Real estate is a science understood differently across the globe. On the one hand, in Europe, most countries don’t have a consistent education system for this profession, and real estate agents are not well regulated. On the other hand, in the US, real estate agents play a crucial role in the home selling process. There are over 1.3 million REALTORS® or one real estate agent to every 300 inhabitants.
Who can become a real estate agent?
From the outside, this career seems very appealing. However, remember that most real estate agents live on the commissions their sales generate. The more closings they have, the higher their take-home income is. It’s a job full of risks: the market goes up and down like a rollercoaster, interest rates vary, and the job market also has an impact on consumerism. So, when choosing this career path, don’t compare yourself with someone who has ten years of experience. If you’re passionate and love what you do, you will succeed eventually!
To become a real estate agent, you must be a US citizen, at least 18 or 19 years of age. A high school diploma or a GED is enough to enroll in a real estate class. While this career allows you to skip college education, the best academic preparation still happens in public or private universities. Let’s take a look at the best real estate schools in the US:
Top 3 Universities
According to US News, these three schools rank the best in the country for those who want to make a living from selling properties.
- University of Pennsylvania
What will you learn? Just a few of the topics covered: real estate law, housing markets, urban real estate economics, real estate investing. Undergraduates can choose between a Real Estate Bachelor of Science degree and a Real Estate MBA.
- University of Wisconsin – Madison
What can you expect after graduating? Studying real estate at the University of Wisconsin expands your horizons and allows you to work not only as a real estate agent in a brokerage firm but also as an appraiser, investment banker, or real estate developer. You can also work in insurance companies or estate planning.
- University of California – Berkeley
Prestigious faculty members and a challenging curriculum are the key ingredients for success at Fisher Center for Real Estate and Urban Economics. What will you learn? The courses focus on real estate finances, developments, and investments, real estate analysis, as well as valuation. Students are also encouraged to take part in different real estate competitions – an unparalleled learning experience.
REALTOR® University
Accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC), it offers education for wanna-be real estate agents as well as for those in need of continuing education. As the initiative of the largest trade association in the US, this school aims to empower REALTORS® with knowledge and skills so that real estate professionals can be trusted and approached with confidence. Clients must have the guarantee of high-quality service from start to finish.
Many real estate agents begin their careers by taking the Real Estate License Exam in their state. Those who want to raise their game and take their business to the next level cannot do this without higher education. What should you focus on during the Master in Real Estate Program? Well, you can choose one of these five concentration courses that help you:
- market your listings better and sell homes faster.
- be a top property manager.
- analyze and identify good commercial real estate investments with confidence.
- valuate properties and price them correctly.
- become a knowledgeable manager in a REALTOR® association or similar entity.
RE/MAX University
RE/MAX is an international real estate franchise. This brokerage firm is one that cares about the success of its real estate agents and provides continuing education wherever it is present. Those who want to join this company will receive a lot of support and exceptional leadership. What better proof do you want than to know that one of the franchisees (RE/MAX Results from Eden Prairie, MN) ranks among the top 10 real estate brokers in the US? It had little over 24,000 closings in 2018, according to the Real Trends 500 report.
At 36,000 closings, the real estate agents in Scottsdale working for HomeSmart occupy the 5th place. The largest brokerage company, though, is in Minneapolis and sold over 346,000 properties last year.
Online real estate schools
The benefits of attending a traditional classroom course are quite obvious. First of all, the teacher explains difficult concepts and makes sure every student has understood them. Secondly, you can ask questions. In the third place, you can make new friends.
The students who want to obtain their real estate license shouldn’t be regarded as competitors but rather as colleagues and future professionals. They might help you at one point or another. When you choose to study online, you have to make some sacrifices and rely on search engines most of the time. What is the best online real estate school? Real Estate Express seems to be a top pick among students. However, it is hard to compile an objective list of schools since each school may excel in a specific area.
So, is there another reliable way to identify the best online real estate schools? Yes, of course! All experts would tell you to look at the first websites that show up in the search results when you type “real estate school in [your town].” Sites that appear on the first page are usually the most trusted, especially the ones who don’t pay for advertising but rank organically.