6 Best Real Estate Classes in Massachusetts (2023 Updated!)

The news is in. Massachusetts real estate markets are the hottest they’ve every been. And they’re not showing any signs of slowing down. The pandemic has made many homeowners reluctant to list their homes. As a result, there’s a lot of buying demand and not a lot of inventory… and prices are going up, up, up.

Median home prices have doubled in beach communities like Edgartown and Salisbury over the past two years. Boston is practically off-limits causing prices in other communities to soar.

This is good news if you are a homeowner looking to sell and it may be even better news if you’re a realtor. Now is the perfect time to get your real estate license in Massachusetts so you can strike while the iron is hot.

If you’re looking to get in on this red hot market, 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 get your real estate license. 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 Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts. 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 Massachusetts you should consider.

Quick Links:

1. Best Schools
2. Best Online School
3. Best Value
4. Top Pick

All Schools: 

1. The CE Shop
2. Freedom Trail Realty School
3. Colibri Real Estate
4. American Real Estate Academy
5. Massachusetts Academy of Real Estate
6. New England Real Estate Academy

Quick Compare 

The CE Shop

Editor’s Score: A+

The CE Shop promises an innovative, results-based learning experience. The school started out offering Continuing Education only (as evidenced by its name) but it has since gone on to offer pre-licensing education, exam prep and post licensing. Its classes are available online.

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The CE Shop school is constantly improving and coming out with new and topical courses. It provides tools to help you grow your career. It also offers discounts for veterans.

Study Courses

Students who attend The CE Shop in Massachusetts can choose from the following study courses.

• Courses Only: The Courses Only option provides the required 40 hours of pre-licensing education.
• Standard Package: The Standard Package comes with the 40 hours of pre-licensing education as well as Exam Prep Edge and a pass guarantee.
• Value Package: The Value Package offers all features of the Standard Package as well as a business building course.
• Premium Package: The Premium Package comes with all the features of the Value Package as well as a 12-hour MA CE Package.

All packages listed above come with expert written eBooks, career resources, downloadable resources, digital flashcards, a real estate glossary and a study schedule.

Students may also opt to take the following courses.

Exam Prep Edge PSI National Portion: This program is useful for those who need to take the national portion of the exam only. It provides an initial assessment and feedback so you can learn which areas need improvement. You can improve exam scores by studying individual lessons.

Exam Prep Edge MA Salesperson National & State Portions: This course is ideal for those taking both the national and state portions of the exam. It offers the same comprehensive support available for those taking the national portion only.

Exam Prep Edge MA Salesperson State Portion: This course focuses on the information necessary to pass the state portion of the exam only.

Pass Rates

CE’s national pass rate is 91%. 75% of students pass on their first attempt, 12% pass on their second attempt and 4% pass on their third attempt. This is higher than most other schools offered in Massachusetts.

Reviews

Students who liked The CE Shop said it was convenient and easy to follow. They said the school got them well prepared for the exam. They said they would recommend CE Shop to other students and would go back for continuing education courses.

Those who gave the school a low rating said the information was not clear. They particularly found the math section to be lacking. They said that students would need to do a lot of studying outside the course to pass. Some said they had to take the course twice before passing.

Read all of The CE Shop reviews on the Agent Advice ratings and reviews page.

Best Thing About the School

CE Shop offers many benefits to students. These are as follows:

• ARELLO Certified: The school is ARELLO certified. This sets it apart for its excellent curriculum.
• Straightforward Curriculum. The school’s LEAP 2.0 platform delivers streamlined information that is easy to understand.
• Good Customer Services: The school provides 7-day customer support so students can get the information they need when they need it.

Downsides

Although CE Shop offers several benefits, it comes with its share of downsides. Here are some to consider.

• Course not Available in all 50 States: The course is only available in 38 of the 50 United States so not all agents can access the program.
• Doesn’t Have an In-Person Option: Courses are available online only. There is no in-person or livestream option.
• High Tier Packages Expensive: Although basic packages are affordable, the school’s higher tier courses are considerably more expensive.

Return/Cancellation Policy

The CE Shop will return payments to students who are not happy with the course as long as requests are made within 30 days of purchase and the course is not expired and not more than 50% complete.

They will also return payments on the Exam Prep Edge Product if the request is submitted within 30 days of purchase and the initial assessment has not been completed.

The CE Shop Pros	The CE Shop Cons
High pass rates	No in-person or livestream option available
Multiple courses offered	Some packages are expensive
Fair return policy	Courses not available in all 50 states

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Freedom Trail Realty School

Editor’s Score: C

Freedom Trail Realty School is a Massachusetts-based real estate education provider that was the first to be board-certified in the state. They offer in-person and online training options. All of their online course plans include:

• 12 months of course access
• Classes approved by the Massachusetts Real Estate Board
• Access to their active alumni groups and opportunities for networking
• Live chat support
• Instructors licensed to sell real estate in Massachusetts
• Rigorous, interactive, online course content
• Instant access upon registration
• Test prep support

Course Packages

Freedom Trail Realty School offers flexible options for you to meet the education requirements for the Massachusetts Real Estate Salesperson license. You can take these courses through on-demand learning, live streaming, or a combination of both. Whatever works for you. The live streaming classes are scheduled for days, nights, and weekends, making it easy to fit them into your schedule. On-demand classes are available anytime, 24/7, 365 days a year.

Freedom Trail Realty School offers four packages:

STARTER – $229

You should choose the Starter package if you have some real estate experience, and you are a self-starter who can move through the curriculum on your own.

The Starter package includes:

• 24/7 on demand classes
• Live streaming online classes
• Unlimited on demand access
• 25 hours of live streaming access
• eBook
• Audio book
• Over 1100 practice questions
• Digital flashcards
• Study guide and planner
• Job board, recruiting, and networking opportunities
• Self-paced curriculum
• Archived live class recordings
• Online tutoring sessions
• Unlimited practice tests
• Pass or don’t pay guarantee

STARTER LIVE – $289

You should choose the Starter Live package if you have some experience in real estate and want a full livestream option.

The Starter Live package includes:

• Unlimited on demand access
• 40 hours of live streaming access
• 24/7 on demand classes
• Live streaming online classes
• eBook
• Audiobook
• Digital flashcards
• Over 1100 practice questions
• Study guide
• Planner
• Job board, recruiting, and networking opportunities
• Self-paced curriculum
• Bonus – Real Estate Forms 101
• Pass or don’t pay guarantee
• Archived live class recordings
• Online tutoring sessions
• Unlimited practice tests

EXAM EDGE – $359

You should choose the Exam Edge package if you have no previous experience in the real estate industry and want access to all course materials.

The Exam Edge package includes:

• Unlimited on demand access
• 80 hours live streaming access
• 24/7 on demand classes
• Live streaming online classes
• Archived live class recordings
• eBook
• Audio book
• Over 1700 practice questions
• Unlimited practice tests
• Digital flashcards
• Study guide
• Planner
• Job board and recruiting
• Networking Opportunities
• Self-paced curriculum
• Pass or don’t pay guarantee
• Bonus – Real Estate Forms 101
• Online tutoring sessions

REALTY PRO – $499

You should choose the Realty Pro package if you want access to our extra test prep and private tutors.

The Realty Pro package includes:

• Live streaming online classes
• Archived live class recordings
• Unlimited on demand access
• 120 hours live streaming access
• eBook
• Audiobook
• Over 1700 practice questions
• 24/7 on demand classes
• 3 online tutoring sessions
• Unlimited practice tests
• Digital flashcards
• How to study guide and planner
• Job board and job recruiting
• Self-paced scheduling
• Pass or don’t pay guarantee
• Bonus – Real Estate Forms 101
• Bonus – RE14R07: Architecture

Advantages of Freedom Trail Realty School

Online packages at Freedom Trail Realty School include everything you need to begin a career in real estate. You will receive access to live streams and on-demand learning options, test prep classes, thousands of practice questions, and support to ensure that you pass the first time. In fact, student feedback reflects a first-time pass rate of 99.4%, which is 14 points higher than the average in Massachusetts. And, a pass or don’t pay guarantee is included with some course packages, so you can’t go wrong.

Students who enroll with Freedom Trail Realty School also gain access to their job board and networking opportunities. The job board will help you quickly find which brokerages have openings and in what cities they operate. They also have an optional broker recruitment program so brokers can come find you!

Disadvantages of Freedom Trail Realty School

While the live video classes are a great benefit for students who value live virtual interactions, there is a caveat. Students participating in these live sessions must consent to having these interactions recorded, with the understanding that their voice and face may be included in future advertising campaigns.

Ratings and Reviews of Freedom Trail Realty School

“If you want to pass your real estate exam the first time – choose Freedom Trail Realty School. The courses, instructors and learning platform are all top notch. I started the program in early Feb and had my license by the end of March (and it would have been sooner but the PSI wait time is nuts).”

“I enjoyed taking this course through Freedom Trail Realty School! They did a great job outlining everything that needed to be done to successfully pass the test on the first try. However, I DO recommend taking some of the PSI practice tests – even if you have to pay for them – as some of the material differed and had I not done that, I think it would have been more of a challenge. The FTR teachers and staff are supportive and helpful, always answering questions and providing additional resources.”

“Freedom Trail Realty School, Inc. I used to be a teacher, so I know everyone learns differently. I love your program at Freedom Trail Realty School, Inc. because you provide resources and tools for every learning style. From the excellent instructors to your helpful resources and tools, you enabled me to determine my learning style and the best way for me to succeed. I passed on the first try! I am grateful for the impact you have had on my life.”

Refund/Cancellation Policy:

PASS OR DON’T PAY GUARANTEE

Here are the rules for the Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee:

• You must apply for the refund within 30 days
• You must obtain scores of at least 85% on all sections of the course practice exams before sitting for your state exam
• You must purchase a course package which offers the Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee
• You must take the state exam within 90 days of your successful completion of the program
• Provide Freedom Trail Realty School a copy of the state-provided failing test score within 30 days of failing the test

Also, this guarantee only applies for your first attempt at passing the test. It cannot be applied to further retakes.

Freedom Trail Realty School Pros	Freedom Trail Realty School Cons
Networking and recruiting opportunities	Guarantee only applies to some packages
High-quality instruction and support	Access to tutoring is limited

Colibri Real Estate

Editor’s Score: B+

Colibri Real Estate, formerly known an Real Estate Express, advertises itself as being a top real estate school. It has been going strong for over 25 years. 520,000 students have used their course to get their real estate license. Courses are led by industry experts who provide valuable career advice to students.

The school provides flexible online courses available in self paced and livestream formats. They offer courses in most of the US states. Students can attend to get their license or upgrade to a broker’s license.

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Study Courses

Colibri Real Estate offers livestream and online courses. Online courses allow you to go at your own pace accessing lessons from home on your own time. Here’s what’s included:

• The Basics: The Basics offers the necessary 40 hours of pre-licensing instruction with instructor support and 2 real estate eBooks.
• Exam Preparation: Exam Preparation comes with everything the Basics Package offers as well as exam prep and a pass or don’t pay guarantee.
• Exam Preparation Plus: Exam Preparation Plus comes with everything Exam Preparation Package offers plus a real estate dictionary, instructor Q&A and a live exam crammer series.
• Ultimate Learning: Ultimate Learning comes with all the features of Exam Preparation Plus as well as printed course textbook and a 1-year professional development membership.

The livestream classes are delivered online and provide students with the benefits of learning with a live teacher from the comfort of their own home. There are two separate classes that run on different schedules but they both provide the same features including:

• 40 hours of pre-licensing education
• State approved instructor support
• 2 real estate eBooks
• Exam prep
• Pass or don’t pay guarantee
• Real estate dictionary
• Printed course textbook

Pass Rates

We could not find any information on Colibri Real Estate pass rates. The school did not make them readily available due to the fact that they vary from state to state.

Reviews

Colibri Real Estate receives fairly consistent ratings on the Agent Advice reviews page. Many students said the course was affordable and convenient. Those who enjoyed the course said it gave them the help they needed to pass the exam.

Those who did not give the school a favorable review said the curriculum was convoluted. They said there were a lot of spelling and grammatical errors in the text and that the course material didn’t match up with the questions. They also said that they ended up having to retake the test because the school’s material did not adequately prepare them.

Read what other students had to say about Colibri Real Estate in Massachusetts.

Best Things About the School

Here are some benefits of going with Colibri Real Estate:

Various Study Methods: In addition to online and livestream classes, the school also provides students with eBooks and/or textbooks, depending on the courses you choose to take. This is great for those who prefer to have a hard copy companion when they are learning.

90 Day Bootcamp: This option is available for students who already got their license. It guarantees that graduates will get their careers off the ground within 90 days.

Career Hub: Colibri Real Estate’s Career Hub provides updated information on what’s new in the world of real estate. It is free and available to all students.

Downsides

Colibri Real Estate also comes with its share of downsides including the following:

A Lot of Reading Required: While the textbooks are a convenient study companion, students may be doing a lot of reading to get the information they need.

Requires Self-Discipline and Motivation: Because coursework tends to be scattered and a lot of reading is necessary, the school works best for students that are motivated.

Some Material in Need of Updating: If coursework is not up to date, students can end up failing the exam.

Return/Refund Policy

Colibri Real Estate offers a full refund to online students who drop the course within one week. If the course has not been started, students will have up to a month to request their money back.

Students who take the livestream course can request their money back if they drop the course after the first day. They will get a 75% refund if they drop within the first week. If they decide to transfer classes, they will need to pay a $50 fee.

You can not request your money back after the final exam has been taken.

Colibri Real Estate Pros	Colibri Real Estate Cons
Affordable	Information is convoluted
Good course variety	Many students needed to retake the test
Pass guarantee	Lots of reading required
Fair refund policy	Grammatical errors in content

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American Real Estate Academy

Editor’s Score: B

The American Real Estate Academy advertises itself as being the longest running real estate school in Massachusetts. They have helped thousands of real estate students pass the exam. In addition to pre-licensing education, they also offer continuing education and classes for sales agents and brokers.

The school was established in 1972. Classes are offered at their location in Weston, MA and they also have an online option. They pride themselves in building a reputation for raising the standards of real estate education in the state.

Study Courses

Students can choose from a in-person weekend class, an in-person weekday class and online classes. They are presented as a lecture series that covers eight different real estate topics. They are designed for beginners and provide everything you need to know to pass the exam.

Those who take in-person classes receive a textbook study companion and are advised to bring a paper and pen to the class so they can take notes. Online students get a PDF of the textbook and tools that allow them to take online notes.

The weekday course consists of five-hour classes that meet four times a week for two weeks. Weekend classes are 10-hour classes that meet Saturdays and Sundays for two weeks. Online classes must be completed in 90 days.

Pass Rates

We could not find any information about AREA’s pass rates.

Reviews

American Real Estate Academy consistently receives varying reviews.

Those who enjoyed the course said that the teachers were great. They said the coursework got them well prepared for the exam. They said the information was broken down into a consumable format and that the staff goes above and beyond to help the students.

Students that were unhappy with the course said it was boring. They said the teachers were unqualified and even rude. They said the school uses tactics to cheat students out of money and that it’s expensive.

Read other student reviews about the American Real Estate Academy.

Best Things About the School

Despite the mixed reviews, AREA provides several benefits to students. These include the following.

Longevity: AREA prides itself on being the longest continuously running school in Massachusetts. It has been providing education to realtors for 48 years. That should say something for its reputation.

Price: The overall price of the school is relatively affordable.

Positive Attitude: The teachers are said to have a positive attitude when it comes to giving students the motivation they need to pass the course.

Downsides

AREA comes with some downsides as well. Here are a few to consider.

No Pass Guarantee: AREA does not offer students a pass guarantee. If students fail the exam, they will not be able to retake the course or get their money back.

Not Many Student Resources: AREA’s classes are limited to a basic format. There is no option to take extras that will help with networking or career building and those features are not included in the courses they offer.

No Exam Prep: Most schools offer an exam prep course that helps students ace the test. AREA does not offer any such option.

Cancellation/Return Policy

Online students receive a full refund minus a $25 cancellation fee if they cancel courses within 90 days of registration. In-person students will receive a full refund minus a $25 cancellation as long as requests are made within 48 hours of purchase and no classes have been taken.

AREA Pros	AREA Cons
Affordable	No pass guarantee
School has been around a long time	Limited course study options available
Good curriculum	No exam prep offered
Updated content	Not many student resources available

 

Also Considered:

Massachusetts Academy of Real Estate

Editor’s Score: C

Massachusetts Academy of Real Estate has been named the Best Real Estate School in Massachusetts. They offer pre-licensing classes for agents and brokers. They also offer continuing education classes.

The school prides itself in helping students pass the exam on the first try. It has assisted over 50,000 students in getting their real estate licenses. Classes are taught at the school’s location in Braintree, MA.

Study Courses

The school offers weekend, weekday and a weeknight study courses. The weekend course consists of four ten-hour classes that run over two consecutive weekends. The weekday course consists of five eight-hour classes that are completed within two weeks. The weeknight sales course consists of ten four-hour classes that are completed within three weeks.

MARE offers free parking and there are several eating establishments nearby. Missed classes can be made up. The school offers free online testing with completion of the course.

Pass Rates

We could not find any information on MARE’s pass rates.

Reviews

MARE tends to rank highly in student reviews getting close to five out of five stars on every site they are listed on.

Students say the teacher is engaging and helped them pass the test on their first shot. They say the classes are fun, flexible and conveniently located. They also said that they had the option of purchasing two CD study companions that were extremely helpful.

Those that had anything negative to say about the school mentioned that they would have liked some sort of online resources to assist with the class.

Best Thing About the School

MARE gets positive reviews from students. Here are some of the benefits it offers.

Engaging Teachers: Most students agree that the teachers who taught the course were very engaging. They did what they could to help students pass the test and keep things fun.

Additional Resources: Students have the option of purchasing two audio CD’s that were useful in helping them learn the material and pass the exam. They also get a supplemental testing program that includes 1500 practice questions.

Affordable: At $365, the course is affordable for most students.

Downsides

While MARE is well liked by its students, it comes with its share of downsides. These include the following:

In-Person Classes Only: The course is only available in an in-person format. There are no online options or resources available.

Takes Place in One Location: The school is only available in one location making it inconvenient for those who don’t live nearby.

Poor Web Site Format: The web site of the school is laid out poorly and doesn’t offer much insight as to what the school is about.

Cancellation/Refund Policy

There is no information available on MARE’s cancellation and refund policy on the web site. However, students pay for the class in full when they show up. It’s likely the amount they pay is nonrefundable depending on the circumstances.

You can retake the course if you don’t pass as long as it’s within one year of the time you originally took the course. If you’re researching real estate schools in various states, we have lots of great guides, like our guide for real estate schools in Texas.

Massachusetts Academy of Real Estate Pros	Massachusetts Academy of Real Estate Cons
Good teachers	No online options
Additional resources	Classes are taught in one location only
Highly rated	Poor web site design

New England Real Estate Academy

Editor’s Score: C

Study Courses

Pre-License 40-Hour Salesperson Courses: $350

The New England Real Estate Academy offers a unique way of earning your Massachusetts Real Estate Salesperson License. They have divided the 40-hour educational requirement into two parts. These parts can be taken in any order.

Part A is the self-directed study portion. When you register for the course, you immediately gain access to their digital manual, test prep questions, twenty hours of self-directed videos, and online quizzes. You can access the course from anywhere that you have an internet connection, so you can study on your home computer, tablet, or smartphone at your convenience. Once you begin this part, you will have 180 days to complete it successfully. After you complete it, you unlock another 180 days to access these resources to help you study for the state exam.

These videos and quizzes make up 20 hours towards your 40-hour real estate education requirement.  Since you have access to this content from day one, it’s possible to complete this entire requirement before your first live session even begins, or you can work on them both at the same time.

For Part B, which is the instructor-led training portion, you will have two different options. You can choose to attend in-person classroom sessions or engage with scheduled live online classes.

Option 1: Online Live Instructor Led Webinar 

These live webinars are offered on Mondays and Thursdays either from 9am-1pm or 6pm-10pm. Webinars are also held on Saturdays from 9am-2pm. As part of your course package, you will have access to these courses for up to 6 months so you can learn at your own pace. You will need a computer with a reliable internet connection. There are five topics covered in these live sessions and you will need to participate in the full four hours for each topic.

Option 2: Live Classroom Sessions

If you want to complete your study more quickly, the in-person classroom sessions will allow you to complete the required 20 hours in just two 9am-7pm Saturday class sessions. These sessions, located in Braintree and Sturbridge, have limited space to accommodate students, so early registration is recommended.

After you have completed both of these two parts – 20 hours of self-directed learning and 20 hours of live, instructor-led training, you will be ready to sit for your state exam.

Advantages of New England Real Estate Academy

The New England Real Estate Academy’s self-directed program allows students to complete half of their requirements at their own pace, while the live portion offers them more attention and support from instructors.

Disadvantages of New England Real Estate Academy

The live session classes are offered on a set schedule, so students will need to be prepared to attend at the times offered. You will have the option of in-person or livestreamed classes, which are offered at set times on days, nights, and weekends.

Ratings and Reviews

“I was very pleased with the courses. The best part was that they were available no matter where I was. I completed part of them at home, some at the office, and some while traveling. I thought the length of the segments was perfect. I will definitely use your courses again for CE and would recommend them to my colleagues.”

“We sat for the Mass Real Estate Salesperson exam today and we are BOTH happy to report that we passed the exam. We could not have accomplished this without your fine instruction and guidance. Thank you very much for the effort you extended in preparing us for this achievement. We are now first-time success stories of the New England Real Estate Academy. With our sincere thanks.”

”Fantastic! Kept it interesting, time went by quick. With her 30 years of experience, Jeanne is able to give many real-life experiences in the industry as examples of making it much easier to understand and relate to.”

Refund/Cancellation Policy:

To obtain a full refund, you must cancel your registration at least 72 hours before the class start date. If in that time you have already accessed the online course materials, you will not be eligible for a refund.

New England Real Estate Academy Pros	New England Real Estate Academy Cons
Option for live online or in-person learning	Not fully self-paced
Live sessions offered on nights and weekends	Limited space for in-person workshops

If you are thinking of starting your career as a Massachusetts real estate agent, now is the time to do it. The schools listed in this article are recommended for getting you off to a great start. Which do you think is most beneficial to your career?