Mentorship programs in real estate are providing students with practical experience and support as they prepare to enter the industry. The Sacramento Association of Realtors (SAR) and Los Rios Community College District have partnered to offer a mentorship program at Cosumnes River College, which aims to give students hands-on exposure beyond traditional classroom learning.
According to Cindi Cereceres, current SAR mentor and SAR Internship Committee Chair, “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 mentorship initiative provides supervised, structured opportunities for students, helping bridge the gap between academic preparation and professional practice. Pat Butler, Cosumnes River College Real Estate and Business Professor, said, “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 program must complete 108 internship hours along with 18 hours of mandatory classroom meetings per semester. Successful completion results in three units of college credit. This class also fulfills California Department of Real Estate education 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 stated: “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 these efforts by encouraging licensees to participate in similar mentorship opportunities that help develop future professionals.
Jeff Oboyski, DRE Assistant Commissioner of Licensing, 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.”
