All states in the US require some form of education for prospective real estate agents, and most expect industry professionals to complete continuing education hours even after they attain their license. If you’re preparing to enter a real estate profession, you’ll want to know what to expect out of your real estate school’s curriculum because it will teach you what subjects you need to learn and how to study for the real estate exam.
Becoming a real estate agent is a multi-step process, and the rules and regulations differ from state to state, but the first step, to attend real estate school, applies across the board.
It may sound daunting, but this educational stage typically only takes a few weeks. However, the exact number of hours, topics covered, and tuition costs depends on where in the US you live.
Below, we answer some common questions about real estate school and the requirements involved. Understanding the basics of the program can help you to understand the best ways to study for real estate school and pass the exam.
When you finish reading about real estate school, why not learn more about Breaking into the Real Estate Industry with AptAmigo?
Must Read: Why Buy-Sell Real Estate Agents Are Becoming Apartment Locators
What Is Real Estate School?
Real estate school is the pre-licensing training required to become a real estate agent within the US. All states require some version of this programming to pursue a traditional real estate career. Most of these schools provide some form of online training for ease and convenience.
How Long Does Real Estate School Take?
The good news: becoming a real estate agent won’t take years of advanced schooling. On average, candidates complete it in a window of a few weeks to a few months.
The length of time will vary depending on your state and the requirements for licensure within that state. Online schools can shorten that time by allowing students to move at their own pace, whereas some traditional, in-person real estate schools take as long as 3-6 months.
After completing the program, which teaches students how to effectively study for the real estate exam, most people spend a few weeks reviewing before taking the test.
How Much Does Real Estate School Cost?
The costs for real estate school vary by state and from institution to institution. It can range anywhere from $100 to $1,000, averaging somewhere in the middle range of that spectrum.
What Do You Learn in Real Estate School?
So…what do you learn in real estate school?
The exact topics covered will also vary from state to state, but they largely revolve around the principles, practices, and legalities of real estate. The core of the program includes how to buy and sell properties, navigate the closing process, and handle time management.
You will learn:
- The basics of how appraisals, valuations, escrow, property taxes, and mortgages work.
- The basics behind land descriptions and title transfers.
- Math equations for things like calculating acreage, or square footage.
- How environmental issues might influence residential or commercial property.
- Fair housing laws, real estate ethics, listings, and marketing tools.
- The legalities behind buying and selling real estate.
- How to create contracts.
- What listing agreements are.
Each state operates according to its own legalities and preferred best practices, but the core principles learned in the program adhere across state lines, and understanding them will go a long way in helping you pass the exam.
An Advanced Option: Real Estate Degrees
Anyone dedicated to the profession and harboring ambitious goals may want to pursue a college degree in real estate and/or a graduate degree in business. This path could benefit someone who wants to become a broker and own their own business. A standard real estate license requires agents to work under a broker, and, after a set period of time, they can return to real estate school for their broker’s license.
Only someone with a broker’s license can own and operate a brokerage. A broker’s advanced industry knowledge enables them to ensure that real estate transactions are legally compliant, giving them the legal authority to hire agents and oversee their deals.
You can meet the requirements to become a real estate agent by earning an associate’s, bachelor’s, or master’s degree in the field. If you’re interested in taking this path, consider the following factors:
- Whether the classes will help you pass the licensing exams for real estate agents and brokers,
- The reputation of the school within the real estate community,
- Whether the focus is on commercial or residential,
- The opportunities to work with professors or within the community.
Do I Need to Go to Real Estate School to Become an Apartment Locator?
At AptAmigo, our real estate agents concentrate on finding luxury apartment rentals for clients, earning commissions for each lease signed. The licensing rules around this niche of the market produce greater inconsistencies than in traditional buy and sell markets.
Ultimately, the answer to this question also depends on the state in which you reside. The cities that we serve within Colorado, Tennessee, and Georgia allow apartment locators to work without a real estate license, making this job a great option for gaining entry-level real estate experience before deciding whether to make that long-term commitment.
However, Texas has some of the strictest rules in the nation and requires apartment locators to attain a real estate license before they begin working. Chicago requires a leasing license for apartment locators, but allows people to work on a student license for 120 days while they earn their full one.
If you’re interested in a long-term career within the industry, it’s worth considering real estate school as a way to open up more options and gain a solid grasp of the intricacies within the profession.
Interested in Applying?
In the meantime, if you want to gain some hands-on industry experience, consider applying to AptAmigo to become a part-time Touring Agent, or a full-time Apartment Locator.
AptAmigo is proud to be an equal opportunity workplace and does not discriminate based on race, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, genetic information, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, gender, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law, in connection with any aspect of employment at AptAmigo.
