ThomasGoodwin.com

I am proud and excited to announce that I have submitted my renewal fee and application to the State of Ohio Department of Commerce, Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing. My real estate salespersons license, which is due to renew on this month, will now be valid until this same month in 2010.

As many of you may know from reading my About the Blogger page, I have been an Ohio licensed real estate agent since 2001. This will essentially ensure that I will be a nine year seasoned professional the next time my license is due for renewal.

While it may not seem significant that I only have six years experience at this point in time, it is important to remember that I am only 26 years old. Therefore, I have been licensed to sell real estate since I was 20 - and likewise 3 years longer than I myself have been a homeowner.

I am excited about my growing tenure and experience in the real estate industry due to the notorious high turnover of newly licensed associates. It is no secret that over half of newly licensed associates leave the business within the first year, and the number that stick around after three years (the first time the license is renewed with the 30 hours of continuing education in Ohio) is even more dismal - I’ve heard upwards of 80 to 90% drop out of the business before they reach the three year anniversary.

This is also an excellent opportunity to remind the general public that there is a distinct difference between simply being a licensed real estate agent and a member of the National Association of Realtors. I have been a member Realtor since my original licensing in 2001 and firmly believe this organization helps increase the standard of care by member agents with respect to dealing with clients, fellow agents, and the general public. While it may seem trivial to ask an agent if she or he is a member of the local board of Realtors, it is important because those licensed agents have agreed to be bound by a higher code of ethics than what the Ohio Revised Code requires. I personally am a member of the Middletown Board of Realtors and likewise the Ohio Association of Realtors and the National Association of Realtors.

I look forward to serving the public for many years to come and I want to reassure my clients - both past and present - that as long as I am able to maintain my license, I will continue to be here to help in the buying and selling of real estate in Ohio.

As always, I welcome your comments and feedback…