In Person or Online? Choosing the Best Real Estate Course

For many people, a career in real estate offers the chance to have a good income, interact with a wide variety of people, and help them purchase a home. But before that career begins, many hours must be spent learning the business. While in years past that was done in a classroom, today's technology now allows these classes to be taken online. However, when deciding whether to pursue a real estate education online or in person, there are several factors to take into consideration. 

Schedule Conflicts
One of the biggest advantages to taking online classes is scheduling classwork around work schedules or family obligations. This lets you do your work when it is convenient for you, rather than stressing out while having to do a class assignment at the most inconvenient time. If you have a busy work schedule or a great deal of family responsibility, online classes may be the best choice.

Self-Motivation
If you find you are the type of person who is self-motivated and can get things done without needing to be told what to do and when to do it, online real estate courses may be a great way to get your license. However, if you find yourself procrastinating about getting assignments done and tend to do better in a more structured setting, taking classes in person is a good idea. This comes down to knowing yourself and being honest about your ability to get the work done, so before deciding on which classes to take it's a good idea to look yourself in the mirror and make the best choice.

Classmates and Your Teacher
Because most people who become real estate agents enjoy dealing with people and like interacting with others, taking classes in person is often preferred over online courses. Since many in-person real estate classes are taught by those who have previous real-world experience in the business, sometimes it may be easier to learn certain aspects of the field. In addition, because many topics in real estate can be complex, having a teacher in front of you may make it easier to have certain topics more clearly explained. While taking a class in-person may be tougher to work around a work or family schedule, having the chance to interact with others and enjoy the camaraderie of other students may make it worthwhile.

The Chance to Network
Taking in-person real estate classes will offer the chance to meet many people and perhaps make a connection or two with individuals who may be able to help you get a job in the future. Since the real estate business relies on making connections with as many people as possible, in-person classes can offer that clear advantage over online courses.

How Long Will it Take?
For people who attend in-person classes full-time, the courses can be completed in about six weeks. However, for those who take online classes part-time it can often take several months, so this option will depend on how quickly you want to begin your career.

By taking all these factors into consideration, it should be easier to decide whether to study real estate online or take classes in-person.