Property Management is a thriving industry, with over 280 property management firms in the United States generating over $76 billion in revenue. Various parties hire property management services, including property owners and investors seeking profits from rental properties who require expert assistance. Property managers are also retained by owners running affordable housing programs, as these professionals possess comprehensive knowledge of both the business and legal requirements, bridging any gap between the owner and program compliance.
Property management encompasses the oversight of commercial, residential or real estate properties, including condos, complete units (such as shopping centers), apartments and single-family homes. Property managers handle the day-to-day operations of these spaces on behalf of third parties, typically the owner, to generate income and preserve the property’s value.
While some real estate brokers also serve as property managers, property management should not be confused with real estate management — these are distinct industries, though they’re often mistaken for each other due to overlapping factors, primarily their involvement with housing. Key differences include:
- Real estate management involves listing and selling properties on behalf of owners, whereas property managers oversee properties for owners, handling repairs, maintenance, and tenant concerns.
- Real estate management is transactional, while property management is contractual, with property managers receiving a percentage of collected rent for their services.
- Real estate industry downturns rarely affect the property management sector; instead, owners often turn to property managers to rent out their properties during market slumps.
If property management has always intrigued you, numerous online courses cater to aspiring professionals in this field. Whether you aim to manage commercial or residential properties, here’s a curated list of top online courses to guide your journey toward becoming a property manager.
Fundamentals of Residential Property Management — Udemy
Whether you aspire to become a property manager or are a landlord looking to master the trade, this Udemy course provides an excellent foundation for interested students. Participants explore diverse topics in residential property management, including leasing, maintenance management, policy and procedure development, and Fair Housing Laws and their property implications. Upon completion, students will possess the knowledge to effectively manage rental properties and apartment complexes. This course is highly recommended for property managers, landlords, and real estate agents, as well as newcomers to the field.
Career Diploma in Property Management — Ashworth College
For those viewing property management as more than a passion or side interest, this career diploma from Ashworth College comes highly recommended. Created by industry experts who bring firsthand real estate experience, the curriculum covers extensive topics, from escalation and budgeting to laws and regulations. The program also helps aspiring property managers develop essential interpersonal skills and practical knowledge. Like most online courses, you can complete this program at your convenience — enrollment is available year-round, and you can earn your diploma in just 4 months. Additionally, no prior training or eligibility requirements exist.
Finance and Property Management — NARPM
The National Association of Residential Property Managers stands out as both the industry leader and professional association body, offering comprehensive courses to help property managers navigate their career paths and enhance professional prospects. The Finance and Property Management course addresses one of business’s most challenging aspects — the financial component. Through this 3-hour online course, students explore the intricacies of property management finances, including best practices, terminology, trust accounting, budgeting, and ethical standards. They also provide a student support team for any distance-learning assistance.
Commercial Property Management — Udemy
Udemy’s Commercial Property Management course targets intermediate-level students, offering insights into property manager roles within commercial buildings, including hotels, shopping centers, and offices. The curriculum covers service provider management, tenant relations, and distinguishing routine tasks from ad-hoc responsibilities. As an added benefit, the course provides excel spreadsheets for each chapter, which students can download and customize for their buildings. While the course has no prerequisites and offers general commercial property management information, it’s particularly valuable for professionals in the commercial property sector. Students receive lifetime access to materials and earn a course completion certificate.
NARPM Property Management Training Courses
As previously mentioned, NARPM provides diverse courses to support field professionals. While designed for industry professionals, these courses are accessible to any member or non-member at any time. Within this series, NARPM offers various 3-hour, 6-hour and 8-hour courses, including:
Basic Courses (6 Hours)
- NARPM 101: Basics of Property Management
- Marketing for Residential Property Management
- Tenancy
Property Manager Series Courses (6 Hours)
- Developing Rewarding Owner Relationships
- Risk Awareness
- Personnel Procedures Essentials — Hiring and Firing
Maintenance Series Courses (6 Hours)
- Intro to Maintenance — Covering the Basics of Standards, Codes and Safety
- In-House Maintenance — Running a Profitable Operation
- Maintenance: Beyond the Basics
Broker/Manager/Owner Series Courses (6 Hours)
- Office Operations — Policy and Procedures
- Advanced Risk Management
- Personnel Procedures Advanced
- Mastering Owner-Client Relations
- Finance: Cash-Flow Analysis (for advanced learners)
These professional courses deliver comprehensive learning in their respective areas, spanning property management, marketing, maintenance, and efficient property management firm operations. Whether you’re a beginner eager to learn or a professional seeking to refresh your fundamentals, NARPM offers courses for every learner type.
Effective Property Management Advanced Course Module 1 — Udemy
Property management skills aren’t exclusively for property managers; they’re equally essential for aspiring landlords. This 1-hour course provides advanced instruction to students, helping them become efficient landlords through topics such as strategies for establishing and maintaining rental properties, self-management advantages, business pros and cons, and managing taxes and expenses. The course also equips students to identify profitable deal indicators and potential pitfalls, plus strategies to overcome challenges. This module is followed by two additional course modules — Advanced Course Module 2 and Advanced Course Module 3.
Property Management: Marketing, Contracts and Administration — GetSmarter
Recognizing property management’s central role in the property industry, the University of Cape Town’s Property Management course (available through GetSmarter) aims to teach principles and techniques to students, private investors, and field professionals alike. The curriculum explores various topics including maintenance, administration, budgeting, relationship management and marketing, plus technology’s role in the field. Upon completing this 8-week course, students — both beginners and professionals — will be better equipped to understand leases, screen tenants, create property budgets, develop maintenance plans, resolve disputes between parties, and integrate technology into property management.
How to Analyze the Financials on a Rental Property — Udemy
This Udemy course examines the financial aspects of property management from an investment-focused perspective. Through this program, students learn to analyze rental property financials, estimate and calculate cash flow from investments, master the BRRR strategy (Buy, Renovate, Rent, Refinance and Repeat), scale operations and acquire investment properties through bank loans and refinancing. Open to anyone interested in real estate investment, this 1-hour course helps learners determine deal profitability, enabling better investment decisions while systematically building wealth.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a beginner or seasoned professional, seeking comprehensive learning or refreshing fundamentals, viewing property management as a serious career or passion project, or wanting certification versus knowledge acquisition, there’s a property management course tailored to every purpose, preference and budget. Given the field’s lucrative nature, investing in property management education is wise and guaranteed to pay dividends in both knowledge gained and enhanced career prospects.
