Oceanside High School real estate class getting some high interest

Oceanside students are getting an early start on what it takes to buy a home. The course College Introduction to real estate is a full-year class for junior and senior High School students who are interested in real estate and allows students the information necessary not only if they want to pursue a career in real estate, but also to be helpful as a future buyer, or seller for themselves.

The course focuses on the real estate market on Long Island and offers information about residential and commercial property. If students pass the final, they receive a certificate from New York State acknowledging their completed required coursework. After which they can schedule to take the New York State Licensing Exam online once they turn 18. Students can get three college credits through Long Island University.

Michelle Cinelli teaches the course and engages her students in several unique lessons including a project where students are assigned different budgets to find different houses for their chosen celebrity.

“I had a list of 10 celebrities and they have unlimited budgets to get really crazy and they found the most beautiful house,” said Cinelli. They loved it.”

The class delves into a wide array of topics from the zoning and permitting process to the responsibilities of a property manager. The course also explores the history of housing discrimination on Long Island. Cinelli described the real estate market now as unpredictable especially with the current high-interest rates but said the class is especially helpful because the profession is looking for younger people. The course also hosts a variety of different guest speakers including professors and Oceanside high school graduates. This past spring, Megan Morillo, who graduated in 2018, visited the real estate classes as an alumni guest speaker. Morillo works for Keller Williams Realty.

“I feel humbled and excited to be able to come back to where it all started. It is amazing to see that this course is being offered and I’m glad to see the advancements in education here at OHS.”

Cinelli said some guest speakers who have visited the class have said they have been looking for younger demographics to be interns. Cinelli said after her students passed final exams, she hopes students can take the lessons they learned to help them later in life.

“My goal, even if they don’t take the New York state tests, is that at least, they are knowledgeable when they go buy their first home or condo,” she said.