaaarely pass.  Their goal is to make a seventy two out of a hundred on the national portion and twenty nine out of forty on the North carolina portion.  At $164 per opportunity, you need to study like you want to make 100% on both parts of the exam. 

Read the textbook.  There are lots of students that go take the state test without having read the textbook.  Many students go take the exam without answering the questions at the end of the chapter.  Many students go spend their $164 when they have not done the practice test in the back of the textbook.  Is $164 a lot of money at your house?  What about $164 x 5 ?  Is that a lot of money at your house? 

Last month, one hundred and fifty two repeat test takers took the North Carolina real estate exam.  These real estate license applicants knew how tough this test is.  They have already taken it once or twice or five times.  Twenty three of those repeat  test takers passed.  That is a fifteen per cent pass rate.  If you are going back for an encore performance, may I suggest a few study tips for you? 

Watch ALL of my North Carolina real estate math videos on You Tube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMdJ-2iHepM&t=18s   This is free.  It is reasonably easy.  There is no math on the North Carolina real estate exam that I do not have a video for.  The North Carolina real estate exam is fifteen per cent math.  Why would you go take a test that is 15% math when you know there is math on it that you do not know how to do?  Learn to do the math before you go. Read the syllabus for the course that you have already passed.  It tells you exactly what math is on the North Carolina real estate test.  How much money have you budgeted to spend taking this test? 

First Real Estate School in Hendersonville, N.C.

Here is another study tip.  Read the "Comments", Appendix A in the textbook. Seventy five per cent of the questions on the North Carolina portion of the test come straight out of the "Comments"  Read the "Comments" ten times.  If you just can not read this BORING material, I have it posted on You Tube.  I will read it to you.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaPLEyKzX24&t=14s  This will take six videos.  More students fail the North Carolina portion of the test than the national portion.  Read the "Comments".  Last month, fifty two per cent of repeat test takers taking only the North Carolina portion of the exam (at $164 per try) passed.  Forty eight per cent will be back one more time spending $164 at the PSI test center.  You can not pass the North Carolina portion of the test if you don't know what is in the "Comments". 

Have you tried my free practice test right here on this blog?  http://rondclimer.blogspot.com/2015/04/real-estate-practice-exam-for-north.html  If not, try it before you try thr PSI test at $164 per try.  Have you taken my practice test at www.ncreexam.com  ?  There are two of them, one for the national and one for the state .  Take them both. 

Have you made flashcards? 

Have you taken a state exam review class? 

Are you getting together with your classmates?  http://rondclimer.blogspot.com/2017/12/what-about-those-trick-questions-on.html  Studying together is a fun and effective. 

Please do not underestimate the North Carolina real estate exam.  It is tough by any definition.  The pass rate is dismal.  It is expensive to fail. 

If you live anywhere near Hendersonville in western North Carolina, please accept my invitation to come interview with us at Keller Williams Realty on Main Street.  It is a perfect place to start your new career.  Call me at 828 755 6996. 

Are You Sure You Want To Wait Until Next Year to Buy Real Estate

The older Realtors get, the more they like to tell stories.  Let me tell you the story about the first house I ever sold. 

It was 1974. I was a Realtor in Orlando.  I was showing houses to Terry, a cab driver and Mary, his wife, a waitress.  They felt like the largest payment they could possibly afford was $190 per month.  We found a house in a neighborhood called "Monterey Homes".  The price was $18,900.  The payments would be $195 per month.  We found another house in the same neighborhood that they liked better.  The payments on this house would be $205 per month.  They decided to go for the nicer, $205 per month house.  They bought it.  It was my first sale.

Twelve years later, I was walking through the Fashion Square Shopping Mall in Orlando.  A lady runs up to me, hugs me and says, 'You are Ron Climer You are our family's hero.  I pray for you all the time."  I replied, "Who are you?".  She said,  " I am Mary.  My husband Terry and I bought our first house from you in 1974.  You talked us into paying more payments than we thought we could possibly pay."  We sold that house last year.  We made $38,000.  That is more money than we could ever have saved in a hundred years.  We have bought a bigger nicer house You made it happen by getting us to buy that first house and make those sooooooooo big payments.".

If you are considering waiting or not buying a house to live in because you can not afford those big $1500 per month payments, change your mind.  If the mortgage company says you can afford it, you can afford it.  Watch this video if you do not understand how the bank knows what you can afford. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wy1Y7zDO3M4&t=219s 

Please do not stay in that rental.  You don't own it.  The rent will go up.  Your house payment will never go up.  Tell the Terry and Mary story to your parents.  I am confident that they have a similar story.  Everyone has a story about how they thought their first house payment was impossible.  A few years later, no problem. 

As long as we use paper money, we will have inflation.  There is no better protection against inflation than owning a home to live in with a fixed payment that seemed large when you started fifteen years ago.  It usually seems OK today. 

Interest rates will go up soon.  One per cent of $100,000 is $1000.  Divide that by twelve months.  That is $83 per month.  If you wait until next year to buy that $200,000 house, that is $166 per month more that you are paying for waiting. 

MAAAAAAYBE the same house will cost more money.  Add that to higher interest.  House have been appreciating since 1492.  When Terry and Mary bought their house, an average house in Orlando was $33,000.  Today it is closer to $233,000.  It is the same house.  Watch this video that I posted in 2012.  Time flies! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKaIsTSTsEU 

Prices go up.  House payments stay the same. 

If you live anywhere near Hendersonville, N.C. ,  call me if you want to become a homeowner.  828 755 6996

North Carolina Real Estate Commission Please Repeal 58H 0303

     September 20, 2018


     Dear North Carolina Real Estate Commission

     I recently received a letter from Corean Hamlin.  In this letter she stated that the Commission has for years measured the performance of real estate instructors  based on the performance of their students.

     It appears to be the opinion of the Commission that an instructor can be so good that he can teach a person to pass the North Carolina real estate exam that does not study at all outside of real estate  class.

     It also appears from this that it is the opinion of the Commission that an instructor could be so bad that even if a student read the entire textbook and made flashcards and studied ceaselessly and availed  himself to several outside study aids, that student could fail the North Carolina real estate exam due to the ineptness of the instructor.  I can not follow this logic.

     It would seem that the student is the deciding factor as to whether or not the student passes the North Carolina real estate exam.  Why would two students sit in the same classroom for the same 75 hours with the same instructor with one having a result of making a 98% on the test and the person in the next desk making a 48 per cent ?  This is not an unusual story.

     I submit that the Commission's  method of evaluating instructor's skill by the performance of their students is flawed.  It is the student (not the instructor) that makes the difference.  In any real estate class, there are students that understand studying.  They have a basic knowledge of math.  They have a basic knowledge of real estate.  Some students have a college degree.  Some students have advanced degrees.  They take notes in class.  They avail themselves to other study aids that are recommended by the instructor and some that they find on their own.  They have leadership skills.  They start a study group that meets outside of class.  They watch my real estate math videos that are posted on You Tube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4HbEwoiVBMY  They pass the real estate school test.  They pass the North Carolina real estate exam.

     There are other students in class.  They barely got out of high school.  The don't know the difference between the numerator and the denominator.  They work fifty hours at the plant.  They show up at my night class tired.  Have they done their assigned homework?  Have they answered the questions at the end of the chapter?  Are they listening to me?  The truth is they are probably trying.  I am trying to make explaining agency interesting for them.  As I am explaining it, they are texting their ten year old son that is home alone.

     They are plagued with problems.  Their husband is sick and not working.  Their car payment is overdue.  Their son just got kicked off the little league team.  Their spouse is having an affair.  They were arrested last week at the demonstration in Charlottesville.  Studying real estate is about number seven on their list of priorities.

     They scrape through my real estate school exam with a barely passing grade.  They go fail the North Carolina real estate exam.

     The Commission measures my performance ( Any Instructor's Performance) based on how  many of my students are able to leave my classroom and pass the North Carolina real estate exam the first time.  They could attend a state exam review from my competitor.  I don't teach such a class.  Why don't they avail themselves to such a class?   Some do.  Most don't.  They do not want to pay the tuition.  They could watch my free You Tube videos to help them with the math.  They are too tired.  They could read Appendix A in the textbook or listen to me read it to them from You Tube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaPLEyKzX24  They are too busy for that.

     They could answer the questions in Dearborn's book, "Guide to Passing the the AMP Real Estate Exam".  They could but they have to attend their daughter's soccer game.  They could take my practice test at www.ncreexam.com .  There is so much demand on their time.

     The Commission evaluates my performance,  Mr. Instructor's performance, based on the success or failure of  someone that I have absolutely NO control of.  The Commission connotes that it is my fault that Mr. Idon'thavetimetostudy fails the North Carolina real estate exam.

     Can I study for my student?  Can I make the book unboring? 

     What would happen if you dropped item 5 and 6 from rule 58H 0303   ? 

     Corean said in her letter that changing from 180 days to 30 days measurement period is "fairer and more accurate evaluation tool".

     There is nothing fair or accurate about evaluating me (or any other instructor) based on the performance of someone else, our  students.

     The students come to us with language problems.  They come to us without basic math skills.  They come to us with no study skills.  They come to us with enough personal problems to write a soap opera.  They come to us with stress and anxiety.  My ability to teach someone that does not want to expend the effort required to learn is how the Commission thinks I should be evaluated.  Does the Commission think I am a good instructor if I can instill in them the desire to learn?  Is that the job of the North Carolina real estate instructor?  That does not seem right to me.

     One of the problems in the world today is that no one wants to accept responsibility.  Everyone wants to blame someone else for their problems.  The Commission is demanding that the instructor take the blame when the student will not expend the effort that is required to study enough outside of class to pass the North Carolina real estate exam.  This is not fair.  This is not accurate.  This is not necessary.

     A perfect example of this is in class attendance.  It is extremely rare that a student that fails my real estate school exam was 100% in attendance.  More likely that failing student missed two nights of class and left early on a third night.  The Commission measures my performance based on the actions of someone that can not even get to class every night.  This is so obviously wrong.

     The Commission does not need to evaluate real estate instructors based on the performance of their students.  The Commission does not need to evaluate instructors at all.  The market will evaluate the real estate instructors.  If an instructor is bad, he will soon find himself with no students.  If you need an example of that, notice that First Real Estate School is the only school teaching pre license classes in Hendersonville.  Before I arrived in May 2016, there was someone else.  He is gone.  I had forty students in my last night class.

     Evaluating the quality of potential instructors is not the job of the Commission.  This does not in any way protect the public.  There is nothing wrong with a dull, boring, monotone, humorless, instructor that says AH ten times per minute.  If listening to an instructor like that would cause harm, I would have died in high school.

     The marketplace will get rid of bad instructors.  This is not a job for the Commission.

     Please repeal item 5 and 6 from 58 H 0303.  or what ever the rule is that requires the Commission to evaluate real estate instructors based on the performance of others.

     The Commission does not evaluate real estate brokers.  Can you imagine a rule requiring real estate brokers to send in a video of their listing presentation with special emphasis on how well he presented the WWREA brochure at first substantial contact.  Then if Mr. Broker only listed  two out of ten prospects, DISCIPLINARY ACTION.  We don't need the Commission to do that.  The market does it.  The market will do it for real estate instructors. Please  repeal 5 and 6 of 58 H 0303.

     Thank you for taking the time to hear me out.  Remember MLS seemed like a far out idea in 1957.  Letting the marketplace decide about instructors may seem far out.  Once you stop wasting time evaluating real estate instructors, you will wonder why you ever did it.

The North Carolina Real Estate Exam Pass Fail Statistics for August 2018

The North Carolina Real Estate Commission just released last month's results for the North Carolina real estate exam.  Here is the news.  In August 2018, six hundred and fifty one real estate license applicants took the North Carolina real estate exam for the first time.  Three hundred and ninety two of those test takers passed.  Two hundred and fifty nine of these real estate license candidates will be paying $164 to try again.  It costs $164 every time a candidate takes the North Carolina real estate exam.  It is a good idea to pass it the first time.  As you can see, in August, only sixty per cent of the exam takers passed it the first time.  Do not underestimate the North Carolina real estate exam.  It is tough. 

     Also in August 2018, one hundred and sixty two repeat test takers took the North Carolina real estate exam for the second or third or fourth or fifth try.  Thirty one of these of these repeat exam takers passed.  That is 19% pass rate.

Pass the North Carolina real estate exam the first time.  

     If you mistakenly believe that the North Carolina real estate exam is easy, think again.  It is not easy.  It is not inexpensive.

     North Carolina probably has the lowest pass rate in America.  The North Carolina real estate exam is a two part exam.  One hundred questions are the "national" portion of the exam.  These are questions that would be answered the same in all fifty states.  This would be questions like. "What is the CFPB?".   The answer would be the same no matter what state you are in.  Forty questions on the North Carolina real estate exam are questions that are unique to North Carolina.  These are questions like,"What is the Machinery Act?".   The other forty nine  states probably do not have a Machinery Act.  A real estate license applicant needs to get 29 of these 40 questions correct to pass the North Carolina portion of the exam.  Of the thirty seven  real estate license applicants that took the exam last month as a repeat test taker at an expense of $164, twenty five of them passed.  That is 68%.

      If you are soon taking the North Carolina  real estate exam, please heed my advice .  OVERSTUDY!    I has been my observation from thirty years of teaching real estate classes that most students want to study just enough to baaaaaarely pass.  May I suggest that you study with an attitude that you want to make 100% on the North Carolina real estate  exam.  Study like you want to get an A plus on the North Carolina exam.  If you fall short of your goal, you will still pass and get a North Carolina real estate license.

     Here is a list of links that I have to help anyone pass the North Carolina real estate exam.  If you are having trouble with any of the math, I have it on You Tube.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMdJ-2iHepM  This is one of a dozen videos to help you understand the real estate math on the North Carolina real estate exam.

     If you have NOT read Appendix A in your text book, you have very little chance of  passing the "North Carolina " portion of the exam.  This is DULL reading.   I have read it to you on You Tube.  Check it out.   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaPLEyKzX24   I apologize that I can not make this as interesting as a Tom Clancy novel.  When you get to the North Carolina portion of the exam, you will be glad that you sat and listened to me or followed along in the book.  Twenty five of the questions come right off these pages.  Watch all seven of the videos or read Appendix A yourself several times.  Save yourself $164.

     Go back in this same blog and read some of my other posts.  Most of what I write about is about passing the North Carolina real estate exam.  Here is one of my most unique posts.  http://rondclimer.blogspot.com/2017/12/what-about-those-trick-questions-on.html   I hope you read this post about trick questions.  Stay in touch with your classmates.  Study together.  Find out when your classmates are taking the exam.  Call them a few hours later and congradulate them on passing.

     If you think you are ready to go spend $164 and "give it a try", take my practice test at www.ncreexam.com  This is a 100 question test with me explaining the answers on video.  It is definetly worthwhile.

     Here is a video with just some general tips on passing the real estate exam the first time.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQXpmazIjeU   Listen to these tips and implement them.  If you don't have contact info for your classmates, get it and stay in touch.

     It costs $164 every time that you take the North Carolina real estate exam.  Pass the first time.www.firstrealestateschool.com

What To Do When the Real Estate Appraisal Comes in Low in Hendersonville, N.C.

      Mr. Seller's Realtor advises him to list his house for $275,000.  Mr. Seller insists on a $300,000 price.  After a long wait and several rejected offers, Mr. Seller finally gets a $295,000 offer.  He accepts it.

     He congratulates himself for hanging tough and getting the top price. Then the real estate appraiser from the bank shows up to appraise the house.  Mr. Seller points out to him that his rafters are made of 2x8 lumber.  Mr. Seller points out that the nails are extra heavy duty galvanized nails.  Mr. Seller points out several features that his house has that other "ordinary" houses do not have.

     A few days later the appraisal comes back at $269,000.  WHAT!   Is this appraiser crazy?   Mr. Seller showed him all the extras that his house has.  Didn't he see the electric garage door opener with the remote control?

      The first thing Mr. Seller needs to do is get mad.  He needs to call his Realtor and let him know how mad he is.  He needs to let his Realtor know that he knows that real estate appraiser is an idiot.  He needs to tell his Realtor that surely his house is worth $295,000.  The buyer is willing to pay that for it.

     Mr. Seller's first question is probably," Who picked that appraiser?" .  Unfortunately, the answer to that question will usually bring Mr. Seller no peace. Mr. Appraiser was chosen by the bank to protect the bank's interest.

     If Mr. Appraiser says  the house is worth $269,000, the bank is comfortable loaning Mr. Buyer $215,200 or 80% of the value of the house.  Mr. Buyer wants to borrow $236,000 or 80% of $295,000.  Mr. Buyer has scraped up every penny he can to get the $59,000 down payment  together.

     BUT Mr. Appraiser says that the house is only worth $269,000.  What does he know???   Mr. Seller believes that he knows more about property values in Hendersonville North Carolina  than Mr. Appraiser knows.  So what if Mr. Appraiser has been to appraisal school?  So what if Mr. Appraiser looks at more houses in a month than Mr. Seller has looked at in a lifetime?  So what if Mr. Appraiser has been appraising real estate  for 17 years?   So what if Mr. Appraiser has some fancy initials after his name?  So what if Mr. Appraiser is considered to be an expert real estate appraiser?  Who cares about all those credentials?

     After Mr. Seller gets over being mad, he can ask his Realtor for some advice. What can we do to save this transaction?

     We can ask the buyer to pay $295,000 for this house even though the expert real estate appraiser declares that it is only worth $269,000.

     There are two problems with this.  The first problem is that since the house is appraised for $269,000, the buyer has to have $79,800 for a down payment.  That is $295,000, the price, minus the $215,200 that the bank is willing to loan on this house that the bank knows is only worth $269,000.  The bank will loan 80% of the price or the appraisal whichever is lower.

Trying to sell your property for more than it is worth rarely works

     The other problem is that the buyer, not only has to come up with $20,000 more down payment.  The buyer has to sign a form that admits he is certified stupid.  The buyer has to sign a form acknowledging that he is aware that the house was appraised by an expect real estate appraiser for $269,000 but he is buying it for $295,000.  Who would do that?  Only a stupid person would do that. 

     If the seller and the Realtors are lucky, Mr. Buyer will do that IF HE IS ABLE.  He has to have the extra $20,000 to make this happen.  Mr. Buyer says, "I don't care what the experts say.  My wife loves this house and we are buying it."  Let's go to closing.  Sometimes it happens this way.

     More often, this deal dies.  Several months later Mr. Seller accepts a $269,000 offer from another buyer.  We go to closing.   Several months can be a long time if you are making payments on an empty house and paying taxes and HOA dues on an empty house and insuring an empty house and paying utility bills on an empty house. 

     If Mr. Seller's  Realtor advises Mr. Seller to lower the price  and if an expert appraiser that has already been paid advises Mr. Seller to lower the price and if several offerors (buyers) advise Mr. Seller to lower his price and his current buyer that obviously loves the  house but does not have an extra twenty grand advises Mr. Seller to lower the price, maaaaaaaaaaybe  Mr. Seller should start to believe what the entire market is telling him.  His house is not worth $300,000. 

     Price your house right.  It will sell.  Do not depend on "We might get lucky."  for the largest transaction of your life.  No matter how good your Realtor is, he is not good enough to sell your property for more than it is worth. 

    If I can help you with any real estate advise call me at 828 755 6996.  www.firstrealestateschool.com