Real Estate Education Online vs. In-Person Classes
Want to get into the lucrative real estate industry as an agent? Your first step must be to go through a pre-licensing course and get a license to practice. The point now is which path should you choose, online vs. in-person real estate classes.
In the past, getting access to the Internet was more of an exception than a rule. Aspiring real estate agents had to go through a series of in-person classes to get their licenses. However, over the years, the focus shifted to the convenience of attending online classes. The projections now estimate that there will be almost 57 million people using online platforms for real estate pre-licensing courses.
The goal of taking pre-licensing courses is to be in line with the stipulations of the state real estate boards. They decide the number of hours of coursework you must complete before being eligible for a license. Another objective of the course is to help students pass the real estate license exam.
What is the ideal course if you want to pass the real estate exam? Students have different learning methods that they are comfortable with. A study has shown that online learning helps students retain more information than in-person learning.
This post will detail the factors you should weigh before choosing between online and in-person classes.
Key Takeaways
- Understanding the Two Modes of Real Estate Education
- The Rise of Online Real Estate Classes
- The Traditional Route In-Person Real Estate Course
- Pros and Cons Online vs. In-Person Real Estate Classes
- Benefits of Online Real Estate Classes
- Advantages of In-Person Real Estate Education
- FAQs on Online Real Estate Education
- Can You Take Real Estate Classes Online?
- How to Navigate and Optimize Online Real Estate Classes
- Making the Decision Which Mode Suits You Best?
- Assessing Your Learning Style and Preferences
- Considerations for Time, Flexibility, and Interaction Needs
- Practical Steps for Embarking on Real Estate Education
- How to Enroll in an In-Person Real Estate Course
- Steps to Take Real Estate Classes Online
Understanding the Two Modes of Real Estate Education
The Rise of Online Real Estate Classes
The Internet has opened a world of convenience and opportunities in every section of society. Hence, if you ask can you take online real estate classes, the answer is yes.
The number of aspiring real estate agents going online for coursework is growing exponentially. This is mainly because of the many benefits that online teaching brings to the table.
The reason behind the rise of real estate classes is that learning and information retention are more effective. Studies show that students absorb between 25 to 60 percent more course materials when compared to in-person classes. The same study points out that 77% of academicians feel that online classes are a better option than in-person classes.
The Traditional Route In-Person Real Estate Course
Many institutes and colleges across the USA offer the traditional real estate course in person. Choose a course that is accredited and certified by the Real Estate Commission of that state. You are then assured about the quality and authenticity of the training provided.
Classes are conducted by reputed and experienced real estate professionals. They will prepare you thoroughly to negotiate every step of your real estate career. However, you might have problems commuting to in-person classes if the institute is far from where you live. Rather, online classes are taking precedence and most colleges taking in-person courses have also branched out into online classes.
Pros and Cons Online vs. In-Person Real Estate Classes
Benefits of Online Real Estate Classes
There are several benefits if you ask if can you take a real estate course online. Check these out to know why aspiring real estate agents prefer online classes today.
- Collaborative learning experience: Online classes establish more interactive and direct communication between the instructor and the student. Practice exams evaluate how much information has been absorbed.
- Convenient learning: You can study from anywhere at any time provided you have a stable Internet connection.
- Study around your schedule: You can carry out your routine schedule and not upset your lifestyle as you study online courses. Access is round the clock and at any time can be your study time.
- Substantial savings: Online classes are cheaper. Check out the online course packages from RealEstateU and you will be surprised at how affordable they are. This is because the cost of setting up the required infrastructure for in-person classes is not there. The cost of hard-copy textbooks along with expenses for commuting to and from classes can be avoided.
Advantages of In-Person Real Estate Education
The main advantage of in-person real estate education is that it gives you the feel of learning you are used to from school and college. You have the instructor before you to instantly clarify any knowledge gap that you might have.
Another plus point for many students is the use of textbooks as a learning tool as different from online classes. You can take notes in the margin, underline important text, and have all these saved within the covers of the books. This learning method is ideal for those who have always felt comfortable in a classroom learning experience.
Finally, if you cannot handle Internet-enabled devices and are not tech-savvy, in-person real estate education is good for you. Online classes require you to access videos and know where the information is stored on your mobile or laptop. In-person textbooks, notes, and teaching methods are relatively straightforward.
FAQs on Online Real Estate Education
Can You Take Real Estate Classes Online
Look around you and you will find online classes trending in any discipline or course that you choose. The same holds for real estate classes too. So, if you ask yourself can you take real estate classes online, the answer is in the affirmative.
How to Navigate and Optimize Online Real Estate Classes
If you are well conversant with working on the Internet, navigating and optimizing online real estate classes should be a breeze.
To get the most out of the course, select one from a reputed provider with years of experience in this industry. Real estate professionals design such course materials to provide you with the most updated information about this sector.
Check whether there are enough practice questions that simulate the actual exam. This is critical to give you the required confidence to crack the exam on the first attempt.
Select an online real estate class offering round-the-clock student support. You can clarify any curriculum doubts and resolve tech issues the moment they arise.
Making the Decision Which Mode Suits You the Best
Assessing Your Learning Style and Preferences
For those who prefer the typical classroom-style learning experience, in-person classes will suit them the best. These people are more comfortable reading text from books and taking notes as the lecturer teaches. If you fall in this category, in-person classes are the best for you.
On the other hand, online classes will suit you if you prefer flexibility to study at your own pace and time. Most course providers release content stored in the system to be studied at any time and from anywhere. This convenience is important for agents who are already gainfully employed elsewhere and are looking for a change in profession.
Students who prefer an interactive study experience must opt for an online course. They can study at their own pace and quickly clear doubts from the instructor.
Considerations for Time, Flexibility, and Interaction Needs
Apart from the learning method, focus on other conveniences when you compare the utilities of online vs. in-person courses.
First off the mark is the time factor. Commuting from brick-and-mortar classrooms takes up a lot of time. Moreover, you do not have to change your life schedule as you are not bound by classroom timings.
Next, consider which type of course provides flexibility to complete the course hours at your own pace and convenience. Here too, online courses score better than in-person classes. With an Internet connection backing you up, you can study from anywhere at any time, even while on the go.
Finally, classroom courses follow fixed subjects per session. In online courses, you can interact with video instructors on any topic covered in the past or current.
The conclusion is that online courses score over in-person classes on all points.
Practical Steps for Embarking on Real Estate Education
How to Enroll in an In-Person Real Estate Course
Enrolling in an in-person course can be done online. Browse the website of the selected college or institute and go to admissions. Select the name of the course and the campus center where you want to attend classes.
Next, choose the start and end date of the course as per your convenience. You will find a few options here. Finally, decide the timing of the class that you want to attend.
Pay the required fees and you are good to go. Start your classes as per your selected program.
Steps to Take Real Estate Classes Online
How to take real estate classes online? Research the various online courses available, and what they have to offer in course content and quality of study materials. Read students’ reviews to get an idea about the reputation of the course provider. Once you choose the course and pay the fees, you will be granted access to download study materials and attend video and audio lectures.