If you’re launching a real estate career in the Pine Tree State, you’ll want to check out the best real estate schools in Maine to help you get started. You’ll need to complete a 55-hour prelicensing course to become a real estate agent in Maine.
We’ve researched the top choices for real estate schools in Maine and considered the aspects you’ll want to evaluate, including cost, course design, ease of use, and more. Let’s dive into our top pickse!
5 Best Real Estate Schools in Maine
| Our Top Picks | Pricing From |
|---|---|
| Best Overall: The Real Estate Learning Group | $450 |
| Best Budget School: Center for Real Estate Studies | $370 |
| Best Livestream Classes: Real Estate Institute of New England | $445 |
| Best for Exam Prep: Colibri Real Estate | $99 (Exam Prep only) |
| Best for Continuing Education: The CE Shop | $199 (for CE) |
(Maine prelicensing package prices as of December 2022)
Real Estate Schools in Maine: Helpful Info
Maine Real Estate Governing Body:
Maine Real Estate Commission
Prelicensing Requirements:
55 Hours
Post-licensing Requirements:
None
Continuing Education Requirements:
None for Agents, 21 Hours for Brokers
Associate Broker Requirements:
2 Years of Sales Agent Experience + 60-hour Associate Broker Course
Before you dive into your 55-hour prelicensing course, it’s important to know that each state has different steps to getting your real estate license. So we’ve researched everything you’ll need to know about real estate education in Maine. Let’s take a look at the programs offered by the schools on our list, as well as how they fit into your overall real estate career.
Prelicensing
Your real estate career in Maine begins with a 55-hour prelicensing course. You’ll be able to choose how to take the course, whether in a classroom, via a scheduled livestream, or an entirely self-paced effort from the comfort of your home. You’ll need to complete your prelicensing course with a 75% or higher grade to qualify for the license exam.
Exam Preparation
Exam preparation is offered by some real estate schools to ensure you feel confident on the day of your license test. These courses offer targeted support and resources to make studying efficient and reduce wasted time. Most exam prep packages include valuable tools like practice questions, study schedules, and digital flashcards.
The Colibri Real Estate exam prep package also includes feedback on your progress so you know where you need more practice.
Associate Broker & Broker Prelicensing
In Maine, completing your prelicensing course and exam will allow you to apply for a real estate sales agent license. This is your first step as a new real estate agent in Maine. Unlike most other states, there are no post-licensing or continuing education requirements for a sales agent license. However, your initial license expires after two years with no option to renew.
Once you’ve worked as a sales agent for two years, you’ll be eligible to get your associate broker or broker license. You’ll need to complete a 60-hour broker course in order to do so.
Associate Broker & Broker Continuing Education
Your regular continuing education (CE) requirements begin once you’ve become an associate broker or broker in Maine. You must complete 21 hours of continuing education every two years to renew your license. Apart from your mandatory core courses, you’ll be able to choose the elective courses that are most relevant to your career.
The CE Shop has a wide variety of continuing education courses that are up to date on the most relevant issues brokers face today so that you can stay informed on the industry. They also offer online courses on an easy-to-use platform that makes completing your CE courses a breeze.
Now that you know the importance of each step in your Maine real estate education, we can dive into our top picks of schools to help you find the right one for you. Let’s take a look!
Best Overall Real Estate School in Maine: The Real Estate Learning Group
The Real Estate Learning Group Offers:
- Sales Agent Prelicensing Courses
- Exam Prep
- Associate Broker and Broker Prelicensing
- Broker Continuing Education Courses
The Real Estate Learning Group is a local Maine school that prioritizes your success in real estate. Their expert educators have decades of experience and focus on providing engaging instruction to help make content stick.
They pride themselves on their local expertise, so you get relevant and useful information as a Maine licensee. Plus, they offer both online self-paced courses and a hybrid model with classroom instruction for effective and efficient learning.
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The Real Estate Learning Group Pricing
The Real Estate Learning Group offers two prelicensing packages depending on whether you prefer to learn from home or visit the classroom to potentially finish your course faster.
- Online Sales Agent Course ($450): This is a 100% self-paced online study option with all textbooks and study materials included.
- Sales Agent Fast-track Course ($475): This package includes four in-person workshops alongside 40 hours of self-paced online study, and all textbooks and materials are included.
(Maine prelicensing package prices as of December 2022)
BEST FEATURE: We love that The Real Estate Learning Group offers a hybrid study model, allowing students to supplement their at-home learning with classroom visits. The accountability of a classroom setting generally allows students to finish their course faster. After all, remaining motivated in a self-paced class can be challenging.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: We’d love to see The Real Estate Learning Group take their program offerings one step further and offer the entire prelicensing course in person. Some people learn best in a classroom setting and want to finish their course as efficiently and effectively as possible.
BOTTOM LINE: The expert instructors at The Real Estate Learning Group provide engaging lessons that make it a great choice for real estate students in Maine.
Best Budget Real Estate School in Maine: Center for Real Estate Studies
The Center for Real Estate Studies offers:
- Sales Agent Prelicensing Courses
- Designated Broker Prelicensing
- Broker Continuing Education Courses (via The CE Shop)
The Center for Real Estate Studies bring more than 30 years of experience in the real estate industry to the table, providing exceptional learning materials to help you make sense of each concept you’ll need to learn. The textbooks are written with real estate practice in mind, so you’ll be learning exactly what you’ll need on the job for years to come. Plus, they offer instructor support by phone or email at any time throughout the course to help you along your way.
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Center for Real Estate Studies Pricing
The Center for Real Estate Studies offers one real estate prelicensing package in Maine for prospective agents.
- Sales Agent Online Course ($370): This self-paced online real estate course is offered online with a PDF version of the textbook, quizzes to help you study each of the concepts, and instructor support by phone or email.
(Maine prelicensing package prices as of December 2022)
BEST FEATURE: Among the best features of the Center for Real Estate Studies are their free introductory perks to help you map out your prospective future in real estate. They offer a career book, a list of interview questions, a spreadsheet to project your income and expenses, and a career counseling session.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: Unfortunately, the Center for Real Estate Studies prelicensing course doesn’t include exam prep. You’ll need to purchase their exam prep package separately for $135 if you’re looking for more practice before your license exam.
BOTTOM LINE: Center for Real Estate Studies is the best budget school on our list, especially if you prefer learning by reading.
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Best Real Estate School in Maine for Livestream Classes: Real Estate Institute of New England
Real Estate Institute of New England offers:
- Prelicensing Courses
- Exam Prep
The Real Estate Institute of New England is another quality local real estate school on the East Coast, primarily serving Maine and New Hampshire. They offer prelicensing courses in Maine via livestream so students benefit from a classroom environment from the comfort of home. The school’s instructors lead fun and engaging classes and offer real-time support to answer any questions along the way.
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Real Estate Institute of New England Pricing
Real Estate Institute of New England offers one prelicensing package Maine delivered via Zoom. The course is also available via correspondence if the class dates don’t work for you.
- Maine Sales Agent Course ($445): This scheduled livestream course runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and weekends and includes all your textbooks, materials, and access to an online student portal for shared resources from instructors.
(Maine prelicensing package prices as of December 2022)
BEST FEATURE: The Real Estate Institute of New England is perfect for anyone who thrives in a virtual classroom setting. Being able to ask questions about concepts as you learn them is a great way to get through the material efficiently without having to backtrack on tricky topics.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: The Real Estate Institute of New England only offers their sales agent course via livestream or correspondence, which isn’t the same as a self-paced, online course. You’ll be on your own with the learning materials, but without the engaging content a video-based online platform would offer.
BOTTOM LINE: If you prefer the accountability of a group setting and instant access to your instructor for support, the Real Estate Institute of New England is for you.
Best Real Estate School in Maine for Exam Prep: Colibri Real Estate
Colibri Real Estate offers:
- Exam Prep
Colibri Real Estate is a national leader in real estate schools with a reputation for the most relevant content offered in a convenient online format. In Maine, Colibri Real Estate only offers an exam preparation package, but you’ll get the same high-quality learning materials you can expect from this top-notch school.
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Colibri Real Estate Pricing
Colibri Real Estate offers one exam preparation package in Maine to get you ready for your license exam.
- Real Estate Exam Prep for Maine Sales Agents ($99): Includes practice exams, final exams to simulate the entire license exam, digital flashcards, and ways to customize your practice for the areas you need the most help, plus a Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee.
(Maine prelicensing package prices as of December 2022)
BEST FEATURE: Colibri Real Estate is so confident about the quality of their exam prep tools, they offer to refund the cost of your package. If you score 80% or more on their practice tests and then fail your first attempt at the actual license exam, they’ll give you your money back.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: It’s a shame Colibri Real Estate doesn’t yet offer other real estate education in Maine. If you fall in love with its online platform, you’ll have to learn a new system for future educational needs.
BOTTOM LINE: If you want an add-on test prep help, Colibri Real Estate can help you ace your license exam.
Readers of The Close can get 30% off tuition at Colibri using coupon code “TheClose30“.
Best Real Estate School in Maine for Continuing Education: The CE Shop
The CE Shop Offers:
- Associate Broker and Broker Continuing Education
The CE Shop has a long-standing reputation for offering expertly designed continuing education courses. Its classes stay current to the needs of real estate professionals around the country. And they’re always updating and writing new courses for the most relevant topics, like Serving the Unique Needs of the Senior Market or First-time Homebuyers: A Niche to Grow On.
Once you’ve served your two years as a sales agent and upgraded to a broker or associate broker in Maine, you’ll begin a renewal cycle every two years where you’ll need to complete 21 hours of continuing education. There’s no better place to start or return to your CE courses than The CE Shop.
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The CE Shop Pricing
The CE Shop offers one CE package for associate brokers and brokers in Maine.
- 21-hour Maine Broker and Associate Broker CE Package ($199): This CE package includes all 21 hours for an associate broker license renewal, including an ethics course.
(Maine prelicensing package prices as of December 2022)
BEST FEATURE: We love that The CE Shop offers a wide variety of individual classes, which makes it easy to return to the school for each renewal cycle. But we also like their package for anyone who wants to take the thinking out of choosing their courses to meet their CE requirements.
ROOM TO IMPROVE: Here’s another national school with a great reputation that only offers limited options in Maine. You’ll need to head to one of the local Maine real estate schools for prelicensing courses.
BOTTOM LINE: When it comes time to renew your broker license, don’t forget to check out The CE Shop to get your requirements fulfilled quickly and efficiently.
FAQs About Real Estate Schools in Maine
Have more questions about real estate schools in Maine? We’ve got you covered with answers to the most commonly asked questions below. Don’t forget to comment if you have another question—we’d love to hear from you!
How do I become a real estate agent in Maine?
There are only a few steps to getting your sales associate license in Maine. First, complete a 55-hour prelicensing course. Next, you’ll complete a background check and sit for the state license exam. Then, it’s only a matter of applying for your license through the Maine Real Estate Commission.
How long does it take to get a real estate license in Maine?
It only takes two to four months to get your real estate license in Maine. You’ll only need to complete a 55-hour prelicensing course, sit for the state license exam, complete a background check, and apply for your license. You can finish the prelicensing course online, via livestream, or in person in as little as two weeks through scheduled classes, or take your time with self-paced courses.
How hard is the Maine real estate license exam?
You’ll need to prepare for the Maine real estate license exam, but with the right study materials, you can pass it on the first try. You’ll need to pass with a 75% or higher score to get your Maine sales associate license.
To ensure you’re prepared, consider buying an exam prep package from a real estate school like Colibri Real Estate. Their exam prep option targets all the concepts you’ll need to know to take the exam with confidence, with plenty of practice questions and extra features.
What are the continuing education requirements for real estate sales associates in Maine?
None. Real estate sales associate licenses are not renewable in Maine. Getting your real estate sales associate license in Maine is the first step in a real estate career in the state. Sales associate licenses last two years, after which you can apply for your associate broker’s license (upon completing a 60-hour associate broker’s course).
Does Maine have reciprocity with any other states?
Yes. If you hold an active real estate license in another state, you will only be required to complete the Maine real estate license exam. For more information about reciprocity, visit the Maine Real Estate Commission website or our state-by-state reciprocity guide.
How much does it cost to get a real estate license in Maine?
On average, it costs $650 to get your real estate license in Maine. Your prelicensing course accounts for most of this cost, which varies based on the class type and extra features you choose. Other one-time administrative costs include:
- License exam fee: $85
- License application fee: $100
- Background check fee: $21
How many Realtors are there in Maine?
According to the National Association of Realtors’ November 2022 data, there are 5,789 Realtors in Maine. This is a very slight decrease from the previous month, and a 2.61% increase from this time last year.
How much do real estate agents make in Maine?
It all depends on the number of deals and the commission splits, but according to Indeed.com, the average real estate agent in Maine made $88,602 in 2022, which is 6% below the national average. Agents in Portland average even more ($95,351).
What’s the average home price in Maine?
According to Zillow, home values in Maine rose 12.5% in 2022, to reach $370,227. Portland has a much higher home price median, which comes in at $503,564.
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Bringing It All Together
We hope our guide brought you one step closer to finding the right real estate school in Maine. We’re committed to sharing advice, tips, and resources you’ll want to use at every stage of your career. Have additional thoughts or questions? Leave us a comment below!
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