Becoming a realtor may be considered easier than most other career options. But it still requires specific education and hard work. If you are determined to choose real estate as your career, then the path to becoming one won’t be a bumpy ride. But one might ask – what are the classes required to become a realtor?
There are some required courses like – real estate principles, real estate practices, etc. that you need to do in order to become a licensed real estate agent. These courses may vary from state to state. But no matter what name the course goes by in your state, the basic foundation is similar.
To know more about the courses, the real estate schools that provide these classes and some of the the top universities that provide them, we recommend you go through this article and we ensure you it’ll answer most of your questions.
It is also important to have an idea of the overall investment that you will need to get started with a career in real estate.
Education & Training for Real Estate
To become a real estate agent, you don’t necessarily need a college degree. But it surely does help you outweigh the other competitors as it is a competitive market. If you have a bachelor’s degree in finance, business, or any other courses relevant to real estate, you’ll be more acceptable and important as it’ll help you understand the business and financial connection in the field.
A proper degree will not only make you more wanted to brokerage firms; it will also give you a solid foundation. You’ll be able to understand and apply the basics of real estate starting from buying and selling real estate to mortgages.
So, though it may not be easy, we still recommend you get a college degree on any related courses as some of the firms look for agents with a previous understanding of real estate.
Course requirements
In order to be a realtor, first, you will have to successfully complete three college-level courses. And only after completing these courses, you’ll be able to qualify for the examination of real estate salesperson. Specialized real estate schools and community colleges offer these courses. The course requirements are-
General Principles: This is the most common course among real estate license applicants. The name of this course as well as the number of required classes may differ from state to state, but this course is the foundation of understanding real estate. This course offers you knowledge on state laws, ownership, contracts, licensing, tax, etc.
Focus Legal Classes: After having done general principles, most of the states necessitate real estate agents getting more focused classes. The focused legal classes that are most acceptable are- Law of Contracts, Law of Agency, Legal Aspects of Real Estate. Because these courses mainly deal with the rules of managing agent-client relationships and contracts.
Finance Law: Some states specifically demand real estate finance law. This course will help you understand the financial prospect of selling and buying property. This course will not only help you understand the loan application process and federal and state policy but also will provide you with proficiency in helping your clients with the expenses of investing in a property.
Ongoing Training
The Real Estate agent is more or less a competitive career choice. It is competitive in the sense that you’ll have to face the constant pressure of outweighing other agents. You’ll have to provide your clients with something out of the ordinary and more. This is why it is important to keep gathering knowledge on the subject so that your client can see your capability and trust you without being doubtful.
In order to protect your license, it is important to keep on taking classes even after becoming a real estate agent. Because with time, there may be some alterations in law that influence the real estate industry. So, it is important to be up-to-date as a real estate agent. But the extent of ongoing education and the gap between the occurrences vary from state to state.
Difference in Requirements Among States
It is important to keep in mind that the requirements of these courses may vary from state to state depending on the name of the course and the number of hours for each course. Like- in Florida requires a 63 hour pre-licensing course.
Colorado requires 168 hours pre-licensing with state-approved courses like- Colorado contracts and regulations, Colorado law & practice, Colorado closings, Colorado Practical applications, Colorado record keeping and trust accounts, Colorado legal issues.
So, as the requirements vary, it is important that you do proper research on the requirements of your state and then follow them accordingly.
Best 7 colleges for Real Estate Degree
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania offers both MBA students and undergrads real estate concentration. The undergrad program provides a fundamental understanding of finance, business, and liberal arts. And the MBA program offers courses in advanced real estate investment analysis, real estate investments, housing markets, etc.
University of Georgia
The University of Georgia provides a huge number of graduate and undergraduate majors that prepare students by enhancing their ability in adaptive & analytic thinking, flexibility, and problem-solving which are very important to become a successful real estate agent. Its educational program also provides hands-on experience with fundamental career training and dynamic internships.
New York University
The New York University offers the students an undergraduate program as well as a graduate program. The curriculum provides the students with all the necessary skills required to become a success in the real estate industry as they teach the students to perform essential tasks like- financing, evaluation, closing negotiating, etc.
University of Wisconsin
The University of Georgia offers courses that are ranked top in the United States. It offers executive MBA, MBA, BBA in real estate majors, and also Ph.D., MAcc, and MS degrees. The course that this university provides includes all the essentials of real estate like- appraisal, finance, asset management, development, law and regulatory environment, market analysis, etc.
University of California
The University of California offers a great number of options in real estate courses. They provide you with the opportunity of completing a full-time MBA, a part-time MBA, an undergrad program, and a Ph.D. The curriculum offers the students participation in research projects as well.
University of Connecticut
The University of Connecticut helps the students to achieve a profound understanding of the practical and professional angle of the real estate industry. The university provides master, bachelor, & doctorate programs on this subject. The curriculum prepares the students in a way that they can gather enough knowledge to become a working professional.
University of Florida
The University of Florida offers both undergraduate and graduate minors in real estate as well as Ph.D., MS, and MBA in real estate. Along with the theoretical study, the program also offers a practical application that prepares the students to understand the career they have chosen for themselves.
Conclusion
Choosing the right career path that matches your interest and passion is a very hard task. But once you have decided which path to take, the next step will seem a lot easier if you do proper research and know where to start from.
Just like that, being a realtor also requires a lot of research on what are the qualifications, what are the classes required to become a realtor, and the universities that provide you with those classes.
In this article, we have provided you with some miscellaneous information on the educational requirements that are necessary and also on the top universities that can offer you the required classes. We hope this little guide was of help to you and wish you the best of luck with your upcoming project.
