A Definitive Guide To Finding The Best Real Estate Schools In NYC

New York City has one of the most competitive real estate job markets in the country.

At the end of 2021, around 60,000 real estate agents were active in New York City alone—with the industry expecting to grow by 3.8% at the end of this year.

The key to getting your real estate career started is to find the right school to help you prepare for the pre-licensing exam. However, knowing which one to choose can be overwhelming.

In this article, we discuss some of the best New York real estate schools and everything you need to know about them.

We also outline some of the state’s requirements for becoming a salesperson and how to make the most of your studies.

Why Do You Need to Enroll in Real Estate School?

The New York Department of State requires all aspiring real estate agents to complete a pre-approved licensing course.

This is to teach you all of the basic skills, laws, and terms you will need to know in order to work in real estate.

Enrolling in a registered real estate school is the only legal way to obtain the required coursework that you will need to study for the exam.

One of the other key benefits of enrolling in a real estate school is that they keep their material up to date with the latest industry regulations.

This ensures that you only study the most up-to-date information for the real estate exam.

Once you have completed the coursework, the real estate school you enrolled in will also issue you with an official certificate of completion.

This has to be submitted to the New York Department of State before you take the exam

Not only will real estate schools provide you with the necessary coursework for your initial New York real estate license, but many of them also offer continuing education.

These are post-licensing courses that help active real estate agents stay up to date with any new industry regulations or laws.

The state of New York requires all active real estate agents to take continuing education courses when they renew their licenses.

How Much Does Real Estate School Cost in New York?

Although the prices will vary from school to school, you can expect to pay between $200-$900 for the study material.

Some of these packages may also include practice tests and answers, as well as career and studying resources.

Self-Paced vs. Scheduled Courses

Many real estate schools offer either self-paced online courses or live-streamed classes with a fixed schedule.

Choosing a self-paced course may be more convenient if you want to work at your own speed.

These courses are also more flexible, which means that you can fit them into your schedule when it works best for you.

You can also enroll in scheduled classes that are live-streamed during the week.

This gives you the opportunity to ask the instructor questions in real-time and may help you to understand the work a bit better.

Online classes also allow you to meet some of the people that you may be working with one day.

How Do I Start Practicing Real Estate in New York?

There are a few different requirements that you will need to meet before you can start practicing real estate in New York.

It’s important to note that you must be 18 years old and have a current New York state driver’s license or ID card to start the licensing process.

You will also need to complete the required 75 hours of pre-licensing coursework and pass the New York real estate exam with a score of 70%.

After you have passed the real estate exam, you will be able to apply for your license.

The state will evaluate your test results and any other documentation you submit before approving your application.

Once your application has been approved, you’ll receive your license to start practicing real estate.

An active and licensed broker must be willing to employ you and provide you with mentorship after you receive your license.

Continuing Education

The state requires licensed agents to complete 22.5 hours of post-licensing coursework every two years.

When you renew your license after two years, you will need to enroll for a continuing education course to ensure that your real estate knowledge is up to date.

What Can I Expect from New York Real Estate Schools?

As we’ve mentioned before, real estate schools are designed to help you pass the licensing exam and become a successful agent.

Here is a list of some of the topics you may cover during your pre-licensing coursework:

• State License Law and Regulations
• Contracts
• Finance
• Legal Complications
• Law of Agency
• Land Use
• Construction and Environmental Concerns
• Fair Housing
• Valuation
• Insurance and Taxes
• Commercial and Investment Properties
• Condominiums and Cooperatives
• Property Management

Real estate schools like REPG will also be able to provide you with practice exams that contain sample questions from the actual test.

The best way to pass the final exam is to pay attention to the types of questions the practice exams ask and how you should answer them.

This will help you feel more confident when you write the actual exam because you will be more familiar with its structure and requirements.

The Top Three Things to Look for in a New York Real Estate School

Since enrolling in a real estate school is the first step toward getting your license, it’s important that you choose the right one.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most important factors to consider when choosing an online real estate school.

Course Pricing and Inclusions

The price of the coursework is often one of the most important factors when choosing a real estate school.

Not only do you need to ensure you get value for your money, but you should also consider course packages and what material is included.

Real estate schools that offer practice exams with their coursework—without a substantial additional fee—are usually good options.

Variety of Learning Methods

It’s important to note that not all of the real estate schools will offer material that’s suited to your learning needs.

The real estate school you choose should reflect the learning method that you are most comfortable with.

For example, if you are someone who prefers text-based learning a school like REPG would be a good fit. We’ll go into more detail about our real estate courses later in this article.

How Long You’ll Have Access to the Coursework

Choosing a real estate school that gives you access to your coursework for a few months is a good option if you want to study at your own pace.

Most schools will allow you to access the material for up to three months, while others may give you access for up to a year.

To decide what time frame will work best for you, draw up a detailed schedule to see how you can fit your studies into your daily routine.

This will give you a much better idea of how much time you will need to get through all of the coursework before writing the exam.

Here Are the 9 Best Real Estate Schools in NYC

Now that you know what to look for, here are some of the best online real estate schools that can help you kickstart your career.

Real Estate Prep Guide

Our study guides and practice tests have helped over 50,000 aspiring agents obtain their real estate licenses—and you can be one of them too.

We provide instant access to fully accredited state licensing courses and up-to-date practice tests to help you prepare for the exam.

This will help you to fully understand what to expect on the actual exam and improve your chances of passing on your first try.

At REPG, we also work closely with industry experts to ensure that our coursework is continuously updated with new state regulations and industry changes.

Our job placement assistance program makes it easy to find a sponsoring broker that’s right for you. We also help aspiring real estate agents apply to the brokerages of their choice.

Real Estate Prep Guide also offers continuing education classes that will help you maintain your real estate license and grow your professional skill set.

Additional Benefits:

• Job placement assistance
• Instant access to the coursework and practice exams
• Access our material from multiple devices
• Use the guides and tests for up to 90 days
• 100% money-back guarantee if you don’t pass on the first try

Pricing:

Aceable Agent

Aceable Agent is a New York State-approved real estate school that offers self-paced online learning courses. Students also have access to instructors and career support.

In addition to the study material, Aceable Agent’s pre-licensing packages also include a short course on how to start your real estate career.

The courses are available in text-only, video, or audio formats and students have access to an instructor via email.

Aceable Agents also offer a premium package that includes:

• Five live webinars per week
• Private tutoring
• Live Q&A sessions

Students also have access to the exam preparation materials that can help them test their knowledge and see which areas they need to improve.

At the moment, Aceable Agents doesn’t offer their own post-licensing coursework.

However, students can access continuing education courses with an affiliate partner through Aceable Agents’ website.

Additional Benefits:

• The mobile app allows for access on multiple devices
• All of the study material is downloadable
• Money-back guarantee within 30 days of purchase

Pricing:

Real Estate Express

Real Estate Express is an accredited online real estate school with various coursework options, including live-streamed classes.

Students can customize their courses by choosing between scheduled video lectures and self-paced learning.

The school also allows students to track their progress and set goals on their platform while preparing for the exam.

Their student forum allows learners to interact with each other and ask their instructors questions about the content.

Real Estate Express offers post-licensing courses through an affiliate partner, which students can access on their website.

Additional Benefits:

• Materials are downloadable
• Access study guides and practice tests across devices
• Customer support via email, phone, or live chat

Pricing:

Kaplan Real Estate Education

This state-approved real estate school offers both text-only coursework and live-streamed video classes.

The live-streamed videos can be watched at any stage, which allows students to study at their own pace.

Similarly, the text-only course provides students with the necessary study material to work through when it suits their schedule.

Kaplan Real Estate Education also offers live webinars with industry experts. These instructors are available to answer questions or provide career advice.

The school is one of the few in the state that offers its own post-licensing courses.

Additional Benefits:

• Students can access coursework on different devices
• Career support packages are available
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Pricing:

RealEstateU

RealEstateU is a state-accredited real estate school that offers self-paced online courses.

The video lessons contain real-world scenarios to help students learn more effectively. They also include activities and quizzes to allow students to test their knowledge.

The course is accessible for up to 12 months after purchasing it, allowing students to be flexible with their schedules.

RealEstateU also offers its own online post-licensing courses for practicing real estate agents.

Additional Benefits:

• The coursework is downloadable for offline use
• Lessons taught by local real estate professionals
• Study material is accessible across multiple devices

Pricing:

The CE Shop

The CE Shop is an accredited real estate school that offers customizable online courses.

This allows students to take courses based on their interests while doing the required pre-licensing coursework.

The CE Shop also offers practice exams to help students prepare for the types of questions they will encounter on the actual test.

There are also multi-state continuing education courses available through The CE Shop to help practicing agents retain their licenses.

Additional Benefits:

• Access coursework for up to 12 months
• Learning material is accessible on multiple devices
• The CE Shop also offers continuing education courses

Pricing:

PrepAgent

PrepAgent real estate school gives students access to pre-recorded video lessons that they can use to prepare for the licensing exam.

These videos are pre-recorded, so you can use them to study at your own pace. The content teaches students the basics of real estate law as well as professional industry procedures.

PrepAgent also has a live webinar option that streams five times per week for students who prefer a “classroom” environment.

PrepAgent currently doesn’t offer any post-licensing courses.

Additional Features:

• Audio lessons are available for students on the go
• Access coursework for up to 12 months
• A variety of exam prep questions are available

Pricing:

Compucram

Compucram is a state-approved online school that focuses more on offering practice exams, rather than the required coursework.

This is to help students understand the structure and content of the pre-licensing exam so that they will be comfortable writing the real deal.

Compucram also offers access to study materials to complement the practice tests and coursework. This includes flashcards, study guides, and e-books.

There is currently no option for post-licensing coursework with Compucram.

Additional Benefits:

• Coursework is accessible on multiple devices
• Progress can be shared and tracked across multiple devices
• Money-back guarantee

Pricing:

New York Real Estate Institute (NYREI)

This accredited real estate school offers self-paced and live-streamed courses taught by local professionals.

The NYREI also has in-person classes held at multiple sites throughout New York City.

The courses are kept up to date with current real estate laws and information to ensure that they remain relevant for their students.

After lessons, students also have direct access to their instructors for questions or career guidance.

NYREI offers its own post-licensing courses and can help you with job placements at an additional cost.

Additional Features:

• E-books and course material are downloadable
• A variety of learning options are available
• Access the coursework for up to four months

Pricing:

Kickstart Your Career with Real Estate Prep Guide Today

Becoming a real estate agent can be a stressful and time-consuming process.

That’s why Real Estate Prep Guide (REPG) wants to help you make the process as smooth as possible.

With our cost-effective and comprehensive learning material, you are guaranteed to become a real estate agent in no time.

Don’t believe us? We are so confident in the quality of our coursework that we offer a 100% money-back guarantee if you don’t pass on your first try.

Choose REPG to kickstart your salesperson career today.