It's early December, so we're back at Triple Play, the New York-New Jersey-Pennsylvania Convention, held the first week of December every year in Atlantic City. It's 'old home' week for trainers; even though many of us saw each other just before Thanksgiving in Las Vegas for the NAR conference. What seems to be on agents' minds? Well, I had over 500 students show up for my session: "Flips, Frauds and Foreclosures". The state of the lending side of the industry, as well as the fall out from the sub-prime loans, is on everyone's mind. Lots of agents seemed to be interested in technology courses and how to integrate technology into their businesses. The trade show floor was about the same as last year, but the number of lenders seemed lower. Many Realtors® I talked to anticipate agents leaving the business by the end of the year. One AE I spoke to has prepared her Board of Directors for a loss of 10% to 15% of their members. I spent some time with Dawn Headtke at the ABR booth, and Steve Caspar at the SRS booth. Both courses are in my top five of faves to teach. There's never been a greater need for agents who understand their fiduciary and statutory duties to their clients; and it seems like there's never been as many blatant examples of agents who just don't get it. In my home state of Pennsylvania, we're in a CE cycle for agents; they renew their licenses by the end of May, 2008. I'm hoping that those agents spend their time wisely, taking courses that will be a double or triple hit--CE, designation credit, broker credit, or an elective towards a designation. For those who like education while wearing their jammies, let me remind you that e-PRO will be totally revised come the first of the year. Remember, I'm an e-PRO trainer; contact me for a discount--it is approved for CE in Pennsylvania. I had lunch with my friend and colleague Amy Chorew; we hope to wrap up our re-write of the eBuyer course for REBAC by the end of this year. This convention is my next-to-last educational 'gig' this year; my December is very busy with my son's college graduation this month. Wishing all a wonderful Chanukah, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanza, and a successful and Happy New Year.

Melanie J. McLane, ABR, CRB, CRS, ePRO, GRI, RAA, SRES, 32 year veteran of the real estate industry. Offering training, speaking and consulting throughout the industry, I teach everything from ABR to USPAP. Certified ePRO Instructor. To contact me, email me at: melanie@TheMelanieGroup.com or visit my website: www.TheMelanieGroup.com