Colibri Real Estate is a market leader in online real estate education. It continues to pave the way for quality content and offers courses in every state. But is Colibri (formerly Real Estate Express) the best real estate education company in the business? In this review, I’ll break it all down for you. I’ve spent hundreds of hours evaluating its platform, weighing its pros and cons, researching course features and pricing, and considering others’ Colibri Real Estate reviews.

The Close Score: Colibri Real Estate

Colibri Real Estate
Pros
  • Expertly designed curriculum
  • Easy-to-use online platform
  • Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee
  • Exam prep packages include lots of features
  • Premium prelicensing packages include live Q&A sessions and webinars
Cons
  • No in-person classes
  • No access to local real estate brokerages
  • Livestream courses are not available in many states
The Close Score
4.8
Value:
4.3
Learning Format & Accessibility:
4.5
Course Features:
3.1
Help & Support:
3.0
Reputation:
4.4
Expert Score:
5.0
out
of
5

My Verdict on Colibri Real Estate & Why You Should Trust It 

As one of The Close’s real estate staff writers, I regularly research dozens of real estate schools and other tools that help agents thrive in the business. I have tested online real estate education platforms, evaluated pricing and course features, and read thousands of student feedback. Rest assured, my Colibri Real Estate reviews are based on firsthand experience and thorough analysis.

Screenshot of Colibri Real Estate student dashboard
Colibri Real Estate license courses in the student dashboard (Source: Colibri Real Estate)

Colibri Real Estate stands out regarding user experience and exam preparation materials. Of all the top online real estate schools, it has the best interface—smooth, easy to navigate, and free of annoying glitches. Students always know where they are in their course progression, and moving between course topics is seamless.

However, like any other education provider, Colibri has room for improvement. Its livestream course options are limited to just a handful of states, which isn’t ideal for students who prefer live interaction. In addition, some of its basic course packages don’t include test prep materials, which could be a downside for budget-conscious students. A provider like RealEstateU might be a better fit if you’re just looking for the basics.

Colibri Real Estate Course Availability

Below are the types of real estate courses Colibri offers and the states in which they are currently available. Note that some states listed only offer classes through Colibri’s partner schools, such as Arizona (Arizona School of Real Estate and Business), Florida (Gold Coast Schools), Nevada (Key Realty School), North Carolina (Superior School of Real Estate), Ohio (Hondros College), and Washington (Rockwell Institute).

Prelicensing

A U.S. map with states where Colibri Real Estate’s available prelicensing courses are shaded

Colibri offers three to four prelicensing course packages per state. Some already include test prep materials, while some include the required post-licensing hours. Currently, Colibri Real Estate’s prelicensing courses are available in 40 states:

  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arizona
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Iowa
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Louisiana
  • Maine
  • Maryland
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Mississippi
  • Missouri
  • Montana
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Jersey
  • New York
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Carolina
  • Tennessee
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

Exam Prep

A U.S. map with states where Colibri Real Estate’s available exam prep courses are shaded

Colibri Real Estate offers standalone exam prep packages for students who want a more focused approach in all 50 states.

Post-licensing

A U.S. map with states where Colibri Real Estate’s available post-licensing courses are shaded

After getting your real estate license, you must take your state’s required post-licensing courses to renew and keep it active. As of writing, Colibri only offers post-licensing courses in 20 states:

  • Alabama
  • California
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Kentucky
  • Mississippi
  • Nevada
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Oklahoma
  • Pennsylvania
  • South Dakota
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Virginia
  • Washington

Continuing Education

A U.S. map with states where Colibri Real Estate’s available continuing education courses are shaded

Colibri offers continuing education courses in all 50 states. Some states will direct you to its partner school’s website, McKissock Learning.

Broker Prelicensing

A U.S. map with states where Colibri Real Estate’s available broker prelicensing courses are shaded

If you’re considering upgrading your license and advancing your career via Colibri Real Estate, the school offers state-approved broker courses in 13 states:

  • Arizona
  • California
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Indiana
  • Massachusetts
  • Missouri
  • Nevada
  • New York
  • Ohio
  • Texas
  • Washington

Colibri Real Estate Pricing

Paying for an online real estate education is an investment in your future career, so knowing what you’re getting for your money is important. Colibri Real Estate offers multiple packages at various price points, each with its features. 

While pricing depends on the number of hours of education your state requires and other variables, here’s a breakdown of Colibri’s packages:

Prelicensing
$147-$941
  • Self-paced and livestream courses
  • CompuCram Exam Prep
  • Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee
  • Buffini & Company coaching videos
  • Exam Crammer webinar series
  • Instructor Q&A
  • Career Booster Pack
Exam Prep
$115-$399
  • Simulated exams
  • Flashcards
  • Audio review guides
  • Readiness assessment
Post-licensing
$29-$329
  • Individual and packaged courses
  • Course textbook
  • Some packages include a 1-year RISMedia membership
Continuing Ed.
$19-$179
  • Individual and packaged self-paced CE courses
  • Narrated audio with adjustable speeds
  • NAR Ethics course
  • Some states offer CE courses through McKissock Learning
Broker Prelicensing
$199-$499
  • Packaged broker courses
  • State-approved instructor support
  • Real estate math ebook
  • RISMedia membership

Colibri Real Estate Alternatives

While Colibri deserves all the recognition for being a top real estate education provider, it might not be the best fit for everyone. Its text-heavy content can feel overwhelming for students who prefer an in-person learning experience. And, if you like to study on the go, you might find it frustrating that Colibri doesn’t have a dedicated mobile app. 

In this section of my Colibri reviews, I give you three alternative schools you might want to check out:

SchoolWhy It’s a Great AlternativeReviewsLearn More
The CE Shop logo
  • Excellent online learning platform
  • Continuing education or post-licensing courses already included in Premium packages
  • Business building courses for new agents
The CE Shop review
Visit The CE Shop
Kaplan real estate education logo
  • All prelicensing packages have test prep materials
  • Interactive study groups
  • Career Mentor Connect via Zoom
  • Real Estate Accelerator online video course and live online coaching
  • Interest-free payment plans
Kaplan review
Visit Kaplan
Aceable Agent logo
  • Best for mobile
  • Affordable individual courses and packages
  • Mini-course on finding the right sponsoring broker
  • Private tutoring, live webinars, and live Q&A included in Premium packages
AceableAgent review
Visit AceableAgent

Key Features of Colibri Real Estate

In this section of my Colibri Real Estate school reviews, I’ll list its standout features and what makes it an excellent education provider.

Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee

Not all real estate schools have this feature, but Colibri Real Estate stands by its Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee. You’re eligible for a pass guarantee when you purchase a prelicensing course with exam prep or a standalone exam prep package. However, some states—like Florida, Michigan, and New Jersey—don’t recognize pass guarantees due to state laws. This means that students won’t qualify for a refund if they don’t pass the licensing exam on the first try.

CompuCram Exam Prep

Another feature that sets Colibri apart is its exam prep from CompuCram. The basic exam prep package includes simulated exams, a readiness assessment, flashcards, and audio review guides. If students prefer a more interactive approach, the Exam Prep Live package consists of the Exam Crammer webinar series and a live instructor Q&A session.

Benefits of becoming a certified real estate negotiator
Earn a new designation through RENI (Source: Colibri Real Estate)

YouTube Video Library

Colibri Real Estate’s YouTube video library gives students access to real estate experts who share their insights on everything from exam-day tips to real-world industry experiences. These videos are an excellent way to supplement your course materials.

Screenshot of Colibri Real Estate's YouTube page
Get valuable resources from Colibri Real Estate’s YouTube videos (Source: Colibri Real Estate)

Career Hub

Like Colibri’s YouTube video library, its Career Hub offers equally valuable resources to aspiring and seasoned agents. It covers topics such as becoming an agent, real estate salary, market trends, and growing a real estate career.

Screenshot of Colibri Real Estate's Career Hub
Access Colibri’s career hub for free (Source: Colibri Real Estate)

Methodology

In terms of our methodology at The Close, our licensed real estate professionals, writers, researchers, and editors created a weighted rubric for this Colibri Real Estate review. Our experts have done hours of research to analyze key features, pricing, course offerings, Colibri Real Estate reviews, and more. All the features we explored are essential for students to become successful agents and brokers in the real estate industry.

  • Course Features 25%
    • This comprises items that assist agents and brokers in completing their education, like pass and refund guarantees, career and instructor support, coaching, training, interactive study groups, and course extensions.
  • Value 20%
    • Pricing and availability of coursework is an essential factor to assess. This accounts for real estate school offerings in prelicensing, post-licensing, continuing education, broker prelicensing, and exam prep. 
  • Learning Format & Accessibility 20%
    • Real estate professionals must consider the best format for their learning, which includes self-paced, on-demand video, live stream, and in-person classes. Also, accessibility via multiple devices, like computers, tablets, and mobile devices, determines the convenience for users. 
  • Expert Score 15%
    • The Close closely reviews each course for stand-out features, details, ease of use, and the value for money spent from a real estate expert’s perspective. 
  • Help & Support 10%
    • If students need additional support, they must know the customer service options available through phone, email, live chat, and the ticket system. 
  • Reputation 10%
    • This examines the reputation of each real estate school through the lens of current and past students, reviewing each provider’s customer reviews and popularity.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)




The Bottom Line: Is Colibri Real Estate Worth Your Money? 

Yes, Colibri Real Estate is definitely worth your money. While it’s not the basement-level budget option like RealEstateU or the go-to for live online classes like Kaplan, it strikes an outstanding balance between affordability and quality. Plus, its interface outshines its closest competitor, The CE Shop.

If you’re looking for a solid real estate school, my Colibri Real Estate review confirms it’s one of the best in the industry.