OPHP

What is OPHP?
OPHP stands for The Ohio Professional Housing Provider’s Program

What is the OPHP designation?
The OPHP designation is a statewide, education-based certification program designed to recognize the high level of knowledge and professionalism among the designation holder. It is sponsored and overseen by the Ohio Real Estate Investor’s Association (OREIA).

Why obtain the OPHP designation?
Only persons completing the educational requirements will be permitted to hold themselves out to the public as Ohio Professional Housing Providers. The designee will be recognized in the form of an award certificate and the right to use the designation, and should recognize that having a basic education in the topics outlined below will increase his or her ability to reach his goals in real estate investment. Further, as OREIA works to make the OPHP designation more recognizable, it is hoped that the OPHP holders will have an advantage in dealing with legal and governmental bodies when a “my word against his” situation occurs. It will also aid in encouraging legislators to think of educated investors as a larger group for political action. Other tangible benefits, including discounts on courses and educational materials, may be added as the program develops.

Course of study
The course of study will be divided into 42 clock hours of core courses and 18 hours of elective topics for a total of 60 hours of formal education. The core topics are as follows:

Appraisal – 2 hours
Including formal appraisal methods (cost, income, and replacement methods), PACE instruction, how to compare properties, etc.

Rehab – 4 hours
Classroom – 2 hours (including estimation, which projects will pay for themselves, etc.). Hands-on – 2 hours (including actual hands-on opportunities and demonstrations)

Fair housing law – 3 hours
Federal, state, and local fair housing regulations

Negotiation – 3 hours
Negotiating with sellers, buyers, renters, contractors and vendors, banks, etc.

Finance – 6 hours
Conventional financing, FHA/VA financing, owner financing of all types, comparing financing, offering financing.

Tenant-Landlord law – 2 hours
Landlord’s and tenants responsibilities, evictions, etc.

Contract Law – 3 hours
Basic contract law, using contracts and clauses to protect yourself, developing contracts such as leases, options, purchase contracts etc., that are for the real estate investment business.

Local regulations – 2 hours
Zoning and building codes

Federal regulations – 1 hour
Regulations affecting real estate investment OTHER THAN tax laws, fair housing laws, and EPA regulations.

EPA regulations – 1 hour
Regulations affecting real estate investment such as: lead paint regulations, wetlands regulations, underground storage tank regulations, environmental quality zone regulations, etc.

Management – 4 hours
Record keeping; dealing with tenants; maximizing cash flow; and others

Purchasing – 2 hours
Finding deals and calculating profitability

Inspections – 2 hours
Pre and post purchase inspections, and pre and post move-out inspections of properties held

Tax law (income) – 1 hour
Calculating and minimizing taxes, and tax laws as they affect the real estate investor

Tax law (other) – 1 hour
Property taxes, 1031 tax deferred trades, etc.

Insurance-property – 1 hour
Including what type of property insurance is appropriate for investment property; negotiating for the best rates and renter’s insurance

Insurance-worker’s compensation – 1 hour
When, why, and for whom to carry worker’s compensation insurance

Insurance-liability – 1 hour
Including why and how much

Marketing – 2 hours
How to market properties for sale and for rent; how to market buying services

Ethics – 2 hours
Including enacting and actual use of, national, state, local and personal buisiness ethics statements, policies and practices.

Electives – 18 hours
The remaining 18 hours may include education in any or all of the above topics, as selected by the OPHP candidate.

How will I obtain these hours?
These hours may be obtained through local association meetings and seminars. OR through courses taught outside of the local groups. All outside courses and seminars must meet the following requirements: they must be taught live; they must be pre-approved by the OPHP committee; and they must provide a certificate of attendance acceptable to the OPHP committee.

Continuing education to maintain OPHP designation
Once the OPHP designation has been obtained, designees must complete 20 hours of continuing education every two years in order to maintain the designation. These hours are elective and may be used by the designee to continue his or her education as he/she sees fit.

Goals of OREIA
The Ohio Real Estate Investor’s Association is dedicated to making this program a success. It is understood by the committee that the program will evolve as time goes on, and that time will pass before local groups, their members, and the public at large recognize the value of this education. OREIA believes that the concept of creating well-educated investors is important in the fight to make our industry a respected one. We also believe that the ability to present our members as dedicated, educated professionals will aid in the political action, which we are dedicated. While this education is already the mission of the local associations, we hope that a statewide designation will further this goal by making legislators, regulators, and the public at large recognize that we are not simply “landlords”, but informed business persons who make an ongoing contribution to our communities.