Welcome back to our Instructor of the Month series. This month, we’re talking with Nancy Adelson, who coordinates North Seattle Community College’s Real Estate Program. She teaches Real Estate Fundamentals, Practices, and Finance, as well as Introduction to Business and Introduction to Marketing.
Rockwell: How long have you been teaching? Nancy: Even before I joined North Seattle Community College in 1988, I always found a way to teach. When I was a Realtor in Anchorage and Seattle, I taught classes to other Realtors as well as buyers/sellers. When I was an underwriter and account representative for private mortgage insurance companies, I taught Realtors and lenders. I also taught classes for Snohomish and King County Associations of Realtors when I was in manager and loan originator. I love teaching and helping others understand the wonderful world of real estate.
Rockwell: What do you like best about teaching? Nancy: I love to help others learn! It is very rewarding to inspire and motivate people to try new things and reach their goals. Knowledge is power, and I try to insure that everyone has the power to excel. I also think that teaching and learning should be fun and engaging. I enjoy creating classes that make the students laugh while learning and applying their understanding of new concepts. I take pleasure in knowing that when a student leaves my class, he or she has the tools necessary to pursue a career in real estate or to be a knowledgeable buyer/seller/investor. I also love to learn from my students. I love teaching.
Rockwell: What is the biggest change that you’ve seen recently in the field of education? Nancy: Due to the economic downturn and state budget cuts, real estate education enrollments and class offerings have declined. Sadly, several local real estate schools and programs have closed. North Seattle Community College’s Real Estate Program still offers Department of Licensing approved college credit courses. We’ve had to reduce the number of offered certificates and courses per quarter, but we’ve added innovative distance learning (online) classes which provide the same high quality and engaging education as the on-campus courses. These eLearning real estate classes have generated increased enrollments and are satisfying the educational needs of more students.
Rockwell: What are the biggest challenges facing your students? Nancy: The biggest challenge right now is the economy, especially for students who are interested in beginning a career in real estate. However, I think that this is the best time to learn about the industry and get cross-trained. (For example, although real estate sales are down right now, property managers are in demand.) By taking classes now, students will be ready to excel in their chosen professions when the market bounces back.
Rockwell: How did you get into real estate in the first place? Nancy: My real estate career began when I failed the Kelly Girl Temporary Secretarial Service typing test a few days after graduating high school. With a score of 14 words with 3 mistakes per minute, they said I only qualified for answering phones and filing. My first assignment was exactly that, at Advance Mortgage in June 1975. Because I answered the phones and filed so well and with such enthusiasm, Advance Mortgage hired me as a loan processor by lunch; I was never to be a Kelly Girl again! Later, I became a regional underwriter and branch manager. I then earned top producer awards as an Anchorage Real Estate Sales Broker and as a Loan Originator in the Seattle area.
Rockwell: What do you love most about this industry? Nancy: First, I believe in real estate investments. Everyone should take the opportunity, if it's available, to own their own home! Assisting people in buying their homes and investment properties is very satisfying. Secondly, I love the ever-changing nature of the real estate industry. There’s never a dull moment! Third, I love people—and real estate is a people industry.
Rockwell: Any especially memorable clients or transactions? Nancy: Early in my real estate sales career, I remember shopping for my husband’s birthday gifts in the Men’s Suits Department at Nordstrom. The sales associate, Patrick, was more than helpful in finding the perfect clothes and accessories for me. After paying, I thanked him and told him that I’d like to return the favor; if he wanted to buy a home or have any real estate questions, he should call me. He took my business card and said, “I’m thinking about buying my first home. Would you help me?” Within a month, he bought his dream home through me and then referred me to his friend in the Children’s Shoes Department. She bought a condo and then referred me to her friend in Brass Plum, who then referred me to Men’s Shoes. Within a short time, I became “the Nordstrom Specialist,” helping Nordstrom employees to buy and sell their homes.
Rockwell: Tell us one thing about yourself that most people wouldn’t know. Nancy: I bought my first house when I was 17 years old. (I had to add my mother to the purchase and sale agreement and to the mortgage since I wasn’t 18 yet!) I sold the house two years later for a significant profit, which I used to buy two more rental homes, a new car, and a trip to Europe. Yes—I believe in real estate!
Rockwell: What do you enjoy doing when you aren’t teaching? Nancy: When I’m not teaching or generating new courses, you can find me helping families finance homes as Spectrum Mortgage’s Senior Loan Originator. Participating on a few boards and chairing committees and volunteering for several nonprofit organizations keeps me very busy and happy. I also love doing genealogical research and discovering long-lost ancestors and cousins. In addition, I adore traveling with my amazing three daughters and husband, and relaxing with our two dogs, two cats, and two guinea pigs.
Nancy Adelson holds a BA in Business Administration and Marketing from the University of Washington. In addition to the Seattle Community College District’s Trustee Life Long Learning Award and the Dan Evans Innovation Award for her teaching ability, she has received many civic awards for outstanding volunteerism and leadership.
