California: Benefit of Real Estate Classes?

Question

My local community colleges offer courses in

Real Estate Principles, Practices, Finances, Investments, & Legal Aspects of Real Estate

Do these courses offer any benefit besides fluff knowledge? Like specifics?

Or if Possibly attaining a Brokers' license (my career is in a different field)?

Or is it better to focus on acquiring property and maintaining them?  I'm based in Northern California targeting 4plex properties &  looking to build my portfolio into commercial centers with no formal  education in business/real estate/finance.

Max Gradowitz · Answer

These courses will likely not help you out in your goals at all.  They are focused on passing the license exam.  It takes a decent amount of these courses to become licensed, then you have to pay expensive yearly fees to keep your license.  You have to declare a broker you are working under.  There are continuing education requirements too.  Most investors that I work with, even ones that buy a lot of properties every year, do not have a RE license.  It's simply not worth it to them because it's too expensive and time consuming to maintain.

It's best to get RE investment knowledge from investor-focused sources, like BiggerPockets forums, blogs, YouTube channel, etc.  Commercial sources should be focused on if that's your goal, as that can be tricky.  Pick your market and have a great investor-friendly agent to do the work full-time for you.  It's also good to know a good real estate attorney in case you get into any complex issues, want to form an entity for legal protection on your RE, etc.

Account Closed · Answer

Hi Reza,Valid Point. I wanted to ask, Wouldn't I face the similar situation with an RE license with a brokers license with continuing education costs (yearly too) & time limitations as well? Is the access to MLS give an investor that much of a step up against other investors given the cost & requirements for a RE license?

Account Closed · Answer

My goal is to acquiring initial property, mostly fixer-uppers maintaining them (duplex) mostly then moving to commercial real estate?

I understand with a brokers license you can see live deals and negotiate the best deal and cut out broker fees. My goal is 1-2 good commercial real estate properties which is a big goal.

I'm  based in Northern California targeting 4plex properties & looking to  build my portfolio into commercial centers with no formal education in  business/real estate/finance.

Reza Kazemi · Answer

My advise would be to get your RE license, I have decided to get mine this year too.  I am a contractor doing flips full time and for me its about access to information on the MLS and being able to do deals myself when I need too.   I believe the more  knowledge I have the better off I am going to be.  I have set up two entities for protection and buy and flip under those entities.  I will leave you with this William, set your goal first and really decide what you want to do and then go seek as much knowledge about it as you need, be it in a  form of license or forums and YouTube.  Good luck.

California: Benefit of Real Estate Classes?

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