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Course Descriptions
RLI's Land University curriculum is comprised of ten courses that provide in-depth content. While courses can be taken in any order, most real estate licensees begin their journey as a land professional by enrolling in Land 101: Fundamentals of Land Brokerage.* Members of the REALTORS® Land Institute must complete six Land University courses to meet the Education Requirements for the Accredited Land Consultant (ALC) designation.
*It is not essential that Land 101 be the first course taken in the progression of the Land University curriculum; however, it is recommended.
2012 National Land Conference—Elective Course Credit NEW
The RLI National Land Conferences present diverse information and relevant takeaways from experts in their fields. It offers one and a half days of sessions on the most compelling issues facing the land professional today. Valuable networking and knowledge-sharing occurs with top-notch land professionals. The event has exhibits showcasing products and services designed to help the land professional raise the level of his/her business. The course requirements include attendance at the sessions and a white paper. See the details here.
Agricultural Land Brokerage and Marketing
Agricultural investment land in the United States is an estimated trillion-dollar market. To tap into this market, the land professional needs to know what market forces impact the value of agricultural land; the importance of soils and how they determine the highest and best use of the land; why land is an investment that attracts investors from around the world; how to analyze the income potential of agricultural land and estimate probable selling prices and costs; and how to market properties through online, print, electronic media, and RLI marketing sessions.
Creative Land Planning
Obstacles in a transaction can sometimes seem so insurmountable that success looks all but impossible. In this course, students discover how to turn obstacles into opportunities—and profits. Participants learn how to determine the optimum use for sites and to develop a model plan. Students will also master the skills to work effectively with governmental zoning and planning boards as well as neighborhood groups to build consensus. By the end of the course, students will understand a project from both the builder’s and developer’s points of view and know how to better work with them. Students will also learn about "neo-traditional design" and the impact design has on profitability.
NEW Essentials of Negotiation
This course covers concepts and theories of the psychology of bargaining and negotiation to help you constructively “land the deal.” The dynamics of interpersonal and inter-group conflict and its resolution are shared. Strategies, planning, ethics, finding and using negotiation power, effective communication, cross-cultural negotiations, and best practices will be explored that will lead to productivity.
Land 101: Fundamentals of Land Brokerage*
In this introduction to the land specialty, aspiring land professionals learn the basics of land brokerage, including the various types of land; the land brokerage process; the 1031 tax-deferred exchange process; market value; property rights and restrictions; subdivisions and assemblage; and environmental and regulatory issues.
*This course is required for the ALC designation.
** This course is offered face-to-face, hybrid, or online.
Land Development
In this course, students learn how to analyze, subdivide and market tracts of land to determine maximum allowable density, optimum configuration, and the market demand for sites and subdivided lots. Other topics covered are entitlement, permitting, and financing. Students learn how to create marketing and promotional plans. Calculator recommendation: These calculators are recommended for the course: HP 12C, HP 17B2 or HP 10B
Land Investment Analysis*
Land for investment is big business. In this course, students learn to determine relevant cash flows for origination (purchase/acquisition), operation (rents, income and partial sales), and liquidation (sale/disposition). Other topics covered are: time value of money techniques to analyze cash flows, traditional indicators (ratios, cap rates, cash-on-cash) for investment analysis, and alternative investment analysis as a way to select the most appropriate two acquisition technique. Students are given spreadsheet templates for analyzing case studies. Note: Students are required to bring a portable computer to the class sessions.
*This course is required for the ALC designation.
Practical Navigation for Land Professionals
This course will teach students the basics of land navigation and how to use map, compass, GPS, and mapping software to help grow their businesses and meet the needs of their clients. It will also provide students with relevant navigational insights and skills to better equip them to locate, traverse, list, and market land parcels.
Site Selection
How can the land professional add value in the site selection process? This course teaches students the principles of site analysis and assessing demographic growth trends and projecting demand. Students receive at least ten new sources of site information and the contact information for hundreds of retailers. Upon completion, students are able to utilize the knowledge and practical resources offered in this course to find the best sites for clients—and increase income.
Tax Deferred 1031 Exchanges*
One of the most useful tools for helping clients sell appreciated business, farm, and investment real estate is the Internal Revenue Code Section 1031 like-kind exchange. Students learn how one property can be sold and a replacement property purchased without incurring any federal income taxes on the sale. Federal tax rules are closely reviewed, so students learn to easily recognize exchange situations and explain to clients the tax-saving benefits of the 1031 exchange. This course also covers delayed exchanges and how the installment sale of relinquished property may qualify in a transaction to acquire replacement property.
*This course is required for the ALC designation.
Tax Implications of Real Estate
This course covers the key tax implications of real estate transactions and provides master strategies to help clients understand how these tax implications will affect them. Knowing the issues enables the land professional to become a more trusted advisor. Understanding the tax code will help existing clients and attract new ones as well.
Timberland NEW
The goal of the Timberland course is to give the real estate professional an awareness of what makes a good timberland investment, how to recognize that investment, and how to evaluate it for current and future use. This course will look at factors affecting timberland values, measurements, timber inventory, valuing pre-merchantable pine plantations, marketing timber, reforestation, and timber as an investment. The course covers how to recognize the value in timber, what affects that value, what may make a property a strong or weak investment, and how to best market timberland.
Transitional Land
Land across the country is constantly in transition: Agricultural land is being adapted for recreational uses and urban brownfields are being converted into commercial and residential uses, to name a few examples. This course teaches land professionals to analyze options and determine the optimum use of a property by understanding the financial aspects, physical considerations, and governmental, legal and economic factors that impact land in transition. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to package transitional land for sale and develop a plan that addresses market segmentation, seller counseling, and property marketing.
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