Not all real estate schools are created equal. And when deciding which school is going to shape the entire future of your career, it is imperative to do your research.
A real estate school that works with your needs is the difference between a successful and unsuccessful career. Quality of support, course availability, education structure, pass rate, and completion time are just a few factors to consider when choosing a real estate school.
There is so much information about each school available that it is easy to become overwhelmed and confused. This article focuses on two of the leading real estate schools. We compare these two schools side-by-side, so you know which courses and education are best for you.
For simplicity and comparison, we will use some examples from both schools’ Colorado pre-licensing programs.
VanEd
Since 1997, VanEd Real Estate School has been a trusted real estate education provider. Their courses are 100% online-based. Students have access to their coursework anytime and can complete their modules anywhere. This model is attractive to students who have full-time jobs or busy personal lives. Students take the course at their own pace.
They offer education for agents, brokers, and appraisers within the industry. Their courses include the following:
- Real estate licensing
- Real estate license exam prep
- Continuing Education for Agents & Brokers
- GRI Designation
- Appraisal licensing
- Appraisal continuing education
- Appraisal license exam prep
- Mortgage broker license
This wide variety of courses makes VanEd an ideal school for real estate agents who plan to stay in the real estate industry. The VanEd student portal keeps track of all the courses students take in one place. After licensing, students can take CE courses or advance their career by taking broker or appraiser courses on a familiar platform.
Perhaps one of the most noteworthy features of VanEd is the customer service support team. Reviews mention the helpfulness of this staff repeatedly. The support staff is a team of dedicated real estate instructors who have years of experience in the real estate industry. This staff is available to students for anything ranging from technical support to coursework assistance.
VanEd offers a 35% off discount to new pre-license students at all times and a 40% discount to veterans and active military personnel.
Aceable Agent
Aceable Agent has provided online and app-based real estate education since 2012.
Aceable Agent real estate school offers real estate pre-license, continuing education, and professional development courses. They have education for students in 14 states. Aceable Agent provides online and mobile app-based education that combines video with other teaching practices to present their courses.
Not much more information is made available about Aceable Agent’s history and course process.
VanEd
All of VanEd’s courses are accredited and meet each state’s requirements. Some major accreditations include:
- IDECC
- ARELLO
- REEA
- CDEI
- RAPDD
- Approvals in each state
Complete list of VANED REAL ESTATE SCHOOL ACCREDITATIONS
Aceable Agent
Aceable Agent courses are all approved by the state where a course is hosted. There are no other mentions of accreditation on the site. On each state course page, find the accreditation in the info section.
VanEd
VanEd’s courses are interactive and text-based and can be accessed 24/7 from any device. The courses are available as a downloadable PDF for students to study anywhere they choose. Students complete courses online at their own pace. This means that courses can be completed as fast as several weeks or as slowly as 12 months.
VanEd also offers a highly organized and effective Learning Management System (LMS). Their courses contain videos, infographics, various interactive exercises, intuitive navigation, course progress reminders, flashcards, quizzes, and the ability for students to take notes and save them to their accounts.
VanEd has several videos that show the courses from inside the student portal. Take a sneak peek into what the student portal looks like by viewing the below video.
One of VanEd’s most popular real estate courses is in the Colorado market. This next video shows an overview of the Colorado course, but other courses have a similar structure.
Aceable Agent
Aceable Agent courses can be taken online or through their mobile app. The app allows you to pick up your course where you left off without a computer. The courses can be completed in their entirety through the app if someone chooses.
The courses are set up in a “chapter” format. After each chapter, there is an assessment and quiz covering the content within that chapter. This is to help students better gauge their understanding of what they just learned.
There are three tiers of courses available.
-
- CA DOS-Approved
- Complete course
- Self-Paced, online PDF format
- Textbook course material
- Instructor support
- Email course experts
- 30-Day money-back guarantee
- Deluxe
- Everything Included in The Essentials Package
Plus
- Videos, audio lessons, and digital flashcards
- Deluxe real estate exam prep with 1,300 practice questions
- Real Estate Exam Prep E-book
- Premium
- Everything Included in the Premium Package
Plus
- One hour of private tutoring with a real estate expert
- Live Webinars 5x/Week
- Pre-License students gather for sessions that focus on real estate concepts such as math and vocabulary
- Access to the Webinar Archive
- Watch a large number of educational videos available in the webinar archive
- Live Q&A
- On “Facebook Friday” the webinar host answers questions directed at Aceable Agent through social media
Within the chapters, students go through video-based and text-based lessons. Aceable Agent has a unique feature that allows students to listen to the text version of the course through their audio feature.
Many of the features found in the premium package are not available in VanEd.
VanEd
VanEd offers students the ability to speak directly with a knowledgeable instructor. VanEd instructors are successful real estate professionals who now teach students how to find success in the industry. Having instructors who know the industry and understand the exams is a huge advantage.
All instructors are practicing professionals with many years of experience in real estate and appraisal. The VanEd instructors are available during the workweek by phone or email.
The online Q&A system lets you contact instructors by email and browse through a well-organized collection of previously posted student questions and instructor answers.
Aceable Agent
Aceable Agent has a support staff available to answer emails with questions at their least expensive level. However, it may take several days for someone to receive an answer.
Students have access to instructors at the most expensive levels through a one-hour tutoring session. Premium students also get access to live Q&A sessions every Friday. These are not available to students at the lower two levels.
The most critical opinions to consider when looking for a real estate school are ratings from current and past students. Here is what recent students said about these two schools in Google.
VanEd
VanEd Real Estate School has received an average rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 167 students.
Aceable Agent
Aceable Agent Real Estate School has received an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 stars from 288 students.
Cost is an essential factor in real estate school. Understanding what you are paying for is important for finding a valuable and affordable product. Remember, this is a one-time schooling price you will pay. Splurging on a school that will provide everything you need is an excellent option for those who can afford it.
Be aware of inexpensive real estate schools as they may not offer quality or updated information and may not come with materials. Prices for real estate schools differ in each state. Because each state has different licensing requirements, prices vary in each state.
VanEd
VanEd Colorado pre-license courses offer three different packages priced according to the bonus features and extra necessary education each package includes. The three packages are essentials, advantage, and premium. Every package consists of a complete education, payment plans, live customer service, and live instructor support. The courses include exam prep, exam pass money-back guarantee, and free trials in select states.
Even though prices vary in each state, VanEd hits the middle mark at their base pricing. However, they constantly offer significant discounts that make their school extremely affordable.
Aceable Agent
Aceable Agent’s course prices range from average to more expensive depending on which package you choose. The prices are very similar to VanEd. Notice how the costs increase for better quality education. There is no additional courses packaged in the more expensive options. There are frequent sales on the website.
VanEd Real Estate School is the winner and the best online real estate school for those interested in a long career in real estate UNLESS you do not have a computer or are willing to spend more money for the Aceable Agent Premium package.
The main difference between the payment tiers for VanEd and Aceable Agent is that while Aceable Agent requests more money for higher-value education, VanEd provides the same high-quality education for all of their tiers. The VanEd courses may be priced up when packaged with other necessary educational courses or features (required post-education, online proctoring, and exam prep). Still, the same high-quality course with all their available features is available even at the least expensive option.
Students having 24/7 course access, a phenomenal team of professionals as a resource, and education available for multiple next steps in their real estate career sets VanEd apart from Aceable Agent.
For Aceable Agent, to get their best educational opportunities, you need to pay a significant amount more. However, the highest tier package features are not offered at VanEd. These features may be a selling point for students who wish for extra guidance and peer support throughout their courses. Aceable Agent’s app is also a great feature for students who do not have access to a computer. Though, VanEd courses are available in PDF form, which can be viewed on the phone. The Aceable Agent app does set the school apart for smartphone users.
Overall, both schools are great options for those looking for a real estate school.
Written and Published by: VanEd
