Real estate can be a highly lucrative industry. And one of the major perks is that you don’t have to go to college or obtain an expensive degree to get started. All you need to do is pass a couple of exams. And the best way to ensure you pass these exams is to attend the right real estate school.
5 Ways to Pick the Right School
Real estate school might sound scary, but it’s not like school in the traditional sense. The courses tend to be self-paced, interesting, and super practical. The only challenge is there are a lot of them. Here’s how you can choose the right one:
1. Ask for Recommendations
As we’ll discuss in this article, there are a variety of ways to vet different real estate schools and find an option that’s right for you, but your best bet is to tap your network and ask for personal recommendations.
Think about all of the real estate agents you know. This may include neighbors, friends, family members, or past agents you’ve used to buy or sell a house. Shoot them a quick text or email asking for recommendations on real estate schools. If you start to see the same names pop up over and over again, this is a good sign.
2. Do Some Online Research
The internet is a high-powered research tool that you can deploy whenever you need it. Running a quick Google search will help you find ratings, reviews, testimonials, and other useful information. You can even access business groups and organizations, like the BBB, to see if schools are in good standing.
3. Check the School’s Track Record
You can tell a lot about a school by its past. How long has the real estate school been around? Has it produced successful agents? Have there been any major issues or scandals in the past? Dig around and see what you find.
4. Research the Teaching Methods/Content
We all have unique learning preferences. Some people are visual learners, others are auditory learns, and many prefer to read written content. You might be some mix of the three.
To make sure you get the most out of your time in real estate school, look for programs that offer the right teaching methods and content for you. You can gather this information by reviewing each school’s website.
Take RealEstateU as an example. Their classes – like the Georgia Real Estate License Course – feature audio transcripts, infographics, and PDFs for important course terms and sections. This is helpful for reaching a variety of learning styles.
Another benefit of courses offering different teaching mediums is that it enables you to spend more time learning. Audio lessons, for example, can be listened to on your commute. Infographics can be referenced when you’re doing last minute prep work for an exam. PDFs are great for familiarizing yourself with key terms and definitions. They all work together to prepare you for proficiency.
5. Gather Info About Class Format Options
Every real estate school offers different learning formats. Some feature in-person teaching where you physically show up and interact with a live instructor. Others offer on-demand online teaching. You’ll even find some hybrid schools that feature a combination of classroom and online learning. Consider what you need and select a school that aligns with your preferences.
Launch Your New Career in Real Estate
Getting your real estate education and license is only the start. If you want to be successful in this competitive field, you have to hit the ground running.
After becoming licensed, one of your first big decisions will be which broker to go with. Your state real estate commission will let brokers know that you’re licensed, and you’ll get flooded with letters and emails. Everyone will act like they want you, but you have to be intentional about choosing the right fit.
You want to go with a broker who is fair (no outrageous commission splits) and has the heart of a teacher. In other words, they should invest in training you up and providing real world experience. (This is mutually beneficial.)
If you do a good job of selecting a good broker, everything else will naturally fall into place.