How to Pick a Real Estate School

Are you thinking about becoming a real estate agent? Are you looking for a real estate school so you can get your license? Choosing the best real estate school ain’t the easiest thing in the world.

Just look up “best real estate school in [your state],” and you’ll see Google populate over 5 million results. And when you start filtering by costs, location, etc., the pressure just triples.

Whether the process is challenging or seamless, one fact remains; to become a real estate agent, you’ll have to attend a real estate school and complete some pre-licensing coursework. If you have aspirations of becoming a Realtor, there will be even more studies. But how do you choose a real estate school that will fit your schedule and preferred learning style?

We’re here to help! This article will discuss the key things to look for when choosing a real estate school for your pre-licensing education. Let’s dive in!

1. Accreditation of The Real Estate School

When choosing a real estate school, the first step is to ensure the institution you’re considering enrolling in is authentic and legitimate.

Every institution that provides real estate education in the US must be licensed. The process happens at the state level. Therefore, it’s important to ensure the school you want to attend is approved by your state’s real estate commission.

You can easily get this information on your state’s real estate commission’s website.

Next, confirm that a qualified body accredits the school. You can check this info on the school’s website. If the institution is not accredited by a qualified and reputable agency such as ARELLO, go elsewhere.

Why? Accreditation means that the institution:

• Follows approved admissions and recruitment policies
• Employs professional instructors
• Follows an approved learning program
• Operates legit and sound financials

Key takeaway: Only enroll in a real estate school that is legitimate and accredited by a qualified accrediting agency.

2. The Real Estate School’s History

Does the real estate school you want to attend have a history of success and past students’ reviews to back its claims? If not, look for another school.

If yes, reach out to the past students and ask about their experience with the school and whether they would recommend it to anyone aspiring to pursue a course in real estate. Their knowledge and guidance could save you time and help you make a more informed decision.

Your research should also dig up useful statistics, including the number of years the institution has been operational.

Normally, institutions that have been running for years are more likely to be reliable. That’s because they have trained real estate agents in good and bad economic times and are also likely to have experienced and highly trained instructors.

3. Online Reviews of The School

Another essential consideration in picking a real estate school is their reviews. In this age of Photoshop, genuine online reviews are hard to come by, but you still wouldn’t want to enroll in an institution with a significant number of negative reviews.

You want to attend a school with a strong base of students who have had a positive experience with the school. Start by browsing the school’s testimonials page to see what past students are saying about the institution.

Next, browse social media pages associated with the institution and read online reviews.

You could also check reviews on niche websites like Agent Advice to learn more about the school from past students’ perspectives. The good thing about such sites is that trained professionals manually review all ratings and reviews to prevent spam. Thus, you get a clear picture of the school from first-hand reports.

4. Learning Methodology

What is the real estate schools’ learning methodology? Do you want to attend online or in-person classes?

It would be best to research the school you want to attend to ensure it has your choice’s class format option. Today, many real estate schools offer online classes, so it’s easy to complete real estate education online and from anywhere.

However, not all states allow classes to be taken online, so check with your state first.

The trick is to find a school that will fit your lifestyle. For example, if you’re a busy working mum looking to study real estate part-time, you likely don’t have time for in-person classes. In this case, a school with online classes would be the best fit for you.

5. Cost of The Real Estate Classes

While choosing a real estate school, you should compare the cost of education in each choice. If a school’s prices are significantly higher or lower than others, this should be a red flag.

Pricing can range anywhere from $250 to $500+ depending on the state where you live. Note that some schools might charge less if their learning methods are not on par with the top schools. Check the prices of other real estate schools in your state to ensure the pricing is justified.

Also, inquire about the school’s payment policies.

Some schools allow their students to pay in installments. This can come in handy, especially if you don’t have the full amount at hand. It’s also important to understand what’s included in the cost. In addition to the tuition fee, you’ll likely need extra cash to purchase study materials.

6. Students Support

Lastly, look for a learning institution that offers comprehensive student support.

Having a school with a robust student support team is valuable. A comprehensive student support team will offer help in the event of technical issues or logical requests. It may also help with curriculum-related queries, and this can save you time down the road.

Wrapping Up Getting a Real Estate License

Choosing the right real estate school can make the difference between passing and failing the real estate exam. Moreover, the right real estate school will equip you with the knowledge you need to pass the licensing exam and conduct business in the real world.

However, keep in mind that there is far more to being a successful real estate agent than attending school and passing a license test. Your skills as an agent are tested in the real world. Whether you focus on working with buyers or sellers will also play a role in your development.

While there are some similarities in roles as a buyer’s or seller’s agent, such as negotiating a home inspection, for example, many facets of the real estate business are different depending on what side of the fence you are on. Keep this in mind as you head down the road of becoming a real estate agent.

Hopefully, you have found this guide to picking a real estate school to be helpful.

About the author: The above article on choosing a real estate school was written by Erika Rykun. Erika is a content strategist and producer who believes in the power of networking and quality writing. She’s an avid reader, writer, and runner.