Real Estate Investing: Recognizing Opportunities

General Information

Approved Credit Hours: 3 hours

State: Ohio

Course Availability: 365 days from enrollment

Course Description

Real estate investing is more than buying property at the right price. Successful investors understand how to evaluate markets, analyze risk, interpret economic trends, and recognize opportunity before others do. Whether you are representing an investor client or considering investing yourself, the principles remain the same.

Every investment decision is influenced by location, supply and demand, lease structure, market cycles, and valuation fundamentals. This course is designed to help you think like an investor by breaking down those components into practical, usable tools.

Throughout this course, you will examine how investors analyze opportunities from the ground up. We approach the material as though you are evaluating properties for your own portfolio, allowing you to apply these concepts regardless of your professional role.

As you move through the material, consider how each concept affects risk, cash flow, and long-term appreciation. The goal is not speculation, but disciplined analysis and informed decision-making that supports sustainable real estate investment success.

Course Topics

This course covers the following topics:

• Unit 1: Deciding Where to Invest: Identify regional and local economic indicators that signal investment potential, including population growth, job growth, and barriers to entry.

• Unit 2: Investigating Your Local Market: Analyze supply and demand factors, absorption rates, occupancy levels, rent trends, and the impact of development and condominium conversions.

• Unit 3: Evaluating Neighborhoods and Market Cycles: Assess neighborhood quality, government influences, market cycles, and the timing of buyers’ and sellers’ markets.

• Unit 4: Analyzing Leases: Examine residential and commercial lease structures, identify common lease issues, and understand how lease terms directly affect property value.

• Unit 5: Understanding Property Valuation: Apply core economic principles, determine the highest and best use, distinguish between market value and investment value, and evaluate standard value benchmarks.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the course, the student will be able to:

• Spot clues that a property may be undervalued, such as strong demand and low turnover.

• Locate and use key economic data to evaluate whether a region is a solid place to invest.

• Explain how population growth can increase demand for housing and other types of real estate.

• Evaluate how job growth and local income trends can affect rental demand and long-term property value.

• Evaluate supply and demand indicators to determine whether a local market favors investors or signals caution.

• Analyze local market trends to identify areas with stronger cash flow and appreciation potential.

• Assess barriers to entry and explain how limited supply can influence long-term property values.

• Examine the risks and opportunities associated with condominium conversions and their effect on rental markets.

• Evaluate how neighborhood quality factors - including schools, crime rates, and pride of ownership - influence property demand and value.

• Use a tenant perspective to assess neighborhood amenities and position your property competitively.

• Distinguish between buyer’s and seller’s markets and recognize the signs of shifting real estate cycles.

• Apply an understanding of market cycles and timing to make more informed long-term investment decisions.

• Explain how existing leases directly impact property value, cash flow, and long-term investment performance.

• Identify common problematic lease provisions that can reduce income or create legal and financial risk.

• Distinguish between key features of residential and commercial leases, including percentage rent and tenant improvements.

• Evaluate lease documents using tools such as lease abstracts and estoppel certificates to verify income and tenant obligations.

• Define the four foundations of real estate value: demand, utility, scarcity, and transferability.

• Explain how surrounding properties influence value through regression, progression, and conformity.

• Distinguish between highest and best use, fair market value, and investment value when evaluating a property.

• Use common valuation benchmarks - including GRM/GIM, price per unit, price per square foot, and replacement cost - and recognize their limitations.

Instructor & Customer Support

For questions about the course content, please contact the Instructor.

Course Instructor: Chris Culbertson
Contact Information: instructor@onlineed.com
Instructor Availability: Monday-Friday, business hours, excluding holidays
Instructor Policy Response Time: within 1 business day
 
If you have questions about your account or course navigation, please contact the course provider:

OnlineEd
Phone: 1-(503)-670-9278
Email: mail@onlineed.com
Chat and additional options: https://www.onlineed.com/system/pages/contact.php

Completion & Attendance Requirements

Completion Requirements. Continuing education credit is awarded upon successful completion of all required course components and satisfaction of regulatory active time requirements. You may exit and return to the course at any time. Your progress will be saved.

Assessments

This course includes quizzes at the end of each unit, which must be completed.

There is no final exam.

Course Completion Survey

Students are encouraged to submit a survey upon completion of the course. This short survey helps us improve the course material and student experience. It is required by most regulatory agencies. Your thoughtful feedback is appreciated.

Certificates & Credit Reporting

Upon successful completion of all course requirements, a certificate of completion will be issued.  You are responsible for maintaining a copy of your certificates of completion and renewing your license with the state regulator. 

OnlineEd will automatically report course completion credits to OH DOC REPL within 1 business day on the student's behalf. Students don't need to take any additional steps for OnlineEd to initiate the reporting, except to complete the course and receive a completion certificate.

Technology Requirements

Courses may be accessed from a computer, tablet, or mobile device with a stable internet connection.  We recommend the most recent browser versions.  This includes all modern browsers and operating systems including Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Opera, iPhone / iOS, and Android-based mobile devices, smartphones, and tablets. The course is entirely web-based and does not require any software to be downloaded or installed.  For accurate time tracking and progress recording, access courses in one browser window at a time. 

Course Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites for this course.

Refund & Cancellation Policy

All tuition and fees paid for the course are refundable when: (a) the course of instruction is discontinued by OnlineEd and such discontinuation has prevented a student from completing the course; or (b) the enrollment of the student was procured as a result of any misrepresentation in promotion materials of the school, or representation made by an owner or employee of the school. All refunds will be completed within 30 days after the effective date of enrollment termination. Refunds will not be given to any student after the student has successfully registered in a course or courses, as once registered, student has access to the registered courses. In hardship cases, OnlineEd may issue a refund at its sole discretion. OnlineEd does not issue retroactive partial refunds for courses that are subsequently discounted or put on sale after a student makes a purchase.

Academic Integrity and Identity Verification

Students must complete all coursework independently. OnlineEd prohibits misrepresentation of identity or allowing another individual to complete coursework on your behalf. Failure to comply with academic integrity policies may result in denial of credit.

Student Conduct Policy

Students are expected to show respect, courtesy, and consideration when interacting with school staff and students. Students are expected to conducting themselves in a professional, legal, and cooperative manner that is not disruptive, harassing, intimidating, or dangerous. Deviation from these standards may result in disciplinary action.

Non-Discrimination Policy

OnlineEd does not discriminate for admission on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, marital status, age or disability. Any person who feels they have been unlawfully discriminated against may file a complaint with the School Director, either by email (schooldirector@onlineed.com) or by postal mail (ATTN: School Director, 14355 SW Allen Blvd. Suite 240, Portland, OR 97005). If OnlineEd determines that any employee of OnlineEd has engaged in discriminatory activity, such employee shall be disciplined.

Grievance Policy

If a student has a grievance against OnlineEd, its staff or students, the aggrieved student shall contact the School Director by email or mail, stating the nature of the grievance. The School Director shall evaluate the grievance and respond to the student based upon their findings.

Policies on Cheating and Misrepresentation

Cheating on courses that supply completion certificates, designations, or official credit is not tolerated. OnlineEd is not obligated to continue to furnish credit or continued support for students caught cheating on any part of the coursework or testing.
 
Misrepresentation of personal identity is strictly forbidden for all OnlineEd courses. Falsifying personal information, forgery, and misrepresentation may result in immediate suspension. Additional actions by state and federal agencies may include loss or suspension of a license, failure to grant a license, fees, or criminal prosecution.

Publisher

This course is developed and delivered by OnlineEd, LLC.

OnlineEd, LLC
14255 SW Allen Blvd., Suite 240
Portland, OR 97005
(503) 670-9278
https://www.OnlineEd.com/
mail@OnlineEd.com

Mission Statement

To provide superior distance education that exceeds industry standards and expectations in course content and delivery methods to those who seek to enter a new profession and those engaged in a profession.