Whether you’re looking into doing it part-time or jumping in with both feet, going into real estate is a serious decision. It opens you up to a world of opportunities, but you have several things to do before you can begin.
If you want to become a broker in Chicago, you may have noticed that there’s education involved, so choosing the right real estate school may affect your journey significantly.
Here’s the good news: there are a lot of real estate schools in Chicago. In fact, there are so many options that you may have difficulty choosing just one.
Don’t fret, we’ve done some of the work for you. We’ve narrowed down the list to only the best real estate schools in Chicago, Illinois.
Let’s see which ones made the list!
Best Online Real Estate Schools in Chicago
These are the 3 best online real estate schools in Chicago, Illinois:
Are you ready to see what you can expect from these online real estate schools? Let’s begin!
Colibri Real Estate
First on our list is Colibri Real Estate. They have been providing online education since 1996, making them one of the most renowned brands in the industry.
Regardless of where you are in your real estate career, Colibri Real Estate has courses that may satisfy your requirements. They have packages for pre-licensing, post-licensing, and upgrading your license. You can also take continuing education courses through their sister brand, McKissock.
The best part is that you can complete your 75-hour education requirements online OR live-streaming courses.
Their LiveStream Packages all cost just over $400. Though the content is the same, each package offers a different schedule. You can choose to go with 8-hour classes or 3-hour ones at various times in the day.
If you choose to take your pre-licensing course online, you also have several options:
- Basic: includes the 75-hour course, instructor support, and three real estate books
- Exam Preparation: includes everything in the basic, plus practice tests
- Exam Preparation Plus: includes everything in the exam preparation package, plus 45 hours of Post-License courses and live monthly Q&As with instructors
- Ultimate Learning: includes everything in the exam preparation plus package, plus a printed course textbook and a 1-year membership for a professional development program with McKissock
Some students say Colibri Real Estate’s course should have more interactive content, but it gets the job done. And since their online course is self-paced, you can take it anytime, anywhere.
Kaplan Real Estate Education
Unlike other schools that only provide resources for professional development in a single industry, Kaplan offers courses for a broad spectrum of businesses. Yes, that includes real estate.
They offer various courses for real estate professionals at different points in their careers. Whether you’re starting, getting your license renewed, or wanting to get a Managing Broker License, Kaplan can help you with your educational requirements.
Kaplan also has the most number of delivery formats when it comes to their courses. Their pre-licensing program comes in three modes in Chicago — online, live online, and home study. You’re likely to find something that works for you with Kaplan, no matter what your learning preferences are.
If you choose their online courses, you’ll even get to pick between multiple packages. You can combine a 60-hour online course with a 15-hour interactive one or have more resources at your disposal with the Master Exam Prep.
If you’re looking for something to help you establish your real estate career, you can also choose their Career Launcher Online Package.
The CE Shop
You’d think they would only lean towards Continuing Education, with a name like The CE Shop. They offer that, but you can also take courses for pre-licensing, post-licensing, and exam preps. You can get all of that in the same place.
The CE Shop put its course on a platform that delivers a progressive learning experience. More than just reading through pages and pages of text, they’ve incorporated interactive material to keep students engaged. It also allows for better information retention, which gives you an edge when preparing for your real estate exam.
You have 4 options to complete your 75-hour pre-licensing course with The CE Shop:
- Course Only Package: As the name implies, it only contains the actual course. It fulfills your education requirements, but you’ll have to prepare for your real estate exam on your own.
- Standard Package: Includes the 75-hour pre-licensing course and the Exam Prep Edge
- Value Package: includes everything in the Standard package and contains three additional courses on business building.
- Premium Package: Includes everything in the Value Package, plus 45 hours of post-licensing courses.
Best In-Person Real Estate Schools in Chicago, Illinois
Online real estate schools aren’t the only place where you can complete your education requirements. For some students, getting to sit down in a room with other people and getting immediate responses from the instructor is the best way to learn.
If you’re one of them, don’t worry — we’ve also come up with the highest-rated real estate schools that offer face-to-face classes. Here are some schools you may want to explore:
I Love Real Estate School (5.0 Rating from 249 Google Reviews)
- Address: Chicagoland Realty Services, 1338 W Madison St. Chicago, IL
- Phone: (630) 596 8220
The Wetzel Group (4.8 Rating from 38 Google Reviews)
- Address: 200 South Wacker Drive, $3100, Chicago, IL
- Phone: (312) 242 3393
Lycée Français de Chicago (4.8 Rating from 24 Google Reviews)
- Address: 1929 W Wilson Avenue, Chicago, IL
- Phone: (773) 665 0066
Kale Realty (4.6 Rating from 349 Google Reviews)
- Address: 2447 North Ashland Avenue First Floor, Chicago, IL
- Phone: (312) 939 5253
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there requirements to become a real estate broker in Chicago?
The state requires you to be at least 21 years old and have a high school diploma or earned a GED to become a real estate broker. Qualifications include:
- No convictions of anything where dishonesty is an essential element
- If you are paying child support, you must not be more than 30 days in arrears
- No unpaid state taxes
What do I have to do to get my real estate broker license in Chicago?
There are only four steps to getting your real estate license in Chicago:
- Complete the required 75-hour pre-licensing course
- Pass the Illinois Real Estate Broker Exam
- Become part of a brokerage firm
- Complete the licensing process
Once you’ve successfully gone through the above items, go to the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation’s website to complete the application process. It will require you to create a log-in and fill out an application form.
They’ll review your application and, if it’s approved, the state will notify you through email. You can begin working under a managing broker for a month and a half while the agency processes it.
Are online real estate courses cheaper?
Typically, online real estate education comes out more cost-efficient. The prices of the courses themselves tend to be lower than in-person classes.
More than this, there are fewer additional expenses involved. These include costs of getting a babysitter (if you have kids), gas, and supplies.
In Conclusion
Most people don’t realize how much education is involved in real estate. It’s not just about showing houses, managing your clients, and keeping the necessary documents in order. It’s also making sure you’re up to par with the standards of an excellent real estate broker.
You have more than enough options for real estate schools in Chicago. Whether you prefer to attend in-person classes or complete the coursework online, the schools on our list are some of the best.
So take a little time to figure out which path works best for you, and decide which school you want to attend.
Good luck!
