Real Estate Schools

Use our directory to find real estate schools and classes in your area

While the current real estate market is just barely on the rebound from a devastating crash, becoming a licensed real estate agent could reap huge dividends in years to come. Unbeknownst to many individuals all you need to become a real estate agent is a high school diploma/GED and a subsequent real estate license. A license to sell commercial or residential real estate can be obtained in just months. It's not like some jobs where you have to receive a college education - although that will certainly help you land a job, once you do receive a real estate license.

As for getting into a real estate school or program, it's actually pretty easy. There are really only two requirements for getting into a program. The first is that an individual must be at least 18 years old to obtain a license to sell real estate. Okay, that's easy enough. Most of us already have that checked off the list. The second is that you must have a high school diploma or GED in order to get into a school. Again, this is something that many of us already have. If not it can be obtained in just a few months of studying for a GED diploma. With those two requirements out of the way you can begin researching schools.

A good real estate program should have been in business and in good standing for at least 20 years. Do not go to a school that only recently opened up its doors. This is because schools that have been providing real estate educations for prolonged periods of time will undoubtedly have a far more comprehensive knowledge of this industry than a newly formed program. Do not settle for anything less than this, unless it happens to be the only school in your area. Even then, there area multitude of online programs to choose from that can be found with simple keyword search of "online real estate school" in any search engine.

On a similar note you should try to choose a school that has received various accolades and other forms of positive recognition from either state or national institutions such as the Better Business Bureau. If a real estate program has received the Pinnacle Award then your choice of what school to attend has already been answered for you. If an institution has received this award it means they were regarded as the top real estate school in the United States, during the year they received the award.

The faculty that is employed at the school(s) you're considering is another important factor to consider. Inquire with the school whether the faculty are current real estate agents or retired/one-time realtors. You will want to go with a school that employs current realtors, instead of retired or one-time realtors. This is because current realtors will not only be better able to educate you about the current market, but may also be able to prepare students for what the future market may hold. Former realtors are likely unable to provide this education as well as a current real estate agent.

Most real estate programs take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years to complete. Training will encompass knowledge of past and present housing markets, current regulations on both residential and commercial real estate, general knowledge of buildings, value, taxes, financing and more. The final exam to obtain a real estate license will vary state-to-state in both difficulty and type of material that is on the exam. Once a student has successfully passed the exam they will be permitted to work as a licensed realtor.