Where Brokers Begin and Experts Emerge
A Complete Overview of Courses, Mission, and Why Students Choose FRES
The Fayetteville Real Estate School (FRES) is a North Carolina Real Estate Commission (NCREC)-approved education provider based in Fayetteville, North Carolina, that has been training new and experienced brokers since 2018. Operating under NCREC License No. 1715, FRES has built its reputation on a simple promise: “Where Brokers Begin and Experts Emerge.” The school's stated vision is to become the number one real estate education provider in North Carolina by 2030, with a goal of supporting thousands of brokers through every stage of their careers — from the very first pre-licensing class all the way through continuing education and advanced professional development.
FRES describes itself less as a transactional test-prep provider and more as a career-long partner. The school's core values — student success, excellence in education, integrity and accountability, collaboration and community, diversity and inclusion, and lifelong learning — shape everything from how classes are taught to how students are supported after graduation. The school is located at 3035 Boone Trail Ext., Suite N, Fayetteville, NC 28304, and can be reached at (910) 676-8628.
FRES offers a complete pathway for real estate professionals at every stage of their career, organized into three primary licensing tracks plus an optional accelerator program for brand-new agents:
• NC Pre-Licensing Course (75 Hours): This is the NCREC-required course for anyone seeking to become a licensed real estate broker in North Carolina. The state-approved curriculum covers contract law, property management, real estate ethics, and the fundamentals of practicing real estate. Tuition typically runs between $500 and $575 and includes a comprehensive textbook, study materials, and practice exams modeled directly on the state licensing test. Classes are offered in-person, via live Zoom, and through evening, weekend, and hybrid schedules so working adults and military families can complete the course without giving up their current job.
• Post-Licensing Education: Newly licensed brokers in North Carolina are required to complete post-licensing coursework to maintain provisional licensure and transition into full broker status. FRES offers these required courses to help new agents stay compliant while continuing to build real-world skills.
• Continuing Education (CE): Already-licensed brokers must complete annual CE hours to keep their license active. FRES provides NCREC-approved continuing education classes, including elective options, so working brokers can satisfy state requirements conveniently and continue sharpening their skills.
• New Broker Fast-Start Program: For students who want extra support after licensing, FRES offers a 12-week guided accelerator built around three revenue tracks — working with buyers, working with sellers, and building a referral network. Delivered in one-hour weekly sessions with a managing broker/instructor, the program walks new agents through everything from MLS setup and sphere-of-influence building to running a CMA, creating buyer and listing packages, and writing a 90-day business plan toward a first closing.
Across all of its courses, FRES emphasizes small class sizes, textbooks and materials included in tuition, flexible payment plans, and instruction from active, practicing North Carolina brokers rather than instructors who only teach from a textbook.
There are several reasons students throughout Fayetteville, Cumberland County, Hope Mills, Spring Lake, and the surrounding Fort Liberty community choose FRES over other options:
• Local, Working Instructors: Classes are taught by active North Carolina brokers who are practicing in the local market right now, not academics reciting a rulebook. Students learn the real-world skills, local market knowledge, and exam strategy that come from instructors who close deals themselves.
• Small, Personalized Classes: Limited class sizes mean direct instructor feedback and a more supportive learning environment, which the school credits with helping drive a strong first-time pass rate on the state licensing exam.
• Flexible Scheduling: With day, evening, weekend, in-person, and live Zoom options, FRES is built for people who are working full-time, raising a family, or managing a military lifestyle that includes frequent moves. Students can keep their current job while training for a new career.
• Affordable, Transparent Pricing with Payment Plans: Tuition is clearly published, includes textbooks and study materials, and can be paid through flexible payment plans — lowering the barrier to entry for career changers, young professionals, and military spouses alike.
• A Career-Long Relationship, Not Just a Class: FRES supports students from their very first pre-licensing class through post-licensing requirements, continuing education, and optional mentorship programs like the New Broker Fast-Start Program — helping new agents avoid the common first-year dropout trap that derails many newly licensed brokers.
• Military-Friendly Training: Fayetteville sits beside Fort Liberty, one of the largest military installations in the world, and FRES specifically supports military spouses and veterans who need a portable career that can move with them and fit around PCS timelines.
• Strong Local Reputation and Career Support: FRES maintains relationships with brokerages across North Carolina and offers career counseling, interview preparation, and networking opportunities to help graduates launch their careers after licensing — along with a track record reflected in hundreds of positive student reviews.
Real estate also remains one of the most attractive career changes available in North Carolina. According to figures published by FRES, the median real estate agent salary in North Carolina is around $67,000 annually, with top performers earning well into six figures — and unlike a traditional salaried job, that income potential is uncapped. For career changers leaving corporate, healthcare, education, or military life, young professionals looking for a career that rewards effort rather than seniority, and military spouses who need a flexible, transportable career, real estate offers a rare combination of independence, flexible scheduling, and unlimited earning potential.
Most students can complete the 75-hour pre-licensing course in four to six weeks and sit for the state exam shortly after. Many FRES graduates are licensed and actively earning income within eight to twelve weeks of starting class. Whether you are completely new to real estate, finishing your post-licensing requirements, or simply need continuing education hours to keep your license active, Fayetteville Real Estate School offers a structured, locally taught, and flexible path to get there. Prospective students can register online at fayettevillerealestateschool.com or call (910) 676-8628 to speak with an advisor about upcoming class dates and enrollment options.