A Multi-Generational Legacy of
California Real Estate Education
For over 85 years, our family has provided dedicated, state-focused real estate instruction to California licensing applicants. Unlike multi-state corporate providers, our complete focus has always been tailored exclusively to the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) exam requirements and real-world California practice.
Historical Timeline & Major Milestones
- 1941 – San Francisco Beginnings: Founded by Saul Grabstein as the San Francisco School of Real Estate, establishing one of California’s earliest DRE-approved private instruction programs during World War II.
- 1960 – Civil Rights & Fair Housing Leadership: Don Schwartz operated the Oakland School of Real Estate at 6027 Shattuck Ave and 6040 Telegraph Ave, pioneering licensing preparation for early Black brokers across North & West Oakland, Richmond, and Alameda during an era of widespread local board exclusion.
- 1973–1974 – Franchise Instruction & Expansion: Served as Century 21’s inaugural instructor during their initial East Bay expansion and operated Red Carpet Schools across Hayward and Oakland.
- 1975–Present – California School of Real Estate & Breakthrough Methodology: Don Schwartz officially founded the California School of Real Estate in 1975 and created the original “Weekend Crash Review” in 1976—revolutionizing state exam pass rates statewide.
Our Continuing Mission
Today, the California School of Real Estate continues its long-standing family tradition of delivering personalized support, updated curriculum, and effective exam preparation tools designed specifically for California real estate salespersons and brokers.
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