Colibri Real Estate Review: Is It Right for Your Real Estate Education?
Gina is a licensed real estate salesperson, experienced trainer, and former high school educator of 1,000+ learners. She writes for Fit Small Business with a focus on real estate content.
Jealie is a staff writer at Fit Small Business, specializing in real estate education.
This article is part of a larger series on How to Become a Real Estate Agent.
Colibri Real Estate, formerly known as Real Estate Express, earned a 4.81 out of 5 rating on our list of best online real estate schools. We based this score on 32 factors of high-quality education for real estate professionals, such as course features, learning styles and formats, national availability, customer reviews, pricing, support, and our expert score.
Colibri Real Estate reviews show students are happy with the convenience and quality of courses that helped them get and maintain a real estate license. It is best for busy individuals who want to complete the licensing process quickly, efficiently, and in their preferred online learning format and pace. Read along to see if Colibri is the best fit for you.
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Use Promo Code: FSB25 for 25% off
Overall Score:
4.81 / 5
Pros
- Pass or Don't Pay money-back guarantee
- Instructors are active professionals in the industry
- Association of Real Estate License Law Officials (ARELLO) and International Distance Education Certification Center (IDECC) accredited
- One-to-one access to instructors for questions
- Classes are available on phone, tablet, or desktop
Cons
- Only six months to complete courses
- No in-person class option
- With so many states listed, the website feels cluttered
- No physical school to visit for support
- Printed course material not included in every package
Who Colibri Real Estate Is Recommended For
- Agents needing career assistance post-licensing
- Students wanting multiple real estate course package options to choose from
- Students needing additional exam prep materials
Who Colibri Real Estate Is Not Recommended For
- Learners needing in-person courses for learning format or accountability
- Students who need more than six months to complete their license
- Prelicensing in CT, DE, NH, NM, ND, OR, RI, SD, or WV
- Prelicensing courses: Starting at $129
- Post-licensing courses: Starting at $85
- Broker licensing courses: Starting at $199
- Continuing education courses: Starting at $19.95
- Exam prep: $99
Colibri Real Estate Reviews: What Users Think of Colibri Real Estate
Students who left Colibri Real Estate reviews, formerly Real Estate Express reviews, mentioned that the online courses provide quality education for the price, and it taught them everything they need to know to pass the real estate licensing test on their first try. Students also found the platform very informative and easy to use. One student mentioned that the reps are beneficial if you have any questions and are assigned a teacher for specific real estate questions.
- Indeed: 4.1 out of 5 with 252 Colibri Real Estate reviews
- Agent Advice: 4.15 out of 5 with 86 Colibri Real Estate reviews
In less favorable Colibri Real Estate reviews, one student was disappointed with the lack of videos, graphics, and engagement methods in its courses. Another student mentioned that the course materials have multiple typos and are outdated. Students looking for more interaction within the classes instead of just reading and trying to comprehend the materials on their own should consider a livestream course like Kaplan’s live online instruction course format.
Would Our Expert Use Colibri Real Estate?
You may be wondering if Colibri Real Estate is legitimate and worthwhile. Yes, it is. Colibri Real Estate, formerly known as Real Estate Express, is a legit and accredited real estate school for aspiring and experienced agents looking for course flexibility and interactive online components. One of our favorite features is enrollment support, which assists students in achieving success throughout the licensing process.
We also appreciate that the Colibri Real Estate exam prep course allows you to take up to 10 customized practice tests in addition to two national and three state final exams. Each practice and final exam includes a topic-by-topic breakdown of your results, answers, and explanations. This enables you to modify your next practice exam to cover specific topics you’re having difficulties with until you can take the actual real estate licensure exam confidently.
However, Colibri Real Estate lacks a physical school to visit for assistance or in-person learning. Some people find it easier to grasp real estate concepts in a classroom setting. Choose another best accredited real estate school like Kaplan, which offers live interactive study groups, weekly live webinars, and real-time interaction with instructors.
Types of Education Available at Colibri Real Estate
Colibri Real Estate supports aspiring and experienced agents with various education courses from prelicensing to continuing education to broker licensing. Although they do not offer every course in every state, they do offer a substantial amount of courses to fit your needs.
Prelicensing
Colibri Real Estate students have the option of self-paced online or livestream prelicensing class formats (if livestream is offered in their state) that ARELLO and IDECC accredit. Self-paced, text-based online courses give students the flexibility to complete their education from home on their schedule. In states where it is offered, the livestream courses are perfect for students who prefer to learn with an instructor in real time or want to interact with other students.
Below you can see what’s included within the four available state-specific prelicensing package tiers with Colibri Real Estate:
The Basics | Exam Preparation | Exam Preparation Plus | Ultimate Learning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Everything on The Basics plan plus the following:
| Everything on the Exam Preparation plan plus the following:
| Everything on the Exam Preparation Plus plan plus the following:
|
If you’re looking for additional education such as post-licensing, continuing education, exam prep, or broker’s licensing, Colibri Real Estate can be an option for you. Page through the images and descriptions below to see if Colibri Real Estate offers the required education in your state.
Colibri Real Estate provides post-licensing education for agents in states that require further education for new agents. The courses are accredited by ARELLO and IDECC and include your required post-license course hours and state-approved instructor support. Selected post-licensing courses include discussion boards, education concierge, and printed textbooks. Post-licensing courses are available from Colibri Real Estate in the following states:
- Alabama
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Kentucky
- Mississippi
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Texas
- Virginia
Colibri Real Estate continuing education courses are available through its partner company, McKissock Learning. McKissock Learning has online self-paced courses or paper-based correspondence courses created by real estate industry experts.
CE classes can be purchased as preset course bundles or individually, letting agents choose relevant topics that best fit their needs. The state-approved CE courses can be accessed on the school’s easy-to-navigate platform 24/7, with printable chapters and exclusive content specific to McKissock Learning.
The broker prelicensing courses from Colibri Real Estate are taught by industry experts in a self-paced environment. Most broker packages provide a Principles of Real Estate Practice e-book and a Real Estate Math e-book to coincide with the required online learning hours. Some packages also include a discussion board for open communication and state-approved instructors for support, where students may call or email instructors with questions. Broker prelicensing is available for the following states:
- California
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Massachusetts
- Missouri
- New York
- Texas
Colibri Real Estate offers a “Pass or Don’t Pay” money-back guarantee for students who do not pass their exams that are included in most, but not all, packages. Some online real estate schools do not provide a refund at all. Although some exam prep is included in most Colibri Real Estate packages, students who want extra exam prep should consider enrolling in an additional course to help them pass their exam on the first try.
The Exam Prep Master program ensures you won’t encounter unwelcome surprises on exam day. They do this through study guides, exam prep courses, and prep tests specific to your state. The material included in this package is in addition to any exam preparation in your online course packages.
Colibri Real Estate Alternatives
Schools |  |  |  |
|---|---|---|---|
Best For | Course affordability for aspiring or experienced agents | New or experienced agents who require a variety of course formats | Self-paced online curriculum for all stages of your real estate career |
Key Features |
|
|
|
Starting Price* | $24 | $16 | $9 |
Learn More |
*Pricing here is for comparable options; exact price depends on location, course selection, and learning format.
Colibri Real Estate Pricing & Plans
Colibri Real Estate pricing varies by state, mainly because courses offered depend on the required class topics and the number of education hours mandated by each state. Prelicensing courses tend to be the most expensive as they require the most hours to become a real estate agent.
Other courses can be purchased individually or in bundles to tailor the course to your needs and interests. Bundled courses have tiered pricing and include additional resources like live Q&A sessions, additional instructor support, a real estate dictionary, and the inclusion of required post-licensing courses. This allows real estate agents to pick the most affordable and appropriate packages for their needs.
Types of Education Plans | Prelicensing | Post-licensing | Broker Prelicensing | Continuing Education* | Exam Prep Master |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Who Plan Is Best For | Aspiring agents getting a real estate license for the first time | Agents looking to fulfill additional prelicensing requirements | Agents wanting to further their career by getting a broker license | Agents who need to renew their real estate license | Students who need extra study, tools, and preparation time to pass exams |
Annual Price Range ($/User/Month) | $129 to $2,299 | $85 to $389 | $199 to $888 | $19.95 to $519 | $99 |
Livestream Course Format | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ |
Exam Prep Materials | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
Online Textbook Course Format | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Instructor Support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
E-books | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Customer Service Support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
*Offered by partner company, McKissock Learning]
General Colibri Real Estate Features
Colibri Real Estate has been helping aspiring and current agents navigate licensing and launching a successful real estate career for over 25 years. The online real estate school’s features ensure students have adequate instructor support, customer support, and educational materials to receive the best return on their investment.
Key Colibri Real Estate features that ensure students pass their state exams are:
- Easy-to-navigate dashboard
- Interactive elements
- Pass or Don’t Pay Guarantee
- Multiple course formats
Colibri Real Estate interface
Colibri Real Estate makes it easy to understand what is necessary within your state to ensure you can apply for your real estate license once you pass all required exams. The self-paced or (where available) livestream classes are designed to guarantee students can absorb and retain the course information. The Pass or Don’t Pay guarantee shows that while the school is confident in its learning material and teaching styles, they believe that students who aren’t successful should receive a refund.
Additional Colibri Real Estate Features
Colibri offers students an abundance of tools and resources to assist them in completing their real estate education. Click on the tabs below to learn more about each feature:
- Easy to navigate
- Progress tracker
- Note-taking tools
Colibri Real Estate’s unique Learning Management System (LMS) platform provides students with some aspects of an in-person classroom by creating an interactive environment. For example, students can ask questions in the available student forum and read other questions and answers to gain additional insights from industry pros.
LMS dashboard
The dashboard manager and goal tracker ensure students complete courses within the allotted time frame and track the student’s progress throughout each course. The platform also allows academic advisers to provide personal assistance to help with the licensing process. In addition, its LMS platform provides online note-taking and free downloads to prepare for the exams.
- Increased retention
- Knowledge reinforcement
- Exam preparation
Smart Bites is Colibri Real Estate’s proprietary teaching methodology to help students retain more of the information provided through the courses. It takes the vast amount of knowledge required to succeed and divides it into smaller, more digestible bits of information.
Along with retention, Colibri’s education reinforces knowledge by providing information reviews to ensure students understand the concepts being taught. This Colibri learning methodology is proven to assist with memorization, success in passing the exams, and understanding real estate concepts for a successful career.
- Full refund
- Confident success rate
- Not valid in FL, NJ, and TN
The high-quality teaching and extra preparation materials provided by Colibri Real Estate increase the success rate of students passing the state exams. If students do not pass the state exam, they may submit their scores to Colibri Real Estate for a refund of the purchased package. Unfortunately, Florida, New Jersey, and Tennessee do not allow the Pass of Don’t Pay Guarantee.
- Accessible on all devices
- Self-paced learning
- Livestream learning options in certain states
The Colibri Real Estate prelicensing course provides two options for course completion: self-paced online or livestream. In the 42 states that Colibri Real Estate caters to, all have the option of self-paced online learning, which includes required learning material, course flexibility, and six months to complete all hours.
An example of state-specific course format options from Colibri Real Estate
In states where students can enroll in livestream courses, the class will be instructed in real time on specific dates and times. Classes are available during the day, early evening, and weekends to accommodate schedules. Classes are available online on any device with an internet connection. Students will need a webcam, speakers, and microphone to attend the livestream classes.
- Real-life scenarios
- State-specific education
- Access to support
Colibri Real Estate’s livestream classes, live Q&A sessions, and state-approved instructor support give students access to practicing real estate experts in your state. Their expertise provides deeper engagement within their session to further support your real estate journey. In addition to offering real-life examples from their own experiences, they can more fully understand a student’s struggles with the state’s licensing process to provide the support needed.
- Extend access to course materials
- Available for some states
- More time for studying and preparation for exams
If you cannot complete your course within the allotted six-month period, Colibri Real Estate allows you to extend your course access from seven, 30, or up to 60 days at an additional cost. Once you confirm your extension, you can access an internal dashboard that identifies your class expiration date. However, the offer to extend access will only be available if your state allows extensions.
- Guided support
- Phone, email, and live chat
- Satisfaction guarantee
Before enrollment, customer support will help you navigate which courses you need to attend depending on your state. Due to the online nature of the coursework at Colibri Real Estate, having support through email, phone, and live chat ensures you can address questions. Plus, there is a robust, frequently asked questions (FAQs) section to answer common questions regarding the program if you can’t reach a representative outside business operating hours.
Colibri Real Estate satisfaction guarantee
The school’s satisfaction guarantee reinforces its commitment to a student’s success in the program. If enrolled in online self-paced courses, students may request a refund within the first week, whereas those taking livestream classes must request a refund by the second day of classes.
- Included with most packages
- Flashcards
- Practice exams
Colibri Real Estate’s Exam Prep Master
Exam prep is available with all Colibri Real Estate prelicensing packages except the Basic package. The exam prep consists of dozens of practice exams and flashcards. For students who want or need extra exam prep, the Exam Prep Master course provides study guides, additional practice exams, and exam prep courses. This type of additional exam prep and practice is the best way to improve your ability to pass your state’s real estate exam.
Ease of Use for Colibri Real Estate
It’s simple to get started with course packages through Colibri Real Estate, and the platform is straightforward. They list the program category and each state they support so you can quickly determine your state’s education requirements and available course packages.
If you have questions, customer support is available to assist in enrollment, choosing the right package, and throughout the entire educational process. The site outlines what is included within each package and its corresponding pricing. Selecting a package for purchase and the checkout process are as simple as any online purchase using your debit or credit card.
Once enrolled, you will have access to the account dashboard, where you can access your courses easily on a menu tab. The platform automatically saves the progress when you begin a section so you can return to the correct area. With access to the LMS dashboard, you have a guided path to help you navigate completing the course on time with pacing prompts and academic adviser assistance.
How We Evaluated Colibri Real Estate
The best online real estate schools offer new and experienced agents the tools they need to start and continue learning throughout their careers. We examined schools for realtors based on the following criteria:
25%
Course Features/Learning Style
20%
Pricing
15%
Education Provided
15%
Additional Features
10%
Customer Reviews
10%
Expert Score
5%
Help & Support
25% of Overall Score
Consists of various formatting and learning styles for each course to meet the specific needs of the agent as well as ease of course accessibility.
20% of Overall Score
Pricing is based on the cost of pre- and post-licensing, continuing education courses, broker prelicensing, and exam prep of the top real estate accredited schools.
15% of Overall Score
The availability of each level of education for different stages of licensure. This would include pre- and post-licensing, continuing education courses, broker prelicensing, and exam prep.
15% of Overall Score
Extending services past licensure, such as coaching, training, and career assistance. Also, whether the provider offers pass or refund guarantees for its courses.
10% of Overall Score
Based on customer feedback for each program, with particular attention given to reviews of the product and popularity of the provider, to certify the course meets user satisfaction.
10% of Overall Score
Expertise in the field and firsthand experience with the providers allow us to evaluate the standout features, value for the money, and ease of use for each school.
5% of Overall Score
To find the best real estate accredited schools, we looked into the convenience and attainability of customer service for technical support and instructor assistance.
*Percentages of overall score
Bottom Line
Colibri Real Estate reviews show that its self-paced online learning classes are a great option if completing or continuing your real estate education is at the top of your to-do list. Access to instructors, live Q&A, exam prep, and the platform’s Smart Bites and student dashboard will ensure you feel confident when taking your exam. Colibri Real Estate provides all the education needed for success in your real estate career, including a career hub to help guide you through the licensing process.
