If you are looking for a career that gives you freedom, check out the real estate agent process.
Real estate agents have the opportunity to make some great money on the side without years of schooling.
Many people choose to do real estate on the side because you can work full time at one job and earn a hustle on the side. As an agent you can start by selling homes to people you know or converting friends on Instagram into leads, clients, and make some cash!
How cool is that? Simply sell homes to people you know?!
This post will help you through the real estate agent process and find a school to get licensed today.
To get started on the real estate agent process, you will need a license in the state that you live. Every state has different requirements, but once you have your license, you can start selling homes!
The Real Estate Agent Process
There are ONLY two things that you need to get started as a real estate agent.
- The training
- Pass the real estate licensing exam
Can you believe that is all? For this reason, many people like to become real estate agents.
There is no pressure, and most programs are self-paced. You can learn everything about real estate in your own time.
This is nice because if you have a family, another job or you are eager to knock out the hours, you can complete them during times of the day that work best for your schedule.
Real estate agents can either choose to work for an office that allows them to come and go as they please (to make side cash), or you can treat it as a full-time job.
The real estate company you work for can give you leads to contact, and you can bring clients in that find and trust you on social media.
How to get your real estate license
- You will need to be 18 years of age
- Complete the hours required for the state that you live in
You will want to make sure that the program you choose is from an accredited school licensed in your state.
The accreditation means that the program is recognized for its standards. An Accredited school adheres to state and national standards that are important to you as you receive your real estate license.
Some states require that you complete fewer hours, for example, 60 hours, and other states require more.
This is why choosing the correct state is important.
Real estate express is one accredited schooling that offers online real estate education.
Steps to enroll into an online real estate program
Choose the state to get your license in.
If you live in ex. California, select that state because the requirements and timelines can change based on the state you live.
You wouldn’t want to get your license in another state because you may have to retake the course, and that wouldn’t be fun!
Once you enroll in the online program, you can talk to an advisor to start the process. The advisor will be able to answer more of your questions that are personal to your situation.
Based on the state that you live in, an instructor may help you through Livestream courses. If this is the case, you can speak with your advisor to choose a program. Livestream courses may work better in the morning or the evening and completed within two weeks or a few short months.
Some states will offer the program at your leisure, which will allow you to complete the program on your own time. Then, you will use the certificate of completion once you are prepared to take the exam. When completing courses at your leisure, you will have to read the information through a pdf file online (like an ebook).
Once you complete the hours and courses for your online real estate school, you are halfway through the real estate agent process!
Real estate agent certificate
The real estate certificate shows your completion of the online program and will be used to submit or set up your exam through your state in person or online. Your advisor will help walk you through this process!
You may also need to complete a background check for your state to check your criminal history if you are meeting in-person to sell homes to others. (This is not required for all states).
Some states also require that you have chosen a broker before applying.
Once you complete the hours required for pre-license education, you can take the real estate exam.
Real estate agent licensing exam
You must pass the licensing examination for both national and state with a 70% or higher. Again this can be different for every state. Some states may say that you need to pass both exams with an 80% or higher.
The exam is completed through a testing center (in most states). The state ensures that these testing centers can accurately explain the test directions to you and grade the exam once completed.
You’ll want to register with the testing center for your state and schedule a date so that you are prepared to take your exam.
It may be a good idea to contact your testing center so that you know what is expected and what you can bring to the testing center with you on the day of your exam.
Testing providers through Real Estate Express are:
- Applied Measurement Professionals
- Pearson Vue
- ProMetric Assessments
- Psychological Services Incorporated
These providers through real estate express are the ones you will contact to schedule your testing based on your location in the United States.
The Real Estate Express website is extremely easy to navigate and answers more real estate-related questions to get you started!
Most people rush through schooling to get to the point of taking the exam. However, schooling and preparation for the exam are what are more important than money. What will make you a great real estate agent is understanding the information that you are presenting when you sell a home.
What some people looking to get their real estate license do not realize is that it is important to know real estate terms and legality. Your client is not going to know most of these terms, and they expect that you know what it means.
You are the expert, and you want the knowledge to support that when selling homes!
If you want to explain these terms and processes to your client, make sure to make flashcards during your hours of schooling and take time to absorb that information. It will be helpful to reread the information over and over again until it sticks.
Once you pass the exam, you can apply to get your real estate license!
Finding a Real Estate Broker
You’ll need to have a real estate broker to work with that is your boss who gives you your business cards and assists you in completing your transactions when selling a home.
When searching for a broker, find a broker that makes sense for what you’re looking for as an agent. You can find one that allows you to pay for your space as an agent with their team through a flat fee or a commission split.
A flat fee means that they will charge you a set price each month for marketing your services as an agent. Additionally, you can have a commission split, and the broker will take a percentage per sale for each of your sales.
All brokers require an exchange because they market you as an agent with their team so that you can gain more leads, it’s up to you to determine what you prefer.
Going with an online school is always the best because the course is usually self-paced, and once you finish the course, you can get your license.
You can take additional courses to educate yourself more before getting your license. The courses are offered to expand your knowledge on selling homes and the details of what real estate terms mean.
other real estate agent licensing schools you can look into…
- Kaplan
- 360 Training
- Mbition
- The CE Shop
- Center for Realtor Development
My recommendation for online real estate education is to go through Real Estate Express.
Real estate express the #1 online program that has been around for 25+ years for real estate agents and brokers. They meet all accreditation’s and have several different programs for A LOT of different states. Their online program provides a lot of support for future real estate agents, including TOP EXAM PREPARATION!
Real Estate Express even offers a don’t pass or don’t pay guarantee for their exam preparation courses in almost all states!
Click here to read more about the EXAM PREP MASTER that will help you pass your real estate exam on your first try. The exam prep master focuses directly on the state that you live in and touches on the most important topics to help you succeed.
Three important things when picking an online program for your process as a real estate agent is:
1) you choose an accredited school
2) you have the support needed before taking the real estate licensing exam
3) you’re prepared to get your license.
Real Estate Express also provides an ebook and a lot of training that will answer all of your questions. They get you ready to start their real estate course to become an agent in no time!
Launching your career as a real estate agent
Once you become a real estate agent, it will take time to build clientele. For this reason, most real estate agents make money doing this as a side hustle in the beginning. Many clients take time to buy and decide to move to a new location.
Using Instagram and Facebook will help prospective buyers reach out to you because they will see that you sell homes in the area they are looking to buy.
Most agents post homes on their Instagram that are up for sale. They also spend a lot of hours taking courses about selling homes and focus on different marketing tools. One marketing tool is (ex. Instagram) to get their name out there. Hashtags on Instagram will help with spreading the word because you can tag your location too!
You’re all ready to get started on your real estate agent process and move forward making a side hustle or your main gig today.
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