Protecting Your Real Estate Assets

Protecting What You're Building: Understand the Financial Risks Behind Every Property. Know When to Refer.

Help Clients See Real Estate as Part of Their Bigger Financial Picture; Without Overstepping Your License.

1.5-Hour Maryland Continuing Education Course | Category F – Professional Enhancement/Elective | Live Classroom or Live Virtual Instruction | Instructors: Joseph A. Balsamo, PhD & Sarah Sinanan |

Real estate professionals help clients acquire, sell, and manage one of their most significant assets, but the financial obligations surrounding that asset can be affected by unexpected life events. This Maryland continuing education course gives real estate licensees a practical understanding of financial protection concepts that may affect homeowners, property owners, and real estate professionals themselves.

You'll examine income interruption, the death of a household member, mortgage and carrying obligations, liquidity concerns, and insurance as one component of a broader protection strategy — along with the importance of knowing when to bring in the right professional. Throughout the course, the focus stays on your role as a real estate licensee, your professional boundaries, and how to avoid offering legal, tax, insurance, or financial advice outside your qualifications.

In just 1.5 hours, you'll gain critical insights into:

• Why real property should be considered within a client's broader financial picture rather than as an isolated asset
• Common life and financial events that may affect mortgage obligations, property ownership, and a household's ability to retain real estate
• How insurance, emergency liquidity, and financial protection planning can help address risks surrounding property ownership, at a general educational level
• How to recognize client statements and circumstances that may indicate a need for referral to an appropriately licensed or qualified professional
• The real estate licensee's role relative to insurance professionals, financial professionals, attorneys, tax professionals, and lenders
• How to apply professional boundaries to realistic real estate scenarios without recommending specific insurance products or individualized financial strategies

Key Topics Include:

• The real estate professional's role in financial protection and why it matters to real estate decisions
• Real estate as part of the bigger financial picture: mortgage and carrying costs, equity versus accessible cash, and income-dependent households
• Protecting the household behind the property: the financial impact of death or loss of income, and the high-level role of life insurance and other protection resources
• Life changes that can affect real estate ownership: disability, extended income interruption, divorce, household change, and inherited property
• Recognizing client conversations and referral opportunities, including common warning signs and how to build a professional resource network
• Protecting the real estate professional's own business: commission-based income risk, emergency planning, and business continuity
• Professional boundaries and key takeaways through scenario-based review

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About the Instructors

This course is co-taught by Joseph A. Balsamo, PhD, Senior Associate and Financial Professional & Educator, and Sarah Sinanan, Real Estate Broker licensed in Maryland & Pennsylvania and Education Coordinator & School Director at Tristar Academy. Sarah anchors the course in Maryland real estate practice, client conversations, and licensee boundaries, while Joseph brings general financial protection concepts from his professional experience; together giving you a well-rounded, practical view of where real estate and financial protection intersect.

Course Format: Live, Interactive & Convenient

• Delivered live in the classroom or via live virtual instruction by experienced Maryland real estate instructors
• Interactive discussion and knowledge checks throughout the course
• Realistic scenario exercises to practice recognizing referral opportunities and professional boundaries
• Full credit upon completion – meets Maryland continuing education requirements for real estate license renewal

Course Requirements & Policies

To receive credit for this course, you must:

• ✓ Attend the entire 1.5-hour session from start to finish
• ✓ Keep your camera ON for the full duration of the class if attending virtually (required for credit verification)
• ✓ Arrive on time – late arrivals will not receive course credit

Cancellation & Rescheduling Policy:

• No refunds or reschedules within 24 hours of class start time
• Cancellations made more than 24 hours in advance may receive account credit toward future Tristar Academy courses
• No-shows and camera-off violations will not receive credit or refunds
• All Cancellations: A 50% Late Cancellation Fee applies to emergency cancellations made within 24 hours of the course start time. The remaining balance will be applied as a credit toward a future course.

Who Should Take This Maryland Course?

• Maryland real estate salespersons, associate brokers, brokers, team leaders, and branch office managers
• Licensees who want a practical understanding of financial protection concepts that may affect their clients and their own business
• Anyone who wants to strengthen referral relationships across insurance, financial, legal, tax, and lending professionals while staying within their licensed role

This course satisfies Maryland continuing education requirements for real estate license renewal under Category F. Tristar Academy is approved by the Maryland Real Estate Commission for continuing education.