6 Best Online Real Estate Schools in Michigan 2023
This article is part of a larger series on How to Become a Real Estate Agent.
With 40 hours of Michigan Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)-required prelicensing, plus continuing education and broker prelicensing, aspiring agents and brokers need high-quality education to start their real estate career off right. We’ve researched dozens of real estate schools to identify the best online real estate school in Michigan based on pricing, course features, quality of education, and customer service.
Here are our top picks in 2023:
- Colibri Real Estate: First-rate for having the best learning formats to accommodate various learning styles
- Kaplan: Ideal for individuals seeking high-quality education and live assistance
- Aceable Agent: Excellent option for licensees who want weekly live webinars with fellow students
- Michigan Institute of Real Estate: Recommended for correspondence home study courses that include a take-home state licensing exam
- NCI Associates, Ltd. School of Real Estate & Building Education: Best online real estate course in Michigan for upgrading to a broker’s license
- McKissock Learning: Best for established agents wanting customizable continuing education (CE) for license renewal
Best Online Real Estate Courses in Michigan at a Glance
School | Education Provided & Starting Price | Learning Formats | Pass Guarantee | Customer Support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Prelicensing: $192 CE: $29 Exam prep: $99 |
| ✓ | Phone, email, and live chat |
Visit Colibri - Use Promo Code: FSB25 for 25% off | ||||
 | Prelicensing: $179 CE: $19 Exam prep: $35 |
| ✕ | Phone, email, and live chat |
Visit Kaplan - Use Promo Code: Kapre5 for 5% off | ||||
 | Prelicensing: $179 |
| ✓ | Phone, email |
Visit Aceable Agent - 25% off, no promo code required | ||||
 | Prelicensing: $295 Broker prelicensing: $295 CE: $39.99 Exam prep: $30 |
| ✕ | Phone, email, and live chat |
 | Prelicensing: $195 Broker prelicensing: $350 CE: $40 Exam prep: $30 |
| ✓ | Phone and email |
 | Prelicensing: $352 CE: $29 Exam prep: $99 |
| ✕ | Phone and email |
Things you need to know before enrolling for your Michigan real estate license education: Along with education requirements, there are additional steps to completing your real estate licensure. Check out our step-by-step guide on How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Michigan to get started.
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Colibri Real Estate: Best for a Variety of Learning Formats
Overall Score:
4.94 / 5
Pros
- Multiple course formats
- Pass or don’t pay guarantee
- Affordable prelicensing education
Cons
- Not every course includes textbooks
- Exam prep materials are not offered with its Basic package
Colibri Real Estate is the best Michigan online real estate school providing multiple course formats to meet most learning styles. Choose from self-paced, livestream, live webinar, and on-demand. It offers affordable prelicensing, continuing education (CE), and exam prep courses to help students prepare for the prelicensing exam and CE classes to meet the license renewal requirements.
Colibri Real Estate offers a pass or don’t pay guarantee and will refund your payment if you don’t pass your exam on the first try. Some Colibri Real Estate courses in Michigan require you to purchase the textbooks separately, so check your package contents before you purchase them to see if you need to get a book elsewhere.
Additional Colibri Real Estate Features
Screenshot of Sketchy an Colibri (Source: Facebook)
- State-approved instructor support: Access your local instructors for questions and support by e-mail or phone.
- Exam Crammer series: Includes six one-hour webinars led by real estate instructors, accessible once you complete your prelicensing education.
- Career resources: One-year membership access to career tools through McKissock Learning (valued at $475).
- Discussion board: Communicate with instructors and connect with peers to discuss course content.
- Animated video library: Colibri Real Estate has partnered with Sketchy to offer animated videos that help you master complex subjects.
Colibri Real Estate receives a 4.15 out of 5 review. Students love the convenience of its self-paced online courses. One student said the extra practice prepared them to pass the exam. Another student reported that the curriculum gets straight to the point.
One student’s negative review said the exam proctoring was terrible and the process was frustrating. Another student reported that the content hadn’t been updated to meet recent updates with the state exam. If you’re looking for a local real estate school with updated content, try NCI Associates, Ltd. School of Real Estate & Building Education.
Colibri Real Estate provides tiered prelicensing and exam prep packages. It offers Michigan prelicensing, exam preparation packages, and continuing education. Each package adds new features with price increases. Prelicensing packages range from $192 to $422; CE classes can be taken singly, in your choice of two packages, or with a CE membership.
Prelicensing: Starting at $192
All prelicensing packages meet the Michigan prelicensing real estate education requirements, plus include three e-books and instructor support. Each tier of the online real estate courses in Michigan adds new features to the content in its abovementioned package.
- The Basics: $192 includes the 40-hour prelicensing course, three real estate e-books, over 800 new visual learning objects and videos
- Exam Preparation: $255 for everything in the Basic package plus simulated exams, flashcards, readiness assessment, audio review guides, and the pass guarantee
- Exam Preparation Plus: $326 includes everything above plus instructor Q&A, live exam crammer series, and an animated video library
- Ultimate Learning: For $422, students get everything in Exam Prep Plus and add pro-series webinars, buyers and sellers worksheets, checklists, guides, and a comprehensive professional development library
Continuing Education: Starting at $29*
Colibri Real Estate CE packages allow you to customize your education by swapping classes you don’t want and choosing the ones you like. If you only need a few Michigan online real estate classes, you can take the individual classes you need to fulfill the requirements.
- Individual CE classes: Ranging from $29 to $49
- 12-hour Renewal with NAR Ethics: $89 Ethics in the Age of Disruption, JMan’s Tech Tools, Non-traditional and Alternative Finance, Taking the Distress Out of Distressed Properties
- 14-hour Managing Renewal with NAR Ethics: For $89, you get all the classes above, plus the Michigan Fair Housing CE
- MI CE Plus Membership: $139 a year provides All CE real estate courses in Michigan, Pro-Series webinar on-demand library, how-to videos, 100-plus job aids (worksheets, scripts, and checklists), product and service discounts, and access to knowledgeable education specialists
Exam Prep: Starting at $99
- Michigan Exam Prep: $99 provides Exam Prep with audio and review guides
- Michigan Exam Prep Live: $219 adds animated learning videos, instructor Q&A, and the exam crammer series
*Provided by its affiliate partner, McKissock Learning
*Provided by its affiliate partner, McKissock Learning
Kaplan: Best for High-quality Education & Live Assistance
Overall Score:
4.50 / 5
Pros
- Interactive study groups
- Refund guarantee
- Instructor access
Cons
- No livestream format
- No post-licensing or broker education
- Courses not available in all states
Accreditations
Kaplan is our top choice for high-quality content with live access to instructors—allowing students to talk to someone if they need support. It offers prelicensing, CE, and exam prep at reasonable prices. Tiered packages with extra features accommodate different learning styles and educational needs. Options to enhance the learning experience, such as exam preparation, live webinars, and intensive accelerated education, are available for an additional price.
Kaplan also offers Michigan students the opportunity to engage with other students through its interactive study groups. It doesn’t provide a no-pass guarantee, but you can request a refund, minus fees, if you cancel within the first 30 days. If you don’t have computer access, Kaplan courses can be taken through its mobile app.
Additional Kaplan Features
Kaplan’s YouTube channel with dozens of real estate educational videos (Source: YouTube)
- Exam prep add-ons: Purchase extra non-credit exam tools, such as math on-demand, digital flashcards, companion books, and a real estate dictionary.
- Business Brokerage Training: A comprehensive 30-hour, on-demand, non-credit business development course to prepare new brokers for operating their businesses.
- Real Estate Accelerator: An add-on package with live online coaching and a complete video course with eight hours of extensive real estate training.
- Inman Select trial subscription: Six months of access to Inman Select is included with all prelicensing courses at no additional cost ($100 value).
Kaplan has a 4.4 out of 5 based on 1,021 reviews. Students love the Qbank and direct access to their instructors. One student said the exam is tough, and the Kaplan course and study materials helped them ace it on the first try.
An unhappy student said the questions were poorly worded, the test prep was ineffective, and the support team ghosted them for two weeks. Another student reported that the course was only good for students whose learning style is point-and-click. If you want more exam prep options, Colibri Real Estate is praised for its extensive exam prep tools that meet different learning styles.
Kaplan’s pricing includes packages and individual courses. Pricing varies based on what’s in the package and your chosen learning format. You can also purchase exam prep tools for an additional cost.
Prelicensing: Starting at $179
Kaplan offers self-paced real estate prelicensing courses with three package options from $179 to $399. Each package levels up, adding more tools to the prior one. You can stop and start the Michigan real estate online classes, and it automatically tracks where you left off.
- Michigan Real Estate Fundamentals: $179 offers the 40 credit hours of Michigan real estate prelicensing education
- Michigan Real Estate Fundamentals with Exam Prep: $199 includes the 40-hour online course, state, and national exam prep, Qbanks, national interactive study group, and weekly career webinars
- Career Launcher Package: $399 provides everything above plus the real estate accelerator with live coaching
Continuing Education: Starting at $19
Kaplan provides individual CE courses and one six-hour course. The two-credit mandatory legal course can be purchased separately for $19 or with the new 2023 CE package.
- Individual CE courses: $19 to $49 based on credit hours
- MI 2023 CE package: $39 covers six hours of course material, including the mandatory legal update online video course
Exam Prep: Starting at $35
- Real Estate Math OnDemand Course: $35 reviews the real estate math needed for the exam
- Modern Real Estate Practice Flashcard Review: $42 offers a boxed set of 700 flashcards
- Michigan-only Real Estate Exam Prep Solution: $99 includes the state exam portion
- Real Estate Study Package: $99 includes The Language of Real Estate MP3, The Language of Real Estate text, and the Modern Real Estate Practice flashcards
- National-only Real Estate Exam Prep Solution: $129 includes the nation exam portion
- MT Real Estate Exam Prep On-demand Course: $199 covers both national and state portions
Aceable Agent: Best for Weekly Webinars Series
Overall Score:
4.42 / 5
Pros
- Instructor support
- Deluxe exam prep
- Live webinars five times a week
- Pass or don’t pay guarantee
Cons
- Only offers prelicensing education
- No study groups
- No live chat
Accreditation
- LARA
Aceable Agent is the best online real estate school in Michigan for its Premium prelicensing package features. It uniquely includes access to five live study webinars each week where students can join hundreds of prelicense students to cover core real estate topics. These topics, like math and real estate vocabulary, will assist aspiring agents in passing the real estate exam.
Its prelicensing packages include exam prep, so students don’t have to pay for additional resources to prepare for their final exam. Its Premium package also includes Facebook Friday live Q&A, where the instructor answers questions from the audience in real time. All students also get access to the webinar archives to review past lessons.
Additional Aceable Agent Features
Exam prep course demo is as easy as point and click (Source: YouTube)
- Private tutoring: In the Premium package, students receive one hour of private tutoring with a real estate expert on a subject of their choice.
- Multiple format exam prep: Its Deluxe and Premium packages include 75 videos, 70 audios, and digital flashcards.
- Home real estate exam: Students can take the licensing exam online from the comfort of their homes.
- Audio voice-over: There’s an option for in-course audio and captioning so students can listen and read, enhancing their learning experience.
Aceable Agent received a customer rating of 4.9 out of 5 based on 6,490 student reviews. One student said the courses were enjoyable with the mixture of videos, multiple choice questions, and the Feather Facts games. Another student liked how thorough the course was, including the math sections.
A dissatisfied student said the final exam requires too many screens to go through, and although he had no trouble with his Wi-Fi, the platform was sluggish and made his exam time out. Another student said she repeatedly got high scores on the practice quizzes but failed the exam due to questions not being offered in the course. Michigan Institute of Real Estate offers a home correspondence course, including a take-home licensing exam, excellent for students whose internet may be spotty.
Aceable Agent offers tiered pricing for its prelicensing education with three options from which to choose. Pricing is based on the quantity and quality of features in the three levels of the tiers.
Prelicensing: Starting at $179
The Aceable Agent prelicensing courses provide 40 hours of real estate education for the Michigan state licensing exam.
- Basic: $179 includes the 40-hour prelicensing education, 80 exam practice questions, instructor support, and free online exam proctoring
- Deluxe: $299 adds video and audio lessons, digital flashcards, 1,600 exam prep questions, and the real estate exam prep e-book with over 100 pages
- Premium: $399 is everything above, plus one hour of private tutoring, the five times per week webinars, the Facebook Friday Q&A, and webinar archives with hundreds of videos.
Michigan Institute of Real Estate: Best for Home Study Correspondence Courses
Overall Score:
4.27 / 5
Pros
- Take a written exam at home
- All materials mailed
- Multiple course formats
- Best-priced broker’s course
Cons
- No interactive study groups
- No pass guarantee
Accreditation
- LARA
The Michigan Institute of Real Estate provides livestream, in-person, self-paced, and home study correspondence learning styles to complete education in every stage of your real estate career, including broker education and career development. It’s the best Michigan online real estate school for its unique correspondence home study program providing printed and recorded materials mailed to your home, including the exam, which you complete and return by mail.
It’s also only one of two courses in our evaluation to provide broker prelicensing education, which includes three 30-hour courses in a bundle to meet the 90-hour Michigan broker education requirement. The school offers several exam preparation bundles that can be purchased separately. It doesn’t offer a pass guarantee or interactive study groups, so it’s best for self-starters.
Additional Michigan Institute of Real Estate Features
New Michigan real estate CE and renewal guidelines (Source: YouTube)
- CompuCram: You can purchase the CompuCram package separately, which includes a study vocabulary, practice tests, and simulated exams. It’s mobile- and tablet-friendly.
- Passing the Michigan Real Estate Test audio CDs: This add-on of nine compact discs (CDs) set provides step-by-step instructions for the real estate exam. It can also be purchased as a digital edition.
- National Holding, Inc: A program that renews your license for you, even if you’re inactive. It includes a free CE class that can be taken online or as a home study class and a 70/30 split on all referrals if you want to work as a referral agent.
- Hard copy textbook: Classroom courses include the hard copy textbook edition.
Michigan Institute of Real Estate scores 5 out of 5 based on 4,335 student reviews. Students with positive reviews said the classes were fun and informative, and the curriculum was easy to follow. One student highly recommended in-person classes and most students raved about their instructors. Another student said the exam prep tools were well-structured, and the materials were comprehensive.
It was hard to find negative reviews. One reviewer from two years ago said that the exam prep didn’t cover the scenario-type questions on the exam, and another student reported that customer support never returned her calls. If you want a school that prides itself on course materials on the licensing exam, check out NCI Associates, Ltd. School of Real Estate & Building Education.
Michigan Institute of Real Estate pricing for all prelicensing and CE courses depends on the study format and prelicensing education offers tiered packages. Exam prep tools have various price points as well.
Prelicensing: Starting at $295
Michigan Institute of Real Estate prelicensing offers three ways to study: in-person, online, or home study. Each has two pricing options based on what you get in the packages. Online real estate classes in Michigan are mobile-friendly.
- Online Basic: $295 includes the 40-hour prelicensing course with narrated slides, a real estate coaching session, a downloadable e-book, a cram course, and a free six-hour real estate CE course
- Online Premium: $395 provides everything in Basic, plus a physical copy of the book and the exam prep program with over 500 questions
- Home Correspondence Basic: $349 provides a textbook hard copy, Passing the Michigan Real Estate Test audio CDs, Passing the Michigan Real Estate Test DVDs, the real estate cram course, a real estate coaching session, and a free six-hour CE real estate class
- Home Correspondence Premium: $449 includes everything in the Basic package plus the exam prep program with over 500 questions, Real Estate Math Made Easy digital DVD, and a boxed set of real estate vocabulary flashcards
- Multi-location or livestream: $365, or $355 if prepaid, includes the text in PDF format ahead of the class start, 175 key concepts to pass the exam, a real estate math sheet, eight webinar recordings, and the free six-hour CE course
Broker Prelicensing: Starting at $295
Broker prelicensing courses are offered online, correspondence, and in-person. Michigan requires 90 hours of prelicensing education, so the packages are offered as 30-hour bundles, or you can buy three and save hundreds of dollars.
- Online 30-hour bundles: $295 each with four options from which to choose. These include mandatory broker test prep, real estate law, commercial investments, or property management. All courses include three hours of civil rights content, and students can bundle three for $649 to meet the 90 hours and save $236.
- Online Investor Edition: $999 provides the mandatory 30-hour broker test prep course, 30-hour real estate law, nine-hour civil rights course, and real estate investing content, like sheriff sales and flipping houses
- Home Correspondence 30-hour bundles: $349 each or $699 for all three, including three hours of civil rights in each bundle, the mandatory broker test prep course, real estate law, and real estate appraisal concepts (free shipping if you buy all three)
- In-person and livestream 90-hour course: $365, or $355 if prepaid, includes the mandatory broker test prep course and real estate appraisal concepts part one and includes course materials
Continuing Education: Starting at $39.99
Continuing education is offered in six-hour packages to meet state requirements. The study options include online, correspondence, and livestream from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on its scheduled dates. Pricing is based on six credit packages.
- Online CE courses: $39.99 per course offering nine different options, all including the real estate law content and some with the National Association of Realtors (NAR) Code of Ethics
- Correspondence CE: Six options, $50 each, include real estate law, and some with the NAR Code of Ethics
- Livestream CE: $50 for one option which includes the real estate law update for 2023 and NAR Code of Ethics
Exam Prep: $30
Real estate exam prep tools are sold as products like DVDs, CDs, boxed sets, e-books, and audio courses. There are 12 options ranging from $30 to $149. There are also two bundles, a trio, and a power pack.
- Exam Pass Trio: $129 gives you the 500-question exam prep program plus the Key Point Flashcards and real estate vocabulary flashcards
- Real Estate Power Package: $249 includes the 500 questions exam prep, Passing the Michigan Real Estate audio CDs, Passing the Michigan Real Estate DVDs, Real Estate Math Made Easy DVD, real estate or broker flashcards, a certificate plaque, and a basic calculator
Visit Michigan Institute of Real Estate
NCI Associates, Ltd. School of Real Estate & Building Education: Best for Upgrading to a Broker’s License
Overall Score:
3.94 / 5
Pros
- Livestream, in-person, and self-study options
- Four-hour live exam prep class
- Textbook for in-person, livestream, and hybrid courses
Cons
- No tech support
- Broker’s courses offered only in-person or livestream
- Limited exam prep resources
Accreditation
- LARA
NCI Associates, Ltd. School of Real Estate & Building Education (NCI) is a Michigan-based school that provides real estate and builder’s education. It offers in-person, livestream, and self-study courses and is one of the two on our list to provide prelicensing broker courses. It’s named the best online real estate school in Michigan for broker prelicensing with its simple course formats, which students can complete in person or via livestream within four weeks.
These Michigan LARA-approved online real estate courses include broker and salesperson prelicensing and continuing education. Although exam prep is available for livestream and in-person, it is limited to a four-hour live class. The classroom texts do contain practice exams and strategies. The self-study course has these preparation tools, including a 42-page exam prep workbook.
Additional NCI Associates, Ltd. School of Real Estate & Building Education Features
Exam prep study tool sample (Source: NCI Associates, Ltd.)
- Up-to-date textbooks: The two textbooks are written by the school owner and instructor, Jack Waller, J.D. They are kept up to date with the latest Michigan real estate practices and are included in all courses.
- Evening and accelerated daytime class options: Students can complete their prelicensing education over five weeks in the evening or one week in five all-day classes.
- In-program exams for live classes: During the livestream and in-person classes, students will take two exams on the topics covered. This allows students to see where they need to brush up on their skills and a chance to experience what it’s like to take an exam.
NCI Associates, Ltd. School of Real Estate & Building Education scores 5 out of 5 based on 374 student reviews. Several students praised the instructor, Jack Waller J.D., for his depth of knowledge and for keeping the courses interesting. Many students stated they passed the exam on the first try. They also appreciated the prompt customer service from Marjie Waller.
One negative reviewer said it was a poor experience and feels the instructor treated the students like children, not industry professionals. A downside of the program is the limited exam preparation tools. There isn’t enough variety to accommodate all student learning styles. Colibri Real Estate offers numerous exam prep options to meet most learning styles.
Pricing is based on the course format you choose, with livestream and in-person having the same price. Outside of the four-hour live class, there are no separate costs for additional exam preparation since it’s included in course packages.
Prelicensing: Starting at $195
NCI Associates, Ltd. provides broker and salesperson prelicensing education. The cost for in-person and livestream is $100 more than taking the course online.
- Real Estate Fundamentals online: $195 includes the 40-hour prelicensing course with the course e-book and 42-page workbook
- Real Estate Fundamentals livestream and in-person: $295 provides the 40-hour course with a hardcopy book
Broker Prelicensing: $350
Broker prelicensing is only offered in-person and livestream at the same price and is divided into three 30-hour programs; each needs to be completed to sit for the state exam.
- Broker I: $350 provides the mandatory 30-hour broker licensing preparation course with the book included and a certificate of completion
- Broker II: $350 includes the 30-hour contracts and fair housing curriculum, with book and certificate of completion
- Broker III: $350 offers the 30-hour policies and procedures for the risk management course, including the book and certificate
Continuing Education: Starting at $40
Continuing education includes a single six-credit hour package provided online, in-person, or via livestream.
- Livestream and in-person: The price of $40 to $50 varies by course location and includes the same curriculum and the online course
- Online CE: $50 includes Title: A View of Real Estate through the Attorney’s Lens, Tax Foreclosure, Forms of Ownership, Specific Performance, Seller Disclosure, and Commission Agreements
Exam Prep: $30
- Exam review: $30 includes a livestream or in-person four-hour crash course that reviews the content that will be on the salesperson or broker real estate exam
Visit NCI Associates, Ltd. School of Real Estate & Building Education
McKissock Learning: Best for Customized Continuing Education
Overall Score:
3.88 / 5
Pros
- One-year membership access
- Over 100 free learning tools
- Package customization
Cons
- No post-licensing or broker courses
- No on-demand classes
- No interactive study groups
Accreditations
- LARA
- ARELLO
- IDECC
McKissock Learning is the best online real estate school in Michigan for affordable, customizable continuing education. It only provides continuing education so current licensees can meet the state’s requirements. Through its Colibri Real Estate affiliation, students seeking an initial license can study for their Michigan real exam and use its exam prep tools to prepare.
Students can complete their education via livestream, online self-study, or have correspondence course materials mailed to their homes. It doesn’t offer the convenience of a mobile app for students to take their courses from their phones, and if students need immediate support, there’s no live chat, but they can e-mail or call and wait for a response.
Additional McKissock Learning Features
Membership dashboard with the partner directory (Source: McKissock Learning)
- Colibri Real Estate Collaboration: McKissock, the partner company of Colibri Real Estate, gives licensees access to all that Colibri offers for real estate agent prelicensing education.
- Partner directory: In the CE Plus membership dashboard, students can access dozens of McKissock affiliate partners for discounts on resources to help in their careers.
- Pro-series library: Includes webinars and an on-demand library with industry topics, insider tips, and expert advice.
- Over 100 job aids: Including worksheets, scripts, and checklists to stay on track and grow a thriving real estate career.
McKissock Learning has an online rating of 4.5 out of 5 based on student reviews. The positive reviews stated that the platform was easy to use and everything was accessible from the dashboard. They also liked the flexibility to take classes that fit their busy schedules. Some reported that the annual CE Renewal membership took the guesswork out of finding classes between license renewals.
Negative reviews stated that the terms of the CE Renewal package weren’t transparent, and they were unaware its annual membership would auto-renew. One student reported that customer service responded slowly and encountered a rude staff member. If you want more options for customer service, plus prelicensing courses and exam prep, hop over to its partner company Colibri Real Estate.
McKissock Learning provides tiered packages through its partnership with Colibri Real Estate, which includes prelicensing and exam prep. Its CE real estate classes online in Michigan can be taken individually or in your choice between two customizable packages.
Prelicensing: Starting at $192*
- The Basics: $192 includes the 40-hour prelicensing course, three real estate e-books, over 800 new visual learning objects and videos
- Exam Preparation: $255 for everything in the Basic package plus simulated exams, flashcards, readiness assessment, audio review guides, and the pass guarantee
- Exam Preparation Plus: $326 includes everything above plus instructor Q&A, live exam crammer series, and an animated video library
- Ultimate Learning: For $422, students get everything in Exam Prep Plus and add pro-series webinars
Continuing Education: Starting at $29
In each of the CE course packages the pricing depends on credit hours. You can also cherry-pick from individual classes or swap ones out in the packages if you are more interested in another topic. McKissock also offers an annual membership, with auto-renewal providing its best value.
- Individual CE classes: Ranging from $29 to $49
- 12-hour Renewal with NAR Ethics: $89 Ethics in the Age of Disruption, JMan’s Tech Tools, Non-traditional and Alternative Finance, Taking the Distress Out of Distressed Properties
- 14-hour Managing Renewal with NAR Ethics: For $89, you get all the classes above, plus the Michigan Fair Housing CE
- MI CE Plus Membership: $139 a year provides All CE real estate courses in Michigan, Pro-Series webinar on-demand library, how-to videos, 100-plus job aids (worksheets, scripts, and checklists), product and service discounts, and access to knowledgeable education specialists
Exam Prep: Starting at $99*
- Michigan Exam Prep: $99 provides Exam Prep with audio and review guides
- Michigan Exam Prep Live: $219 adds animated learning videos, instructor Q&A, and the exam crammer series
*Offered through its affiliate partner, Colibri Real Estate
How We Evaluated the Best Real Estate Schools in Michigan
After our careful evaluation, we chose Colibri Real Estate as the best real estate school in Michigan for its reasonable pricing, accessible peer and instructor support, great student reviews, and user-friendly online platform. Colibri offers multiple course formats to meet the learning styles of most students seeking a Michigan real estate education, whether to obtain their licenses or upgrade to a broker’s license.
To arrive at our unbiased score, we evaluated the following criteria:
25%
Learning Style/Course Features
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 and ease of course accessibility.
20% of Overall Score
Pricing is based on the cost and availability of pre- and post-licensing, continuing education courses, and exam prep for each online institution.
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 licensures 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
We looked into the convenience and attainability of customer service for technical support and instructor assistance.
*Percentages of overall score
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Yes. National and state schools offer Michigan online real estate classes with various course formats (e.g., livestream, where you remotely attend live classes and self-study—allowing you to work at your own pace). Online real estate schools in Michigan offer prelicensing, broker education, continuing education, and exam preparation resources. You can also take the state licensing exam online if the school offers it.
The Michigan real estate application fee for a new license is $88 in 2023. Prelicensing classes start at $179, depending on your chosen school, and the exam fee is $79. If you purchase additional study materials, you can add another $100 to $150, depending on how comprehensive the exam prep is. If you fail the exam, you must pay the $79 exam fee each time.
It can take three to four months if you take livestream or in-person courses. Some schools offer accelerated classes that you can complete full time in a week. In that case, you may be able to get your license in one month. Self-study courses require discipline, and while you may be able to cram for the exam and be licensed in less than three or four months, you must work at a pace that helps you retain what you’ve learned.
