Then, you've decided to become a existent manor agent? Congratulations! It's time to get to work. In that location were more than 1.46 one thousand thousand realtors in the U.S. as of 2020, and that number is only increasing with the housing market frenzy in 2021. Selling real estate is an bonny career for many people because of the flexibility, autonomy, and of course — pay. Realtors, on boilerplate, earn a bacon close to the US boilerplate of a little more than $80k. Even so, there is nearly no limit to the amount of money a realtor can make. Once a real estate amanuensis completes the licensing requirements in their land, the sky is truly the limit.

The process, qualifications, cost, and timeline for becoming an agent differ from state to country, so information technology'southward important to empathize exactly what it takes to brainstorm this heady career. In this commodity, we'll walk you through everything you should await forth the way. Allow's get set to start selling real estate.

Free Resource: Real Estate Strategy Template

Existent Estate License FAQ

1. How much do real estate agents make?

Co-ordinate to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Real Estate Agents earned an average of $83,886.

2. How long does it take to become a licensed real estate amanuensis?

Depending on your state'due south real manor licensing requirements, which typically include 40 - 150+ hours of formal education and studying and sitting for a licensing examination, information technology tin can have anywhere from iii to half dozen months to earn a existent estate license.

3. How much does a real manor license price?

The cost of a real estate license can vary depending on where y'all take your required teaching course, which can price anywhere from $300 to $1,000. Additionally, your real estate license application, fingerprinting, and background check, and state licensing exam fees will usually run you betwixt $100-$200, so you should upkeep for $500-$i,200 total.

iv. Can I go a existent manor license online?

Aye, some states take online courses for completing your prerequisites. Even so, almost states require the exam to be completed in person through a third-party exam provider.

5. Where exercise I take the real manor license exam?

Depending on your state, there will be designated cities and testing centers where you can have the existent estate license exam. In one case you utilise to have the exam, your local existent estate committee will provide you with those details.

six. What's the difference betwixt a existent manor agent and a realtor?

A existent estate amanuensis is a licensed existent estate sales professional who is recognized by the state in which they piece of work. AREALTOR® is a trademarked term used to describe a licensed real estate agent who has been accustomed into the National Association of Realtors. Only those who are members of the NAR can be considered realtors.

How To Go a Real Estate License

1. Inquiry your state's licensing and educational activity requirements.

First, go your bearings. The requirements for pre-licensing courses and licensing applications are unlike in every state. Cheque with your real estate commission to understand what's required to obtain your license.

Most states crave:

  • College-level teaching on real estate basics including titles, deeds, contracts, and belongings ownership
  • Permanent residency in the state of the license awarding
  • Minimum historic period of 18 years or older
  • Criminal groundwork check

Classes are available in person and online, just your courses and school must be approved by your state'due south real manor licensing authority. Before you pay for a existent estate school, brand sure it's accredited and acknowledged by your state.

Real Estate License Reciprocity

If you're already a licensed existent estate agent who's moving across country lines, encounter if your new state has a reciprocity agreement with the state where your license was issued. If a reciprocity agreement exists, you may already meet the pre-licensing requirements. This doesn't hateful you don't demand a license in your new land — but you might be able to skip a step or two in the licensing process.

For example, Idaho has reciprocity agreements with Wyoming, Oregon, and Montana. If yous have an Idaho real estate license, you're not required to accept existent estate pre-licensing courses if you're applying for a license in one of the other 3 states. You are, notwithstanding, required to take state-specific portions of the exam in Wyoming, Oregon, and Montana.

Other parts of the country have reciprocity agreements in place as well — read this guide to learn more about these agreements if you lot're interested in taking your real estate license across state lines.

Your pre-licensing requirements might also be less if you have a degree in existent estate or if y'all're a licensed attorney.

2. Complete the instruction requirements.

Becoming a real estate agent requires time and financial investment. That means you'll want to empathize what resources you lot'll need to budget before you brainstorm.

For instance, some pre-licensing schools meet for a set number of classes over several weeks, while others allow you to motion through courses at your ain pace. Know what your options are, and choose the one that's right for your lifestyle and schedule. As well, the price of pre-licensing courses vary per school and state, but y'all tin expect to pay between $200 and $thousand for your courses. Hither'south a quick guide to the number of hours each state requires for prerequisite education for a real estate license:

State

hours

Alabama

lx

Alaska

xl

Arizona

90

Arkansas

threescore

California

135

Colorado

168

Connecticut

threescore

Delaware

99

Commune of Columbia

60

Florida

63

Georgia

75

Hawaii

threescore

Idaho

90

Illinois

15

Indiana

ninety

Iowa

60

Kansas

30

Kentucky

96

Louisiana

90

Maine

55

Maryland

60

Massachusetts

forty

Michigan

xc

Minnesota

90

Mississippi

60

Missouri

48

Montana

70

Nebraska

60

Nevada

64

New Hampshire

xl

New Bailiwick of jersey

75

New Mexico

90

New York

75

North Carolina

75

N Dakota

45

Ohio

120

Oklahoma

ninety

Oregon

150

Pennsylvania

75

Rhode Island

45

South Carolina

60

South Dakota

116

Tennessee

60

Texas

180

Utah

120

Vermont

40

Virginia

60

Washington

90

W Virginia

90

Wisconsin

72

Wyoming

54

3. Employ for the real manor licensing exam in your land.

Once you feel comfy with the data you've learned in your real estate courses, it'southward time to use to have the exam. This stride normally requires the payment of an application fee and registering for the exam through a third party, like PSI Exams.

Many states do non crave yous to take completed all your required education hours earlier applying for the exam. This can speed upwardly the time information technology takes yous to earn your license because yous tin can complete your credit hours while waiting for your exam application to exist approved.

Note: Don't confuse this pace with applying for your license — you'll do that after you pass the real estate licensing exam.

4. Pass your state licensing exam.

Sounds easy enough, correct? There's a reason each state requires educational activity before y'all can sit down for the real manor license exam. By ensuring that you're adequately prepared for the exam, your chances of passing are much college than if you guessed your way through the test.

The test volition include approximately 100 multiple pick questions and embrace national and state principles and laws. While the minimum score for passing differs per state, many crave a minimum of a lxx% score to earn your license. The licensing examination will take between i.5 and iii.5 hours to complete. Exist prepared to pay an exam fee between $15 and $100.

Make certain you obtain an official real estate transcript or certification of completion from your school and a copy of your test score to include in your real estate license application — which brings united states to our next footstep...

5. Apply for your real estate license.

Once you've successfully passed the examination, you'll demand to submit your test results, license application, and awarding fees. License awarding fees will cost betwixt $fifty and $250, and you might be required to undergo a background cheque which will cost betwixt $40 and $100.

Cheque your state'due south real estate commission to find out whether y'all need to accept Errors and Omissions (Due east&O) insurance before you apply. E&O insurance protects existent estate agents from fiscal losses and lawsuits filed equally a result of their real estate work. Sometimes, your brokerage volition sell yous E&O insurance. If not, you might be required to obtain it before you submit your awarding.

In every country, y'all must exist at least eighteen years quondam and have either a GED or loftier school diploma to apply for a real manor license. Also, you should be authorized to work in the United States, and many states crave yous to be an in-state resident.

Once you lot've submitted your application, your license will take between 1 week and two months to process.

6. Notice a real estate brokerage.

Yous have your license. Keen! Only that might not hateful you tin can beginning selling houses right away. Most states require you to piece of work with a real estate banker who sponsors your first ii to three years equally an agent.

A real estate brokerage is simply an bureau or office where real estate agents work. Considering you'll likely need a brokerage to generate income, it'southward a good thought to notice a broker before graduating from your training class. Here are a few things to consider when choosing a brokerage:

The Three Types of Brokerages

The brokerage you work for determines the blazon and book of work y'all exercise, the training and mentorship you receive, and the company culture you lot're a part of every day. Here are three mutual types of brokerages:

ane. National Franchises

National franchises like Keller Williams Realty, RE/MAX LLC, and Coldwell Broker provide structured training, instant proper noun recognition, and more than resources for new agents.

2. Boutique-Style Brokerages

Smaller or local brokerages may provide personalized training and more room for growth and advancement.

3. Virtual Brokerages

SaaS — or Software as a Service — has ushered in a new type of real estate brokerage that'due south entirely online. Benefits of working with a virtual brokerage include higher commission splits (more on that beneath), lower desk fees (desk rent you pay to your brokerage), and better engineering.

Company Culture

Yous need to like where and with whom you work, so hither are a few questions to ask:

  • Does the brokerage require additional courses or training?
  • Do they offer a mentorship programme for new agents?
  • Do they require hours of "floor time" or work for other agents?
  • How are leads distributed?
  • Will you be required to practise all your ain marketing?

3 Common Types of Committee Structures

Before accepting an offering from a brokerage, make sure you understand their commission construction. Here are three mutual structures:

i. Traditional Divide Plans

You become 50% of the commission and your brokerage gets the other one-half. These plans are commonly accompanied by depression or no desk fees.

two. High-Separate Plans

You get a higher percentage of the commission — anywhere from 70% to 100% — but these commission plans are usually accompanied by high monthly desk fees.

3. Hybrid Plans

These plans combine attributes of the ii plans listed above. Hybrid plans usually offering agents a 70% split at the beginning of the year and increase that rate to 100% when agents meet certain budgetary goals.

Additionally, some larger franchises charge "franchise fees" ranging from v% to viii%. Enquire potential employers whether boosted fees are taken out of your commission, so you understand exactly what y'all're signing upward for.

7. Join the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

You've earned your license and institute a sponsoring brokerage, so you're a realtor, right? Still (kind of) wrong. While non legally necessary, y'all must join the National Association of Realtors (NAR) to call yourself a REALTOR®.

This designation is also required if you wish to participate in most Multiple Listing Services — likewise known equally MLS — which allow you to meet other realtor's listings.

If yous aren't a fellow member of NAR, you lot claim the title of existent estate agent and are legally able to work in the field, but your earning potential is limited without access to the MLS.

8. Renew your license regularly.

Getting your real estate license is a lot of work, so don't forget to renew it. Cheque your country'due south requirements to see when your license will expire. This is usually every 2 or four years.

Many states require agents to consummate a set number of form hours to be eligible for renewal — between 8 and 90 form hours every few years. These additional courses ensure you're upward to engagement on the evolving national and country markets and regulations.

Check with your state'due south licensing function to acquire their renewal requirements so you're not scrambling to fit 90 hours of coursework into the four days before your license expires.

Your Existent Estate License Is At Your Fingertips

Becoming a real estate amanuensis is a big conclusion requiring time, attention, and dedication. Merely the result is nigh unlimited earning potential and the possibility of someday being your own dominate — two things that brand many salespeople tick. Realtor Alicia Turner offers this advice to new agents, "Success doesn't happen overnight, so stay committed and consistent — it'll definitely pay off!" Sound like something you're interested in? Go started today.

This article does non constitute legal communication. The steps required to obtain a real manor license may differ from state to state, and so y'all should seek your own legal advice to ensure you follow the correct procedure.

Editor's annotation: This post was originally published in December 2018 and has been updated for comprehensiveness.

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Originally published Sep 13, 2021 4:45:00 PM, updated September 13 2021