Your Ultimate Guide to Pennsylvania Real Estate Courses
Introduction to the Real Estate Field in Pennsylvania
Overview of the Pennsylvania Real Estate Market
Pennsylvania’s real estate landscape is brimming with exciting possibilities and opportunities for homebuyers and investors alike.
From Philadelphia to Pittsburgh, there are positive market conditions in Pittsburgh’s housing market.
With a median home price of $280K and an impressive 6 percent year-on-year growth, the housing market in Pennsylvania is continuing to witness strong demand.
Since the last few years, Pennsylvania’s real estate market has been flush with new inventory and property listings.
According to market data, around 35 percent of Pennsylvania homes have been selling for higher than their market listing price.
Currently, the market is considered a seller’s market due to lower supply than the required demand. On average, the time spent in a market for a Pennsylvania home is only 22 days.
However, the market is resilient and showing signs of robustness overall and emerging as a competitive landscape for buyers and sellers.
There are many popular real estate hotspots in Pennsylvania that are expected to show steady demand for residential real estate.
If you are an aspiring real estate agent or broker who wants to leverage the possibilities of Pennsylvania’s steady real estate growth, now could be the time to start.
However, to help clients buy or sell real estate, you must first obtain a Pennsylvania real estate license.
If you are not sure how to go about getting your real estate license, then this article will help you plan your licensing journey easily.
We have outlined all the steps and qualifying requirements, including completing all the required courses required for a real estate license in Pennsylvania to help you get started with confidence.
Before we get into the details of the mandatory licensing requirements, let us take a closer look at why working as a real estate agent in Pennsylvania can be a great career choice.
Benefits of Being a Real Estate Agent in Pennsylvania
If you are a go-getter who likes to get things done and has a positive, can-do attitude to start with, then a career as a real estate agent in Pennsylvania can be a rewarding experience.
Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced professional interested in switching careers, let’s focus closely on some of the key benefits of working in real estate.
- High earning potential
The number one reason why people want to work in real estate is to enjoy the financially rewarding lifestyle which is driven by high demand for housing.
Unlike most careers, there is no upper ceiling on how much you can earn as a real estate agent, especially in a steady real estate market like Pennsylvania.
You can work as hard as you can and put in your maximum efforts to get more earning opportunities.
The best part is as long as you are attracting clients and helping them buy or sell real estate, you can continue to earn extra commission on top of your base income.
- Be your own boss
Do you dream of achieving financial independence and opening your own business someday? If yes, then a career as a real estate agent might be the starting point.
For aspiring entrepreneurs, working in real estate can give you the opportunity to learn the trade and open your own brokerage or real estate agency in Pennsylvania.
By starting as a real estate agent, you can work with a senior broker or brokerage firm to gain experience in the industry.
Once you are confident and have gained expertise, you can define your own territory and find a niche to work as a solo professional.
You can decide whether you want to work part-time or full-time based on your preferences.
This career will allow you to set your own working hours and escape the nine-to-five grind like most careers.
- Opportunities for growth
Real estate agents can learn, train, and upskill themselves throughout their professional careers.
Once you have a few clients and sales under your belt, you can continue to add new specialized skills and knowledge to your resume.
The best part about starting as a real estate agent in Pennsylvania is the fact that you will get numerous opportunities to work with industry professionals.
Further, you can also explore venturing into related career paths such as a real estate developer, realtor, consultant, or even a real estate investor in Pennsylvania.
- Low barrier to entry
Unlike many professions that require a graduate degree as the minimum qualifying education, joining real estate is possible with a high school diploma or a GED equivalent.
You don’t need a college degree to work as a Pennsylvania real estate agent or broker.
All you need to do is complete state-approved 75 hours of pre-licensing education covering mandatory and elective courses. You can complete these courses online or by enrolling in an in-person real estate school.
Compare that to studying for four to five years to qualify for a job and you will realize how becoming a real estate agent is way easier.
Due to the low barrier to entry, it is relatively easier to obtain your Pennsylvania real estate license within a few months.
By now, you should be clear about why working as a real estate agent in Pennsylvania could be a career-defining moment for you.
If you are ready to take action and work towards realizing your professional dream, let us walk you through the details of Pennsylvania pre-licensing real estate courses.
Understanding the Courses Required for Real Estate License in PA
List of Core Courses Required for Real Estate License in PA
As per the Pennsylvania Department of State, every applicant must complete 75 hours of pre-licensing education from a state-accredited and approved college or course provider.
The 75 hours of coursework consists of fundamental courses that will help you understand the foundational principles and laws of the real estate industry.
The pre-licensing coursework is divided into two mandatory or core courses including:
- Fundamentals of Real Estate (30 hours)
- Real Estate Practice (45 hours)
Note that you can choose to complete the above courses via in-person classroom-based learning or by enrolling in an online, self-paced course.
Examination Preparation Courses
If you are preparing for the Pennsylvania real estate license exam, it is important to cover essential courses during your pre-licensing education.
The licensing exam will consist of multiple-choice questions based on both state’s as well as national-specific portions.
To prepare for the exam questions, it is important to choose a state-approved education provider who can help you complete examination preparation courses such as:
- Real Estate Laws of Pennsylvania
- Agency in Real Estate
- Real Estate Brokerage
- Real Estate Valuation
- Fair Housing and Consumer Protection
In addition to the above topics, you must learn about all the basic principles, regulations, and best practices of the real estate industry.
Learning about Pennsylvania state license laws and rules is a must to boost your chances of clearing the licensing exam.
Importance of the Pennsylvania Real Estate License Courses
Time and Commitment Required for the Coursework
As per the Pennsylvania Department of Real Estate, you are required to complete 75 hours of pre-licensing education to qualify for the state licensing exam.
Considering there are multiple courses, you can plan to complete the entire pre-licensing education between three to six months.
However, some students are able to finish the same within two months and you can do so if you can manage to take out the time for it.
Top Schools for Real Estate Courses in Pennsylvania
Guidelines for Choosing a School for Real Estate Studies
When it comes to schools for real estate in Pennsylvania, you will find a diverse range of options, from online to in-person to choose from.
Pennsylvania state-approved education providers can help you learn the PA real estate principles and the fundamentals of the real estate industry, including its laws, rules, and regulations.
It is a must to choose a state-accredited real estate college or online course to ensure you are following the most updated and accurate curriculum for the licensing exam.
If you are considering completing the 75 hours of pre-licensing education in PA, here are a few important aspects for choosing a real estate education provider:
- Check their reputation:
Before deciding on a real estate school or online course, it is important to check the track record of a real estate college or school.
This will help you make an informed decision whether they are an experienced, trusted education provider or not.
When you learn from a reputed real estate school or course provider, you can take advantage of their years of teaching experience and knowledge.
You can gain insights and understand the important tips and tricks to ace the Pennsylvania licensing exam. These will prove valuable in boosting your exam preparation.
If you want to get the best value for your money, it is important that you choose a college or course provider with a proven track record of success.
- Check their accreditation:
According to the Pennsylvania Department of State, all applicants must choose a state-approved and accredited real estate school, college, or online course.
This is a critical yet often overlooked step when it comes to choosing a real estate pre-licensing education provider.
Accreditation ensures that your real estate college, school, or course of choice is offering an accurate and latest curriculum and meets the minimum standards established by the state’s real estate authority.
Learning from authorized and accredited sources will ensure that you are updated with the latest laws, regulations, and guidelines at the state and federal levels.
If you are unsure about an education provider’s accreditation status, you can visit the official website of the Pennsylvania Department of Real Estate of state-accredited colleges, courses, and schools.
- Check their packages:
When you are exploring the various options for completing Pennsylvania pre-licensing real estate courses, it is important to consider that there are many different course packages offered for students.
Real estate schools and course providers offer multiple packages with each offering a set of unique features and benefits.
Basic introductory courses are generally equipped with features like practice questions and sample tests.
On the other hand, advanced, expensive course packages come with additional features like webinars, private doubt-clearing sessions, Q & A with expert trainers among others.
Some course providers offer AI-based teaching assistance and test simulations to prepare their students.
Note that you can choose from in-person classes or enroll in a fully online, self-paced course.
Classroom courses can be more hands-on and engaging but online classes are more convenient and flexible.