5 Best Real Estate Schools in Maryland in 2021

Looking for the best real estate school in Maryland to help launch your career in a booming market this year? We want to help you choose the right Maryland real estate school to fit your needs. Completing 60 hours of classes is the first step in obtaining your Maryland real estate license.

Following your course of study, you’ll need to pass the state’s real estate exam and then apply for a Maryland real estate license. Ready to get started? Let’s do this!

5 Best Real Estate Schools in Maryland in 2021

(*Maryland Prelicensing Package Prices as of July 2021)

Helpful Info: Real Estate Schools in Maryland

Becoming a Maryland real estate agent isn’t significantly expensive or time-consuming. Still, you’ll need to choose an approved Maryland real estate school that offers high-quality instruction, exam preparation, and continuing education once you’re licensed.

Here are the types of classes that a real estate school in Maryland typically offers:

Prelicensing Courses

Before you can take the Maryland real estate exam, you need to complete 60 hours of prelicensing courses at a state-approved school.

Exam Preparation

Passing your state licensing exam won’t be a walk in the park. However, some prelicensing course packages discussed in this article include exam prep materials.

Continuing Education (CE)

Staying Licensed

Once you’ve passed the exam, the State of Maryland requires new real estate agents to complete 15 hours of continuing education (CE) within two years. Some packages in this article include CE courses. Now that you understand what you need to become licensed and stay licensed in the Old Line State, here are some online real estate schools in Maryland to consider.

[Related Article: 4 Easy Steps to Getting a Maryland Real Estate License]

Best Overall Real Estate School in Maryland: Real Estate Express

People all over the country turn to Real Estate Express to receive a comprehensive real estate education with a flexible format. Their Maryland real estate classes are affordable, and nationwide, their classes receive rave reviews from students.

Real Estate Express offers prelicensing real estate education in 39 states, plus Washington, D.C. — making them a market leader in the education space. You’ll be able to ask state-approved instructors questions about course content by email or phone. Real Estate Express also offers exam prep materials in three of their four packages and continuing education classes.

Real Estate Express Pricing

Let’s learn more about Real Estate Express’ affordable packages. For less than $200, you’ll gain access to the materials necessary to make a career change.

• The Basics ($199): If you’ve got a real estate background or pride yourself on being a self-starter, you may only need to purchase Real Estate Express’ entry-level package. It includes 60 hours of courses plus two e-books.
• Exam Preparation ($249): You’ll have to study for the Maryland salesperson exam before you take it. This Real Estate Express package includes exam prep materials and a Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee.
• Exam Preparation Plus ($324): This package gives you access to live instructors for 40 hours per month. You’ll be able to ask clarifying questions about complex material from people in the business.
• Ultimate Learning ($424): The Ultimate Learning Package will give you a one-year membership to a professional development website. This membership will allow you to take non-credit courses to help you generate leads, write listings that pop, and improve your monthly commission check.

(*Real Estate Express Maryland Prelicensing Packages Prices as of July 2021)

BEST FEATURE: Real Estate Express offers a lot of bang for your buck. Most of their packages include state-specific instructor support, access to real estate e-books, career resources, and test prep materials. Don’t forget to look for a coupon code to use at checkout to save even more money on these affordable packages.

ROOM TO IMPROVE: While Real Estate Express offers a fast-moving but thorough education, their top-tier package includes professional development courses as opposed to the state-required continuing education courses that are required to renew your license.

BOTTOM LINE: The CE Shop’s top-level prelicensing packages include everything you would need to get licensed and stay licensed. For fast-moving, affordable real estate education, choose Real Estate Express.

ENROLL NOW

Best Real Estate School in Maryland for All-in-One Packages: The CE Shop

You’re correct in assuming that the “CE” in The CE Shop’s name stands for “continuing education.” Still, this online real estate school also offers quality prelicensing courses for dozens of states, including Maryland. We love The CE Shop’s expertly-designed materials and affordable options.

The CE Shop boasts a higher-than-average success rate for both the national and state portions of the Maryland real estate exam. The curriculum offers interactive content that repeats material that’ll likely be on the exam, making even the most complicated information easy to digest and recall.

The CE Shop Pricing

The CE Shop offers four prelicensing packages for Maryland, ranging from $325 to $555. Even though the prices are already affordable, the packages often go on sale. Even the most basic package includes digital e-books, downloadable flashcards, career resources that’ll help you choose a brokerage, and a suggested study schedule.

• Courses Only ($325): This entry-level package includes the 60 hours of prelicensing classes offered in a convenient, work-at-your-own-pace format.
• Standard Package ($385): If you’re looking for a prelicensing package that includes state and national exam prep, this is it. The Standard Package also includes a Pass Guarantee. If you don’t pass the state licensing exam after using the exam prep material included in this package, the school will reimburse you the cost of the test.
• Value Package ($425): The Value Package through The CE Shop includes everything in the Standard Package, plus access to business-building courses. You’ll learn what it takes to make money in real estate with these courses.
• Premium Package ($555): It only makes sense that a business called The CE Shop would include continuing education courses in at least one of their prelicensing packages. Their Premium Package consists of the 15 hours of classes you’ll need to renew your certification the first time.

(*The CE Shop Maryland Prelicensing Package Prices as of July 2021)

BEST FEATURE: The CE Shop provides all-in-one packages. If you wish, you could buy your prelicensing courses from one school, a test-prep package from another, business building training from a third company, and your continuing education classes from a fourth source. Or, you could buy the Premium Package from The CE Shop and get all you need to obtain and renew your real estate license in Maryland from one company.

You can switch careers and industries without having to shop around for additional training and resources—especially if you plan to keep your “day job.” When you purchase the top-tier package with The CE Shop, you only have to remember one login and password for all your real estate education needs.

ROOM TO IMPROVE: We’ve no doubt that The CE Shop can prepare you for the Maryland salesperson exam. Regardless, this online school doesn’t give students access to real estate professionals in the area who can offer valuable, real-world advice.

BOTTOM LINE: Consider taking your prelicensing courses with Long & Foster Institute of Real Estate to be able to pick the brains of local agents who have been successful in their careers. We know that you’ll love The CE Shop’s interactive content. Visit their website to choose which package works best for you.

ENROLL NOW

Best Real Estate School in Maryland for Exam Prep: Mbition

We work hard to find the top real estate school in MD and the rest of the country. While Mbition doesn’t offer prelicensing courses for Maryland, they deserve a shoutout for providing quality test prep materials. You’ll be glad you spent the extra money on exam prep materials after you pass the Maryland real estate agent exam on the first try.

[Related article: Best Online Real Estate Schools: Our 5 Top Picks for 2021]

Mbition Exam Prep Pricing

Mbition offers two exam prep packages. It’s important to remember that these prices do not include your prelicensing classes—just your exam prep materials.

• National Real Estate Exam Prep ($59): You’ll feel like you’re sitting for the actual test when you utilize this exam prep material. You’ll learn how to pace yourself appropriately as you see how much time is left on the clock. The feedback reporting will allow you to see your results by topic to know what area needs further study.
• The National Master Exam Prep Package ($129): This package includes the National Real Estate Exam prep described in the previous package, plus a toolkit of additional study materials. The toolkit includes flashcards, a test-taking strategy, a course review of the most complicated material, and a Pass the First Time Guarantee.

(*Mbition Prelicensing Package Prices as of July 2021)

BEST FEATURE: Mbition’s program uses adaptive learning technology that keeps track of the areas in which you need extra study time. The program’s algorithm will provide you with additional explanatory material on those subjects, making your studying time more efficient. Also, Mbition’s National Real Estate Exam Prep-PSI package can be set on a timed “testing mode,” which mimics the state exam.

ROOM TO IMPROVE: Test prep materials only cover questions pertaining to national real estate, which make up 80 questions on the final state exam. However, you can lean on your prelicensing education classes to learn the Maryland-specific real estate content that you’ll need to know. These make up the remaining 30 questions on the Maryland real estate exam.

BOTTOM LINE:

ENROLL NOW

Best Real Estate School in Maryland for Instruction From Active Brokers: Tristar Academy

Both Real Estate Express and The CE Shop are experts in producing quality online educational content, and we recommend both schools if you are seeking an at-your-own pace online real estate school in MD. However, there’s something to be said about having a live, online instructor teach you about their profession.

Tristar Academy offers Zoom prelicensing real estate courses for Maryland. The 60-hour, eight-week course is scheduled for two nights a week from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and two Saturday sessions that run 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Tristar Academy Pricing

We’re impressed with Tristar Academy’s low price for prelicensing courses in Maryland. Most schools that offer a live (or live online) instructor are more expensive than schools that give you access to prepackaged material.

• Maryland Principles and Practices of Real Estate for Salesperson ($220): This package includes the cost of registration and the Zoom classes. You can purchase two textbooks from the school for an additional $90.

(*Tristar Academy Prelicensing Package Price as of July 2021)

BEST FEATURE: Tristar hires instructors who are active brokers. If you know that you would struggle to concentrate on sometimes dry material from a series of slides and animated videos, perhaps you should enroll in Tristar Academy’s program. Not only will you be able to interact with a teacher and other students in your online classroom, but the instructor will be able to offer insights from their experiences as a current real estate broker.

ROOM TO IMPROVE: The State of Maryland requires that you take only 60 hours of prelicensing classes. If you worked at your own pace, you could easily get through the material in one or two weeks. However, if you use Tristar Academy as your real estate school in Maryland, the course is stretched out over eight weeks. If you are eager to jumpstart your new career, you might opt for Real Estate Express or The CE Shop instead and get started going through the material within minutes.

BOTTOM LINE: Don’t wait to enroll in the prelicensing courses offered by Tristar Academy. Since the school offers classes that begin on specific dates, you might have to wait for the beginning of the next session to get started.

ENROLL NOW

Best Real Estate School in Maryland for In-Person Instruction: Long & Foster Institute of Real Estate

We’re giving Long & Foster more of an honorable mention on our list. Long & Foster isn’t just a real estate school—it’s also a brokerage in Maryland. If you join the Long & Foster real estate team after earning your license, you may qualify to be reimbursed for the cost of their education program after closing your first sale.

Long & Foster Real Estate Pricing

Long & Foster Real Estate offers two affordable packages for livestreaming and in-person courses:

• Tuition Only ($125.66)
• Tuition and Books ($199)

(*Long & Foster Prelicensing Package Prices as of July 2021)

BEST FEATURE: They offer livestreaming and in-person courses throughout the day and on weekends. They also provide local real estate connections.

ROOM TO IMPROVE: Their website doesn’t inspire confidence, and it’s hard to navigate and find information.

BOTTOM LINE: Brokerages use training programs to recruit new agents, and if you show promise, you may be able to fast-track your way into your first job and learn about Long & Foster while you’re still studying to decide if they’re right for you.

ENROLL NOW

Best Maryland Real Estate Schools: FAQs

While this article helped you choose an online real estate school in MD, you have more steps to complete to get licensed. Here are some answers to our reader’s most common questions.

What is the best real estate school in Maryland?

Real Estate Express is our top pick for online real estate schools in most states. Their user interface is well designed, and their courses affordable. The program also breaks down complicated information, so it’s easy to understand.

The good news is that you really can’t go wrong with any of the Maryland real estate classes on our list. If you’re ready for a career change, take action and enroll in one today.

How much are real estate classes in Maryland?

Real Estate Express offers the least expensive real estate classes in MD. The total price of the entry-level package is $199, but it often goes on sale. You can also receive a discount by using a coupon code from The Close.

While you could certainly complete all of your prelicensing course requirements by purchasing the lowest-priced package from Real Estate Express, we think you should also buy a test prep package from Mbition. With the backing of these two valuable programs, you’re sure to pass the Maryland real estate salesperson exam on your first attempt.

How hard is the real estate exam in Maryland?

There are 110 multiple-choice questions on this two-hour, computer-based exam. The test is divided into two sections. One covers national real estate topics, and the other asks questions about Maryland real estate laws and procedures. To pass, candidates must obtain at least a 70% on each section.

Mbition offers excellent test prep materials for those who need additional resources when studying for the Maryland real estate exam.

Are real estate classes worth it?

Real estate classes in MD are worth it. They are also required if you wish to work as a real estate salesperson in Maryland.

Each state’s real estate licensing board requires that applicants take prelicensing courses before sitting for the real estate exam. Real estate classes cover topics related to contracts, property ownership, ethics, and fair housing laws. Some state real estate licensing boards may allow you to skip the courses if you’re a lawyer or hold a real estate license in a reciprocal state.

Even though you may be concerned about the time, money, and effort required to get your real estate license in Maryland, it is worth it. Real estate salespeople in Maryland earn an average of $82,860 in commissions each year. And no college degree is required.

More Real Estate Career Resources From The Close

The real estate market is booming, and it’s a great time to launch a career in real estate. We’re happy to share our expertise to help you narrow your search for the best real estate school in Maryland — one that’s right for you.

Even if you’re not yet licensed, we invite you to join our Facebook Mastermind Group and subscribe to The Close Pro for more resources. You can network with real estate agents from across the country, join learning boot camps, and get exclusive video training and must-have downloads. Our resources can help you kickstart your new career in real estate!