5 Best NJ Real Estate Classes (2022 Updated!)

Now is the perfect time to buy real estate in the Garden State, and people are jumping on the opportunity. While the market was a frenzy, it’s starting to show signs of cooling. Home prices are starting to settle back to normal, and many buyers are ready to swoop in. While homes were receiving dozens of offers a few months ago, homes are becoming much more attainable now which is good news for agents. It’s easier and faster for them to make more money.

If you’re looking to get in on this, it’s important to know that a successful career path starts with your real estate education. That’s why getting inside knowledge from industry experts is crucial when deciding where to start earning your real estate license in New Jersey. In fact, making the right choice for your real estate school is one of the most important choices a new agent can make!

Our in-house real estate experts spent hundreds of hours researching, scoring, and ranking the top New Jersey real estate schools.  Our experts also took into account the ratings and reviews from thousands of Agent Advice agents who have taken the courses themselves. 

We’ve ranked and rated each school on 8 different factors to come up with the very best real estate schools in New Jersey. Our full guide on how we rank courses is available here, but the short version of factors considered are: 

1. Course value

2. How easy the courses were to navigate

3. If there were any technical glitches

4. Return policies

5. Overall performance of each school as a whole

6. Reviews directly from agents who’ve attended the school

There are dozens of options (some of them not so great!), so we’ve taken the work off your plate by narrowing down the list to only the ones that scored high enough. Whether you’re dedicating yourself full time to your new career, are looking to fly through the courses quickly to get them over with, or are busy and looking to work through them when you have downtime, here is a list of the best online real estate schools in New Jersey you should consider.

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All Schools: 

Real Estate Express

Editor’s Score: A+

Real Estate Express is a leading online real estate school with thousands of students in their education history. They are also one of the oldest real estate schools in the US, opening their doors for students back in 1996. 

Their business relies on having state-approved, as well as ARELLO and IDECC accredited courses, so they provide reliable, proven educational services to all their students. To back up these claims, they provide a 100% satisfaction guarantee and a pass or don’t pay guarantee for their exam preps.

Course Content

Real Estate Express currently has four course packages in New Jersey: The Basics, Exam Preparation, Exam Preparation Plus, and Ultimate Learning. 

The Basics

According to Real Estate Express, The Basics package is intended for disciplined self-starters with some real estate experience behind them. This course includes the required pre-licensing course, instructor support that is state approved. It also includes three real estate books that you can access at anytime online. 

Exam Preparation

Exam Preparation comes with extra exam simulation and weekly real estate insights so students can get an extra boost while they’re studying. The course content includes everything that the basic package includes, but also throws in exam prep to help students feel better prepared. This package also comes with a student favorite – the Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee. Students can also become a Prep for Success Member to help them retain the information throughout the course. 

Exam Preparation Plus

In the Exam Preparation Plus package, students get the chance to talk to an expert regularly and get additional audio and video learning resources besides the basic one. Other than that, the package content adds in an exam cram video, a real estate dictionary to help students brush up on the technology agents use in the industry, and provides them with time for instructor Q&A. 

Ultimate Learning

The Ultimate Learning package offers everything a person needs to pass the exam on the first try and become a real estate expert in New Jersey. It includes everything the other packages have, but throws in a printed textbook that students can take with them on the go and access at any time. It also allows students to go through a 90-day boot camp before taking the licensing exam to make sure they are ready to pass. 

Individual Courses

Besides these basic course packages, Real Estate Express gives you the option of getting the mandatory pre-licensing courses individually. Students can choose between classes related to real estate principles, or elect to take courses on real estate practice instead. 

As the New Jersey Department of Real Estate requires completion of the two mandatory courses and one of a specific selection of courses, Real Estate Express also offers individual courses that meet these requirements:

• • Real Estate Finance

  • Legal Aspects of Real Estate

  • Real Estate Economics

  • Real Estate Office Administration

  • Real Estate Appraisal

  • Property Management

Exam Prep

The exam prep is designed to help students pass the real estate licensing exam by providing digital flashcards to help student memorize key terms and phrases. It also has final exam examples to mimic taking the actual licensing exam. However, the student favorite is the Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee, which helps give them a peace of mind going into the exam. 

Real Estate Express also allows students to customize their exam prep course and choose what they want from the features we listed above, so everyone can pick an exam prep course that will give them the best chance at passing the exam on the first attempt. 

Ratings & Reviews 

Real Estate Express is offered in a wide variety of states, so it is known for it’s stunning number of reviews. While thousands of students leave high reviews on the school’s website, their unbiased reviews left on Agent Advice show that their score is slightly slower. While it is one of the most popular schools offered, it does get a mix of both high and low review numbers. Real Estate Express students enjoy most things about the school, but there are some areas for improvement. 

Want to learn more about Real Estate Express? Check out more here.

What are the best parts?

Studying with Real Estate Express gives you access to a whole library of study courses, books, guides, and other study aids. This makes it easy for students to find and enroll in a course that will help them prepare for the exam better and pass it on the first attempt. 

What are the worst parts?

Although there is the option of customizing the exam prep course, students have often criticized it in their reviews. The most common critique is oriented towards the content of the exam prep. Many students considered that the content doesn’t match the licensing exam, so they had to purchase an exam prep from another school additionally. 

Return policy/cancellation policy

Real Estate Express gives a full refund to students that aren’t satisfied with the course within one week of purchasing it. If you haven’t started the course, you can request a refund within one month.

Purchasing the exam prep grants you access to Real Estate Express’ “Pass or Don’t Pay” guarantee through which a student can refund the exam prep course cost if they:

• • Have at least 80% score on all the Progress Exams and the Final Exams

  • Request the refund within 30 days of purchasing the exam prep

Real Estate Express ProsReal Estate Express Cons

Multiple course packages offeredOne-dimensional course content

Advanced exam prep free with course Some exam prep complaints

Pass or don’t pay guaranteeState portion of the course is outdated

The Real Estate School

Editor’s Score: B

The Real Estate School has been in the education sphere for over 40 years and currently provides pre-licensing courses in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1976, with the current owner Don Haven being a teacher in it before acquiring it in 1990. 

Currently, The Real Estate School teaches over 25 real estate licensing courses every year, all taught by knowledgeable experts with experience from the industry. The Real Estate School is partnered with Camden County College, which means students that completed the course will also get college credits.

Course Content

Course packages

The Real Estate School is not traditionally an online real estate school. However, due to the situation in 2020, they’ve started offering live classroom classes at a daytime and evening program. There is currently only one type of course taught by several instructors through interactive and researched-backed methods. During the lessons, attorney guest speakers share their experience about the legal aspect of real estate and share challenging information with them. 

Aside from pre-licensing course assistance, students of The Real Estate School will get help with finding different ways they can be involved in real estate and what they can choose as their career. After finishing the course, students will also have a professional network of over 60 people.

Individual Courses

There are currently no individual courses available through The Real Estate School

Exam Prep

The Real Estate doesn’t have a separate exam prep course package you can purchase.

Ratings & Reviews

Currently, The Real Estate School has reviews on the Agent Advice dedicated page for reviews from previous users. The reviews are sourced from Google and result in a clean, high rating. This is one of those reviews:

“This is a great school! I had to study really hard, but with the help of Kelby, Michelle and Renee, I did it. Thank you for always being willing to answer all of my questions (no matter how silly), giving me all those study tips that help, extra questions, vocab tricks, and everything else you guys did to help me. Top-notch school you have here!”

What are the best parts?

Studying with The Real Estate School means studying with instructors experienced in the New Jersey real estate market and know what it means to become an agent. They have over 40 years of experience and provide students constant backup and support throughout the whole course duration.

What are the worst parts?

On the downside, The Real Estate School has only one type of course package at the moment, which means there is no variety of course packages students can pick. 

Return policy/cancellation policy

The $100 sales pre-licensing course deposit given to The Real Estate School is not refundable, nor the tuition one week prior to starting the course. If you request a refund of the tuition 

The Real Estate School ProsThe Real Estate School Cons

Specialized in providing New Jersey real estate educationNo refund policy

Affordable course pricesOnly one type of course package offered

Experienced and dedicated instructorsNo exam prep

Kaplan

Editor’s Score: C+

Kaplan is one of the most diverse and versatile education providers in the USA, providing professional courses for multiple industries. Throughout its 80 years of history, Kaplan has helped over a million students in colleges, universities, and businesses get the education they need. 

Kaplan real estate, also sometimes referred to as Kapre, is the real estate education provider in New Jersey. Students can get their pre-licensing education, post-licensing education, and continuing education courses through Kaplan’s state-approved courses. 

Course Content

Course packages

Kaplan’s students in New Jersey can get their pre-licensing courses through their National PSI Real Estate Drill and Practice QBank course. It’s the only package currently available through Kaplan, which contains the Performance Tracker, QBank, answer explanations, and the option to simulate the final exam.  

The Performance Tracker shows the students which areas they’ve mastered and which areas they need to focus on. QBank is a collection of questions and answers that students can use to practice for the exam and prepare better for it. 

Individual Courses

Kaplan doesn’t have individual courses offered in New Jersey. 

Exam Prep

The exam prep offered by Kaplan is contained in the only course package they have, but not as a separate course. 

Ratings & Reviews 

Agent Advice has a dedicated page where previous students can leave reviews for the real estate school they attended. On this page, Kaplan currently holds a 4.45-star rating based on dozens of reviews. Most of the students gave Kaplan 4 or 5 stars, with a few of them considering they have some areas where they can improve on. Here is one of the reviews left in July 2020:

“I really love Kaplan’s live classes – the instructors are so funny, and they keep me interested in all the material. They are all experienced, which makes me feel like I’m learning from people who know what they are talking about. I will take the test soon, and I am feeling good.”

What are the best parts?

Kaplan is mostly praised for the educated and fun instructors that facilitate the whole learning process for students. Students enjoyed taking the course with an instructor that is knowledgeable and kept them interested in the subject. 

Another great aspect of Kaplan is the ability to study at your own pace. The courses are fully online, giving you the option to pick the time and place that best fits your schedule. 

What are the worst parts?

While Kaplan’s online delivery method gives students the flexibility to study whenever and wherever they want, it can also be a major flaw for many. Many students prefer taking the course in a live classroom or in person, so this may be an issue for some. 

Return policy/cancellation policy

Kaplan has a detailed explanation about the process for each refund a student may want. You can find the explanations about refunds, cancellations, price adjustments or reductions, and transfers on their website. 

Kaplan ProsKaplan Cons

Great instructorsOnly one delivery method available

Interactive and useful exam preparation materialsNo tutoring assistance 

Flexibility Pricey

Also Considered:

McKissock Learning

Editor’s Score: C

McKissock is part of a larger group of brands called Colibri but was founded by a father-son duo, both sharing the last name, “McKissock.” It provides educational services in several industries, including Engineering, Home inspection, Land Surveyor, Appraisal, and Banking. The school started providing pre-licensing real estate education through Real Estate Express in 2003 and currently serves over 300,000 students per year.

The state approves all courses offered by McKissock in New Jersey, and the school is accredited by ARELLO and IDECC, both of which are renowned accreditation agencies in the US. 

Course Content

Course packages

In New Jersey, Real Estate Express has two different pre-licensing course packages taught through live stream sessions that are scheduled several months upfront. The courses are comprehensive and contain everything typically provided in other states by Real Estate Express: the mandatory 75 hours of pre-licensing education, state-approved instructor support, two real estate books, access to Real Estate Express’ exam prep, real estate dictionary, access to the Weekly Express newsletter, and a printed course textbook for those that prefer studying through written materials. 

Purchasing a Real Estate Express pre-licensing course also grants you access to additional preparation tools such as the 90-day boot camp where students repeat what they’ve learned throughout the course to prepare better for the exam, live Instructor Q&A webinars where you can get answers to the questions you need, as well as a 1-year professional development membership through McKissock to advance your career after passing the exam. 

Individual Courses

The pre-licensing courses aren’t offered individually through Real Estate Expres, but only through a course package. 

Exam Prep

Real Estate Express’ Exam Prep package is a comprehensive course designed to prepare students to take the New Jersey licensing exam through several study aids, namely the following:

• • Ten practice exams

  • Two national and three state final exam examples

  • Option to create custom exams 

  • Digital flashcards and decks

  • Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee 

Ratings & Reviews 

On Agent Advice, McKissock has a slightly lower rating than most other real estate schools. It currently holds a decent star rating based on several reviews, which is not many but still leaves some room for doubt. Here is what one of the students had to say about McKissocks’s real estate courses:

“The staff was extraordinary, and they always went the extra mile for their users. I thought the program was good, but it was a little dry. I think they should add videos to make it more interesting because reading throughout the curriculum was the worst. They also need to try to shorten the length of the information because there is way too much content, and users forget it by the end of reading everything.”

What are the best parts?

Real Estate Express gives its students the option to pick between four different course packages, which means everyone can choose a course package that fits their needs and budget. 

Another significant upside of studying with Real Estate Express is getting access to courses taught by professionals who work or have worked in the real estate sphere. They know the local market and regulations and teach it through the most understandable method.

What are the worst parts?

The study materials provided by Real Estate Express were slightly bigger than what most students expected or could process in the six months during which the courses are available. Another issue for students was that the study methods were a bit outdated and less interactive, so Real Estate Express can work on improving them a bit. 

Return policy/cancellation policy

Aside from the Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee that comes with purchasing some of the courses, Real Estate Express also has a refund policy. Students have a one week period to request a refund if they aren’t satisfied with what they received. This period is extended to one month if the student hasn’t started the course. 

Real Estate Express ProsReal Estate Express Cons

Four different course packages to choose fromSome repetitive course materials

Professional tutorsShort course access time 

Additional study materials providedHigher course prices

Alliance School of Real Estate

Editor’s Score: C

Alliance School of Real Estate is a private and accredited real estate school founded by Bill Ferriouolo. Their teaching style leans away from lecturing and towards facilitating, with the goal to “bring the reality of the business to the classroom in an effort to help the student understand instead of memorizing.”

The real estate courses provided by Alliance School of Real Estate are held through live interactive Zoom classes. 

Course Content

Course packages

Alliance School of Real Estate has only one package for those that want to become a salesperson in New Jersey. The package contains the state-required 75 hours of pre-licensing education plus a math course to help students master the mathematical questions of the exam. 

The course topics end with a short quiz so students can get an assessment of how much they’ve mastered the subject. 

Individual Courses

There are no individual courses offered through Alliance School of Real Estate.

Exam Prep

Alliance School of Real Estate doesn’t have a separate exam prep course for students. 

Ratings & Reviews 

Alliance School of Real Estate currently doesn’t have any reviews on Agent Advice. However, reviews on other pages range between 3.5 stars and 5 stars, with the positive reviews dominating over the negative ones. 

What are the best parts?

The most common praise about Alliance School of Real Estate is about their teachers. Students considered them to be very knowledgeable and engaging, making the curriculum understandable and straightforward for students through real-life examples. 

What are the worst parts?

The downside of studying with Alliance School of Real Estate is that there is only one type of course package offered, and it’s offered at a higher cost than the one usually charged by other real estate schools. 

Return policy/cancellation policy

There is currently information about a refund policy on Alliance School of Real Estate’s website. 

Alliance School of Real Estate ProsAlliance School of Real Estate Cons

Math course included in the packageOnly one type of course package offered in New Jersey

Experienced and knowledgeable instructorsHigh course prices

Interactive study methods Lack of information on the website

 

Final Thoughts

If you prepare well during this pre-licensing course, the exam shouldn’t be as difficult as it may seem at first. To increase your chances of passing the exam on your first try, pick a school that is accredited and approved by the New Jersey Real Estate Commission. The titles and certifications they’ve received are proof of the reliability and quality, so make sure to check the background of the education provider you will go with. 

Advice from the Pros:

Here’s what licensed New Jersey real estate agents say about the licensing process

Nicky Taveras
Realtor in central NJ
Owner DNTHome Buyers

“There are many important things you need to do in order to pass the real estate exam, and how you study is really up to what works best for you, and what helps you absorb all the information such as important terms and vocabulary. Like any course, you might see some things you don’t think you’ll ever use as a realtor (and some of them you really don’t). But you need to know the information anyway.

What worked really well for me was to take the practice tests. I took them more times than I can even remember until I was getting 100% consistently. The tests helped me get into the mode of looking at questions and not searching for the answers, answering the easiest ones first, then seeing which questions I miss the most and what I should keep studying on. In the end, everyone has their own study and learning style, so make sure to use a few different strategies and see which one helps you the most.”

 

 

Michael Kelczewski
Realtor/Broker in NJ
TTR Sotheby’s International Realty

“I am licensed in 5 states including Pennsylvania, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and Washington DC. Currently my Virginia license is immanent. Over the years, I’ve become an expert at studying and passing real estate exams. I can say that they are different in every state, so you have to be sure to take a good amount of time looking into things that pertain to the state you are in.

I have been practicing real estate for 8 years, and began ordering study guides for the respective states. The PSI guides along with sample tests provide incite. Obtaining the various statue/regulation directly from the state websites produced additional material.”