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I'm looking to get my license for the first time. I need some recomendations of schools.To all the agents out there, what are your opinions of taking real estate classes on line?
taking the class online is ok...you will never hear the instructor's emphasis on certain topics, hearing other students questions....part of the package is the experience of being with people just like you, in search of knowledge and a place to hang your new shiny license.
You learn SO much more in the classroom! Your instructor will give you the "lo down" of how things really work. This is INVALUABLE information! You will be able to ask a million question (which you will have). RE school is not easy. It's a lot of work. Most people fail the state lic exams the first time. It's a lot of stuff that you probably never really need to know.
The material that is covered doesn't really teach you how to sell a house. That's where the instructor will break it down for you and tell you how to sell, what papers and forms are involved, and what most agencies in the area expect. Seriously, if you want to know how to sell RE, then go to an in person school.
Not to denigrate the intense study efforts of those who had to work hard to pass the RE license test ...
but I studied for my Colorado license by reading through my (ex) wife's class study materials from her RE school, and going down to take the test after a few weekends of reading the materials.
I passed on the first try and didn't need much of the allocated time to go through the test. There were a lot of others who left well before me, too.
It's simply no big deal. A bit of memory work about basic laws, ethical practice, fidicuary responsibility, filling out contract forms, and general knowledge about the product you're selling (surveys, required disclosures, etc.)
Personally, I think it's a myth that a realtor's license is so hard to obtain, perpetuated by realtors to make it sound like it's an exclusively tough profession to get into.
I know of places in Colorado where there's more licensed realtors than properties available in the market right now.
The only thing that I see is tough about getting into Real Estate is quickly finding enough qualified clients to start getting deals completed and cash flow going so you can make expenses and a living.
Personally, I think it's a myth that a realtor's license is so hard to obtain, perpetuated by Realtors to make it sound like it's an exclusively tough profession to get into.
I know of places in Colorado where there's more licensed Realtors than properties available in the market right now.
There is no such animal as a Realtor's license. One gets a Broker's or Salesman's license from the state. Then if one wants, pays to become a member of the local, state & National Association of Realtors.
It is a fact that most people fail to pass their first time taking the test. Some pre-license schools have better pass the test rates.
Just because you take the class, does not mean you pass the test. Just because you pass the test does not mean you get a license.
There are 34,000+/- licensees in Colorado with 38,000 properties on the market in the Denver MLS alone.
There are productive EBA offices (representing buyers exclusively) and therefore would not have any listings.
Most Realtors are in favor of raising the bar to get and hold a license, having minimum standards for service.
Well, I'll stand corrected on the very fine point: one does take a Real Estate Salesman's license exam, and if you pass, you can then pay the fees and subscribe to the training/code of ethics to become a Realtor (which is a registered trademark).
I'd present basic evidence that it doesn't take much to study and pass the RE Salesman's exam in the form of my ex-family members, but they're not available at this time to contribute to the forum. (and I do mean that sarcastically ... if my former wife, an indifferent high school graduate of no special talent or training could pass the Colorado RE Salesman's exam on the first try after attending classes ... then just about anybody with some common sense and retention ability can pass. Her only jobs out of high school were receptionist positions at big companies. She did go back to school and became a legal assistant, dropping RE as being too much work for her).
I'd offer up a further observation ... how many RE Salespeople have you met that are former housewives with time on their hands now that the kids are out of the house and she has only a high school diploma?
It's true, also, that a lot of educated people are attracted to the RE profession. Why? Because in many circumstances, they can work less and make more money than they did in their "professional career". I know former major airline pilots who walked away from senior positions (and $100K+ per year jobs), dentists, lawyers, veterinarians, RN's, LPN's, plumbers, electricians, auto mechanics, psychologists (PHD's), teachers with a lot of years and advanced degrees, DEA agents, CPA's, GS-12 level Gov't managers in Forestry or Hydrology, and so forth. And that's from just the little exposure I've had to the people in the business.
My point remains: it's not too difficult or costly to get a RE Salesman's ticket. If you're interested in going into RE, go for it. Don't be discouraged by the multitudes who are already there who say it was difficult ... it just isn't so.
To the original question....if you haven't bought or sold many homes on your own, and you don't hold a salesperson's license already in any state, then I would recommend an in person class. It will allow you to more quickly hone in on the information that you need to pass the test - which is really what RE school is all about. Online classes are not designed to present information in a "need to know" format to pass the test; they are designed to be long narratives to ensure that you meet the minimum hour requirements for each course. It's harder to sift through the information and know what will really be pertinent for exam time. Online classes are better for your continuing education requirements or if you are getting a license in an additional state and already have gone through the real estate basics. Good luck!
Also, the in person classes the instructor will give you examples of questions that are on the exam. Many students will call up the school and tell them about some strange questions that popped up and then everyone learns from that. They can tell you what to watch out for.
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