The Top Real Estate MBA Online Programs

Real estate professionals have much to gain from obtaining a real estate MBA online. Whether attending a traditional or MBA real estate online program, an individual obtaining a graduate degree can attain executive status within the industry with this degree. Students in MBA programs learn about the daily operations of a real estate firm, including property appraisal and brokerage procedures. An MBA from a real estate business school prepares a student to contribute to an influential industry in the American economy.

Earning an online Master of Business Administration in real estate requires students to learn the in-depth financial and legal implications of real estate transactions. Students can expect to study topics including primary and secondary mortgage markets, real estate valuation procedures and property investment analysis. Those enrolled in the best online MBA real estate programs can expect low professor to student ratios and access to specialized learning centers.

How can I tell if an online MBA real estate degree is right for me?

Those who pursue an accredited MBA online real estate degree are likely to be interested in property management, investment and finance.

Some additional traits that are common in many online MBA real estate students include:

• A capability for resolving conflicts and negotiating with others
• An aptitude for establishing and maintaining interpersonal relationships
• A capacity for performing for or working directly with the public
• A knack for getting information
• A capability for communicating with persons outside organization

How long does it take to earn an MBA online real estate degree?

Earning a real estate MBA degree online is comparable to earning any other online MBA. Two years of full time education is typically required to complete this degree. But, students are able to complete the degree at their own pace at some institutions that offer part-time or accelerated programs.

What are the prerequisites and admission requirements for MBA real estate schools online?

A bachelor’s degree is typically required before students can enroll in online MBA real estate programs. An undergraduate degree in subjects such as construction, entrepreneurship, property management, and business administration may be preferred by some schools that have an MBA real estate online program.

In addition to requiring students to have a bachelor’s degree, many online MBA in real estate programs base admission on the following criteria:

• Academic transcripts
• References or Letters of Recommendation
• Personal interviews
• Essays

What courses will I take in real estate MBA programs online?

The top real estate MBA online programs maintain an early focus on many of the financial aspects of real estate management. Coursework in the first year of real estate MBA schools online include investment strategy, securitization and financial analysis. These programs also give an overview of different mortgage instruments and property development.

Students in the second year of their programs at online real estate MBA schools often spend time in internships that provide college credit as they take classes in residential and commercial property investment and advanced valuation practices. Schools that score well in online real estate MBA rankings, also maintain a series of public lectures or debates on real estate market issues

In addition to coursework, internships are also done by some students in online real estate MBA programs. Such an internship can be useful in that it not only gives students an opportunity to practically apply the business and real estate skills they are learning in an actual business setting, but it can also serve as an introduction into a particular business or company.

What are the best online MBA in real estate books I should consider reading?

For students wanting to pursue real estate MBA careers, some helpful books include:

1. Investing in Income Properties: The Big Six Formula for Achieving Wealth in Real Estate (Kenneth D. Rosen) – This book deconstructs several investment strategies in real estate meant to amass wealth for the property owner.

2. The ABCs of Real Estate Investing (Ken McElroy) –This book, part of the Rich Dad Advisors series, takes an in-depth look at the day-to-day practices of property management.

3. Commercial Real Estate Analysis and Investments (David M. Geltner and Norman G. Miller) – This publication is a foundational text on the basic concepts and principles of making money by investing in commercial real estate.

4. Confessions of a Real Estate Entrepreneur (James A. Randel) – More conversational in tone, this book includes various anecdotes on maximizing wealth in any property from a 30-year veteran of the real estate industry.

5. Making Cities Work: Prospects and Policies for Urban America (Robert P. Inman) – Inman’s text follows the argument that civic prosperity can be engineered through a focus on effective urban planning.

What are my future job prospects if I pursue real estate MBA jobs?

The real estate industry in America employed more than 1.4 million individuals as of May 2012, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Those who earn an online Master of Business Administration in real estate improve their ability to earn high-paying executive positions. Many of these highly paid workers are in charge of the real estate agents and brokers who are responsible for showing houses and closing on transactions. However, a real estate MBA salary can vary greatly depending on the job:

• General and Operations Manager – $125,520
• Property, Real Estate and Community Association Manager – $60,410
• Real Estate Broker – $84,310
• Appraiser and Assessor of Real Estate – $48,500

Forecasts from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate that jobs in the real estate industry may fluctuate in the short term but are expected to grow as the country’s population continues to rise. For instance, real estate brokers and sales agents can expect to see an 11% job growth in the next ten years.

Many employers favor graduates who have earned their degrees from a program that has been accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. AACSB accredited real estate MBA programs are believed to provide students with a quality education.