Sea Coast Real Estate Academy

What Sea Coast Real Estate Academy does

Sea Coast Real Estate Academy is a private, online-only educational institution headquartered in Wilmington, North Carolina that delivers state-mandated real estate licensing and continuing-education courses for North and South Carolina. Founded in 2004 and operating with 1–10 employees, the academy serves three core customer segments: aspiring real estate professionals pursuing a NC Broker license (75-hour course) or SC Salesperson license (Unit I and Unit II); newly licensed provisional brokers completing the three NC Postlicensing courses (#301, #302, #303) within 18 months of licensure; and active licensed agents fulfilling annual NC or biennial SC continuing-education obligations. The academy operates without a physical office at its 110 Dungannon Blvd mailing address, with all inbound inquiries handled via phone voicemail, email and the Director (Alex Gillen) returning calls.

The product portfolio centers on synchronous live courses delivered over Zoom — with per-minute attendance tracking enforced for NCREC compliance — and asynchronous At-Your-Own-Pace (AYOP) courses outsourced through three affiliate partners: Superior School of Real Estate (NC pre/post-licensing), Colibri Real Estate (SC pre-licensing) and McKissock Learning (continuing education). Course materials are distributed via Dropbox and payments are processed through PayPal and standard credit cards. Tuition pricing ranges from $55 per NC CE course up to $450 for the full NC Prelicensing course, with military discounts ($400 PRE; $180 per POST course), repeat-student pricing ($200 PRE repeat; $200 POST returning; $75 POST retake), audit pricing ($150 non-credit PRE refresher) and gift certificate tiers ($25/$50/$100 plus CE $55 / POST $200 / PRE $450 specific denominations). The academy also maintains a free YouTube content library covering a Math Tutorial Series (Excise Tax, T-Bar, Ad Valorem, commission calculations, prorations, Closing Disclosure formulas), 66+ prelicense course recordings taught by Sam Hassell, License Exam Review sessions with instructor Seth, NC Laws & Rules content, study strategies and key terms videos.

Revenue is generated primarily through one-time tuition payments collected via the academy's website at seacoastrealestateacademy.net, supplemented by affiliate commissions from AYOP partner enrollments. Go-to-market is digital-direct: students self-register and pay online, with awareness driven by SEO, the YouTube content library, organic social presence on Facebook, Instagram, X/Twitter and YouTube brand channels, blog content on NC/SC licensing topics, and a 5.0-star Google rating across 328 reviews displayed prominently on the homepage. A referral ecosystem anchored by Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage (Eastern NC and Charlotte) and Coldwell Banker Advantage (Triad and Triangle) creates a brokerage-to-academy pipeline for student acquisition and post-licensure agent placement, with ancillary vendor partners (Alpha Mortgage, Key Title, MyCarolinas Insurance, 2-10 Homebuyer's Warranty, Sea Coast Rentals) extending the local real-estate services network.

Name

Sea Coast Real Estate Academy

Legal name

Sea Coast Real Estate Academy

Website

https://seacoastrealestateacademy.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2004

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Sea Coast Real Estate Academy is a Wilmington, NC-based online education provider delivering pre-licensing, post-licensing, exam prep and continuing education courses for real estate agents in North and South Carolina.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Real Estate Licensing Education

NAICS

All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Real Estate Licensure Exam Prep (Salesperson/Broker, Appraiser) (EDANAIAH)

Keywords

• Real estate prelicensing
• Real estate continuing education
• Broker postlicensing courses
• Online real estate school
• Real estate license exam prep

Headquarters

HQ city

Wilmington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Prelicensing Course Tuition (NC): Students pay tuition for the 75-hour North Carolina Broker Prelicensing course. Full course is $450, split into $200 deposit and $250 second payment due by first day of class. Repeat students pay $200. Audit students pay $150. AYOP version is $450.50. Military discount available at $400.
2. Prelicensing Course Tuition (SC): South Carolina students pay for Unit I (60-hour Salesperson Prelicensing, $375) and Unit II ($275). AYOP options available through partner Colibri Real Estate. SC Prelicensing ZOOM includes split payment options.
3. Postlicensing Course Tuition: Postlicensing courses for NC brokers: $225 per course for new students, $200 for returning students, $75 for retake students. Military discount at $180 per course. AYOP courses are $224.99 each. SC students take Advanced Principles course.
4. Continuing Education Course Tuition: NC CE live courses are $55 per course. NC CE AYOP electives are $60 each. SC CE courses are priced based on credit hours through partner McKissock Learning. SC mandatory core courses and electives available.
5. Affiliate Commissions from Partners: The academy earns commission on AYOP course enrollments through Superior School of Real Estate, Colibri Real Estate, and McKissock Learning when students sign up through their affiliate links.
6. Gift Certificates: Gift certificates sold at $25, $50, $100, or credit amounts (CE $55, POST $200, PRE $450) for real estate education. Non-refundable but transferable to any student.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Sea Coast Real Estate Academy delivers state-approved online real estate licensing education in North Carolina and South Carolina. The academy offers 75-hour NC Broker Prelicensing and 60-hour SC Salesperson Prelicensing courses, three 30-hour NC Postlicensing courses (Broker Relationships, Contracts & Closing, NC Laws & Rules), and Continuing Education courses for active license renewal. Courses are delivered both synchronously via live Zoom classes with experienced instructors and asynchronously through partner platforms (Superior School of Real Estate, Colibri Real Estate, McKissock Learning) for at-your-own-pace learning.

Product overview

Sea Coast Real Estate Academy operates as an online education platform offering real estate licensing courses across North and South Carolina. The core portfolio consists of Prelicensing courses (75-hour NC Broker Prelicensing, 60-hour SC Salesperson Unit I), Postlicensing courses (three 30-hour NC courses #301/#302/#303, and SC Unit II Advanced Principles), and Continuing Education courses for license renewal. Delivery formats include synchronous live Zoom classes and asynchronous At-Your-Own-Pace (AYOP) online courses through partners (Superior School of Real Estate for NC, Colibri Real Estate for SC, McKissock Learning for CE). Supporting offerings include a Video Library with free math tutorials and exam prep sessions, Broker Resources with industry tool links, Vendor Referrals for real estate services, Exam Prep Materials, and Course Gift Purchase options. The platform serves aspiring agents, new brokers completing postlicensing requirements, and experienced agents meeting annual CE obligations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• North Carolina Broker Prelicensing Course 75-hour North Carolina broker prelicensing course preparing students for the NC broker exam and license. Includes textbook (e-book for online), math workbook, free Exam Review sessions, and all course materials. Full tuition is $450 (split $200 deposit + $250 second payment), with repeat-student, audit, and military pricing tiers.
• South Carolina Prelicensing Course (Unit I) 60-hour South Carolina salesperson prelicensing course (Unit I) covering basic real estate principles and practices for the SC licensing exam. Tuition is $375 with split payment option ($150 deposit + $225 second payment).
• North Carolina Postlicensing Courses (#301, #302, #303) Three 30-hour postlicensing courses required for NC provisional brokers within 18 months of licensure: Broker Relationships & Responsibilities (#301), Contracts and Closing (#302), and NC Laws, Rules, and Legal Concepts (#303). Tuition is $225 per course for new students, with returning-student, retake, and military pricing tiers.
• South Carolina Advanced Principles Course (Unit II) 30-hour advanced real estate principles course required for SC license issuance, covering agency, property disclosure, contracts, ethics, measuring, evaluation, and investing. Tuition is $275 with split payment option ($150 down + $125 second payment).
• North Carolina Continuing Education Courses 8 hours of annual CE required for NC brokers, including a General Update or BICUP course (4 hours) plus one Commission-approved elective (4 hours). Live Zoom tuition is $55 per course; AYOP electives are $60 each.
• South Carolina Continuing Education Courses 10 hours of biennial CE required for SC salespersons, including a 4-hour mandatory/core course and 6 hours of elective courses. Pricing is based on credit hours through partner McKissock Learning.
• At-Your-Own-Pace (AYOP) Online Courses Self-paced asynchronous courses for Prelicensing, Postlicensing, and Continuing Education delivered through affiliate partners (Superior School of Real Estate for NC, Colibri Real Estate for SC, McKissock Learning for CE). All content and end-of-course exams must be completed within 180 days of enrollment for pre/postlicensing (30 days for CE).

Quantifiable outcome

• Students pass real estate licensing exams on first attempt (supported by student reviews citing first-attempt success)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Superior School of Real EstatecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSea Coast Real Estate Academy partners with Superior School of Real Estate to offer At-Your-Own-Pace (asynchronous) NC prelicensing, postlicensing, and CE elective courses. Students are redirected to Superior School's platform to register and complete AYOP coursework. SCREA earns a commission on all enrollments through affiliate links.
• Colibri Real EstatecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSCREA partners with Colibri Real Estate to offer South Carolina At-Your-Own-Pace prelicensing courses. Students sign up through Colibri's platform. SCREA earns a commission on all purchases through its affiliate link.
• McKissock LearningcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSCREA has partnered with McKissock Learning to offer South Carolina Distance Continuing Education courses and additional NC CE electives through McKissock's platform. Students register through affiliate links; SCREA earns commission on each enrollment.
• Coldwell Banker Sea Coast AdvantagecoreGTM or Marketing PartnerColdwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage is the primary brokerage referral partner of Sea Coast Real Estate Academy, covering Eastern North Carolina and Charlotte. The academy is closely affiliated with this brokerage — students can connect with the brokerage for agent placement after licensing. Email: [email protected].
• Coldwell Banker AdvantageminorGTM or Marketing PartnerColdwell Banker Advantage covers the Triad and Triangle areas of North Carolina and serves as a referral partner for SCREA, connecting newly licensed agents with brokerage opportunities.
• Sea Coast RentalsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSea Coast Rentals handles property management referrals and vacation rental referrals. They pay referral fees to agents and send clients back to agent-referrers when ready to buy or sell, creating a referral ecosystem for SCREA graduates.
• Alpha MortgageminorOthersAlpha Mortgage Corporation (founded 1983) is a preferred mortgage lender partner for SCREA students. Contact: 910.256.8999. Provides financing resources and mortgage guidance for students and graduates.
• MyCarolinas InsuranceminorOthersAn independent insurance agency and resource partner specializing in coastal insurance markets. Available to answer questions for SCREA students and their clients. Contact: [email protected].
• Key TitleminorOthersKey Title provides title insurance services with over 50 years of combined residential and commercial underwriting experience. Contact: Kim Hall at [email protected].
• 2-10 Homebuyer's WarrantyminorOthers2-10 Homebuyer's Warranty provides home warranty and budget protection products for buyers and sellers. Contact: Alyson Smist at [email protected].

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Real Estate Express: Online real estate school (Colibri family brand) offering prelicensing and CE in many states. Already listed as an SCREA SC-AYOP partner; competes for SC students with a national delivery footprint.
• Colibri Real Estate: Large online real estate school offering prelicensing and CE in many states. Direct overlap with SCREA — Colibri is already an SCREA affiliate partner for SC AYOP — competing for the same students in NC and SC.
• Superior School of Real Estate: North Carolina-focused online real estate school providing prelicensing, postlicensing, and CE. Functions as both an SCREA partner (NC AYOP delivery) and a direct competitor for NC online students.
• The CE Shop: National online provider of real estate prelicensing, postlicensing, and continuing education across most U.S. states. Closely comparable to SCREA in product mix (licensing + CE) and asynchronous delivery model, though operating at a much larger, multi-state scale.
• McKissock Learning: Provider of real estate CE and licensing courses across multiple states. Comparable to SCREA's CE portfolio and serves as SCREA's affiliate partner for SC distance CE and additional NC CE electives.
• Mbition (formerly 360training) Real Estate: Online real estate licensing and CE provider operating nationally. Directly comparable to SCREA's prelicensing and CE offerings and competes on price and convenience.
• AceableAgent: Mobile-first online real estate licensing and CE school serving multiple states with a modern UX. Comparable to SCREA in product mix but differentiated by mobile delivery versus SCREA's desktop Zoom model.

Others

• Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage: Primary brokerage referral partner of SCREA covering Eastern NC. Not a direct competitor but tightly intertwined via referral pipeline and shared brand with the academy.

Regional players

• Institute of Real Estate Education (IREE): Carolinas-focused real estate school offering prelicensing and CE in NC and SC. Closest geographic and product peer to SCREA, competing head-to-head for the same regional student base.

Broad incumbents

• Kaplan Real Estate Education: National, established education brand offering real estate licensing and CE across most U.S. states via live and online formats. A broader incumbent competing for the same NC/SC student pool with greater brand and price flexibility.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/SeaCoastREA
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC_Tn4HhL5BdLCuza2_TTm7Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/seacoastrea
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sea-coast-real-estate-academy
• Instagraminstagram.com/seacoastrea

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Sea Coast Real Estate Academy