19 Mar Online Real Estate School :: Keller Williams
Get your real estate license through an online real estate school
If you are planning to get a real estate license, we highly recommend that you look for an online real estate school.
Every state in the US has different laws about real estate licensing schools and how the courses can be delivered. In some states, they do not allow online real estate school as an option–you have to take the pre-licensing class in a physical classroom.
Check here to see if your state allows you to take licensing classes through an online real estate school.
One of the biggest advantages of doing your course work through an online real estate school is that you can move at your own pace. Everybody learns at a different pace and there’s no right or wrong way to complete the courses.
Because real estate licensing is state-specific, different topics are covered in the classes. In most states, the questions change every year based on the consumer complaints the real estate department received the previous year. For example, if there were dozens of reports of advertising violations in a year, the state will probably adjust the questions on the exam and in the courses to make sure the next set of real estate agents understand the advertising laws.
There are several “hot topics” that are consistent no matter where you live in the US. Every year, there are complaints and lawsuits filed about:
- Mishandling of escrow funds. Because real estate agents and brokers are commonly in a position where they are handling deposits, down payments and other escrow funds, there are plenty of opportunities to make mistakes if you’re not careful. Every state has very specific and strict rules about how escrow money is accounted for.
- Dual agency. Dual agency is not allowed in some states, and there are very strict rules about how agents and brokers must behave in the states where it IS allowed. Dual agency is when one broker represents both the buyer and the seller in the same transaction. It’s a tricky thing to do and it’s usually not in the best interests of consumers, but it happens all the time in states where it’s allowed. Agents typically love it because they’re getting paid both sides of the commission for that transaction (one half for representing the buyer and one half for representing the seller).