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Online real estate schools offer various courses for current and aspiring real estate agents and brokers in different states. These schools offer convenient classes that can be taken from the comfort of your home or in some cases on your mobile device. Real estate schools typically offer pre-licensure classes, post-licensing classes, and continuing education courses.
The best online real estate schools offer courses in various formats and teaching styles with qualified and knowledgeable instructors. Coursework can be accessed anytime and the site is easy to use. Additionally, the online real estate school will provide additional industry resources, information on getting and renewing your real estate license, and answer frequently asked questions.
If you’re interested in becoming a licensed real estate agent, there are two powerful reasons to take classes online:
Online real estate classes tend to cost less than in-person classes, often by hundreds of dollars; this is generally true for online vs. in-person education. You’re not paying for the use of a classroom, only the digital components and the teacher’s time. In-person classes may require expensive textbooks, which could be replaced by inexpensive or free ebooks when learning online. Plus, you’ll save more money by avoiding the time and cost of traveling to and from classes.
Online classes are more convenient, too—you can work on your lessons anywhere you have an internet connection, anytime (although, depending on the course, there may be scheduled live online events as well). You can typically go at your own pace, which is good if you like to take your time or you end up flying through the material.
In general, you don’t have to worry about sacrificing quality by going with an online real estate school. The Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) publishes a list of real estate schools and pass rates, and you can see that many online schools have excellent pass rates (a high pass rate doesn’t necessarily guarantee a high-quality school, but you shouldn’t pick a school with a low pass rate). Online schools typically offer many of the same features as in-person classes, like the ability to speak with industry experts, plus more in some cases. See the schools listed above for some high-quality options.
In-person classes have some merits, as well. You’ll likely have more opportunities to interact with the instructor and other classmates. If you have trouble self-motivating to sit down at a computer on your own time, it may also be better to have scheduled weekly meeting times in an actual classroom. Some people learn better face-to-face rather than staring at a screen. So, although online classes are usually cheaper and more convenient, in-person classes could be right for some aspiring real estate agents.
Think about the following when looking for the right online real estate school; the main points to consider are availability, accreditation, courses offered, and fees.
Signing up for an online real estate school is easy. Register a new account, providing your personal details and email address. Then you’ll be able to select the course(s) you want and submit payment information.
After that, simply follow the instructions on the website, which will be unique to each school. You’ll likely have access to course materials through an online dashboard, and certain resources (like ebooks) may be sent by email as well.
To become a realtor, pre-licensing hours are required in order to obtain your real estate license, all of which can be completed by an online school. Depending on your state, you’ll need to complete a pre-license education course—you’ll need to meet a certain number of hours from schools that are approved by the state. For example, real estate agents and brokers in California need to complete a pre-licensing course that’s a minimum of 135 hours and is approved by the Department of Real Estate.
To meet the credentials of pre-licensing, real estate schools must go through an accreditation process (your state should have a list of schools that are approved). Keep in mind that online schools often have state limitations. That means you’ll need to do some research to see what’s available in your state and familiarize yourself with any requirements you need to meet before enrolling. It’s also probably a good idea to check your state’s licensing requirements before signing up.
Online real estate schools have a range of prices that vary based on whether you sign up for the pre-licensure class only or tack on an exam prep course. Depending on where you reside and whether you opt for test prep, online classes can range from $119 to $900. This is in comparison to, generally, at least several hundred dollars to attend a live, in-person class—not including exam prep.
Each state has different requirements, but the time to complete pre-licensing work can range from as little as 24 hours to as much as 180 hours. Remember, you'll go through the course at your own pace, but that doesn’t change the required pre-licensing hours. You may exceed the minimum required hours to get a better handle on the material, as necessary.
Depending on state requirements where you live, it can take anywhere from four to six months to become a real estate agent. The timeline also depends on how long you take to pass the real estate exam and the number of courses needed to meet your state’s licensing requirements
For instance, those who want to be licensed in Florida will need to complete 63 hours of state-approved pre-license education classes before sitting for the exam. Compare this to the state of California, where you're required to complete 135 hours.
Online test prep for a real estate license is a review course in preparation for the real estate license test. Every state requires some kind of pre-licensing education to get your real estate license. Online real estate schools may also offer online test prep services, which are different than classes for pre-licensing hours.
Test prep is typically voluntary and an additional charge on top of the pre-licensing course. Some real estate schools offer more personalized approaches to test prep by having you go through the course with an instructor. Test prep courses are usually much shorter than pre-licensing courses because they focus on reviewing the material to pass the test.
Although course names and state requirements will differ, you’ll find that real estate classes teach topics like the principles of real estate, real estate practice, law and ethics, and the legalities such as the types of contracts needed in a transaction.
For instance, students will learn about the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits sales discrimination based on age, gender, race, ethnicity, religion, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, nationality, and veteran status. Classes will also cover the practical skills necessary to conduct a successful closing, such as the realtor's responsibilities when it comes to the contract, writing listings, showing properties, and writing an offer.
Andy Smith, a Certified Financial Planner (CFP) and licensed realtor, said in an Investopedia interview that "The overall course curriculum has to conform to the individual state requirements for licensing. Each course in the curriculum should have a well-defined structure laid out in a course syllabus or similar document and include overarching course objectives; topic learning objectives; instructional methods used; materials the student must obtain, including software and hardware; along with contact information for technical support and the instructor's name and contact info."
To make sure that our findings offered the best opportunities for pre-licensing classes in as many states as possible, we used a methodology that involved examining 14 online real estate schools on factors such as price, support, availability, post-licensing opportunities, strong pass rates, and length of the program so that you can find the course that's right for you.
As a team of experienced writers and editors, we make sure to assess all products, including online real estate schools, from the consumer’s point of view. That’s so we can point out features and potential drawbacks in order to help you make the best decision when you embark or continue on your real estate career.
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