Once you’ve determined to get your real estate license, you need to decide where you will complete your pre-licensure class requirements. Is it better to take your real estate classes online or in-person?
Before you can sit down and take your state’s real estate exam, you will need to complete a certain number of real estate education hours from an approved provider.
Every state has different requirements. For example, Michigan only requires prospective real estate agents to take a 40-hour pre-licensure course. In California, the standards are a bit more rigid. They require all real estate students to take three college-level courses.
In this article, we’re going to discuss whether it is better to take real estate classes online or in person.
Benefits To Online Real Estate Classes
There are several reasons people choose online real estate classes. Let’s go over some of those.
Self Paced Learning. With an online real estate class, you can learn at your own pace. Are you a quick learner or does it take a few times going through material to store the information? Either way is okay. You can learn at the pace that works for you.
Go through content and study material quickly or take your time to review everything. You can match course speed to your learning style and abilities.
Flexibility. A lot of people love real estate because of the flexibility it offers, so it only makes sense that prospective agents would choose an online option for its flexibility. An online real estate course allows you to study when and where you want.
Only have time to study during your lunch break? No problem. Courses, like those from Aceable Agent, allow students to study and learn on the go with their mobile app.
Access your study material whenever and wherever, unlike in person real estate courses. In person courses often have set structured schedules, which may not work with your schedule if you’re working full-time and looking to get into real estate part-time.
Lower Cost. Online real estate courses are typically less expensive than in person classes, especially if you choose an option that doesn’t include live lectures. For example, the Michigan pre-licensure course through Aceable Agent is half the cost of an in-person class like Holloway’s Real Estate Institute.
Start Today. Online real estate classes let you start today. Depending on where you live, you may have to wait some time for an in person real estate class to start. That could mean waiting a month or two.
Benefits To In Person Real Estate Classes
While online real estate courses have several advantages, this doesn’t mean in person classes are without their positives. In fact, in person classes have many benefits over online courses.
Networking. In person real estate classes offer some networking opportunities. First, you can meet other prospective real estate agents. This can form a foundation of support in your first few years of real estate.
Second, you may have the opportunity to be introduced to some of the sponsoring brokerages in your area. You can learn more about their commission splits and fees and how they help support their real estate agents.
Distraction-Free Environment. To set yourself up for success with your real estate studying, you need a distraction-free environment. It’s a struggle to carve out a distraction-free environment, especially if you’re a mom or dad. Between the babies crying and the dog barking to be let out to go to the bathroom, it’s hard to stay focused.
An in person real estate class creates that distraction-free environment that helps you focus.
Visual or Auditory Learners. There are five main learning styles. Auditory and visual learners need lectures and images in order to learn. In person real estate classes are often better suited to these learning styles.
It’s not that online classes are bad for these types of learners, they just need to make sure they enroll in a course that has video lectures, images, and charts. Avoid any real estate classes that are too text based.
Low or No Tech. I get it. Some folks don’t care for technology. Browsing around a website and doing online learning is too much for them. For these people, in person real estate classes are almost always better.
Is It Better To Take Real Estate Classes Online or In Person?
The answer is neither. Both learning formats — online and in person — have their advantages and disadvantages. And every year, prospective real estate agents pass and fail using both methods.
It’s not so much as which one is better, but which learning format is better FOR YOU.
You have to take a self-assessment and ask yourself a few questions. Here are some to help:
- How good are you with technology? Do you have the knowledge and skill set to navigate online learning? If not, you might want to enroll in an in person real estate course.
- Do you need flexibility? Are you busy or have a constantly changing schedule? You probably want to look at online courses if this is true.
- Can you create a distraction free environment or learn in an environment with distractions? If so, you’re fine taking an online real estate course.
- What’s your goal as a real estate agent?
What About Live Lectures?
One common argument for taking in person real estate classes is the belief that it’s the only way to get live lectures.
That’s not true.
It wasn’t true before Covid, and it’s definitely not true after Covid. There are a ton of online real estate classes that offer live lectures or tutoring options.
As an example, Aceable Agent’s most interactive course for their Michigan pre-licensure course offers:
- One Hour of Private Tutoring With an Expert
- Live Webinars 5x/Week
- Access to Webinar Archive
- Watch Hundreds of Hours of Videos Anytime
- Live Q&A
There are plenty of options for getting a live lecture online if that’s your main concern.
Is It Easier To Take Online or In-Person Classes?
The difficulty of real estate classes is going to depend on your learning style, abilities, strengths, and resources. Real estate classes aren’t hard, but that doesn’t mean they don’t require work or focus.
Real estate classes can be hard due to the barriers that come up for real estate students. For example, it’s hard to study and learn about real estate in an environment that distracts you or if you’re tired after a 12-hour shift.
However, if I had to give you an answer, I’m biased towards online classes. There is much greater flexibility which allows you to self-pace and learn on your time.
Blasting through a one-week in person real estate class doesn’t do any good if you can’t retain all of the information to pass your real estate exam.
While you have to complete your real estate course, don’t forget about the real objective. Pass the real estate exam so that you can get your real estate license.
For me, I obtained my Michigan real estate license in two weeks. I was able to complete my pre-licensure course in a week and sit down for the exam a few days later. It helped because I was able to knock out a lot of content during the weekend while working a full-time job.
In my area, I would have had to take an entire week off work if I wanted to attend an in person real estate class.
If you want to get your license the fastest, online is the way to go.
The Future of Online Learning
You might choose to take your real estate class in person, but understand that a lot of real estate learning opportunities are moving online.
For example, if you want to obtain most of your certifications or designations from the National Association of Realtors, you will likely have to complete it online
Even a lot of training with your broker will take place online, especially if you’re looking to join a company like eXp or Keller-Williams.
You might also find yourself completing your continuing education courses online.
My point is that you’re going to have to get used to online learning in your real estate career. Might as well start now with an online real estate class.
What Are Some Online Real Estate Schools?
If you decide that you want to take your real estate classes online, we recommend looking at Aceable Agent. They only offer pre-licensure courses for select states. However, they are expanding their inventory.
If Aceable Agent isn’t available in your state, then I would recommend looking into Real Estate Express.
Either option is affordable and offers great flexibility and support for passing your real estate exam. Aceable Agent comes with a “pass guarantee”. If you don’t pass your real estate exam, then you can get your money back.
Final Word
There is a lot you have to learn in your real estate class, but very little of it helps you sell homes. Instead, the focus is on the laws and ethics of real estate. Essentially, how not to get sued.
Most of your real estate learning will happen at your brokerage. For that reason, you should be focusing on partnering with the right brokerage.
