6 Best Real Estate Schools in Michigan (2023 Updated!)

The pandemic has caused an unprecedented market in Michigan. More and more people are looking to buy property as they’ve been stuck inside for a year and a half. That influx of interested buyers is driving up home prices, which is a great opportunity for future real estate agents.

If you’re looking to get your real estate license in Michigan to get in on this, it’s important to know that a successful career path starts with your education. That’s why getting inside knowledge from industry experts is crucial when deciding where to start. 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 Michigan 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 Michigan. 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 Michigan you should consider.

1. AceableAgent
2. The CE Shop
3. RealEstateU
4. Colibri Real Estate
5. Kaplan
6. Michigan Institute of Real Estate

Quick Compare

AceableAgent

Editor’s Score: A+

While AceableAgent is one of the newer online real estate schools, it’s still one of the biggest ones not only in Michigan but in the whole US as well. The LARA-approved courses are designed for both website and mobile app and contain practical real-world scenarios that prepare students for the real estate world. 

According to AceableAgent, “We are a team of teachers, designers, writers, engineers, customer experience heroes, and those passionate about real estate who love what we do. We are the new standard for learning. We are real estate education for the 21st century. Together, we are driving education forward.”

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Course Content

Course packages

AceableAgent currently has 3 pre-licensing course packages to choose from in Michigan. All three options contain the 40 hours of the required education by LARA, an exam prep, access to the AceableAgent mobile app, expert instructor support from AceableAgent, and “Ace or Don’t Pay Guarantee” through which you can get a refund if you don’t pass the exam after three tries. 

• The Basic package includes:
  • Lite Exam Prep- 80 unique Michigan real estate exam practice questions
  • Instructor Support- Email course experts anytime
  • Free online exam proctoring
• The Deluxe package includes:
  • 75 Videos, 70 Audio Lessons, Plus Digital Flashcards
  • Deluxe Exam Prep- Unlock 1,600+ additional practice test questions
  • Real Estate Exam Prep E-book- Over 100 pages to prepare you for the real estate test
• The Premium package includes:
  • One Hour of Private Tutoring With a Real Estate Expert
  • Live Webinars 5x/Week
  • Access to Webinar Archive- Watch hundreds of hours of educational videos anytime
  • Live Q&A- Hosts pull questions from social media and answer them live

Ratings & Reviews 

Almost 90% of the ratings are either 4-star or 5-star ones, showing that students have had a positive experience choosing AceableAgent as their pre-licensing education provider. 

Other websites also show a high rating for AceableAgent. It currently upholds a 4.9-star rating on Trustpilot based on over 2,500 reviews.

Want to learn more about AceableAgent? Check out more here.

What are the best parts?

The best aspect about studying with AceableAgent is that you get an affordable course that is constantly updated to meet the regulatory changes and updates from the real estate sphere. In addition to this, Aceable offers on-staff Career Mentors that walk you through the licensing process 7 days a week. They can also answer content-specific questions, so whatever you don’t understand will be clarified and answered quickly. 

What are the worst parts?

The most common complaints of AceableAgent are directed towards the technical aspect of their courses. The mobile app can sometimes lag or freeze which can be frustrating for some users.

Return policy/cancellation policy

AceableAgent courses are fully refundable if the student hasn’t completed the course and if the refund request is made within 30 days of purchase.

As mentioned, AceableAgent also has an “Ace or Don’t Pay Guarantee”. Through it, if you don’t pass the licensing exam, you can get your money back if: 

• • You have completed the pre-licensing course prior to taking the licensing exam; 
  • You take at least three attempts of the State Exam within 90 days of finishing the pre-license course
  • You purchased your course directly through the AceableAgent website

AceableAgent Pros	AceableAgent Cons
Affordable course price	Only one pre-licensing course package offered
Mentor support 7 days a week	Some lags and glitches in the mobile app
Updated study materials	Not reliable proctors

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The CE Shop

Editor’s Score: A+

The CE Shop has opened 15 years ago in 2005 to provide continuing education courses but quickly expanded to other real estate areas, including pre-licensing education. It’s currently one of the most popular professional education providers that is also accredited by The Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO). The CE Shop has a goal of offering a variety of educational opportunities by using an interactive and inquiry-based approach.  

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Course Content

Course packages

The CE Shop also offers several pre-licensing course packages in Michigan: Courses Only, Standard Package, Value Package, and Premium Package. Each package comes with some basic resources such as Business Ebooks Written by the Experts, Career Resources, Downloadable Resources, Digital Flashcards, Real Estate Glossary, Study Schedule, and Instructor-Led Webinars on Exam Topics. Aside from these tools, each of the courses come with varying study tools and aids depending on the package you choose. 

Courses Only

This is the basic package that comes with the 40 hours of mandatory Michigan pre-licensing topics.

Standard Package

Aside from the mandatory hours of pre-licensing classes, the Standard Package is backed up with an Exam Prep Edge. This Exam prep allows students to get an assessment of their knowledge and the areas they need to focus on, study individual lessons by topic, solve dynamic practice exams, and see a real-time dashboard of your current exam progress.

Value Package

This package is The CE Shop’s pick as the package that comes with the most benefits compared to its cost. It includes online access to the mandatory pre-licensing courses, Exam Prep, and unique business building courses designed to help you jumpstart your real estate career.

Premium Package

As the most comprehensive package, the Premium Package offers all the basic and premium features The CE Shop has. This includes the mandatory 40 hours of pre-licensing classes, access to the national and state Exam Prep Edge, and three business-building courses to help you venture into real estate. The Premium package also includes access to the 18-hour first renewal package with 6 law hours and 12 hours of electives.

Individual Courses

As the “Courses Only” package contains only the mandatory 40-hours pre-licensing course, there are no additional individual courses offered. 

Exam Prep

The CE Shop has one type of Exam Prep package for Michigan. Through it, you can:

• • Take an initial assessment and receive immediate feedback on the topics you’ve mastered and the topics you need to work on.
  • Improve your practice exam scores by studying individual lessons by topic
  • Dynamic practice exams with unique questions to get you ready for your upcoming exam
  • Our real-time dashboards 

Ratings & Reviews

The CE Shop has an above average rating based on dozens of verified reviews on Agent Advice’s review page. Businesses can’t pay to alter or remove the reviews, so everything said is by students that have used The CE Shop’s services. Here is what one of them had to say:

“I’m at the last part of the CE Shop course and just have the final test to take. I like it so far. Whenever I had questions or needed help there was always someone to chat with really quickly and they always answer my questions. They give you all the tools you need throughout the course and pass the test.”

Want to learn more about The CE Shop? Check out more here.

What are the best parts?

The CE Shop is often praised for the superb customer support they provide. A lot of the students that often needed help with the course have said that they received the support they needed quickly and efficiently. 

What are the worst parts?

Because The CE Shop only offers an online delivery method, some students have had a problem staying on schedule with their studying, so you have to be very disciplined and self-motivated to go through the curriculum. 

Return policy/cancellation policy

The CE Shop will give students their money back within 30 days of purchase if the course isn’t yet 50% complete.

The CE Shop Pros	The CE Shop Cons
Multiple pre-licensing course packages offered in Michigan	Only an online delivery method available
A lot of additional study aids offered	Redundant course materials
Great customer support	State portion of the course is outdated

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RealEstateU 

Editor’s Score: B+

Although a newer real estate company, RealEstateU has quickly gained popularity as a top real estate school in the US. With less than a decade working in real estate education, Real Estate U is accredited by ARELLO and provides courses approved by LARA. 

Starting from 2014, RealEstateU has had over 60,000 students in its history and provides real estate courses in seven states: New York, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Virginia, and Georgia.

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Course Content

Course packages

RealEstateU has only one audio-based pre-licensing course in Michigan. By getting this course, you get 24/7 access to the course and take it anywhere you are, on any device. The course comprises of the following:

• • Written Audio Transcripts
  • Infographics with key concepts covered in the audio course
  • Course Glossary
  • Course Final Exams
  • Certificate of Completion

Individual Courses

Real Estate U’s students can purchase additional study resources with a different delivery method to help them master the exam easier and prepare better for a real estate career. You can currently buy PDF versions of the text or audio transcripts, course infographics, and key terms students need to know. Or, instead of PDFs, students have the option of buying these resources through a Kindle Online Textbook. 

Course Textbooks & Appendixes – PDF

Exam Prep

Exam Prep is designed for the student’s easy preparation. It helps you prepare for the final exam through:

• • Potential Michigan real estate exam questions.
  • Jump between lessons as you wish.
  • Key concepts you learned throughout the course.
  • Key concepts you will be tested on for the national and state exam.
  • 6 practice tests meant to serve as a mock exam.

Ratings & Reviews 

Agent Advice has a reliable review page for online real estate schools where companies can’t pay to alter or remove the reviews left from their previous students. While there isn’t a special page only for Michigan reviews, on the general page with reviews, RealEstateU has a rating of 4.19 stars based on 49 reviews. Here is what one reviewer had to say:

“The interface of it all was well structured. I noticed that there was not much preparation for the state portion, which is why I had to purchase an outside test prep to prepare. The national section was great, though, and it prepared me very well.”

Want to learn more about RealEstateU? Check out more here.

What are the best parts?

Aside from the flexibility to study at your own pace, another advantage of studying with Real Estate U is its affordability. They often offer discounts and promo codes, so you can sometimes find the pre-licensing courses for as low as $99, one of the lowest pre-licensing course costs among the schools on this list. 

What are the worst parts?

The downside of studying with Real Estate U is that there is only one pre-licensing course package given through one delivery method, and containing only the mandatory 40 hours pre-licensing classes. This means that students who have a need for additional study aids and exam preps would have to purchase it additionally from Real Estate U or another provider. 

Return policy/cancellation policy

Courses purchased with Real Estate U can be refunded within 30 days of purchase if the student hasn’t completed more than 50% of the material and pays a $20 admin charge. 

RealEstateU Pros	RealEstateU Cons
Affordable course price	Only one Michigan pre-licensing course package
Superb test prep	Doesn’t prepare you well for the state portion of the exam
User-friendly interface	Hard to hear instructors sometimes

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Colibri Real Estate

Editor’s Score: B

Colibri Real Estate, formerly known as Real Estate Express, opened their doors to students back in 1996s and are currently one of the oldest and the biggest online real estate school in the US. It’s a reputable school that provides real estate pre-license courses in 39 US, and professional licensing from other industries. Colibri Real Estate is accredited by both ARELLO and IDECC, and their courses are approved by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA). 

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Course Content

Course packages

Currently, students can pick one of the four pre-licensing course packages available in Michigan: The Basics, Exam Preparation, Exam Preparation Plus, and Ultimate Learning. 

The Basics

This package comes with the mandatory 40-hour Michigan pre-license backed up by instructor support and real estate books students can access online. 

Exam Preparation

The Exam Preparation package goes up a notch and besides offering the required 40 hours of pre-licensing classes, instructor support, and 3 real estate books, it also comes with an Exam Prep with practice exams you can take to mimic the final examination. In addition to this, you will also get a Prep For Success Membership, an exclusive student newsletter with tips and tricks for the exam, and Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee through which you will get your money back if you don’t pass the exam on the first try. 

Exam Preparation Plus

A popular choice among students, the Exam Preparation Plus package comes with all tools a student might need. Besides the features that are included in the Exam Preparation package, the Plus package comes with an additional Real Estate Dictionary with all terms you need to memorize and access to a very useful Instructor Support that includes over 40 hours per month of live Q&A with Colibri’s renowned instructors.

Ultimate Learning

As its name suggests, Ultimate Learning is the most comprehensive package containing everything the previous ones do, and additional access to Instructor Q&A webinars, a Printed Course Textbook to aid your learning process and free professional development courses, webinars, job aids through McKissock. 

Individual Courses

Colibri Real Estate gives students the option of getting only the mandatory 40-hour pre-license course through them. 

Exam Prep

The exam prep course you can buy from Colibri Real Estate contains ten progress exams, a total of five practice final exams split up between state and national exams, and flashcards which students use to help them prepare for the test. 

Ratings & Reviews

When looking at Agent Advice’s verified review page, Colibri Real Estate has hundreds of reviews. Previous users have given it an average rating of 4.15 stars, with most being at the higher 4-star and 5-star mark. Here is one review left on our website:

“As a mother of two little ones, this system gave me the flexibility to fit the classes with my daily schedule. I’d recommend this to anyone with a family or a tight schedule. Its a lot better than having to drive and sit in a classroom all day. If you take online courses, make sure to stick with it, and don’t get distracted.”

On other websites, Colibri Real Estate has over 2,000 reviews out of which over half are 5-star reviews, resulting in an overall rating of just over 4 stars. 

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

What are the best parts?

The best aspect of getting your pre-licensing education with Colibri Real Estate is that you get a reliable base of experienced agents that have been working in real estate for almost 20 years. In addition to this, you also have several pre-license course packages to choose from, so you get the option to choose what you need and at a price that fits your budget. 

What are the worst parts?

Aside from being a bit more expensive than other online real estate schools, Colibri Real Estate has received some critique for the lack of interactive study methods. Some students would prefer to have some more interactivity in the classes to help them go through the curriculum easier. 

Return policy/cancellation policy

Colibri Real Estate has a “Pass or No Pay” guarantee through which students can receive their money back if they don’t pass the exam on the first try. 

In addition to this, students can get a 100% refund of the purchase price if they don’t like the course they chose within one week. If students haven’t started the course, they are eligible for a 100% refund for one month. 

Colibri Real Estate Pros	Colibri Real Estate Cons
Multiple pre-license course packages available in Michigan	Lots of reading required
Experienced and reliable instructors	Course access expires six months after purchase
Additional study materials and books offered	State portion of the course is outdated

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Kaplan

Editor’s Score: C+

Kaplan is currently one of the leading education providers in the USA with an educational history spanning over 80 years. They are an accredited real estate school that offers professional licensing and education services in multiple industries.

Kaplan is the brand that offers real estate education under Kaplan, through which students can receive their pre-licensing, exam preparation, and continuing education courses. 

Course Content

Course packages

Kaplan offers three pre-licensing course packages in Michigan: Michigan Real Estate Fundamentals,  Michigan Real Estate Fundamentals with Exam Prep Package, and Career Launcher Package. The content of each is the following:

Michigan Real Estate Fundamentals

Michigan Real Estate Fundamentals comes only with online access to the 40-hours mandatory course classes in Michigan.

Michigan Real Estate Fundamentals with Exam Prep Package

As the name suggests, this package comes with access to the Exam Prep Edge a variety of practice tools and study aids:

• • National PSI Drill and Practice QBank – an online test engine through which you can stimulate the national licensing exam and create customized quizzes with topics and subtopics you choose.
  • Michigan Real Estate Drill and Practice QBank – a live online course through which you can stimulate the state licensing exam and create customized quizzes with topics and subtopics you choose.
  • Interactive Study Group – live webinars you can join with other students to mimic an in-person class with an industry expert where everyone can discuss different topics from the curriculum, practice questions from the exam, and exchange experiences with other students. 

Career Launcher Package

• • National PSI Drill and Practice QBank – an online test engine through which you can stimulate the national licensing exam and create customized quizzes with topics and subtopics you choose.
  • Michigan Real Estate Drill and Practice QBank – a live online course through which you can stimulate the state licensing exam and create customized quizzes with topics and subtopics you choose.
  • Interactive Study Group – live webinars you can join with other students to mimic an in-person class with an industry expert where everyone can discuss different topics from the curriculum, practice questions from the exam, and exchange experiences with other students. 
  • Real Estate Accelerator – an 8-hour intensive live online course and eight weeks of professional coaching to help students launch a real estate career by arming them with business-building skills and critical operating activities. 

Individual Courses

If you want to purchase only the mandatory Michigan pre-licensing courses, you can choose the basic course package containing only the 40 hours mandatory classes. 

Exam Prep

Kaplan has one Exam Prep option available that contains the complete Michigan Real Estate Drill and Practice QBank through which students can practice taking the exam and answering questions found on the exam. 

Ratings & Reviews 

Kaplan currently has one of the highest average ratings on our verified reviews page, currently standing at 4.45 out of 5 stars, a rating based on 29 reviews. Most reviews are positive experiences, with some of the previous users suggesting different areas where Kaplan could improve. Here is one of the more recent reviews:

“I thought it was good. It was very useful because it was more of a summary of the whole program, so it was a lot easier to go through than having to go through the curriculum. It was about 70% similar to the state and national exam, which is very close.”

What are the best parts?

Besides the flexibility of studying with Kaplan which allows students to study when they want to and at a schedule that fits their needs, the school is often praised for the amazing exam prep. A lot of students have found it to be very detailed and stated that it helped them pass the exam easier and on the first try. 

What are the worst parts?

On the downside, previous Kaplan students have complained about the content of the curriculum. Although the instructors are praised for being very professional and fun, a lot of the students found the curriculum somewhat boring and repetitive, so it’s an area Kaplan can work to improve on.  

Return policy/cancellation policy

Kaplan has different policies for price reductions, transfers, cancellations, price adjustments, period extensions, product returns, and refunds to students.

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.

Kaplan Pros	Kaplan Cons
Detailed exam prep	One-dimensional curriculum
Educated and fun instructors	Lacks some tutoring assistance
A lot of additional study resources and aid provided	Server times out often

Also Considered:

Michigan Institute of Real Estate

Editor’s Score: C

Michigan Institute of Real Estate was established in 1985, making 2020 the 35th year they will have been in business. They offer courses in real estate, appraisal, management, home inspection, mortgage, and building industries. While Michigan Institute of Real Estate is traditionally an in-person school, they’ve recently transitioned to offering live virtual courses, pointing out to their adaptability. You can also complete your license online or through Live Webinars.

Course Content

Course packages

Michigan Institute of Real Estate has two types of pre-licensing packages offered: Basic and Premium. The courses can be taken in three different delivery methods: classroom, online, or home study. The content of each package is displayed below.

Basic Package:

• • Real Estate Vocabulary Flashcards
  • Course Textbook
  • Passing the Michigan Real Estate Test Audio Digital CDs
  • Passing the Michigan Real Estate Test Digital DVDs
  • Real Estate Cram Course (9 videos) 

Premium Package:  

• • Exam Prep Program – 500+ Practice Questions
  • Real Estate Math Made Easy DVD
  • Real Estate Vocabulary Flashcards
  • Course Textbook
  • Passing the Michigan Real Estate Test Audio Digital CDs
  • Passing the Michigan Real Estate Test Digital DVDs
  • Real Estate Cram Course (9 videos) 

Individual Courses

Michigan Institute of Real Estate offers the following study tools you can purchase additionally:

• • Exam Prep – 500 Questions Exactly Like the State Exam
  • Passing the Michigan Real Estate Audio Digital CD’s
  • Passing the Michigan Real Estate Digital DVD’s
  • Real Estate Math Made Easy Digital DVD
  • Real Estate Flash Cards
  • Certificate Plaque
  • Basic Calculator

You can opt to buy each of these tools separately, combine them, or buy them all in one Real Estate Power Package. 

Exam Prep

The Exam Prep offered by the Michigan Institute of Real Estate is quite basic and has only 500+ Practice Questions students can answer to prepare for the licensing exam. 

Ratings & Reviews 

On Agent Advice’s online real estate schools review page, Michigan Institute of Real Estate currently has only a handful of reviews sourced from Google. However, all collected reviewers have given it a clean, 5-star rating, so we can assume that previous students haven’t had many complaints to date. Here is what one previous student had to say about the school:

“Kevin was a wonderful instructor. He made the entire process feel less stressful. He was humorous and made sure if anyone had any questions he was available. I WOULD RECOMMEND anyone at any age to take their real estate class consisting of 40 hours with the Michigan Institute of Real Estate. Many locations to choose from. Additional programs available at a reasonable cost at the end of the class.”

What are the best parts?

The CEO of the Michigan Institute of Real Estate, Namir, has often been credited by many former students as being one of the best instructors they’ve had. In addition to this, the Michigan Institute of Real Estate has a wide array of Michigan-specific study resources designed to help students pass the exam and launch their real estate careers. 

What are the worst parts?

Although the father-son duo is heavily praised for their experience and professionalism, the minimal number of 3-star and 4-star reviews was because of their tardiness. They were sometimes late for the classes, which is something that students didn’t like.

Return policy/cancellation policy

Cancellation request must be sent to Michigan Institute of Real Estate in writing at least 3 business days from when the student is registered for a course. The school will deduct a $25 fee before granting the refund. No refunds will be approved after the start date of the course. The refund will be granted as follows according to the school: 

• • Distance learning courses (online): Once an online course has been activated, no refunds will be provided.  Refunds will not be issued after 6 months from the date of purchase. If study tools are provided with a package, there will be no refunds for study material. Online courses will expire after 3 years of purchase.  If you complete the course within the 3 years, the course will be available for review. 
  • Distance learning courses (home study): Once the student register and receive the course material, no refunds will be issued. If there are study tools provided with the package, there will be no refunds for study material.
  • Once study tools have been purchased, there will be no refunds granted.

Michigan Institute of Real Estate Pros	Michigan Institute of Real Estate Cons
Multiple delivery methods available	Basic exam prep program
Specialized Michigan pre-licensing courses	Classes don't start on time
Experienced instructors teaching the course	Must be in person or have a webcam turned on

Final Thoughts 

Don’t let the price be the only guiding point when choosing a pre-licensing course provider. It’s important to know your options and what is offered with each school, so you can make an informed decision that will benefit you in the long run.

 

Advice from the pros:

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

Christopher Linsell
Realtor in Traverse City, MI

“My best advice for soon-to-be real estate professionals would be to stick to a study plan that covers the three major content areas that tend to trip test-takers up; real estate math, fair housing, and ownership-related questions.

A lot of students have struggled with math for a long time, so having to calculate commissions, convert square feet to acres, and more is intimidating. But, with practice, this can be mastered. We know that fair housing questions will make up a sizable amount of your test, so don’t skimp on study time in this area. And finally, ownership of property is a complex issue with a lot of unfamiliar terms to most test-takers.

Use flashcards to nail down vocabulary that you aren’t typically using in your day-to-day conversations to give yourself a confidence boost on test day.”

 

 

Wonwoo “Woo” Lee
Licensed Broker in Ann Arbor, MI
Oxford Companies

“You have to be extremely disciplined as a new agent and when preparing to be one. It’s important to know that while the exam is important, there are so many other partners you need to prepare for. Some of them I didn’t even think of when I was still taking my course.

You have to be able to cooperate with each and every one of them in order to succeed. Those partners will be anything from HVAC experts, architecture, finance experts – it can be a lot. But watching it all come together is extremely rewarding.”