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By Jonathan Lee•Last Updated April 18, 2025

Real Estate School: Difficulty Level and Success Strategies

Is real estate school hard? What to expect and how to succeed

Many aspire real estate professionals wonder about the difficulty level of real estate school before commit to this career path. The short answer is that real estate school present a moderate challenge that vary importantly base on your background, study habits, and the specific requirements in your state.

This comprehensive guide examine the factors that influence the difficulty of real estate education and provide practical strategies to help you succeed in obtain your license.

Understand real estate school requirements

Real estate education requirements vary by state, but most follow a similar structure:

Pre licensing education

States require between 40 180 hours of pre licensing education, with the national average being approximately 75 hours. California have one of the highest requirements at 135 hours, while states like Michigan require precisely 40 hours.

This coursework typically covers:

Real estate principles and practices
Real estate law and contracts
Property ownership and land use
Financing principles
Property valuation and appraisal
Fair housing laws and ethics

Licensing exam

After complete the requirement education, candidates must pass a state licensing exam. These exams typically consist of two portions:

A national portion cover general real estate principles
A state specific portion cover local laws and regulations

Pass rates vary by state but mostly range from 50 65 % for first time test takers, indicate a moderate level of difficulty.

Factors that affect difficulty level

Educational background

Your previous education can importantly impact how challenging you find real estate school:

Business or finance background:

Students with experience in business, finance, or economics oftentimes find the financial concepts and market analysis portions easier to grasp.
Legal background:

Those with legal training typically have less trouble with the contracts and law sections.
No related experience:

Students without related experience may need to invest more time understand fundamental concepts.

Learn style and format

Real estate courses are offer in various formats:

In person classes:

Provide structure and direct access to instructors but require commute and fix schedules.
Online self pace:

Offer flexibility but require self-discipline and motivation.
Online live classes:

Combine elements of both with virtual instructor interaction.

The format that align with your learning style can importantly affect your experience. Visual learners might struggle with text heavy online courses, while those who prefer independent study might find classroom settings inefficient.

Time commitment

The intensity of your study schedule affect perceive difficulty:

Full-time study:

Complete courses in 2 3 weeks can be overwhelming due to the volume of information.
Part-time study:

Spread coursework over 2 3 months allow better absorption but require consistent commitment.

Many students report that cram make the material seem more difficult than it really is.

Common challenging areas in real estate education

Math concepts

Real estate math intimidate many students but mainly involve basic calculations:

Area calculations (square footage )
Proration of taxes and other expenses
Commission calculation
Amortization and loan calculations

While not advanced mathematics, these concepts require practice and memorization of specific formulas.

Legal terminology

The legal aspects of real estate present another common hurdle:

Contract law principle
Types of property ownership (fee simple, leasehold, etc. )
Easements and encumbrances
Agency relationships and fiduciary duties

The technical vocabulary can be challenge, peculiarly for those without legal experience.

Memorization load

Real estate education require memorize numerous facts, figures, and concepts:

Federal and state laws
License requirements and restrictions
Fair housing provisions
Disclosure requirements

This volume of information can overwhelm students who don’t develop effective memorization strategies.

What real estate students say about difficulty

Perspectives from actual students reveal varied experiences:

” tThematerial itself wasn’t especially difficult, but the volume was overwhelming. I have to create a strict study schedule to stay on track. ” orFormernking professional

” aAssomeone without a business background, the financial concepts were the hardest part for me. I need additional study resources to very understand mortgage calculations. ” arCareeranger from education

” tThepre licensing course was manageable, but the exam was tougher than iIexpect. The practice tests were essential for my success. ” ecRecental estate graduate

Pass rates and reality check

National statistics provide context for the difficulty level:

First time exam pass rates average between 50 65 % nationwide
Pass rates increase to 70 85 % by the third attempt
Completion rates for pre licensing education exceed 90 % in most programs

These figures suggest that while challenging, real estate education is surely achievable with proper preparation.

Strategies for success in real estate school

Effective study techniques

Implement these prove study methods:

Spaced repetition:

Review material at increase intervals to improve retention.
Active recall:

Test yourself often preferably than passively re-reading.
Concept mapping:

Create visual connections between related topics.
Teach method:

Explain concepts to others to solidify your understanding.

Many successful students report that teaching concepts to friends or family members importantly improve their comprehension.

Time management

Structure your study schedule efficaciously:

Break content into manageable 45 60-minute study sessions
Schedule regular review periods for antecedent cover material
Allocate extra time for personally challenging topics
Study during your peak mental performance hours

Consistency frequently trumps marathon study sessions for long term retention.

Supplemental resources

Enhance your learning with additional tools:

Exam prep programs:

Specialized test preparation courses (compucram, pprep agent etc.)
Flashcard apps:

Digital flashcards for terminology (qQuizlet aanti)
Video tutorials:

Visual explanations of complex concepts
Study groups:

Collaborative learn with peers

Many successful students report that exam prep programs importantly increase their confidence and performance.

Choose the right real estate school

Your choice of education provider can importantly impact difficulty:

Accreditation and reputation

Select schools with:

State approval and proper accreditation
Strong pass rates for the licensing exam
Positive student reviews and testimonials
Industry recognition and partnerships

Instructional quality

Look for programs feature:

Instructors with extensive real estate experience
Multiple learn formats (text, video, interactive )
Clear explanations of complex topics
Regular update to reflect current laws and practices

Support services

Valuable support features include:

Instructor access for questions
Technical support for online platforms
Study groups or forums
Exam preparation resources

Schools with robust support systems oftentimes report higher student satisfaction and success rates.

Real estate school vs. Other professional education

How does real estate education compare to other fields?

Less demanding than:

Law school, medical school, engineering programs
Similar difficulty to:

Insurance licensing, mortgage broker training
More demanding than:

Many certificate programs, basic sales training

Real estate education fall in the middle range of professional training programs in terms of difficulty.

After licensing: continue education

The learn journey continue after licensing:

Most states require 15 45 hours of continue education every 2 4 years
Specialized designations require additional coursework
Brokers license typically require additional education (60 90 hours )

Successful agents view education as an ongoing process quite than a one time hurdle.

The return on investment

Consider the effort to reward ratio:

Pre licensing education typically cost $300 $1,000
Time investment average 2 6 months part-time
Median first year income for real estate agents: $40,000 $50,000
Experienced agents much earn $75,000 $100,000 +

Compare to other careers with similar earn potential, real estate require importantly less educational investment.

Final verdict: is real estate school hard?

Real estate school present a moderate challenge that virtually dedicated students can overcome with proper preparation and study habits. The difficulty level is typically:

Manageable

For those with business, finance, or legal backgrounds
Fairly challenging

For career changers without related experience
Virtually difficult

For those attempt to rush through the material or with poor study habits

The key factors in your success will be your commitment level, study approach, and willingness to will use available resources.

Kinda than ask if real estate school is hard, consider whether you’re willing to invest the necessary time and effort to master the material. For those commit to a real estate career, the educational requirements represent a worthwhile investment in your professional future.

With proper preparation and realistic expectations, most aspiring agents can successfully navigate real estate school and launch reward careers in this dynamic industry.