Mentorship programs are becoming an important part of real estate education, offering practical experience and support for students entering the industry. The Sacramento Association of Realtors (SAR) and Los Rios Community College District have partnered to provide a mentorship program at Cosumnes River College, which aims to help students develop confidence, build networks, and gain hands-on skills beyond what is taught in traditional coursework.
Cindi Cereceres, SAR mentor and SAR Internship Committee Chair, said, “The SAR and Los Rios Community College District’s mentorship program is a great way for students to get real-life experience by learning alongside an experienced mentor. It really helps them feel ready to hit the ground running once they get their license and join a brokerage. One of the first and continuing things I teach my students is the importance of being ethical. To me, that’s the most important part of this business.”
The program addresses the gap between academic learning and practical job readiness by providing supervised exposure to real estate sales. Pat Butler, Real Estate and Business Professor at Cosumnes River College, stated, “The Internship in Real Estate program offers a supervised, structured, hands-on exposure to real estate sales, while providing some of the fundamental skills and knowledge needed to launch a successful real estate career. Upon completing the program, interns have had an inside look into the business of real estate and are better able to decide whether this is the right choice for them, and if so, have a head start as they begin a career in the field. The benefits are not limited to the intern; the real estate industry also benefits from the increased level of experience, knowledge, and professionalism possessed by these interns when they become real estate licensees.”
Students accepted into this mentorship complete 108 internship hours along with 18 hours of classroom meetings per semester. Successful completion earns three units of college credit. The course can also be used to meet California Department of Real Estate requirements for licensing exams as either a substitute for Real Estate Practice or as an elective.
Esther Kennedy participated in the January 2024 SAR mentorship program as a student at Cosumnes River College. She shared her experience: “The relationships I developed during that season still exist today with both students and mentors. I am on a fantastic and supportive team and closed my first deal in 6 months. This success can only be attributed to the program and the incredible mentorship I received.”
The Department of Real Estate supports such initiatives as part of its consumer protection mission by encouraging licensees to participate in mentoring future professionals. DRE Assistant Commissioner of Licensing Jeff Oboyski commented on this collaboration: “The collaboration between SAR and the Los Rios Community College District to ensure students are most prepared for future careers in real estate is invaluable and certainly aligns with the Department of Real Estate’s (DRE) consumer protection mandate. Licensees are critical to the success of these programs, and we applaud those who are willing to volunteer their time with those just beginning their journey in the real estate profession.”
