Risk Management

Real estate licensees have duties and responsibilities to consumers as well as their customers and clients. These duties are based on federal, state and local laws and regulations. Participants in this course will learn more about fiduciary duties, the most frequent claims against agents, misrepresentation and fraud, agency, fair housing, escrow and risk reduction. 2.5–4 hours

Real estate is fun, rewarding, and interesting, but bad things can happen to good agents. We live in a litigious society, and REALTORS® need to practice risk management at all times. We’ll discuss some of the top ten things which can derail a career; from trying to please everyone and working harder instead of smarter, to carelessness and failing to plan. You'll come away from this session being able to:

• Organize your business for sanity AND risk reduction
• Recognize that without a plan, you are inviting trouble
• Identify your areas of weakness and how you can improve them 1-2 hours
  

Why fair housing AND anti-trust? The NAR/DOJ settlement has revealed a deep lack of understanding about anti-trust among licensed professionals. We will cover Fair Housing, including implicit and unconscious bias and reinforce learning with intriguing case studies. We’ll also review the Sherman Anti-Trust Act, related regulations, and some of the ethical requirements surrounding anti-trust. Expect lively discussions and activities designed to spark understanding of both of these topics. This course was written to satisfy the NAR Fair Housing requirement when presented at 3+ hours. 2-4 hours Also Available: Follow The Rules: Anti-Trust & RESPA

Video · Extended Description Death doesn’t stop a real estate deal—but it can seriously complicate it. If you’ve ever been unsure who can legally sign a listing agreement after a property owner dies, or confused about whether a POA still applies, this session is a must. Probate, trusts, intestate estates, and title transfers all come with hidden traps that can delay closings, trigger legal disputes, or cost your clients money. Understanding the legal roles and documents involved isn't just helpful—it’s essential to protecting your business, your clients, and your reputation. Don’t get caught off guard when the question is, “Who has the authority to sell this property?” 2-4 hours

Don't rely on social media for your news! Find out now about the tax changes impacting agents for 2025 & 2026. Learn how to best prepare for the current tax season and make your accounting and tax processes a breeze.
Takeaways:
· Understand the recent tax changes affecting agents.
· Explore ways to make the most of the current tax season.
· Know what you can do to best position yourself for the next tax cycle.
Add On Session; 45-60 minutes;

In 2020, real estate professionals showcased agility, flexibility, and adaptability in response to the pandemic's challenges. They swiftly adjusted to new regulations, leveraging remote work technologies while prioritizing data security. This session evaluates safety measures in popular apps and platforms, offering best practices for data protection. 1-2 hours

Is your smart home or office culturally sensitive? Are your seller clients recording showings with nanny cams? Are your drone property videos going viral? This class covers Trista’s Favorite Five: ADA compliance for websites and apps, new FAA rules for drones, property showing recordings, Fair Housing Act implications for technology, and the intersection of state cannabis decriminalization and federal Controlled Substances Act enforcement in real estate. 1-4 hours

In today's digital world, quick information access is the norm, but it comes with risks. Surprisingly, 70% of data breaches happen in companies with fewer than 100 employees. Technologies like cloud computing and social media boost productivity but need protection. This course emphasizes risk management, covering intellectual property violations and offering risk reduction strategies for all tech levels. 3-4 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. This course requires extensive state customization; 3-4 hours

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

Video · Phishing, spear phishing, social engineering, VPNs, rogue hotspots? Data security is a vital part of every real estate or professional practice, but it can be overwhelming and confusing. This course goes back to the basics with simple, easy to implement, everyday best practices for data security and reviews the safety features of some of the most popular apps and platforms being used today. 1-2 hours

Article · 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

Regardless of your tech savvy, discover what violations are becoming increasingly common and develop risk reduction techniques to protect yourself and your interests. This course also discusses how the US Copyright Office treats works created by artificial intelligence and machine learning.
1 hour

Video · This session received a 100% rating at the 2024 Florida REALTORS® Conference. 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
Up in Smoke covers; Commercial or Residential Presentation; 60-90 minutes

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

Article · 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

In 2023, data breaches exposed over 5 billion records, illustrating the profound repercussions of compromised information. This course explores real estate professionals' duty to protect client data and uphold the integrity of data used in social and digital media. The handling of data related to fair housing has broad implications for platforms like Facebook and individual agents targeting specific markets. Additionally, it addresses how public platform posts by real estate professionals may violate longstanding anti-trust laws, prompting brokers to adjust their management approaches accordingly. 1 hour

This session received a 98.75% rating at the 2024 Florida REALTORS® Conference! Quick searches on Amazon or Best Buy unveil a plethora of hidden cameras and recording devices, allowing sellers to discreetly monitor their homes during sales. Agents must address the "nanny cam conundrum" whether for seller assurance or strategic advantage in negotiations. With video-centric web traffic comprising nearly 80%, drone usage for property footage is increasingly popular. This course explores drone regulations and essential knowledge for agents. 1 hour

Stay ahead by joining this session for supervising brokers led by Attorney Trista Curzydlo. Covering topics like fair housing, sexual harassment, service animals, ADA Title 1 and COVID, and online antitrust behaviors, Trista equips you with strategies to mitigate risks. Learn six best practices against social engineering attacks, safeguard client and staff data, implement a Business Continuity Plan, and more. Trista's expertise is matched with a dose of humor, making the session engaging and informative. 4 hours

Video · 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 is 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

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

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

Video · Real estate litigation has been making headlines lately and those headlines are overwhelming, scary, and sometimes misleading. In this course, Trista examines recent litigation and explains the law behind the lawsuits. The course addresses some questions like: “Is the anti-trust litigation over?”, “What’s going on with the CFPB?”, “How does the current presidential administration impact the Fair Housing Act?” and introduces some new topics that agents really need to be paying attention to. 1-3 hours

Trista is phenomenal. This presentation was helpful and engaging.” “She was 100% entertaining but communicated all materials. The time just flew by. Her stories help solidify the message. Great speaker.” - 2024 Michigan REALTORS® Convention Attendees

Video · Can I do this? Is there a law about that? Should a robot really talk to my client? AI has created serious legal questions for real estate professionals. This session examines how state and federal laws apply to AI use, using real cases and ongoing litigation to highlight risks like confidentiality breaches, copyright issues, false advertising, and defamation—and how to avoid costly mistakes. 1-3 hours

Is RESPA still being enforced? What’s black box bias? Is a deed pirate like a porch pirate? Is wire fraud still a concern in real estate? There has been a lot of litigation impacting real estate over the last several years, this course examines four recent lawsuits and risk reduction techniques that every real estate licensee should implement immediately to protect consumers and themselves. 1-3 hours

No one truly knows what 2026 holds for real estate professionals, this class is a review of litigation on the horizon and how professionals should prepare for the outcome. We’ll discuss the most recent batch of antitrust cases, FTC cases, the portal wars and where copyright litigation is headed in the next few years. 1-3 hours

Is professionalism in real estate fading or just in need of a wake-up call?
In this lively and thought-provoking session, Professional Standards Expert Melanie McLane and Attorney Trista Curzydlo tackle the question from two powerful perspectives. Melanie examines professionalism through the REALTOR® Code of Ethics and Pathways to Professionalism, while Trista brings the legal lens to what happens when standards slip. Expect candid stories, real-world examples, and a few spirited debates as they explore shortcuts, communication breakdowns, and technology’s impact on professional conduct. You’ll leave with practical insights to strengthen your professionalism—and protect both your reputation and your clients. This course may be used to satisfy NAR Ethics requirements at the discretion of the local association. 1-3 hours

Alternate Title: Cybersecurity: Get the Hack Out of Here · It's no secret that with the proliferation of Wire Transfer Fraud, Listing Scams, and many other digital schemes, the real estate industry has become a major target for hackers and fraudsters. They realize real estate professionals are often involved in large transactions and gathering valuable information and typically don't have the proper training, tools, or resources to do so. In this session, you will learn how to assess what current cybersecurity weaknesses you may have, how to protect yourself and your clients with very easy-to-implement low-tech solutions, and how to navigate several laws, NAR policies, and more to ensure you and your clients survive this perilous digital world. Broker Specific Version Available; 1-3 hours
Available Component Sessions, 1 hour each:
• Everything You Need to Know About Cyber Liability Insurance
• Everything You Need to Know About Wire Transfer Fraud
• Top Cyber Scams Targeting Real Estate

It was a wonderful event and we had amazing feedback. Many were surprised at what they did not know. They all asked to have him back.” Meghann Redding, Chief Executive Officer, South Bend Area REALTORS®

Video · Artificial Intelligence or AI is the science of making machines that can think, act, process large amounts of data, perform, be artistic and creative, and more like humans. While this technology has been around for decades, it wasn’t readily available to most consumers and small business owners. But that all changed with the launch of ChatGPT.

This game-changing technology has many downsides that if not implemented properly can cause all kinds of legal, ethical, and compliance problems for you and your business. By the end of this session, you will be more intelligent about this fast-emerging technology to ensure you stay ahead of the curve, improve your life happiness, & boost your business efficiencies & customer service, all while using these tools in an ethical & compliant manner! · This Session Written to Meet the NAR Ethics Requirement; Broker / Commercial / Property Management Specific Versions Available; 3 hours

Everything went smoothly and we got GREAT feedback!! It was such an interesting class with great information. Our members really enjoyed the content, was super informative. All around a great class and he was so easy to work with.” Mallory Marshall, Education Coordinator, Lynchburg Association of REALTORS®

In a matter of minutes, a real estate licensee’s entire business can be destroyed by technology. With today’s world of viruses, malware, social engineering, and identity theft it’s more important than ever to protect your brand and livelihood. In this session, you’ll learn the top ways real estate professionals are exploited and what you can do to protect yourself and your clients’ information. 1, 3 or 8 hours

Did you know the 1st Amendment does not grant you the right to say whatever you want on social media? In fact, your words can significantly hurt your business and even put you in legal trouble that could threaten your real estate license. In this course, we’ll cover the best practices for posting on social media without putting yourself or your career in jeopardy. You will walk away with an understanding of First Amendment protections and exceptions, social media fair housing violations, financial and legal repercussions, general pitfalls that could injure your business, and how to safely share on social media. Don’t let one of the best opportunities to generate income turn into a liability! 1-3 hours

Without even knowing it, your marketing could be totally inaccessible to entire parts of the population! Casting the widest net for your marketing is not only the best business practice, it’s also required by law. In this course, we’ll cover the core concepts of designing your websites, print assets, social media posts and more, to be as accessible as possible to the widest audience available, while staying compliant with the law, as well as your board of real estate licensees. 1-3 hours

In today's digital world, misinformation, deep fakes and sophisticated scams are everywhere – and they can impact anyone, including you and your clients. This essential course transforms you into an expert at spotting them, and how to safeguard against deceptive tactics both online and in the world around you. Join this class to find your way through the dense fog of scams and misinformation we face every day. 1 hour

CRS session · Technology has revolutionized the ways we live, shop, socialize, entertain, access information, and conduct business in the modern world. Powered by the Internet, cloud-based tools, social media, and mobile apps, the technology revolution has delivered tremendous positive impact by bridging gaps between cultures, improving quality of life, enhancing operational efficiency and speed, and many other advancements. However, if used without proper safeguards, modern-day technology can expose agents and their clients to many vulnerabilities. Viruses, malware, social engineering, identity theft, and other malicious threats (all of which are growing at alarming rates) are particularly concerning because the nature of the business requires real estate professionals to collect and store their clients’ personally identifiable information. This course empowers you with the strategies and tools you need to navigate your business and clients through the perilous legal, online, and social media world. Course participants also leave with actionable tips and strategies for personal security practices to help secure and protect you and your clients valuable information. 1 day

As AI adoption increases, so do concerns about bias, privacy and ethical usage. This session explores the potential risks and best practices to ensure responsible AI implementation in real estate.
Takeaways:
· Understanding bias in AI-driven decision-making
· Privacy concerns and legal considerations in AI applications
· How to ensure ethical and transparent AI usage in real estate
45-90 minutes

AI is rapidly shifting from a helpful assistant to an invisible operating layer inside the brokerage, influencing decisions, workflows, client communications, pricing guidance, and agent behavior long before leadership teams have fully defined the rules. This presentation challenges broker owners to confront the real stakes of AI safety, governance, and ethics, not as abstract policy issues, but as questions of control, liability, competitive advantage, and long-term enterprise value. Through real-world brokerage scenarios, emerging platform risks, and practical governance frameworks, Derek Taylor of T3 Sixty explores how firms can harness AI’s speed and leverage without surrendering trust, compliance, or strategic autonomy. The core question is simple and urgent: as AI begins to orchestrate the work of agents, will that intelligence layer be owned by your brokerage, or by someone else? 45-90 minutes