VIEW SAMPLE “But is it illegal?” After practicing law in the real estate arena for nearly 20 years, this is a question that Trista Curzydlo has heard a lot. This course takes a look at situations that real estate agents face and delineates between what's illegal, what's unethical, and what is just plain rude! You'll hear actual tales from the trenches (that might sound all too familiar) and then engage in a review to find out what behavior crosses which line! With Trista's characteristic humorous approach and sharp insights, Real Estate Karma gets REAL. 3-4 hours; 1hr version available "Real Estate Karma: Unethical, Illegal, or Just Plain Rude?"

Thank you so much for your wonderful presentation this morning. It was the perfect mix of information, humor and audience participation. We were thrilled with our turnout and can’t wait to welcome you back!" – Courtney McLaughlin, Education Services Manager, Canopy Real Estate Institute

"Agile, flexible, adaptable." 2020 proved to be a year in which these words were used to describe real estate professionals. As the nation reacted to a worldwide pandemic, real estate agents responded to state and local orders that changed how real estate transactions are handled, including the use of technologies and tools that enable agents to work remotely and limit contact with others. Unfortunately, not all these tools and technologies protect the data entrusted to real estate professionals. This session reviews best practices for data security and assesses the safety features of some of today’s most popular apps and platforms.

After Attending This Session You’ll Be Able To:

• Describe at least 3 techniques to reduce risk involving the use of a personal computer or laptop
• Explain how phishing, spear phishing and social engineering schemes obtain sensitive information and how you can avoid these schemes
• Describe systems to reduce risks associated with using video and electronic communications.
• List at least 3 ways to work more securely on-line
• Explain the importance of proper disposal of electronic devices to protect the personally identifiable information

1-2 hours

Is your smart home or office also culturally sensitive? Do you have a seller client recording every showing with their trusty nanny cam? Are the property videos that you’ve been taking with your drone going viral? There have been a lot of changes in real estate recently and this class looks at Trista’s Favorite Five: website and application compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, The Federal Aviation Administration’s new rules on Unmanned Aircraft Systems, audio and video recordings of property showings, the impact of the Fair Housing Act on new technology, and how state law decriminalization of cannabis and the federal government enforcement of the Controlled Substances Act impacts real estate. 1-4 hours

More than half of all Fair Housing Act complaints are filed on the basis of disability; many of these alleging a housing provider failed to provide a reasonable accommodation. This session examines Fair Housing Act protections for individuals with disabilities and how housing providers should navigate a reasonable accommodation request. You'll get guidance on differentiating between service and support animals, determining when an accommodation is necessary and what makes a request unreasonable. 1 hour

Every sector of the real estate industry has changed significantly since the Fair Housing Act was adopted over 50 years ago. In this course, you’ll follow the Act’s history, the formal amendments adding additional protected basis, the guidance on enforcement, and the changes real estate professionals have made—and have yet to make—to their practices. New technologies have changed both how real estate licensees advertise and how advertising regulations are enforced. Trista will provide you with a set of best practices to help guide you in your use of new media. You’ll also become up to date on issues impacting Fair Housing such as The Equal Access Rule of 2012, Housing for Older Persons, Sexual Harassment, and Disparate Impact. 3-4 hours

When the Sherman Act began regulating antitrust behaviors in the United States, the union had 42 states and women were 30 years away from being able to vote. A lot has changed over the past 130 years but in his Executive Order on Promoting Competition in the American Economy, President Biden issues a reminder that antitrust continues to be a problem in real estate. This session examines the 3 primary federal laws regulating antitrust and applies them to situations happening today. 1 hour

It’s been 19 years since MySpace was launched and social media started infiltrating every sector of the way we live and do business. Whether you’ve embraced new media or rejected the ‘world wide internets’ as a fad, your real estate practice has been impacted by new media. As social media and new media have evolved, the way real estate agents practice and clients expectations have changed as well. This course examines how various entities regulate the use of new media by real estate practitioners and provides best practices that every agent can implement in their practice.1-3 hours

While a creative agent can find more than 11 ways to get in serious trouble, this course looks at the most frequent violations of the law regulating the real estate industry. A few of the topics include: avoiding the unauthorized practice of law when guiding a client through a complicated transaction, identifying risk management techniques to decrease potential conflicts of interest, and a review of how social media and changing markets are transforming the way licensees practice. 3-4 hours; NOTE: This course requires extensive state customization.

In 2019, over 5 billion records were exposed through data breaches. If you’ve been the victim of a data breach, you know how damaging even one record being exposed can be. This course examines the real estate professional’s role in protecting their client’s data and respecting the data leveraged by social and digital media. How collected data is handled in terms of fair housing will affect everyone moving forward–from large platforms such as Facebook to the individual agent trying to reach “target” markets. Also up for examination are real estate professionals’ postings on public platforms that violate 100+ year old anti-trust laws. How these old laws resurface and apply with a digital medium directly impacts how brokers must mange their brokerages. 1 hour

Today’s consumers and practitioners expect relevant information to be provided to them with a click of a button or a swipe of their finger. As the practice of real estate becomes a more digital experience, it’s important that practitioners understand and manage the risks. Think only huge companies are at risk of a data breach? Think again. Security experts estimate that 70% of data breaches occur in companies with fewer than 100 employees. Cloud computing and cloud storage, e-mail, mobile devices, and social media all make your real estate business more efficient, but they also can create havoc if not used and protected properly. This course also addresses your increased potential as a real estate professional to run afoul of intellectual property laws and how you can develop risk reduction techniques regardless of tech savvy. 3-4 hours

Designed to meet the NAR Code of Ethics training requirements, this course is Ethics as only Trista can teach it. Examining how the NAR Code of Ethics intersects with state and federal law, this course provides a new perspective on the Code and risk management in the practice of real estate. Providing adequate time for class participation and discussion, this course asks “what would you do?” and applies the answers to current case studies and examples. 3-4 hours

Trista was GREAT! She had me rolling, and I could tell from our members, they really enjoyed her!” – Allison Woodham, RCE, Education Director, Baldwin REALTORS®

A quick Amazon search or Best Buy browse will reveal dozens of various cameras and recording devices that are easily hidden from sight that allow sellers to record activity in their home when it’s for sale. Whether the device is there for the seller's peace of mind, or to provide the seller with an advantage at the negotiation table, agents need to have a plan in place to handle the “nanny cam conundrum.” With nearly 80% of all web traffic being video-driven, the use of drones to capture amazing footage of a property is on the rise. This course addresses the question: What are the rules that apply to drone usage and what should agents know about them? 1 hour

For Association Executives and Staff  Your members deserve and expect timely information in an exciting and engaging manner. Associations that provide this information need to be able to identify what materials are subject to intellectual property protection and how to properly use them without infringing on the rights of another. This course provides an introduction to Intellectual Property protection in the United States. AEs will leave with best practices to implement when designing and presenting information to their members. 60-90 minutes

Regardless of your tech savvy, discover what violations are becoming increasingly common and develop risk reduction techniques to protect yourself and your interests. 1 hour

VIEW TRAILER According to a recent survey, more than a third of U.S. companies suffered a data breach in the previous 12 months and over 70% of those companies have no idea how the breach happened. How do you protect the confidential information your clients trust you with? Whether it’s an external threat or an internal problem, this class identifies the issue and helps you find a solution. 1-2 hours

The Fair Housing Act might not have changed in the last decade, but real estate agents and consumers have. This course looks at recent technological developments in the real estate industry and their interplay with the Fair Housing Act as well as recent cases involving real estate professionals. 3-4 hours

Social media websites and digital advertising mediums make target marketing a particular demographic easier than ever before. Find out when target marketing becomes “stating a preference” under the Fair Housing Act and what risk reduction techniques you need to enact. 1 hour

Not all websites are the same and some lack the tools to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. Discover how your website stacks up against the ADA and what recommendations from the Worldwide Web Consortium you should implement. 1 hour
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Does anyone ever plan on becoming a felon? Failing to create a plan for your real estate practice can land you in big trouble. RESPA, Fair Housing, and Anti-Trust are topics most real estate licensees have heard before, but never like this! Trista breathes new life into these subjects by providing current case studies of violations and working with attendees to develop risk management techniques that can be immediately implemented. 3-4 hours; Alternate title: No One Looks Good in Horizontal Stripes: How to Avoid a Jailhouse Fashion Statement

Is your smart home culturally sensitive? Does your website allow everyone to ‘see’ the latest properties for sale? Technology has changed the way a consumer experiences home buying and selling. If technology is used correctly, everyone benefits. If technology isn’t used correctly, a portion of the population can be neglected. Find out how the application of the ADA and the Fair Housing Act to advertising, websites, apps, and smart home technology will impact your business. 1-3 hours
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While you read this sentence, 22 new accounts will be opened on Twitter. Of the 100 billion friendships that have been created on Facebook, how many are between your clients and your agents? Did one of your virtual tours add to the hour of video that is uploaded to YouTube every second? The statistics relating to social media are truly staggering. A well-written policies and procedures manual will address the use of social media by the agents in your office and will serve as a guide to agents when they create an online presence. 1-3 hours

Can u be #dooced 4 that tweet? LOL staff mtngs r so old skool. Different experiences shape the work ethic and motivation of an employee. This course examines how generational cohorts work together...and against each other. Real-life cases taken from the real estate industry pepper this session to make it the perfect mix of theory and practice. With wit and fun, Trista provides food for thought and new approaches to creating more effective communication between generations. 1 hour

VIEW TRAILER With over half of all states decriminalizing cannabis, the cannabis industry and its real estate needs are growing – leaving agents and clients in a risky position. This course examines the potential pitfalls and associated risk reduction techniques for real estate professionals.

What Does “Up In Smoke” Cover?

• Controlled Substance Act vs. State Law
• Federal Agency Guidance vs. Law
• "Illegality Defense” & Contract Voiding
• 3 Financial Institution Questions
• Zoning Regulations & Unit Developments
• 5 Lease Clauses
• Insurance Provider Questions
• Reasonable Accommodation Requests
• Risk Management Protocols

ADDITIONAL SESSION INFORMATION
60-90 minutes; Commercial or Residential Presentation

What you don’t know won’t protect you once problems escalate. Get ahead of the curve and manage your risk by attending this information-packed session for supervising brokers. Attorney Trista Curzydlo covers fair housing, court-recognized sexual harassment, service and support animals (there’s a difference!), ADA Title 1 and COVID, and antitrust behaviors online. But the information doesn’t stop there. Trista arms you with effective measures to pre-emptively address the hazards; for example, she offers 6 best practices to manage risk caused by social engineering attacks, how to effectively protect client and staff data from security breaches, how a Business Continuity Plan allows the brokerage to continue operations in a disaster, and more. Sound Dry? Not with Trista! She not only knows the law, she finds the humor in it all as well. 4 hours

An “emotional support peacock”? Learn what are reasonable accommodations under the Fair Housing Act and what guidance HUD offers real estate agents and property managers who are addressing these issues. 1 hour
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