When you think of your professional self, what traits define you? Perhaps you’re a natural communicator or a master analyst who’s motivated by challenges or you have an eye for great design. These are all traits that mesh well with the real estate industry, but if negotiation is less of an inherent characteristic for you, don’t fear: It is a skill you can strengthen and build upon.
Whether you’re new to the industry or have decades of experience, learning or refreshing your negotiation skills can be an invaluable asset to furthering your real estate career. Below you’ll find 16 of the best real estate negotiation classes—from real estate coaches and schools to podcasts and university courses—that offer comprehensive tools and instruction to ensure your negotiation strategies and abilities are up to par.
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Best real estate negotiation classes offered by universities
1. Negotiation Mastery
- Offered by: Harvard Business School Online
- Duration: 8 weeks (4 modules, 4-5 hours per week)
- Cost: $1,850
- Topics: Negotiation dynamics and preparing for uncertainty, strategies to adapt to changing circumstances and resolve differences, reflection on personal behaviors to inform your negotiation approach, negotiation analysis, and managing the negotiation process
Taught by Professor Michael Wheeler, Harvard Business School’s Negotiation Mastery course introduces students to negotiation analysis and examines the relational elements of successful dealmaking. Enrollees will complete simulations, get peer feedback, and undertake a capstone assignment. Past participants describe the course as thorough and fully engaging, while others note the techniques and skills they learned have given them confidence and a new perspective on negotiation. Upon finishing the course, you will receive a certificate of completion from HBS Online.
2. Successful Negotiation: Essential Strategies and Skills
- Offered by: University of Michigan via Coursera
- Duration: 3 weeks (7 modules totaling 17 hours, 5 hours per week)
- Cost: $59/month for Coursera Plus subscription
- Topics: Negotiation strategies, skills, and psychological tools; negotiation analysis; the four steps to successful negotiation; and practical applications
This course is beginner-friendly and self-paced. Led by instructor George Siedel, an emeritus professor of the Ross School of Business, this course’s seven modules include videos, reading content, quizzes, interactive negotiation exercises, and a final exam. You can share the course certificate on your LinkedIn profile and resume upon completion.
3. Introduction to Negotiation: A Strategic Playbook for Becoming a Principled and Persuasive Negotiator
- Offered by: Yale University, via Coursera
- Duration: 3 weeks (9 modules totaling 33 hours, 11 hours per week)
- Cost: $59/month for Coursera Plus subscription
- Topics: Negotiation foundations, frameworks, and tactics; game theory and principled negotiation; and negotiation case studies
As the Milton Steinbach Professor at the Yale School of Management, Barry Nalebuff is a well-qualified instructor from whom to learn the fundamentals and strategies behind successful negotiation. Nalebuff’s course zeroes in on building principled and persuasive arguments and teaching students to develop a framework for analyzing and shaping negotiations. This course’s nine modules include videos, reading content, quizzes, discussion prompts, interactive exercises, and peer reviews. You can share the course certificate on your LinkedIn profile and resume upon completion.
4. Negotiation Fundamentals
- Offered by: ESSEC Business School via Coursera
- Duration: 7 hours (5 modules)
- Cost: Enroll for free ($59/month for Coursera Plus subscription)
- Topics: Negotiation strategy, preparation, and process; how to create long-term, value-creating partnerships; and structuring effective negotiation sequences
This fundamentals course is open to beginners and offers a flexible learning schedule. Throughout the five modules, students will learn negotiation tools and techniques, active listening and speaking skills, how to negotiate on behalf of others, and more. In addition to videos, quizzes, and discussion prompts, peer reviews will ensure students have a well-rounded and interactive learning experience.
Best real estate negotiation classes via online learning platforms
5. Win Workplace Negotiations with Chris Voss
- Offered by: Masterclass
- Duration: Self-paced curriculum with 7 sections
- Cost: Masterclass annual memberships from $120-$240
- Topics: Techniques to become a trusted workplace leader or team member, strengthening your workplace influence, creating epiphanies to land deals, and how tactical empathy can encourage inclusive negotiation
No matter your professional experience level, Chris Voss’ negotiation class is designed to help you find your voice, gain trust, and develop your influence. The class offers a flexible curriculum that teaches 12 negotiation techniques—including mirroring and labeling, dynamic silence, calibrated questioning, loss aversion, and accusation audits—and includes interactive practice prompts. Masterclass members also have access to a community of peers for feedback, discussions, and questions.
You can also purchase the audiobook version of Voss’ book, co-authored by Tahl Raz, “Never Split The Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It” on Spotify.
6. Negotiation Foundations
- Offered by: LinkedIn Learning
- Duration: 65 minutes
- Cost: Monthly memberships start at $20/month, though there is a month-long free trial
- Topics: Core interest-based negotiation practices and developing a negotiation mindset, researching and preparing for negotiation, understanding conflict styles, and negotiation strategies and hacks
Ideal for beginner- and intermediate-level learners alike, this course is built on the concept of mindset shifting: Rather than approaching negotiations as battles to be won, think of them as problem-solving conversations. Taught by leadership coach, negotiation expert, and author Lisa Gates, you will learn applicable techniques and strategies to help you prepare for negotiation in everyday scenarios. The course includes videos, worksheets, quizzes, and a certificate of completion.
7. The Foundation Negotiator
- Offered by: The Gap Partnership
- Duration: 4-8 hours (8 modules, 30-60 min each)
- Cost: Contact for pricing
- Topics: Core competencies; a four-stage negotiation model; planning, listening, and virtual negotiation; observing negotiation scenarios
The Gap Partnership, a management consultancy specializing in negotiation, offers a range of in-person and virtual training courses developed for varying levels of professionals. This foundational option is an online-only, self-paced course designed for all skill levels. Over eight modules, participants will learn through practical exercises and real-life examples, interactive videos, check-in quizzes, and course summaries. Course reviews mention the content is in-depth, easy to understand, and prepares you well for the final module’s negotiation simulation.
The organization’s other courses include The Complete Skilled Negotiator, The Virtual Negotiator, The Essential Negotiator, and The Strategic Negotiator.
8. Successful Negotiation: Master Your Negotiating Skills
- Offered by: Chris Croft, via Udemy
- Duration: 2 hours and 10 minutes (10 sections)
- Cost: $22.99 on sale (full-price: $129.99)
- Topics: Effective and fair negotiating, planning and preparing before negotiating, tradeables and why they’re key to the negotiation process, and how to combat common techniques that might be used against you
If you’re on a mission to master negotiation, this Udemy course provides the tips, tactics, and confidence you will need. Led by Chris Croft, a management coach, author, and speaker known for his entertaining and practical teaching style, this negotiation class offers practical and applicable tools to improve students’ bargaining abilities. Learn how to overcome the fear of negotiating, say less and listen more, and approach the closing phase. The course includes on-demand videos, downloadable resources, and a completion certificate.
Best negotiation classes offered by online real estate schools
9. Build Your Negotiation Skills
- Offered by: The CE Shop
- Duration: 3 hours
- Cost: $49
- Topics: Understanding the various stages of negotiation and mastering the art of persuasive communication
Go-to real estate learning platform The CE Shop offers an affordable and comprehensive option for enhancing your negotiation skills. This three-hour course covers the stages of negotiation and the skills you need to master persuasive communication. Between practical scenarios, case studies, and theoretical concepts, The CE Shop will have you on the fast track to becoming an accomplished negotiator.
10. Commercial Real Estate Negotiations
- Offered by: The CCIM Institute
- Duration: 8 hours (online and in-person in multiple cities across the U.S.)
- Cost: $389 (CCIM members), $409 (Realtors), $429 (non-Realtors)
- Topics: How to satisfy the interests of parties involved in negotiation, developing strategies to identify and address challenges, how to maintain a collaborative approach in negotiation, and CCIM’s interest-based negotiation process
On a mission to advance the commercial real estate profession, The CCIM Institute leans on industry experts, using their insight and experience to help further the careers and accomplishments of up-and-coming commercial real estate professionals through education. The Commercial Real Estate Negotiations course, offered both virtually and in-person, teaches the organization’s three-step, disciplined, interest-based negotiation model and associated strategies.
11. Real Estate Negotiation Expert (RENE) Certification
- Offered by: Champions School of Real Estate
- Duration: 15 hours
- Cost: $250
- Topics: Navigating various types of negotiations via practice field scenarios, negotiation concepts to use in establishing a strong bargaining position, how to adjust your communication styles on the spot, and recognizing negotiation tactics and patterns
The Real Estate Negotiation Expert certification is the only negotiation credential recognized by the National Association of Realtors. Champions School of Real Estate offers the required 15-hour course, which covers everything from the phases of negotiation to the recognizable tactics and patterns you might face in actual negotiation scenarios. The course is held in a live virtual classroom and includes all necessary textbooks and PDFs.
Best real estate negotiation classes led by coaches
12. Real Estate Agent Training
- Offered by: Icenhower Coaching & Consulting
- Duration: 30-60 minutes per video
- Cost: Free
- Topics: Loss aversion, tactical empathy, and the needs analysis process; creating a structured negotiation blueprint; the Eisenhower negotiation method; and scripts and strategies to use in common encounters with clients and fellow agents
Selected as one of Luxury Presence’s best real estate coaches, Icenhower Coaching & Consulting is also top choice for free real estate negotiation training. While you won’t earn an official certificate of completion, ICC’s CEO and founder, Brian Icenhower, has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share. Check out his YouTube channel’s Real Estate Agent Training playlist for some of his negotiation-focused videos, including Negotiation Skills Training for Realtors, The Negotiation Blueprint, and Real Estate Negotiation Scripts & Strategies.
13. The Pathway to Mastery: Essentials
- Offered by: Buffini & Company
- Duration: 9 weeks (8 modules)
- Cost: $395
- Topics: Generating leads and building a client database, the seven essentials of negotiation, how to sell to a seller, goal setting, financial management, and time management
For a comprehensive real estate learning experience fit for both new and experienced agents, consider The Pathway to Mastery with Buffini & Company, one of Luxury Presence’s 32 best real estate coaches. The on-demand course features a series of activities that cover everything from lead generation and negotiation to understanding today’s buyers and building a business plan.
14. The Art of Negotiation: How to Create a Winning Environment for Your Clients
- Offered by: Candy Miles-Crocker of Real-Life Real Estate Training
- Duration: 80 minutes
- Cost: $347
- Topics: Understanding the psychology behind negotiating, what to think about when representing buyers and sellers, how to manage the expectations of your client from the beginning, and how to help your buyer craft the best possible offer
Another one of Luxury Presence’s best real estate coaches, Candy Miles-Crocker is an author, real estate trainer, and active Realtor. Taught from her own experience, Miles-Crocker’s course is built with the understanding that the negotiation process is not something to fear, but rather a learned skill. The Art of Negotiation is a self-paced course offering students lifetime access across all their devices.
Best real estate negotiation classes via podcast or audiobooks
15. The Art & Science of Real Estate Negotiation Podcast
- Offered by: Tom Zeeb
- Duration: Episodes are typically 30 to 60 minutes
- Cost: Free with ads (or ad-free with Spotify Premium subscription)
- Topics: Negotiation tactics and the art of conversation, approaching the beginning phases of negotiation, the importance of consistency and overcoming rejection, and how to make the negotiation process easier through compelling marketing
Take an out-of-the-box—and free—approach to improving your negotiation skills by getting inspired by the real-life experiences of fellow industry pros. Delving into the mysteries and structures of negotiation, The Art & Science of Real Estate Negotiation is a podcast hosted by author, speaker, and real estate entrepreneur Tom Zeeb. Zeeb interviews a variety of guests—from real estate investors and developers to marketing experts and Zeeb’s own former students—who share their secrets and journeys to success. If you want to hear him on the other side of the podcast mic, Zeeb was also recently featured as a guest on Rent To Retirement’s “Mastering Real Estate Negotiation” episode.
16. The Art and Science of Real Estate Negotiation: Skills, Strategies, Tactics Audiobook
- Offered by: Written by Gabrielle Dahms, narrated by Danielle Lorentz
- Duration: 2 hours, 45 minutes
- Cost: Free (ad-free with Spotify Premium subscription)
- Topics: The real estate negotiation process; negotiation principles, strategies, and tactics; common fears, mistakes, and negotiation traps; and the importance of questions
If audiobooks are more your speed, consider listening to real estate entrepreneur and investor Gabrielle Dahms’ book, “The Art and Science of Real Estate Negotiation.” The book takes an in-depth look at the fundamentals of real estate negotiation—including contracts, building relationships, preparation, and strategies—and offers informative, actionable lessons for the reader to apply to their own lives, whether professionally or personally.
Leverage your negotiation skills via Luxury Presence tools
Like much of the expertise and knowledge you’ve added to your real estate tool belt, negotiation is something you can always return to and improve over time. After all, the better you understand your clients’ needs, the stronger you will be when representing them in every stage of negotiation. If you need help projecting your new skills in your marketing, get in touch with the expert Luxury Presence team to learn how we can help.
