Karena Piedmont
Founder/Director
Karena Piedmont, a licensed real estate Broker in Connecticut, has over 20 years of experience in residential real estate sales & investment. She is the principal of Real Estate Eight, a real estate brokerage in Wilton, CT, and is the owner/director of Real Estate University which she founded in 2005. Karena also teaches the Principles & Practices course part time at Norwalk Community College. Karena has successfully trained over 7,000 students to achieve or maintain their Connecticut Salesperson or Broker real estate licenses. She also published her first children’s picture book in December 2019. It is about real estate and is called “A Roost for A Rooster, A Home for A Hare.”
Ken Gruder, ESQ
Instructor
Attorney Ken Gruder is a founding member of Goldman, Gruder & Woods, LLC & chairman of the Real Estate Law Practice Group. Specializing in General Real Estate Transactions & Loss Mitigation, to include short sales, Attorney Gruder has represented most national loan servicers, over 35 mortgage lenders, title insurance companies, and many of the nation’s largest REO and servicing companies. A member of Mid-Fairfield County Association of Realtors, he has lectured for Real Estate University, Greater Fairfield Board of Realtors, Greater Bridgeport Board of Realtors, Stamford Board of Realtors & serves as general counsel for the Connecticut Multiple Listing Service.
Sue Baxter
Instructor
Sue Baxter has been in the banking business for over 25 years. Currently a mortgage banker with Residential Mortage Services, Inc., she specializes in residential & commerical banking in the Tri-state area. Ms. Baxter has won numerous awards for “Top Producer” & “Top 10 Loans Originator” by providing direct access to a full sprectrum of integrated loan processing, underwriting, & direct lending services to fit her client’s needs. Sue is the lead instructor for the finance course for broker pre-licensing, as well as all of the finance related CE courses for current licensees.
Martin Iselin
Instructor
Martin Iselin is a State Certified Appraiser in CT and over the past 27 years has performed over 5000 appraisals of single family homes, condominiums, and multi family dwellings. He does appraisals for major banks, individual home owners and attorneys and is also FHA approved. Martin is accepted as an expert witness in CT Superior Courts and also holds a real estate license. In addition to his appraisal credentials, Martin earned his MBA at Pace University Lubin School of Business.
Real Estate U Career Opportunities
We are always looking for part-time instructors for the pre-licensing course. You must have strong real estate investment, property management, appraisal, real estate law or land use background, OR hold a real estate sales, broker or appraisal license or an advanced degree in a relevant field of study. We prefer candidates with some teaching experience but are willing to train those who have a great attitude & strong communication skills & otherwise show great potential.