Program Overview

Real Estate Essentials

The Real Estate Essentials course is designed for anyone interested in the real estate sector, including those exploring a career in real estate, homeowners, and investors. This self-paced online course provides a solid foundation in real estate, covering key concepts, economic principles, and legal frameworks.

Program Structure

• Start anytime, learn at your own pace – With access for up to a year.
• Short, manageable modules – 10 modules, each taking about 3–4 hours. You can finish in as little as 10 weeks.
• Interactive learning – Access readings, instructional videos, and quizzes from your computer or tablet.
• Clear progress checkpoints – Each module includes a quiz; a passing grade of 60% or higher is required.
• Recognized achievement – Receive a Letter of Completion and Digital Badge from UBC Sauder to showcase your accomplishment.

Program Content

The Real Estate Essentials course helps answer critical questions like: What makes a good real estate investment? How much should you pay for a property? You will gain a solid foundation in the core principles of both residential and commercial properties, including legal and construction principles, financing, valuation, and investment analysis.

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.

Program Leaders

• Magee Walker: Lead Instructor, Associate Director, Program Development with the Sauder School of Business Real Estate Division at the University of British Columbia.
• Thomas Davidoff: Module 1, Associate Professor in the Strategy and Business Economics Division of the Sauder School of Business and the Director of the UBC Centre for Urban Economics and Real Estate.
• Devin Kanhai: Modules 2 and 3, Executive Director of Licensing Education at the Sauder School of Business Real Estate Division at the University of British Columbia.
• Craig Hennigar: Module 4 and 5, commercial appraiser with experience in appraisal, consulting, and brokerage capacities.
• Graham McIntosh: Module 6, educational entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience building and leading cross-functional teams in the research, design, development, and delivery of high-quality, innovative, and financially successful business education programs.
• John Bridal: Module 7, Director of Credit Programs at the Sauder School of Business Real Estate Division at the University of British Columbia.
• Tsur Somerville: Module 8 and 9, Associate Professor in the Strategy and Business Economics Division of the Sauder School of Business and the Real Estate Foundation of BC Professor in Real Estate Finance.

Benefits For You

• Unlock Key Concepts: Understand fundamental real estate principles, including supply & demand and government influence.
• Navigate Real Estate Law: Learn BC's legal frameworks. Familiarize yourself with buying, selling, leasing, and leasing process.
• Evaluate Properties Confidently: Discover factors influencing residential and commercial property values for sound investment decisions.
• Understand Financing Essentials: Analyze foundational mortgage principles to effectively evaluate financing options.
• Explore Development & Investment: Grasp the basics of real estate development stages, risk, and investment metrics.
• Discover Career Paths: Explore diverse real estate careers in valuation, development, sales, and property management.

Program Planning and Registration

• What pre-requisites do I need to complete before registering? While there are no specific courses you need to take beforehand, a strong command of English is necessary for success. To get the most out of the course materials, students must have English language proficiency equivalent to Canadian Grade 12.
• What is the course format and time commitment?
  • Workload: Expect to spend 3-4 hours per module, which would equate to 30-40 hours in total for the course.
  • Requirements: A computer or tablet with an internet connection.
  • Assessment: Pass ten module quizzes with a grade of 60% or higher.
• What are my next steps and career options after completing the course?
  • For a Career in Real Estate: The final module of this course explores various career paths in detail (e.g., appraisal, sales, development) and outlines the next steps for earning specific licenses or professional designations, which often require additional courses.
  • For Personal Knowledge: If you are taking the course to expand your own understanding of real estate, you may find that the foundational knowledge you've gained is sufficient. Should you wish to learn more, you can always explore other specialized courses.
• Is this a credit course? The Real Estate Essentials course is non-credit; no credits are earned for its completion. Students will receive a Letter of Completion and Digital Badge when they have successfully completed the course.
• How soon can I start after registering? 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.
• What are badges? Badges are digital credentials that showcase the specific skills and competencies you've gained from this course. Think of them as a digital certificate that you can easily share to prove your achievements. Each badge is a secure, verifiable record of your achievement, giving you a credible way to showcase your UBC Sauder Real Estate education.

Tuition Fee

• Real Estate Essentials: $695

Testimonial

• Jessie Lam: Manager, Research Support and Special Projects. Being a homeowner for over 30 years, I went through several buying and selling transactions, but every time I just relied on the realty agent to do the work without understanding the ins and outs of how things are done. This course really enhanced my knowledge in real estate - how investment in real estate is different from other investments, what aspects I should pay attention to when I plan to build a house, and so much more. I highly recommend this course to any homeowners or investors, and anyone who wants to learn more about real estate.