Hello aspiring real estate agent!
You might be wondering which RES course provider is the best and whether the express or normal course duration suits you better.
I know.. I've always been asked this question as there are many course providers and types of courses to choose from.
In this article, I will be listing all the common variations of the RES course from the major RES course providers in Singapore.
We will be comparing the costs, durations, intensities, and locations of different lessons to help you determine which option best fits your schedule and lifestyle.
By considering these factors, you can make an informed decision about which program will be most convenient and cost-effective for you.
The great news is there's a course for everyone whether you are a busy stay at home mum type, full-time employed staff or a frequent flyer who's only around half of the time.
Generally, courses range between 2 weeks to 19 weeks and run weekdays or weekends at a spaced out pace or an express pace.
Remember though however, CEA requires you to attend at least 75% of classes to qualify for the RES Exams (Yes, attendance is taken at every lesson) and you will have to fulfil the minimum attendance to receive a RES Certificate of Attendance that is compulsory for your exams registration.
For those who are taking the course purely for learning sake and not taking the exams, the certificate isn't necessary unless you love collecting them! Yes, I know highly motivated people like that.
Take note:
- All RES Course costs listed below do not include RES Exam fees.
- NTUC members can use UTAP subsidies to defray up to $500 of their RES Course and Exams costs.
RES Courses Review
(By duration & intensity)
RES School: Hastor Property Training Academy
- Highly recommended due to reputed high passing rate among new RES.
- Trainers Daryl Ou and Celeste Ng are also renown in the industry for their acumen in anticipating exam questions and training abilities.
Venue Choice:
190 Lorong 6 Toa Payoh #02-514 Toa Payoh Central Singapore 310190
Located above KFC, use the stairs beside KFC to go up to level 2.
There are 3 types of RES course at Hastor to cater to various needs.
Cost:
$650 nett (No GST)
Weekday Evenings
Duration:
- Spread over 18 evening classes over 6 weeks.
- Lessons are on weekdays only.
- 7 to 10pm on all days
- Allows you to finish the course in a shorter time possible.
- Suitable for full-time employed people who are only available in the evenings.
Weekday Mornings and Afternoons (Express Course)
Duration:
- Spread over 14 half or full days.
- Lessons are on weekdays only.
- 930am to 1230pm or to 5pm on some days.
- Allows you to finish the course in a shorter time possible.
- Ideal for those who need to go for the nearest exam date.
- Suitable for those who have the flexibility of attending weekday day classes.
Weekends Only (10 days)
Duration:
- Spread over 6 weeks and 10 weekends, Saturday and Sunday.
- Suitable for those who are working full time on weekdays.
- 930am to 1230pm or to 5pm on some days.
RES School: BenchMark Pro
Course Location:
151 Chin Swee Road #03-31
Manhattan House Singapore 169876.
Benchmark Pro has 3 types of RES courses that are all taught by David Huan who happens to also be the founder of the firm.
Costs:
- $650 Nett (No GST)
- SkillsFuture subsidy can be used.
Course Types & Durations:
Weekends RES Crash Course (3 Weekends)
Duration:
- Completed within 3 consecutive weekends (Sat & Sun x 3)
- 830am to 630pm daily.
Suitable for:
- Those who are very busy on weekdays and can only squeeze out time on weekends. Example: Working parents who need to settle their kids on weekdays.
Full Day RES Crash Course (8 Weekdays)
Duration:
- Completed within 8 full days.
- Monday to Thursdays X 2 consecutive weeks.
- 10am - 530pm daily.
- Allows you to finish the course in the shortest time possible.
Suitable for:
- The INTENSE kind of people.
- Those who have ample leave to clear one shot and prefer intensive lessons rather than a more leisurely pace of learning.
- Self-employed people who have freedom of arranging their appointment timings.
- Those on a sabbatical and unemployed currently.
- Those who need to make it in time for a nearing exam date.
Weekday Nights RES Course (Slow and Steady)
Duration:
- Completed over 14 week nights.
- Only on weekday evenings.
- 7pm - 10pm.
- Allows you to pace yourself in learning and absorbing topics.
Suitable for:
- Those who prefer to learn in smaller chunks and a less intense pace.
- Those who are not able to take too much leave.
- Working adults who may need to work late sometimes. (You can miss a max of 3 sessions)
- Those whose exam dates are a few months away.
- Those with good self discipline to finish what they start because you will take 3 and 1/2 months to complete the course.
RES School: Pioneer Training Centre
Course Location: Jurong East or Sunshine Plaza in Bencoolen Street
Pioneer Training Centre hosts 4 RES course types.
Costs:
- $738 nett per pax. Bring a buddy to sign up and it's $650 nett per pax.
- SkillsFuture subsidy can be used.
Course Types & Durations:
Weekends RES Course (4 Weekends)
Duration:
- Completed over 4 consecutive weekends (Sat & Sun x 4)
- Lessons are rotated between half days to full days on alternate weekends so you don't burn away your entire weekend.
- Example on some days lessons are only 10am - 1pm or 2 - 5pm and on some days 10am to 5pm.
Suitable for:
- People who work busy weekdays and only have weekends available but do not want to burn their entire weekends totally. (It's like a less intense version of Benchmark Pro's 3 consecutive weekends course)
- Working parents who have to shuttle and take care of the children on weekdays and want to enjoy some weekend time off as well.
Full Day RES Crash Course (Mon/Wed/Fri)
Duration:
- Completed over 6 full days (Interestingly as Benchmark Pro needs 8 full days to complete the same syllabus. Don't ask me why.)
- Lessons are only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
- 10am - 5pm daily.
- Allows you to finish the course in the least time possible. Good or bad? It depends whether you are the self-study type.
Suitable for:
- People who have ample leave to clear and prefer intensive lessons completed in the shortest time possible.
- Self-employed people who have freedom of setting their appointments at their preferred timings.
- Those on a sabbatical and unemployed currently.
- Those who need to make it in time for a nearing exam date.
- Those who are great self-studiers (If there's such a word!) because you definitely will have much to revise on with classes at such an intense pace.
Weekday Nights RES Course (Tue/Thurs)
Duration:
- Considered a medium intensity as it is completed over 9 weeks.
- Only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
- 7pm - 10pm.
- Allows you to pace yourself in learning and absorbing topics.
Suitable for:
- Those who prefer to learn in smaller chunks.
- Those who can do twice a week evening lessons.
- Working adults who may need to work late sometimes.
- Those whose exam dates are a few months away.
- Working adults who do not want to use up their leave.
Express Weekday Nights RES Course (3 Weeks)
Duration:
- Completed over 19 days with some rest days in between.
- Only on weekday nights.
- 7pm - 10pm.
- Less intense than the full day course but still intense nonetheless.
Suitable for:
- Those who prefer to learn in smaller chunks.
- People who are not able to take leave to do the intensive course.
- Working adults who may need to work late sometimes.
- Those whose exam dates are at least 1.5 months away.
RES School: Real Centre Network
Course Locations:
Real Centre Network (Toa Payoh) 490 Toa Payoh Lor 6 #09-16 HDB Hub Biz 3 Singapore 310490 Tel: +65 6511 3009
Real Centre Network (Tampines) 300 Tampines Avenue 5 #05-03 NTUC Income @ Tampines Junction Singapore 529653 Tel: +65 6260 0301
RCN offers 5 types of RES Courses that varies according to where it is held. There are 2 locations: Toa Payoh and Tampines so do check on their sites as schedules vary.
Costs:
- $834.60 ($780 with GST)
- SkillsFuture subsidy can be used.
Course Types & Durations:
Weekends RES Crash Course (5 Weekends)
Duration:
- Completed over 5 weekends consecutively (Sat & Sun x 5)
- 10am - 5pm on most days except 10am to 1pm for 2 days.
Suitable for:
- People with limited availability on weekdays due to busy work schedule.
- Working parents with responsibilities on weekdays such as taking care of children.
- Those with a preference for in-person learning and the opportunity to ask questions and clarify with trainers.
Note:
- Comparing just the weekend crash courses, this is the longest compared to Benchmark Pro's 3 weekends and Pioneer Training's 4 weekends.
Saturdays Only RES Course
Duration:
- Completed over 2 months.
- Every Saturday 10am to 5pm.
Suitable for:
- Working adults who are very busy on weekdays and only have weekends available.
- Working parents who have to shuttle and take care of the children on weekdays.
- Those who do not wish to burn their entire weekend attending lessons.
- Those who need to go for church or family outings on Sundays.
Full Day RES Crash Course (Mon/Wed/Fri)
Duration:
- Spread over 8 full days (Pioneer Training takes only 6 full days, despite also being 10am to 5pm daily, to complete the same syllabus)
- Lessons are only on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
- 10am - 5pm daily.
- Allows you to finish the course in the least time possible.
Full Day RES Crash Course (Mon/Thurs)
Duration:
- Spread over 10 full days (Slightly slower pace than the above as this takes 10 days instead of the above 8 days despite being the same lesson timings.)
- Lessons are only on Mondays and Thursdays.
- 10am - 5pm daily.
- Allows you to finish the course in the least time possible.
Suitable for:
- Those who prefer a less hurried pace of lessons with more time to ask questions compared to the 6 full days and 8 full days type of RES course)
- People who have ample leave to clear and prefer intensive lessons.
- Self-employed people who have the freedom to set their own schedules.
- Those on a sabbatical and unemployed currently.
- Those who need to make it in time for a nearing exam date.
Weekday Nights RES Course (3 Weeks)
Duration:
- Completed over 19 weekday nights.
- Only on weekdays.
- 7pm - 10pm.
- Allows you to pace yourself in learning and absorbing topics.
Suitable for:
- Those who prefer to learn in smaller chunks.
- People who do not wish to use or are not able to take full day leave easily.
- Working adults who may need to work late sometimes.
- Those whose exam dates are a few months away.
Weekday Nights RES Course (Tues & Thurs)
Duration:
- Completed over 2 months.
- Only on Tues and Thurs.
- 2 lessons per week.
- 7pm - 10pm.
- Allows you to pace yourself in learning and absorbing topics.
Suitable for:
- Those who prefer to learn in smaller chunks.
- People who are not able to take full day leave easily and prefer medium intensity course.
- Working adults who may need to work late sometimes every week.
- Those whose exam dates are at least 3 months away.
- Those who can allocate 2 nights per week for lessons.
RES School: Singapore Estate Agents Association (SEAA)
Venue Choice:
Paya Lebar Square (2min walk from Paya Lebar MRT station)
There are three RES courses offered at SEAA, which are ideal for individuals who work or live in the Central East region.
Costs:
- $728 per pax or $700 per pax if you sign up with a buddy.
- SkillsFuture subsidy can be used.
Course Types and Durations:
Weekends RES Crash Course (9 days)
Duration:
- Spread over 5 weekends (9 days) consecutively (Sat & Sun)- 10am - 5pm
Suitable for:
- People who work very busy weekdays and only have weekends available.
- Working parents who have to shuttle and take care of the children on weekdays.
Note: - Comparing just the weekend crash courses, this is longer compared to Benchmark Pro's 3 weekends and Pioneer Training's 4 weekends.
Full Day RES Crash Course (9 Days Express)
Duration:
- Completed over 9 consecutive full days
- Lessons are only on weekdays.
- 10am - 5pm daily.
- Allows you to finish the course in the least time possible.
Weekday Nights RES Course (Weekdays)
Duration:
- Spread over 18 weekday nights.
- Only on weekdays.
- 7pm - 10pm.
- Allows you to pace yourself in learning and absorbing topics.
Suitable for:
- Those who prefer to learn in smaller chunks.
- People who are not able to take full day leave easily.
- Working adults who may need to work late sometimes.
- Those whose exam dates are a few months away.
In summary, these are some of the popular course types from 5 of the highly recommended RES course centres - Hastor Property Services (Very high passing rates according to new agents), Real Centre Network, Pioneer Training Centre, Benchmark Pro and Singapore Estate Agents Association.
All 5 are good real estate schools with great trainers whom our new on board agents have commended well.
Trainers such as Daryl Ou, Harry Yeo, Kent Soo, Celeste Ng, and David Huan from Benchmark Pro are known for their engaging teaching styles, interesting presentations, and willingness to help students by answering their questions and addressing any doubts they may have.
To summarise, to make your life easier & hopefully better your odds of passing the RES exams on your 1st attempt, choose a course that:
1. Fits your work-life schedule the best so you will have the mental capacity to absorb all the new knowledge.
2. Is in a convenient location that you won't have much excuses to miss class. Not that you should if you are serious about this career.
3. Great patient trainers who are willing to help you understand concepts better by explaining and many times re-explaining.
All the best and I wish you great success in your real estate exams and journey!
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Stuart Chng, Executive Group District Director at Huttons, is a renowned leader and personality in the real estate industry.
He adores music and can play a few instruments decently without upsetting his neighbours. When not doing so, he enjoys pillow fighting with his son and coming up with silly puns which barely amuses his wife.
Professionally, he is a licensed real estate agent, an avid stocks, options and real estate investor, business owner, team leader, speaker and columnist for several property newsletters and blogs and is often quoted in media interviews on 938FM, Channel 8, PropertyReport, PropertyGuru and other publications.
Throughout his career, he has helped many clients grow their wealth through selecting great property investments and managing their portfolios actively. Read his clients' reviews here.
Stuart has also coached many top million dollar producing agents from different real estate agencies in Singapore. Read his agents' reviews here.
P.S. Passed your RES Exams? Find out what steps to take next to quickly reach your goals!
P.P.S. Find out which real estate agency to join after passing your exams!
P.P.P.S Pass your exams quicker with our free RES Exam Revision Classes & Mock Exams