Want to start a career in real estate but not sure where to begin? Here’s a quick breakdown of the main steps that will help you learn how to get into real estate, from getting licensed to launching and growing your real estate business.
Step 1: Research the options in your state
Not every state has the same legal requirements for becoming a real estate agent. So before you decide what pre-licensing course to take and how to take it, you’ll need to know exactly what your state (or the state you’re planning to work in) requires. You can compare all of your options online at Colibri Real Estate.
Step 2: Take a pre-licensing course
In a real estate pre-licensing course, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the nuts and bolts of real estate transactions. You can take a course either in a classroom or online. The content of each course varies depending on what state you live in, but you can expect to learn about topics such as finances, legal aspects of real estate, and property appraisal.
Step 3: Pass your real estate licensing exam
If you get nervous when you hear the word “exam,” don’t worry. There are many resources that can help you prepare for your pre-licensing exam. While the pre-licensing course focuses on the material your state requires you to know before becoming a real estate agent, a program like the exam prep will help you prepare specifically for what you’ll be tested on.
When you feel you’re ready to take the exam, you’ll need to find a testing center near you. Then, you’ll need to contact them to register for an upcoming exam date. It might be helpful to ask them if they offer any simulation test days to help you practice before the big exam.
The licensing exam has both national and state portions. Depending on how the exam is administered you might take these both together or separately.
Last but not least, remember on exam day to bring the appropriate identification. If you’re not sure what identification your testing center requires, ask them in advance.
Step 4: Launch your real estate career
After you pass your exam, you’re ready to launch your real estate career. For many real estate agents, this will involve finding a brokerage in your niche to get started with.
Here are some helpful questions to ask when you’re searching for a brokerage:
- What mentorship opportunities do they offer?
- How do they use technology to help the real estate business?
- Do they stay updated on current marketing best practices?
- Do they work in a niche I’m interested in?
- How do they support agents financially?
Your brokerage can have a huge impact on how much you earn. In fact, your earnings can almost triple depending on your brokerage.
Step 5: Grow your real estate business
Research suggests that agent income doubles after your first year, so hanging in there is half the challenge. In order to grow your career, you’ll want to find a mentor who can help you succeed. Make sure you’re networking with other agents in your community and niche. Also, stay committed to keeping up with best practices. Our study found that top earners in real estate are agents who know the latest real estate trends.
Getting started in real estate may seem intimidating at first, but the steps are straightforward. Real estate professionals are consistently ranked as some of the happiest workers in the country. Starting your real estate career could be the pathway to a fulfilling future.
