West Alabama Real Estate School in Sumter County to offer free courses for high school seniors

West Alabama Real Estate School in Sumter County will offer free licensed real estate courses to high school seniors and college students in the Black Belt region this summer.

The school has been approved and credentialed through the Alabama Real Estate Commission to provide real estate education to the general public with the first course scheduled to run from June 3 through July 4 at Sumter County Skill Trade in York.

Students who enroll will complete a 60-hour real estate course, which qualifies them to sit for the national real estate exam upon completion.

While the program aims to introduce younger generations to real estate and property ownership in the Black Belt, the course is open to anyone interested in pursuing a career in the field.

Organizer Damian Atkins, a police officer and real estate instructor, said he hopes the program will help expand knowledge of property ownership and career opportunities in the region.

“When I’m not in a police vehicle serving the public, you can find me somewhere teaching real estate courses,” Atkins said.

Atkins said he also plans to expand the school’s offerings in the future to include courses in home inspection, mortgage loan origination, land surveying, and home building.

He will be joined in the program by his daughter, Daimya Lake Atkins, who is also a police officer and licensed real estate agent. Atkins said other licensed real estate agents interested in volunteering to help educate students and becoming instructors are welcome to participate.