They promise flexibility, freedom, and fast money — but most real estate licensing programs stop at the bare minimum, leaving aspiring agents with debt, confusion, and no clear path forward.
A Legal Scam in Plain Sight
The dream is everywhere: become your own boss, set your own hours, make six figures selling homes. And the first step? Just take this online course. It’s affordable. It’s flexible. It’s the fast track to financial freedom.
Except it’s not.
What most people don’t realize is that online real estate courses are built around compliance, not career development. They are legal, yes. But the way they market, operate, and abandon students after they pass the exam? That part feels a lot like a scam.
1. They Sell a Fantasy, Not a Plan
From the minute you land on their websites or see an ad, it’s all about the dream: luxury cars, freedom, easy commissions. But they never talk about:
- Cold leads that ghost you
- Long weekends with zero pay
- Marketing costs that eat into every check
- Rejection, competition, and burnout
You’re sold an outcome — not a strategy. And definitely not the truth.
2. They Use Urgency Tactics to Pressure You
- “Enroll now and save 40%!”
- “Limited time offer!”
- “Fast-track your freedom!”
These offers are always on the table. They aren’t rare or limited. It’s just manufactured urgency meant to push you into buying without thinking.
This is textbook sales psychology. And in many industries, it would raise ethical red flags. In online real estate courses, it’s standard.
3. They Don’t Disclose What You’re Not Getting
Here’s what they won’t tell you:
- The course doesn’t teach you how to get clients
- It won’t prepare you for real-world objections
- It doesn’t teach business setup, taxes, or marketing
- It doesn’t explain how long it takes to earn money
They teach you what’s required by the state — not what’s required to survive.
4. They’re Built to Meet Exam Requirements — That’s It
Each state sets requirements for licensing courses: usually a set number of hours and a pass rate threshold. So these companies focus solely on that.
- Their real customer? The state, not you.
- Their true goal? Pass rate maintenance, not agent success.
As long as they keep those numbers up, they stay approved. Your outcome after passing? That’s not their problem.
5. They Profit Whether You Succeed or Not
These companies make their money up front. Once you enroll, the transaction is done.
- Whether you pass or fail? Doesn’t matter.
- Whether you find a brokerage or quit? Not their concern.
- Whether you ever earn a commission? They’ve already been paid.
There is no built-in accountability for your future. They win either way.
6. Support Is Almost Nonexistent
Once you finish the course, most companies drop off entirely:
- No help picking a brokerage
- No career advice
- No follow-up on your licensing or onboarding process
You’re left staring at a certificate, wondering what comes next. And the truth is: they don’t care.
7. So Why Aren’t They Shut Down?
Because they are technically doing what the state requires: providing licensed pre-licensing education.
As long as their content covers the legal basics and their students pass exams, they stay approved. There is no regulation around what happens after.
They are legal. They are profitable. But they are built like a scam.
Don’t Get Sold — Get Smart
Real estate is a tough, rewarding, competitive industry. But passing the exam is only step one — and it’s the easiest one.
Before you drop hundreds of dollars on a flashy course, ask:
- Will they support me after the test?
- Will I learn how to build a career?
- Do they profit from my long-term success — or just my enrollment?
Don’t buy the fantasy. Build your foundation.
And never forget:
Online real estate courses aren’t designed to make you successful.
They’re designed to make someone else rich.
