One only has to look at the city skyline to realize that real estate in Laredo is a booming business.
John Perez can validate that fact. He most recently completed 10 years as the senior instructor for Laredo Community College’s Real Estate Education program, which has experienced significant enrollment growth and is expected to grow more.
Perez, who joined LCC in 1994, began the college program with the idea of offering “fast track” weekend courses for real estate licensure, as well as for re-certification.
“Since then, the program has grown so much in numbers that it has been expanded to include evening courses, and is now offering classes on weekdays,” Perez said.
The early success the Real Estate Education program experienced has led LCC to develop an associate’s degree in real estate management and a one-year certificate. Perez noted that very few higher education institutions in Texas offer such programs of study.
Throughout the years, the LCC Real Estate Education program has helped several hundred Laredoans obtain their real estate license and many more from the surrounding vicinity, including Cotulla, Zapata, Hebbronville and Freer.
“The majority of real estate brokers and salespersons in Laredo have acquired their education through the Real Estate Education program at LCC,” Perez said.
A native of Mercedes, Texas, Perez is a graduate of Pan American University and Western Illinois University. Prior to moving to Laredo, he was the senior instructor for the Real Estate Institute of Corpus Christi, where he first envisioned offering real estate courses on the road to areas such as Laredo, Victoria and the Rio Grande Valley.
“The economic growth that the community has experienced in the last decade is not expected to slow down significantly,” said Perez. “LCC has continually attempted to meet the on-going and ever-changing needs of the real estate community.”
Perez hopes to see the establishment of a Real Estate Center at LCC to better serve the educational needs of this thriving industry. The center would feature a real estate library, conference rooms, and seminars for the community and real estate brokers and salespersons. He also expects the college to continue expanding its course offerings as approved by the Texas Real Estate Commission.
Interested persons have an opportunity to enroll for a variety of spring courses in real estate education.
To view the program’s class schedule, go online to www.laredo.edu/realestate, or call the Business and Management Department at 721-5870.
Qualified students may be eligible for Veteran’s Administration benefits and federal student financial aid.
The class schedule includes:
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Jan. 31, Feb. 2, 7: Real Estate Finance
Feb. 14, 21, 23: Law of Agency
Feb. 28, March 2, 7: Real Estate Appraisal
March 21, 23, 28: Law of Contracts
April 4, 6, 11: Real Estate Math
April 18, 20, 25: Principles of Real Estate II
Mondays and Wednesdays from 6-8:30 p.m.
Jan. 16-Feb. 15: Principles of Real Estate 1
Feb. 20-March 29: Real Estate Marketing
April 3-May 3: Real Estate Appraisal
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-8:30 p.m.
Jan. 17-Feb. 16: Law of Agency
Feb. 21-March 30: Law of Contracts
April 4-May 4: Principles of Real Estate II
Weekends from 8 a.m.-6 p.m.
Jan. 27, 28, 29: Principles of Real Estate I
Feb. 10, 11, 12: Law of Agency
Feb. 24, 25, 26: Special Topics- HP10B Calculator
March 10, 11, 12: Law of Contracts
March 31, April 1, 2: Principles of Real Estate II
April 7, 8, 9: Real Estate Marketing
April 21, 22, 23: Property Management
May 5, 6, 7: Real Estate Finance
Wednesday from 5-5:50 p.m.
Practicum- Real Estate
Laredo Community College Real Estate Instructor John Perez reviews a lesson with students in a classroom in Memorial Hall at the main campus held last fall.
Office of Marketing and Public Information
West End Washington St.
Laredo, TX 78040-4395
956- 721-5140
Fax 956-721-5443