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Who here wants to be their own boss, have a flexible working schedule and unlimited earning power?
Maybe a better question is: Who doesn’t?
Success as a Realtor starts with finding a reputable online real estate school to help you learn the ropes. But if you’re going to invest your time and money, you want to make sure you’re making the right choice.
Here’s what to look for when choosing the best online real estate school, along with our top picks for 2019.
5 things every online real estate course should have
- Accreditation
The first thing you should do when checking out a school’s website is find their accreditation info. This tells employers your course meets academic standards. Karen Pedersen, Chief Knowledge Officer for the Online Learning Consortium says anything that looks too good to be true, probably is. For example, if a course claims “that students can earn a degree with little to no study—definitely look into its accreditation,” she advises.
- A sales curriculum
Many real estate classes focus on teaching students the technical side of the business like how to stay tax compliant and follow legal standards. And that’s great. But to really make it as a Realtor you need to be prepared to learn the art of sales, and be ready get a little dirt under your fingernails to learn how transactions really work. Your ability to own the selling process is the single most important thing you need to propel your real estate career from mediocre to stellar.
- Exposure
One of the best ways to learn about the real estate world is to familiarize yourself with agents who are already making a killing in your area. By listening to their stories, you can learn to apply the same rules to real-world scenarios once you’ve got your license. Look for schools that have partnerships with professional agents and take a minute to examine the quality and experience of the instructors.
- Time flexibility
Here’s where in-person classes loses considerable ground compared to their online alternatives. If you already have a job or a family, chances are your time is pretty stretched. Online schools have the advantage of letting you decide when you study and for how long—just make sure you choose one that suits your schedule.
- Great content
Always check out the course syllabus to see if they offer online textbooks, videos, podcasts, quizzes, practice questions and lessons to prepare you for the state exam. And of course, make 100% sure the school offers everything your state-based licensure requires.
There are many online schools out there that can help students breeze through real estate exam with interactive classes that don’t cost an arm and leg. Here are the top seven courses that will make you feel engaged in your learning, without ever having to leave your dining room table.
The top 7 best online real estate schools in the US
1. Allied Real Estate School
Overview:
Allied Real Estate Schools is a nationally recognized California-based company offering training and pre-license courses in Florida, Nevada, Texas, Virginia and Washington. Classes are designed to support self-paced learning and students have nearly a year to complete them. Allied also offers training for brokers, property inspectors, appraisers, mortgage loan originators and professional property managers who want to stay sharp.
What students are saying:
“I took the CA Real Estate Online course originally in 2014 and completed in 4-5 months (at my own pace). The course package I purchased was great. I researched various online educators and Allied had the best value and resources available. I didn’t need any assistance while taking the course. I went back to Allied before I took the exam to get an exam prep package; I sat for my exam and passed the first time. I’ve been working as a Realtor for several years. When it was time to renew my license I needed a few additional CLE course credits so I returned to Allied and they had a super reasonable rate. The CLE courses were modeled just like the course. Allied as ALWAYS exceeded my needs and expectations as an Educational Recourse and I am grateful they’re available for real estate and broker educational needs.” – Kim G.
Pricing:
Varies from state to state.
- Basic Package starting at $88.
- Principles Course + Exam Prep + Post-License Package: $198
2. The CE Shop
Overview:
The CE Shop offers courses in 25 US states, post-licensing classes for 21 states and continuing education classes for all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The company’s courses have earned numerous awards in various states and its corporate office in Colorado has been named one of Denver’s Best Places to Work in 2017.
What students are saying:
“C.E. Shop is awesome. Its classes allow me to go and complete classes when I can. I am a wife, a mother and I work. Because of its convenience, I’ve been able to complete the courses on my schedule and not when someone has scheduled classes that I cannot make because of life. Their customer service is amazing as well. They’re not easy classes and they shouldn’t be. However, they are broken down in smaller parts so that you’re more likely to pass them. I would definitely recommend their courses to anyone. It’s definitely worth the money.” – Missie
Pricing:
Varies from state to state.
- Basic Package: $129
- Best Value Package: $179
3. Real Estate Trainers (RET)
Overview:
RET offers several types of training courses relevant to salespeople, brokers, MLOs and appraisal exam review courses. The school’s statistics say that “over 92% of students who complete the full two-day crash course will pass the exam the first time.” Plus, their Online CompuTrainer feature has 900 practice questions and answers to prepare you for the state exam. They’re also focused on continuous education and have a sales course teaching future Realtors how to earn more commissions.
What students are saying:
“I purchased the online course and crash course package at the instruction of an associate. I moved quickly through the three courses and printed my certificates to mail into the BRE. I then scheduled a test date and a crash course for the weekend prior. My instructor Yvonne was an excellent presenter. She provided just the right amount of humor to get us to relax, personal stories so we could relate and remember during testing, and got down to business and moved through the material swiftly when it was needed. I highly recommend going there and participating in Yvonne’s crash course if you want to pass the first time. Not only did I pass, but I also made a friend in the industry that took an interest in my success.” – Dave Hobbs
Pricing:
Varies depending on the course type.
- Salesperson crash course: $199
- Salesperson crash course + practice questions: $249
- Short Sales Seminar: $135
4. Tony Mesa Real Estate School
Overview:
Tony Mesa’s CV is pretty impressive. He has 27 years of residential, commercial and industrial real estate experience and is the past president of Pines School of Real Estate. He’s also an attorney and expert witness in the Federal Courts regarding all things real estate. His course material is based on his experience training over 5,000 students for Florida’s real estate state exams (and he seems to have a lot of fans among them).
What students are saying:
“I was skeptical at first to give Tony’s ‘Sales Associate Exam Cram’ a try simply because there were far too many positive reviews…. like all of those reviews had to be paid for, right? Wrong. I took the online pre-licensure course through a different company but I LEARNED what I needed to know to pass the state exam, on the first try, through Tony. This man is a seriously talented instructor. He has an incredibly comprehensive outline of the course, chapters 1-20, which is provided to you in reading form as well as in an instructional video form. He also has instructional videos that break down each mathematical word concept. He really prepares you. He wants you to know what to expect. If you follow his advice and complete the program, you will pass the state exam. I have never felt so confident whilst taking an exam. Love this guy. Will definitely look to Tony first for any future educational needs.” – Brandon M.
Pricing:
Varies depending on the course type.
- Real Estate Sales Associate Course: $259
- Real Estate Broker Course: $320
5. CA Realty Training
Overview:
CA Realty Training helps students get their California real estate license. The school works with trainers who are leaders in this industry, providing real-life examples and taking the textbook material the extra mile to tell you what you really need to know to succeed on a practical level.
What students are saying:
“I did the online program. They gave me the essentials to pass my quizzes and exams: books, ebooks, quizzes, videos, PowerPoints. Communication was great. When calling the school, they answered with a friendly tone and were efficient towards what I needed. When I was having technical difficulties with the website, they fixed it and called back and texted me to see how I was doing. The program wasn’t stressful since you did it at your own pace. Plus when you need something, they have a chat room from certain hours that can answer your question. If you want to start a real estate program, you definitely need to go here.” – Jenny R.
Pricing:
Varies depending on the course type.
- Online Course: $75
- Online License Package: $154.99
6. Aceable Agent
Overview:
The great thing about this school is it keeps students’ progress synced across all the devices they use for learning. Aceable Agent’s course is the “only mobile-first course” certified by the Texas Real Estate Commission (pre-license courses are only available for Texas and NY). Aceable Agent also offers several professional development courses taught by real estate experts. Their Career Kickstart package comes with the guarantee that you’ll sell a house in 90 days.
What students are saying:
“The course by Aceable Agent is the best online study course I have ever taken. I have studied for many licenses in the past and this is by far the best. The problem with most online study courses, if its insurance or real estate state courses there is too much time wasted on materials that won’t even be on the test. Other courses are boring and not engaging. With Aceable this is not the case. I’m learning so much! Very important information and even the math is broken down so I can understand. I would highly recommend Aceable Agent it’s worth every penny and you will pass the first time! – Ricky Wells
Pricing:
Varies depending on the course type.
- Get Started pre-license course Texas: $497.
- New York Real Estate Course: $298.
7. Chamberlin Real Estate School
Overview:
This family-owned school offers not only pre-license courses for future Realtors but also courses to upgrade to a broker, renew your license and prepare for the state exam. Their recipe for success is online education with instructor support and a two-day live crash course which seems to be a pretty awesome way for students to prep quickly to pass the state salesperson and broker exams.
What students are saying:
“Hands down 5 stars for Chamberlin! I passed the state exam 1st try, due to the resources they have to offer. The online practice tests couldn’t get much closer to the real deal (minus some changes in wording and you basically have the state test). During the crash course, Gene goes over ALL of the material necessary to pass the real estate exam, there’s no wonder he has such a high pass rate. Plan your exam date the week after taking the crash course and there you have your Real Estate Salesperson or Brokers license. I highly recommend using Chamberlin for the online courses as well as an in-person crash course to finalize all of the knowledge you learned from the online sections.” – Nick G.
Pricing:
Varies depending on the course type.
- Pre-License Package: $350
- Pre-license Broker Course: $89
The student makes the Realtor
For busy people who don’t get lit up about the idea of going back to a classroom environment, getting your real estate education online hits the spot. And a great course can absolutely give you the foundation you need to have a long, profitable career.
But that doesn’t mean you can take classes with your eyes shut. If you want to get the best experience, you need a heap of self-motivation and the ability to sit down and put in the work.
Because the truth is, 99% of winning at real estate comes down to on-the-job training. If you’re not actively being mentored or doing deals, you’re not really learning.
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