Real Estate Essentials

The Real Estate Essentials course does not require any pre-requisites.

• Students should expect to spend three to four hours per module
• Access to a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a reliable internet connection is required
• Students must achieve a minimum passing grade of 60% on each module quiz
• The course must be completed within 12 months of registration
• The course is self-paced (no mandatory deadlines aside from the course end date)

No formal advance preparation is required. However, to best set yourself up for success, we recommend establishing a designated study area and setting out a personal course planning guide to help keep you on track.

To set up your study environment, start by choosing a quiet, comfortable spot where you won’t be easily interrupted. Make sure you have all your study materials at hand, including the module readings, a notebook for taking notes, and headphones if you’re watching a course video. Turn off notifications on your phone and computer to avoid distractions. While reading, you may want to use noise-cancelling headphones or play some soft background music if you find it helps you focus. Keep your study space tidy and well-lit, so you can stay alert and engaged with the material.

When it comes to completing the course on time, it’s all about staying organized and pacing yourself. Start by breaking down the course into manageable chunks. Set a goal to complete a module or a certain number of modules each month. Use a calendar or planner to track your progress and mark deadlines. If you hit a rough patch, don’t stress – just adjust your schedule as needed. Try to review material regularly to reinforce what you’ve learned, and reward yourself for hitting milestones to stay motivated. Keeping a steady pace will help you stay on top of things without feeling overwhelmed!

The final module of this course explores various career options and includes next steps for building a career in real estate, depending on the field of choice (e.g., appraisal, sales, development). The UBC Real Estate Division’s career page also discusses different career opportunities in real estate, including current job postings.

The Real Estate Essentials course is non-credit; no credits are earned for its completion. Students will receive a Letter of Completion when they have successfully completed the course and passed all ten module quizzes.

Your next steps depend on your goals. If you are interested in pursuing a career in real estate, you may need to take additional courses to earn specific licences or professional designations; these are discussed in detail in Module 10.

If you are taking the course to further your real estate knowledge for personal use, you may find that the foundational knowledge you achieve through the course is sufficient, or you may wish to learn more about certain topics by taking other courses in real estate.

You can begin the course as soon as you are registered and have received access to the course resources website, which takes approximately 2 business days. The home page of the course resources website has a “How It Works” video that will walk you through the main components of the course. Then, you can begin completing the modules. We suggest starting by reading the written materials for Module 1, then watching the accompanying video.

This is an open enrollment course, which means that you can start any time – there is no fixed start date.

You can access the course using a smartphone, tablet, or computer. While the course is optimized for all devices, we recommend using a computer for the best experience.

Real Estate Essentials offers a thorough introduction to the real estate industry in British Columbia, covering key topics such as land law, property valuation, real estate financing, and both residential and commercial properties. It also provides insights into various career paths within the real estate sector. Whether you're looking to deepen your understanding of real estate fundamentals, enhance your decision-making skills, or explore potential career opportunities, this course is designed to help you achieve those goals. Here's a brief overview of the ten modules in the course:

1. The Fundamentals of Real Estate: Introduction to key concepts and economic principles in real estate.

2. Foundations of Real Estate Law and Business Organizations: Basics of real estate law and how business structures impact the industry.

3. Buying, Selling, and Leasing Real Estate: The legal elements of real estate transactions and leases.

4. Residential Properties: Focus on the building, design and, construction of residential real estate.

5. Commercial Properties: Focus on the building, design and, construction of commercial real estate.

6. Financing Real Estate Purchases: Understanding the financial aspects and options for real estate purchases.

7. What Is It Worth?: Approaches for valuing real estate properties.

8. Development: Overview of real estate development processes and considerations.

9. Choosing the Right Real Estate Investment: Strategies for selecting and evaluating real estate investments.

10. Careers in Real Estate: Exploration of various career opportunities and paths within the real estate industry.

No. The Real Estate Trading Services licensing course provides part of the licensing education requirements for those who wish to become licensed as a trading services representative in British Columbia. The Real Estate Essentials course covers a broader range of topics and is not intended to meet licensing education requirements. Students who wish to pursue a career in residential or commercial sales may wish to take the Real Estate Trading Services course after completing Real Estate Essentials.

No, you can complete the modules at your own pace and there are no formal due dates – the only requirement is that you successfully pass all ten module quizzes within a year of enrollment.

Yes, you must complete the course within one year of enrollment. This means you must successfully pass the quizzes for each of the ten modules, with a grade of at least 60% for each quiz.

The courses consist of a series of modules, each presenting a comprehensive learning module for a specific topic. Each module begins by specifying assigned and recommended readings, outlining learning objectives, and then the instructor’s comments. The modules end with review and discussion questions and a multiple choice. As well, there are supplementary materials online including videos, links to informative websites, and additional readings.

Since this is a self-paced course, the time it will take you to finish the course depends on how quickly you move through the modules. This will vary depending on how much time you have to invest in the course. Most students will find it reasonable to complete one module every one to two weeks. At this rate, a student can anticipate that they will finish the course within 10 to 20 weeks.

All Real Estate Division courses are designed to be stand-alone distance education offerings; the quizzes are always based solely on the course materials that were sent to you and those provided online, including the instructional videos.

Aside from reading the required materials, watching the instruction videos, and passing each module’s quiz, there is no additional homework or coursework in Real Estate Essentials.

Acrobat Reader allows you to view PDF (Portable Document Format) files, where a document can be viewed online regardless of what program it was created in. You can download Adobe Acrobat Reader to view a PDF file. Be sure to follow the download instructions on their website for optimal viewing of PDF files.

The multiple-choice questions are intended to be challenging, but fair. The quizzes are intended to motivate students to read and watch the course materials closely.

When completing the quizzes, you should read the questions closely, as the specific language can often make a real difference to the meaning of the options. However, be careful to avoid over-analyzing questions and making them harder than intended. A good rule in answering multiple choice questions is to stay with your initial gut instinct and not change your answer unless you have a specific reason to do so (e.g., missed something in the question or misread something obvious). If you are tempted to change your answer upon reflection, quite often you are reading things into it that aren't there, tying yourself up in "what if" type theoretical knots.

If you fail to pass the quiz on your first attempt, you will automatically be able to take the quiz again a second time. If you do not pass on your second or subsequent attempts, you can email our office at info@realestate.sauder.ubc.ca to have the quiz reset so you can try it again.

To pass each quiz, you must achieve at least 60%, or get a minimum of 6 of the 10 questions correct.

No, there is no final exam in the Real Estate Essentials course.

Everything in the module’s written materials and instructional video can be tested on the quiz; we recommend you read and watch each component carefully. The recommended readings are optional and are not tested in the quiz.

Yes. Students can refer to the written materials or instructional video at any time when completing the quizzes.

Students have one hour to complete each quiz; this allows an average of 6 minutes per question. Most students will complete the quiz must faster.

When you have successfully completed Real Estate Essentials, you will receive a Letter of Completion.

Your next steps after completing Real Estate Essentials depends on your goals and interests. Many students will take the course with the intent of pursuing a career in real estate. The final module of Real Estate Essentials explores different career options, including what type of person is best-suited for different careers. The Real Estate Division’s career page summarizes several career options and the additional education that is needed to become qualified to work in that field. Many students will opt to further their real estate knowledge by enrolling in a Real Estate Division credit program or licensing course.