Real Estate Courses in South Africa
Real estate courses in South Africa are always beneficial to any real estate business, which means you might want to take one or more of them if you’re interested in this field.
However, it can be challenging to decide which course would be best for you with so many available. To help you out, we’ve put together this guide on finding the right real estate course and enrolling in it.
Follow these steps, and you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect real estate course for your needs!

What Are the Requirements?
There are no formal requirements to enrol on a real estate course.
However, if you’re thinking of working as a realtor, be aware that certain provinces and states have different educational requirements to become licensed.
If real estate is your goal, it’s best to check with your local government to see what they require before beginning any program. What does it cost?
Courses vary in price depending on where you live, but many will set you back about $500-$600.
Some schools also offer financing options to help offset costs.
The good news? Many schools offer scholarships or grants—as well as reduced rates—to students who qualify.
What Should I Look For?
When searching for a school, ensure it has accreditation from an organisation like CAAB (Canadian Accredited Agent Bodies) or ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative).
It should also have ties to local boards like CREA (Canadian Real Estate Association) or NAHB (National Association of Home Builders).
These organisations ensure that programs provide quality education and prepare students for careers in real estate. How long does it take?: Most programs last six months to two years. You can complete them faster by taking more classes per semester.
To get started: Contact your local community college or university to find out which schools offer real estate courses near you. Once there, speak with an advisor to discuss how these classes could fit into your schedule.
You can also contact individual programs directly to learn more about their curriculum and application process.
What Do Real Estate Developers Look For?
First of all, no two developers are alike. For example, some may be looking for a developer with experience developing shopping malls, while others may want someone who has worked on luxury home projects.
Finding real estate development companies that are specific to your niche will help you get more focused results when it comes to leads and potential job offers.
Additionally, if you’re just starting out as a real estate developer, make sure to find an agency that can provide support during your early days—that way, they can groom you into becoming a well-rounded professional.
Why should I get a real estate license?
A real estate license seems like an unnecessary piece of paper for many.
But there are some excellent reasons to get one if you want to enter real estate.
It’s also helpful if you’re thinking about moving across state lines or jumping from agent to agent or brokerage firm to brokerage firm; that license makes it easier for other agents and firms to open their doors to you.
If you’re going to be selling property in another state, it may be required by law that you obtain a license.
In addition, having your real estate license will give potential clients more confidence when they deal with you—they know that you have at least met specific requirements to sell the property and will likely follow those same procedures when helping them buy property.
There are several types of licenses out there, including broker’s rights (which allow you to work as a salesperson), manager’s licenses (which would enable you to run offices), property manager’s licenses (which will allow you to manage properties on behalf of others) and salesperson’s licenses (which simply will enable you to sell real estate).
Depending on what type of job you take after obtaining your license, getting one can make it much easier for employers to notice.
Do I Have To Be Accredited Before Applying For a License?
The prerequisites to applying for a real estate license vary by state.
However, at least one course on general real estate topics is typically required before obtaining a license.
The average cost of real estate education can be anywhere from $300 to $600.
As such, it’s important to know that some states may require exam accreditation before being able to sit for an exam and begin practising as a realtor or broker.
This is where accreditation comes into play. Accredited schools are those that your state board has approved of realtors (or whatever body oversees licensing).
If you attend an accredited school, your exams will likely also be accredited; if not, you will have to take additional steps to become licensed once you graduate. Therefore, when choosing a school, it’s essential to understand your requirements to choose accordingly.
How Long Does it Take to Get My License?
This depends on where you want to buy property, whether a house or land.
So read on to learn how long it takes to get your real estate license in South Africa and start building your dream home!
Several different types of licenses allow you to practice as a real estate agent in South Africa. Still, they can be broadly divided into full rights and restricted rights.
If you want to be able to buy or sell any kind of property, then you need a full-rights license; if not, then choose a restricted-rights permit instead.
Getting these licenses differs slightly depending on what province you live in, so we’ve broken down each area below to help make things easier.
To qualify for a full-rights license, you must have three years of experience working under another licensee (this could be with another agency or independently).
You will also need to complete various examinations.
Once you’ve completed all of these requirements, submit your application to SAIRA (South African Institute of Real Estate Agents) and wait for approval.
Once approved, pay R2 500 registration fee to SAIRA. Your name will then appear on a register called ‘The Register of Licensed Real Estate Agents’, after which you can begin practising as a real estate agent in South Africa!
Schools to Study Real Estate in South Africa
Below are schools you can consider for your real estate courses in South Africa.
- The University of Pretoria. BSc (Real Estate)
- South Africa Real Estate Academy
- The University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg
- Unisa real estate courses
- UCT real estate courses
Conclusion
The above are real estate courses you can explore, schools you can study them, and inclusive requirements. Are there more things which you would learn? Kindly let us know