COLLIN COLLEGE

Hot Housing Market:

COOL TIME TO INVEST IN YOURSELF

by Heather Darrow

Wylie resident Thomas Bennet never met his grandfather, but Levingston, hold the Certified Commercial Investment Member (CCIM) designation which shows that they have he is determined to follow in his a great deal of experience footsteps. Thomas’ grandfather and advanced coursework emigrated to the U.S. prior in financial and market to World War II. He came to analysis,” Bart said. “Real America with $50 in his pocket, estate encompasses a whole sold real estate, and taught field of jobs. You can buy and economics in his spare time. sell homes, manage property,

“I want to be that guy,” or venture into commercial Thomas said. “He and my real estate.” grandmother, who played a large The college offers real role in raising me, opened up estate classes in five-week, their own real estate branch. As mini-semester formats. This dedicated, honest, hard-working fall students can enroll in Real people, their story is very Estate Finance, Principles of inspiring to me.” Real Estate II, and Principles Thomas recently completed six Collin College real estate classes and is preparing to sit for the Texas licensing exam. A Collin College alumnus who earned an Associate of Science Degree, he transferred to The University of Texas at Dallas where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. According to Thomas, the Photo by Nick Young, Collin College photographer. of Real Estate III at the Wylie Campus. When asked about real estate tips, Thomas said people should remain calm with market changes and take the time to read contracts before signing them. “The real estate market is hot right now,” he said. “For the last few years there real estate field fits perfectly into his future. Thomas Bennet is a Collin College alumnus who has recently been taking classes in real estate to pursue his Texas license. has been speculation that it will cool off and become

“I wanted to have the skillset a buyers’ market, but we to better serve our community, help others make haven’t seen that yet. Even when it does happen, home ownership a reality, and supplement my income over time you know your home value is just going to well into my retirement,” he said. “Being an alum, it increase. It is really one of the safest industries.” made sense to go back to Collin College. I knew what According to Thomas, if people have even a slight to expect, and the real estate program absolutely interest in real estate and take one class, they will be delivered.” hooked.

According to Bart McLeroy, real estate discipline lead, “Collin College fills a void and provides affordable the college’s real estate professors are experts in their education,” Thomas said. “As a local taxpayer why would field with experience in residential, corporate real estate I not see where my investment is going and benefit from services, and property management. it? You can develop skills from that investment and turn

“Both of the adjunct professors teaching real estate around and invest them in the community. It is a cyclical classes at the Wylie Campus, Steven Lay and Randal decision that just makes sense.” •