Expand Your Expertise: 5 Real Estate Courses to Take Now

Raise your hand if you've ever taken a real estate continuing education course simply because the clock was ticking and your license was set to expire in 24 hours if you didn't get it done.

It's OK to admit that your hand is raised.

Unless you're one of those overachievers who gets your continuing education hours completed with months to spare, the odds are pretty good that you have jammed in a CE course without really caring if you learn anything. You just need those credit hours.

But we all know that's not really the intent of state licensing entities that require a specific number of hours (typically within specific categories) of real estate continuing education. Agents need to keep up with changing requirements and a changing industry landscape, so it makes sense to require continuing education over the life of your license.

As a real estate sales person and brokerage owner, I've taken real estate continuing education classes that ranged from brilliant to not-so-swift. I've also taken more classes than I can remember that didn't qualify as CE hours simply because the subject matter seemed interesting and/or I knew the instructor was a good one.

Education in this business is ongoing. And that's a good thing.

Since real estate continuing education requirements vary from state to state, there aren't specific classes I can recommend that will both help you learn and count toward your CE requirements.

What I can do is share five types of courses you might want to consider taking to learn and grow and ultimately help your business.

1. An economics class

Even if you took an economics course in college, consider taking one again. Not that the fundamental laws of economics have changed, but a refresher is always a good idea. A microeconomics course is a great foundation for both helping you run your business and understanding real estate market dynamics.

Bonus tip: Did you know that MIT has free online classes? You won't get college credit for them, but it's a terrific way to learn. Here is the Introduction to Microeconomics class.

2. A photography class

We all know the importance of good listing photographs. I see questions from agents all the time asking about what camera they should buy. Taking one or two 'Photography 101' classes will do wonders for your listing photo skills. Even if you pay a professional photographer for your listing photos, what you learn in a basic photography class can help you understand and better use professional photos. Check your local camera store or community college for classes.

3. A real estate contracts class

The real estate purchase contract and its supporting addendums are crucial to understand. Even if you fill out a contract daily, you can never know enough about your contract. Plus, they frequently change, sometimes subtly. Check with title companies and your association for classes. As a bonus, it's likely that these classes will qualify as real estate continuing education hours.

4. A small business accounting class

A significant majority of real estate agents and brokers have little to no previous experience running their own business. A basic accounting course designed for small business owners is a great foundation for improving your knowledge about how to keep your real estate business in the black. Community colleges are a good resource for finding these classes.

5. A class on agency law

Real estate agency law is surprisingly complex — and extremely important to understand. Real estate professionals deal with agency on a daily basis. You need to understand it and be able to help explain it to your clients. This is another class that is likely to count towards CE hours.

Continuing education hours

Real estate continuing education is important. No state licensing authority will claim that CE credit hours are the only type of education needed for a successful in real estate career. While two of the classes above might qualify in your state for continuing education credit hours, the chances are good that the other three will not. That doesn't mean these classes are a waste of time. On the contrary, they could prove just as valuable for improving your business as certified real estate continuing education classes.