The Best Real Estate Investing Courses for Complete Beginners (Ranked)
Real estate investing courses are a “dime a dozen” — everyone who’s bought a rental property in the last decade seems to have one. How, then, can we separate the educational gems from the junk?
No worries — I did the work for you.
I’ve combed dozens of real estate industry websites, forums, and review platforms to find real estate courses worth their salt. These courses offer the best return for your money, time, and effort. And the majority of them cost less than $200!
That said, this article will rank and review the best real estate investing courses I’ve found online right now, in 2023.
Let’s get started.
What are the Best Real Estate Investing Courses?
Here are my picks for the best real estate investing courses and the topics they cover.
- Fundamentals of Analyzing Real Estate Investments (Property Analysis)
- Gateway To Multifamily (Multifamily)
- Airbnb Entrepreneur: Become the Best Listing in Town! (Short-term)
- Property Management Basics (Property Management)
- Real Estate Investing: Learn to Fix and Flip, Step by Step! (Fix and Flip)
- Commercial Real Estate Investing 101 (Commercial real estate)
- Roofstock Academy (Single-family)
Each course on this list has met or exceeded my requirements (e.g., qualities I look for in a real estate investing course.)
Here are my criteria:
- Original – No cookie-cutter, copy/paste jobs allowed!
- Actionable – Real-world information, not hypothetical use cases.
- Affordable – A price anyone can afford.
- First-hand Experience – Courses taught by real people actively investing in real estate.
- Reputable – No snake-oil salesman allowed!
You’d be surprised how few real estate investing classes check off all these boxes — that’s partly why this list is so short!
1. Fundamentals of Analyzing Real Estate Investments
Learning to analyze different types of real estate separates REI hobbyists from professionals. Too many first-time investors look at properties like a homeowner would because if they like it, surely it makes sense to buy as an investment — right? Wrong.
The course creator, Symon He, wants you to look objectively at properties like a real estate investment business would.
“Fundamentals of Analyzing Real Estate Investments” is Symon He’s latest attempt to teach investors what to buy and (maybe more importantly) what to avoid regarding real estate investment.
Symon has several online courses hosted through Udemy, but I consider this one the most comprehensive and best value for your money.
This course teaches the framework he uses to do real estate investment analysis. He goes beyond simple cash flow calculations and teaches how to estimate the long-term value of a property, not just the immediate rental income benefit.
Symon has a long history of successful investments and a long list of successful students who’ve taken his teachings and built their businesses. As a result, I suspect that Symon only shares as much of his knowledge as he does because he likes to turn around and invest in the companies his students create.
In summary, this course will teach you how to analyze single-family, multifamily, short-term, and commercial real estate like a true professional.
Who is it for?
- Beginner, intermediate, and advanced real estate investors
- First-time investment property buyers
- Acquisition Managers for real estate businesses
How much does it cost?
This course is priced at $129.99. Check it out on Udemy.
2. Gateway to Multifamily
A multifamily portfolio is the end goal for many investors, but Jake Stenziano and Gino Barbaro teach how to start where most investors aim to finish. These guys demystify multifamily and make it approachable.
The “Gateway to Multifamily” is their multifamily primer — it teaches you the fundamental skills needed to become a multifamily investor. But they plainly state that the course is a launchpad into their flagship program, the “Wheelbarrow Profits Academy.”
Note: I wrote an article reviewing Jake and Gino’s mentorship program that you can read here.
In summary, you can think of this course as a prerequisite before joining their mentorship program. You’ll get a good understanding of multifamily investing, but it’s one step toward becoming a “master-level” investor.
I recommend this course because Jake & Gino have a lot of educational content, but most of it is geared toward seasoned investors. This course hits the sweet spot because it gives you a good education but won’t be “over the head” of a beginner or intermediate-level real estate investor.
Who is it for?
- Intermediate or advanced real estate investors
- Those who want to learn about multifamily
- Those interested in syndication or joint ventures
How much does it cost?
This course is priced at $197. Check it out here.
3. Airbnb Entrepreneur: Become the Best Listing in Town!
Rental arbitrage has been around for a while but with the rise of websites like Airbnb and VRBO, this real estate investing business has skyrocketed in popularity!
“Airbnb Entrepreneur” covers step-by-step best practices for listing, marketing, operating, and scaling a short-term rental business without getting buried in the day-to-day operations.
Paul Nekh, the creator, has several courses on becoming a master Airbnb host. But I recommend this one because it covers the full gamut, i.e., this real estate course will teach you how to run an Airbnb effectively from A to Z.
Paul is one of many Airbnb success stories, but he’s unique in consistently outperforming his competitors with the property he lists. Additionally, his short-term rental properties are in highly competitive cities like London, and he does this on the side of his full-time job!
Note: This course works equally well if you prefer to list your property with Vrbo.
Who is it for?
- Beginner, intermediate, or advanced short-term rental investors
- Self-paced learners
- Investors comfortable with an “online real estate” business
How Much does it cost?
This course typically goes for $109.99. Check it out on Udemy.
4. Property Management Basics
Landlords are almost universally loathed by tenants, lied to daily, and avoided by late rentpayers like the Bubonic Plague. But it doesn’t have to be that way!
“Property Management Basics” is a crash course in property management.
The title isn’t sexy, but the information in this short course is a goldmine — think of it as a way to skip the proverbial lunch line.
I spent a decade or more in the property management industry before learning some tips in this course. Beginners can get the “cliff notes” version right now — it takes an hour!
Here are a few topics this course covers:
- Rent collection (best practices, best online rent collection apps, etc.)
- Background checks (how to vet applicants, what to look out for)
- Managing tenants (minimize vacancies, manage relationships)
The best part for me was the interviews. Zain Jaffer (the creator) speaks with several heavy hitters in the property management space. Most of the “wisdom nuggets” come from those conversations, and it feels like you’re listening in on a conversation you weren’t supposed to hear.
Who is it for?
- Beginner investors or those seeking a career in property management
- Quick learners
How much does it cost?
The base price is $84.99. Check it out on Udemy.
Hint: I recommend picking this course up during a sale. It’s good information and worth purchasing, but a little pricey at full cost.
5. Real Estate Investing: Learn to Fix and Flip, Step by Step!
Most people start real estate investing by buying, rehabbing, and reselling a second home (fix and flip). But it’s also one of the more expensive and riskier ways to invest in real estate.
I typically recommend people shadow another investor before they start doing fix and flip houses for themselves. But people will do whatever they want, whenever they want.
To help those DIY flippers, I recommend this course by Khari Parker. He’s an instructor who crosses all the boxes and dives deep into subjects. You’ll have no choice but to understand each facet of the fix and flip process when Parker is done.
He’s probably the most educated course creator on this list, and that’s a good thing. He understands the financial implications of investing in a fix-and-flip project.
Who is it for?
- Beginner and intermediate investors
- Part-time real estate investors
- Builders or general contractors
How much does it cost?
This course is priced at $109.99. Check it out on Udemy!
6. Commercial Real Estate Investing 101
You’ll find it all in commercial real estate: big deals, big risks, and potentially big rewards.
Commercial real estate investing is seen as the “big leagues” for many investors. And they’re not wrong; commercial real estate is considerably more complex than your everyday residential investment.
Justin Kivel, a certified pro in the investing game, has created the best, most approachable introduction to commercial real estate that I’ve found (outside of an uber-expensive CCIM certification course.)
Kivel’s course provides detailed breakdowns of the unique complexities of buying, selling, and trading commercial properties.
I appreciated, too, how Kivel teaches from multiple perspectives — the lessons are great for investors, students, and job-seekers alike. Commercial real estate is big business, so those looking to start a career as an analyst will get a lot from this course.
Who is it for?
- Advanced investors
- Job-seekers interested in finding a career in commercial real estate
- Property managers, analysts, or anyone already working with commercial real estate
How much does it cost?
This course costs $119.99 (a steal for what you get.) Check it out on Udemy!
7. Roofstock Academy
Roofstock Academy isn’t your typical digital marketing course.
You’ve seen those “courses” that are nothing more than a few hours of someone speaking over a poorly-filmed Powerpoint presentation. They don’t offer anything you couldn’t find (for free) on Youtube.
Roofstock Academy isn’t one of those courses — it is more akin to a college-level course.
How is it different?
Here are a few features you’ll find in the Academy that aren’t “standard” for most online courses:
- There is a limit to how many students can enroll at any given time.
- There are days of coursework to wade through — yes, I said days, fifty hours of lectures to be exact.
- Their lectures cover everything from investment analysis to property management.
- They hire dedicated instructors to teach each subject.
This program takes itself seriously, and it feels like the company is trying to establish Roofstock Academy as a true “Real Estate Investing: 101”.
In summary, Roofstock has built a “one-stop-shop” real estate investing course for anyone starting real estate. But with limited availability, you might not get a chance to attend.
Who is it for?
- Beginner and intermediate real estate investors
- Those interested in a “full stack” real estate education
- Those interested in buying single-family homes
How much does it cost?
The price of admission is $999 (a one-time fee).
Next Steps: How to Use Real Estate Investing Courses Effectively
Buying a course is very different from using a course.
Too often, people will hide behind the safety of constant learning to avoid the scary uncertainty of actually using what they’ve learned.
However, what you learn about real estate investing can change your life… if you use what you learn.
I encourage you to take these next steps immediately after you finish a round of courses once you understand the subject matter enough to get involved.
Step 1. Take Action
Action > Everything else. You must start applying what you learn from your courses as soon as possible.
Even small things, like driving around your local neighborhood looking for properties for sale, can feel intimidating. But these steps toward becoming a real estate investor will help build your confidence and open you up to opportunity.
Step 2. Join an REI Community
Build a network by joining Facebook groups, attending local meets, or a national event like BPCON.
The easiest way to stay motivated and involved with the real estate market is to surround yourself with like-minded people.
Step 3. Find a Mentor
Working with a mentor can accelerate your real estate investing education tenfold.
Some veteran investors are happy to take on an apprentice if asked and can teach things you’d otherwise learn through painful trial and error first-hand.
Frequently Asked Questions about Real Estate Investing Courses
Here are a few answers to common questions on forums and social media.
Q: Are there free real estate investing courses?
I haven’t found any free courses worth recommending. If you need a “free” learning option, I recommend seeking a legitimate real estate mentor.
Q: Are there real estate investing courses near me?
Yes! — some cities in the US have real estate investing courses you can attend in person. I haven’t found a list of when/where the courses happen in each city, so you must dig them up. Alternatively, ask a local real estate agent or developer about nearby live courses.
Final Thoughts
The courses I’ve highlighted are the best real estate investing courses I’ve found. But they are just the tip of the educational iceberg.
There are many facets of real estate investing that you’ll discover as you progress, e.g., syndications, debt funds, arbitrage, and development. The real estate financial sector is massive, and new opportunities and strategies are increasing daily.
Keep your eye on investing trends or new tactics — there’s always something new to learn.
Or, check back on this blog. I’ll continue to update this course list and share updates on things I learn or resources I think are valuable.
