Welcome back to our Instructor of the Month series. This month, we’re talking with Brock Schermerhorn, who teaches real estate courses at Saddleback Community College in Mission Viejo, CA.
Rockwell: How long have you been teaching? Brock: I started teaching in 2001, and I’ve been teaching real estate courses since 2007.
Rockwell: What do you like best about teaching? Brock: I enjoy helping students understand and apply new ideas and concepts. I also enjoy hearing success stories from former students.
Rockwell: What is the biggest change that you’ve seen recently in the field of real estate education? Brock: Many courses that were once taught in the classroom have been transitioning to online classes. With the plethora of information available to them online, students have much less difficulty grasping basic concepts. As a result, I have students asking questions that demonstrate a much more complete understanding of the subject matter.
Rockwell: What are the biggest challenges facing your real estate students? Brock: Procrastination. I have found that many students wait until the last minute to get their work done and submitted. Out in the real world, success in the world of real estate depends on proper preparation.
Rockwell: What advice would you give your students? Brock: First, know what area of real estate you want to work in. If you don't have a passion for what you do, you won't enjoy your work. Second, know the material. Make sure you are taking classes that offer a complete overview and review of the material. The most informed and prepared will have a distinct advantage over the rest of the pack. Finally, get your Bachelor's degree and then consider a graduate degree. This goes back to being as prepared as possible, and also makes a great resume builder.
Rockwell: How did you get into real estate in the first place? Brock: I became interested in real estate after years of observing my family's real estate investment business. I did my graduate and post-graduate work in law, and real estate/property law was always one of my favorite subjects.
Rockwell: What do you love most about the real estate industry? Brock: My favorite thing about real estate is the fact that there are always jobs in the industry. People often think that a bad real estate market means no jobs—but this is simply not true. People are still needed to do foreclosures, appraisals, refi's, etc.
Rockwell: Tell us one thing about yourself that most people wouldn’t know. Brock: I'm a food and restaurant critic!
Rockwell: What do you enjoy doing when you aren’t teaching?
Brock: Spending time with my family.
