How to Become a Real Estate Agent in the US

Real estate is a prestigious industry to be a part of. Smart clothing, luxury, lots of properties and communication with lots of people are part of the daily happenings of a real estate agent. Most importantly, as a job, it pays well and you can save a lot of money being involved in this industry.

Do you reckon this is something you might enjoy doing? How do you feel about it being your professional vocation? Well, it is no surprise that so many people have chosen to be real estate agents. It is an excellent opportunity to meet a lot of people and help them achieve their biggest dream – to buy a home. Let’s take a look at how you can become a real estate agent.

State Requirements

The first step is to collect information about what the state requires of you to get a real estate license. All the information you need you can get from the state’s real estate regulatory office, online or personally by visiting the premises. Also, you can Google other informational sites run by governmental parties.

It is crucial to check all the necessary requirements because there are no national real estate licenses, so you would have to comply with your state’s unique licensing requirements. These requirements are of different natures and include age, fees, background check, leaving fingerprints, specific education and majors, a high school diploma or GED, exams, additional courses, reporting of any criminal history and so on.

In some states, it is possible to use the license from another state without having to sit an additional exam. You have to check whether this is the case with your state so that you are not blocked from doing your job on a wider territory.

Pre-licensing courses are a must

Regardless of the diploma you have, and the knowledge you have gained from the industry as an intern, for example, you must enroll in a pre-licensing course accredited by a real estate licensing school. Once you finish the course you will be able to sit the exam.

Again, it is different in every state when it comes to the number of hours you need to spend on a course. The best and sure thing is to check exactly how much time you would need to spend and make a plan by calculating the time you would need to learn and then sit the exam.

Some states make it easier for you to take these pre-licensing course lessons by offering online classes or classes at community colleges as well as brick-and-mortar real estate schools. The price of these courses varies but expect it to be more $300 everywhere.

Get ready to take the licensing exam

Once you complete the course you will be advised by your instructor what to do next. It will involve scheduling, registering and paying for the licensing exam. Today, the exams are computerized and you would have to complete two parts.

The first one is showing knowledge about national real estate principles and practices and the second part is about the specific state’s real estate laws.

It is useful to know that both sections are scored separately and you must do well on both of them to get a passing grade. In case you fail one or both of the sections, you will be given a chance to retake the exam, however, it depends on the state how many times you will be allowed to resit the exams, as well as the waiting time in between, is also predetermined. The cost is around $350.

After you successfully pass the exam, you need to submit an application along with the required documents to the state’s real estate agency as well as the fee that you need to pay. When the state approves your application, you will be sent your real estate certificate. Until then, you are not allowed to work as a real estate agent.

Real estate agent VS realtor

Did you think the two are the same terms? If you did, you are wrong. Even though these two terms have been used interchangeably, they don’t mean the same. Realtors are members of the NAR (National Association of Realtors) and they must respect a strict code of ethics.

It is important to become a part of the NAR because it is the largest trade association in the US and being part of the huge family of 1.3 million salespeople, brokers, appraisers, counselors and property managers is building your professional portfolio and people will be more confident to hire you. It is enough to say that your credibility will be very high if you become a realtor.

The price for becoming a realtor is about $185 and it is the most reasonable price to pay given the fact that you will have access to the Realtors Property Resource, and you will be able to browse through an online real estate database of 166 million properties built from public record.

To sum up

Being a real estate agent and then, a realtor is a huge honor. It is not an easy job, that is for sure, but it is generous and a well-paying job. To succeed in this world you would have to be a problem solver, self-confident and motivated, honest, with attention to details, communicative and with an engaging personality, knowledgeable and be able to build a huge network of contacts.

You would have to know how to promote the properties with techniques like virtual staging a house and 3d tours and always be a step ahead of your competitors. And, of course, have a certificate.

Author:

Anna Bridgestone is a blogger and a real estate enthusiast who likes to inform and help people with engaging and useful texts. In her spare time, she likes hiking with her BFF, Jack the Retriever.