I'm pretty academically astute, but after about three days struggling with the online course, I ended up taking a second course in an actual classroom, and a week later I was done.

There are certain fundamentals that need to be taught in an academic setting, or so has been my experience.If you understand interest rates, rates of return calculations and such, real estate, on the other hand, does not have to be complex.

A lot of people get caught up in the academic exercise of learning real estate investing, but they never get to the taking action part. 

I recently picked up a copy of Professional Real Estate Development: The ULI Guide to the Business, 3rd Edition and I can't recommend it enough to anyone interested in becoming a real estate developer.It covers:How to get started in real estate developmentHow to analyze deals (market analysis, site selection, feasibility analysis, etc)How to finance deals (JV, commercial, private, syndication, govt programs, etc)Breakdown of how to develop residential, land, commercial, multifamily, officeAnalyzing real estate cyclesIncludes tons of case studies from all kinds of developersI really like the book because it is extremely practical and not just theoretical, even though the underlying rational is very academic in its approach.The book also makes a very strong emphasis on developers engaging the community as it is become more and more important to get community and political buy-in for successful projects.Definitely worth a read. 

However, the general erosion of property rights over the years has led to the perception - widely shared by academics, government officials and large portions of the public - that a leasehold grants greater rights to the tenant - rights that start to resemble outright ownership.  

Academic experience is great but there is nothing like getting out there and doing it. 

>p.s.Here is the course I am taking in real estate management.http://www.apu.apus.edu/academic/programs/degree/206/undergraduate-certificate-in-real-estate-management

You are constantly going to be looking for tenants as each academic year begins.

Academically comps are a better estimate  if the agent is experienced. 

Yes, we like to get 2%, but it is not a known metric correlated to prudent investment decisions backed by any accredited academic institution.