According to area real estate schools, more agents in the LA area are turning to online real estate classes for licensing than ever before. But is that necessarily a good thing? Sure, the flexibility can make it an attractive option for the aspiring agent. And the affordability adds further appeal. But do online real estate classes really prepare people for the realities of Southern California’s intense market? And do these courses properly serve the clients, the people who have worked for years to set aside the money needed to chase their dreams?
Why Online Real Estate Classes Are So Appealing
Online real estate classes offer distinct advantages. As mentioned, they’re flexible and often a more affordable alternative to more traditional study and training. But prospective agents also value remote learning options because they allow the student to set their own pace while learning from DRE-approved educators. There’s no argument against the validity of these classes. But do they truly serve the best interests of the prospective agents? And their future clients?
Learning In Your Own Time vs. Learning in Real Time
When you learn remotely, you basically learn on your own. Questions won’t be answered in real time. Yes, you can write them down to ask later. But when you really get into the meat of a topic, all that follows may hinge on your understanding of a core concept in that moment. Therefore, online real estate classes may not be the best choice for those who learn best through interaction or organic discussion, especially when the topic veers into complexity.
The LA Way
You can often find online real estate classes that specifically focus on California law. But the laws and guidelines of local municipalities? That’s tougher to find, so investing in a purely remote education can leave you to discover the subtleties of LA’s housing market on your own – and often the hard way.
Anyone familiar with our monthly absorption rate blogs has a clue that LA’s numerous cities and neighborhoods vary dramatically when it comes to zoning, pricing, and, of course, supply and demand. True, even agents who choose more traditional routes for obtaining their licenses will need to learn through experience. But these same agents have learned in a more immersive, reactive environment, giving them a familiarity that remote classes can’t quite touch.
Online Real Estate Classes Leave It Up to You
Self-motivation is a fantastic quality to find in a real estate agent. And if you’re planning on obtaining your license through online real estate classes, you’d better have plenty of it. Online courses heap the responsibility of scheduling, instructor check-ins, and adequate completion of course exercises largely onto the student. Left to their own devices, many prospective students get bored or distracted and ultimately abandon their path. Perhaps that’s a good thing in some cases. But it’s also possible that real estate truly is someone’s calling – until a lackluster course with no engagement turns them off.
It’s Never Too Early to Build Your Network
One of the biggest benefits of a more traditional learning experience is the opportunity to build long-lasting connections and robust networks that can make entering the industry a much more welcoming experience. So much of success in real estate is reliant on forging relationships. The remote classroom just doesn’t give you the strong introduction to the local field that in-person learning promotes.
Never Underestimate the Power of Personal Connection
At JohnHart Real Estate, we carefully weigh the gravity of a person’s pursuit of homeownership, recognizing that for many people, it’s the most significant financial move of their lives. Needless to say, we take education seriously and give our professionals endless opportunities for ongoing learning, enriching their careers while protecting their clients’ investments. Therefore, we can see a certain inadequacy in online real estate classes, not because of the material or the instructors, but because of the remote environment. Connection is integral.
Represent Your Clients – Before You Even Have Them
In a perfect world, a real estate license would require the same efforts as other professions of sensitive import, like medical professionals. But in the real estate industry, accountability often falls to the level of your individual professionalism. We challenge you to begin representing your clients’ best interests even before you’re licensed by taking the most comprehensive route as opposed to the quickest or easiest. If that, to you, means obtaining a license through online real estate classes, then so be it. But we hope that you follow up by aligning with a brokerage like JohnHart that ensures you continue developing the skills and mastery your clients deserve.
With a brand that says as much as JohnHart’s, Senior Copywriter Seth Styles never finds himself at a loss for words. Responsible for maintaining the voice of the company, he spends each day drafting marketing materials, blogs, bios, and agent resources that speak from the company’s collective mind and Hart… errr, heart.
Having spent over a decade in creative roles across a variety of industries, Seth brings with him vast experience in SEO practices, digital marketing, and all manner of professional writing with particular strength in blogging, content creation, and brand building. Gratitude, passion, and sincerity remain core tenets of his unwavering work ethic. The landscape of the industry changes daily, paralleling JohnHart’s efforts to {re}define real estate, but Seth works to maintain the company’s consistent message while offering both agents and clients a new echelon of service.
When not preserving the JohnHart essence in stirring copy, Seth puts his efforts into writing and illustrating an ongoing series entitled The Death of Romance. In addition, he adores spending quality time with his girlfriend and Romeo (his long-haired chihuahua mix), watching ‘70s and ‘80s horror movies, and reading (with a particular penchant for Victorian horror novels and authors Yukio Mishima and Bret Easton Ellis). He also occasionally records music as the vocalist and songwriter for his glam rock band, Peppermint Pumpkin.
