Qualifications and Education
Find out the licensing requirements where you live. In order to legally work as a practicing real estate agent, you'll typically need to get licensed first. In the US, the requirements to get licensed are set by your state's real estate commission. You can find the link to your state at https://www.arello.org/index.cfm/resources/regulatory-agencies/#region1. Although the exact requirements vary, generally you must: Be at least 18 years old. Be a US citizen. Have a high school diploma or the equivalent. Complete your required pre-license education. Pass your licensing exam.
Take the required real estate classes. Most states require you to take some classes before you can get licensed. Check your state commission's website for a list of accredited real estate programs in your state, as well as the specific courses and how many course hours you'll need. These classes will help prepare you for your licensing exam, so be sure to study hard! If you're majoring in real estate in college, check whether your classes will satisfy these course requirements. Some states will waive these course requirements if you've taken college-level real estate classes, and some colleges and universities will offer these classes as part of their real estate degree programs. Some states will allow you to take these classes within a certain amount of time after you pass the test for your real estate license. However, most students find that it's easier to pass the exam if they take the courses first.
Consider getting your college degree to be more competitive. To be a real estate agent, you don't need a degree from a 4-year university. However, having a degree will help you stand out from other candidates when you're looking for a broker. In addition, getting a more in-depth education in things like real estate law, business, and marketing will make you more knowledgeable as you start working with clients. That can help you be more successful as you establish yourself. Some schools offer real estate as a major, while others offer real estate classes as part of a more general degree, like business. Some colleges and universities even offer graduate-level real estate courses.
Licensing Exam
Fill out the application to take your state's exam. Although the licensing requirements are different depending on where you live, all states require you to pass a written exam to become a licensed real estate agent. Most states allow you to register for your state's real estate licensing exam online. You can find the forms, requirements, and fee listings on your state real estate commission's website. You'll likely need to submit an application fee at the time you register for the exam. You may also need to arrange to have the transcripts from your prelicensure courses sent to your state's licensing committee at this time. Usually you'll need to apply about 6 weeks before your testing date.
Submit your fingerprints and pass the background check. Most states require a complete background check before you can get a license. This is important because you'll be working with sensitive information about your clients, as well as large amounts of money. In some places, the fee for your background check is included in the application fee for your licensing exam, although it may be a separate fee in some states. Follow the state's instructions on how to submit your fingerprints as part of your background check. If anything in your background disqualifies you from being licensed, you'll be contacted by the real estate commission.
Sign up for your exam date. After your application for the exam is accepted, you'll be sent information on how to register for your exam date. This is typically also done online. Go to the testing website and pick your test date, time, and location. You may also be able to find helpful study material and testing tips, on the testing site, as well. Most licenses are only good for the state where they're issued, so make sure you take the test in the state where you're planning to practice. However, some states do have reciprocity agreements, meaning they've agreed that certain other state licenses are valid in their state. Check where yours is valid before you move or start working across state lines!
Study before the test. Don't try to cram everything in the night—or week—before your exam. Even if you've just recently finished your prelicensure courses, spend a little time each day reviewing the materials that will be on the exam. Your state testing commission will likely give you study materials when you apply for your exam, but if it's been a while since you took any classes, you may want to look online for additional test prep, as well. The test will typically cover some of the finances, economics, and politics related to real estate. If you know anyone who's already passed their real estate exam, ask them about what the test was like. For instance, you might ask, "Was there anything you thought was especially hard?" and "What did you find the easiest?"
Pass your licensing exam. When the day of the test finally arrives, bring your ID, test registration information, and any required supplies with you to the testing center. Follow the testing instructions carefully, and answer the questions to the best of your ability. The minimum score you need will depend on where you live, but you'll typically need to get at least 70-75% of the questions right to pass. If you're taking the exam online, make sure you meet any technical requirements, like having a certain internet speed or webcam and microphone. Once you pass the test, you'll have an inactive real estate license. You'll typically need to start working with a broker before your license can be activated.
Early Career
Have some living expenses set aside. Since real estate is commission-based, it can be hard to earn a steady living, especially when you're getting started. Even after you sell your first house, it can take 6 weeks or more before you actually get paid. To ensure you're able to pay your bills and keep up with your expenses, it's a good idea to have 3-6 months of your expenses set aside before you get started. When you do finally get that big check from selling your first house, remember to set some money aside to replenish your savings. That way, you'll still be taken care of if it's a little while until your next sale. It can help to have some type of passive income, as well, like income from a rental home or stock dividends.
Get to know your local market. Every place is a bit different, so really spend some time understanding the real estate market where you live. Think about who your clients will probably be and what type of property they'll be looking for. Get to know the neighborhoods in your area, including things like crime statistics. In addition, stay informed about any zoning, housing laws, government programs, and financing options that might apply to the properties you're selling. For example, if you live in a college town, you'll typically be dealing with lots of young renters, short leases, and a boom in business every fall. Check out the American FactFinder, which is powered by the US Census Bureau, to check local the population and other statistics for your area.
Choose a broker to work under. Although you'll technically work for yourself as a real estate agent, you'll actually be working under a broker, which is basically a company that manages agents and properties. The first brokerage you work for is the one where you'll "hang your license," so it's important you choose one with an established name and a good reputation. You'll get a lot of valuable training and experience from working for a brokerage firm—and in fact, in some states it's required that you be employed by a broker before you can activate your real estate license. Look for a broker that matches your areas of interest. For instance, a broker that specializes in luxury homes won't be the best fit if you want to work with young families. There's no one right answer to what type of broker to choose—a bigger firm might offer more formal education, but a smaller firm might be able to provide more hands-on training.
Activate your real estate license. Congratulations! Now that you're employed through a broker, you can start legally working as a real estate agent. Generally speaking, your broker can mail in your new status to your state's real estate commission so you can begin working almost immediately. Depending on your state, your active license will be good for anywhere from two to four years once you activate it. You'll have to get it renewed when it expires if you want to continue working.
Get a mentor to help you build experience. Reach out to an experienced real estate agent in your area and ask if they'd be willing to mentor you. For instance, they may allow you to assist them with open houses so you can see their process. Your mentor may be able to give you tips to hone your pitch, and they might even help you narrow down the niche you'd be most successful in. Start by asking senior members at your brokerage—they'll usually have the most incentive to help you succeed, since everyone wins when the company as a whole does better. If you find yourself in a really competitive environment, though, you might look outside of your brokerage, instead.
Tap into your own personal network. When you're starting out as an agent, it can be hard to find those first clients. Start by asking your family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances if they're getting ready to move or if they know anyone who is. Hand out business cards and keep following up—over time, if you keep at it, you'll find clients. You might think you don't know that many people, but you might be surprised how big your potential client pool is when you think about it. For instance, you might reach out to people in your religious congregation, members of your softball team, or your volunteer group. You could even ask people like your doctor, former teachers, or the guy you buy your coffee from every morning. Make sure to spread the word on your personal social media pages, as well! Networking with potential clients is a huge part of being a real estate agent, so don't give up, even if it feels a little awkward at first. You'll get more comfortable with practice, and it's an essential part of your success as a salesperson.
Market yourself to catch people's attention. Marketing might seem like an extravagant expense at first, but these investments can really pay off in the long run. Print up business cards and flyers, put ads in local papers and magazines, and buy ads on bus stop benches. You can also take buy ads on Google and social media—anything that will help get your face out there! When new clients contact you, ask them how they heard about you. That way, you'll get a good idea for which marketing techniques are paying off and which ones don't have much success, and you can tailor your approach as needed. Also, use advertisements, property listings, and open houses to get the word out about properties you're selling.
Work with both buyers and sellers. When you're getting started, you may discover that you prefer working with the people who are buying property or the people who are selling it. However, try to build up experience with both sides. The more flexible you can be, the better you'll be able to serve your clients—and the more commission you'll earn! Over time, you may decide to focus more on one side or the other. However, when you're first starting out, try to focus equally on both. When you're representing a buyer, you'll need to understand the type of property they're looking for and what they can afford. When you work with sellers, you'll need to help them decide how to price the property, then help them find the perfect buyer.
Advancement
Build long-term relationships with your clients. You might think that once you sell a property to a client, it's over—after all, people typically don't buy a new house every year. However, if you can really establish a great relationship with someone you work with, they'll be a lot more likely to recommend their friends and family to you when they need an agent. Follow up with your clients after a sale, like sending them a thank-you note after closing or mailing a card every year on their birthday.
Find a niche market. As you build experience, you may find that you're especially skilled at working with a certain type of client or property. You may find success by focusing on this specific niche, especially if it's something that's popular in the market where you live. You might be really great at working with first-time homebuyers, for instance, or you might have a knack for matching luxury buyers with their dream home. On the other hand, you might find that you're passionate about helping business owners find the space to make their dreams come to life, so you build a focus on commercial properties.
Join the NAR to become a Realtor. A Realtor is a licensed real estate agent who's an active member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR). In return for paying dues, working with an affiliated broker, and attending NAR meetings, you'll get to call yourself a Realtor—a professional title that may help you attract clients. Realtors have to abide by a tougher ethical code than real estate agents, so clients will typically see you as more professional and trustworthy if you're a Realtor.
Hustle to make yourself successful. Selling and buying homes can be hard, so if you want clients, you'll have to be willing to do the footwork. You'll have the freedom to make your own schedule, but part of that means you might need to work early mornings, evenings, and weekends so you can meet potential clients during their free time. Being available to meet them on their time gives you a better chance of being successful. You might need to work on short notice, too—super-desirable properties can sometimes go off the market in just a few hours! This can be a little tough, but the great thing about it is that the more motivated you are, the more likely you are to succeed!
Get involved in your community. If you want to grow your network, you'll need to get involved in as many activities and organizations as possible. Join neighborhood communities, hold parties, organize a 5K—the more people are aware of who you are, the more likely they'll be to trust you when it's time for them to buy a new home. Volunteering is a great way to meet people in your town—and you'll really get to know the needs of your community when you're helping to serve it.
Keep up with continuing education. In most states, you'll need to regularly take real estate courses in order to renew your license. However, even if this isn't required in your state, it's still a great way to keep informed about changes in your industry. The more you know about real estate, the more competitive you'll be as an agent—so the more you'll improve your earnings potential!
Renew your license when it expires. "State licenses typically must be renewed every 2-4 years. In most states, brokers and agents must complete continuing education courses to renew their license. To verify exact licensing requirements, prospective brokers and agents should contact the real estate licensing commission of the state in which they want to work."
Become a broker to keep advancing. After you've successfully worked as a salesperson for a few years, you might decide you want to start managing other agents. The requirements for becoming a broker vary depending on where you live, but you'll usually need at least 1-3 years of experience as an agent and formal classroom training, and you'll need to pass an exam. Since you'll be able to open your own business as a broker, consider taking business management, accounting, and finance classes, even if they're not required as part of your license.
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