When you become a real estate agent, you have to find a brokerage to sponsor you. Choosing a brokerage is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make when starting your career. This brokerage will act as your real estate mentor, they’ll support, guide, help, and elevate you as an agent. Ultimately, your goals as an agent and your plans for how you want to run your business will guide your decision. Take our free quiz to determine what brokerages might be a good fit based on your goals.
Annual income for real estate agents varies widely. This is because most real estate agents work on commission, and the amount of money they earn depends on several factors. Your career as a real estate agent can be a great path to new and lucrative career if you’re committed to putting the time and effort into it.
A career in real estate requires some a financial commitment. Licensing course fees, Board of Realtors membership dues and other business expenses (phone, computer, office supplies, personal marketing, etc.) are just some of the expenses you need to consider when getting started. On average, the startup costs range from $500 to $1500.
The best brokerages for new agents provide not only initial training, but ongoing training to help its agents succeed. These trainings cover everything from contracts to lead generation to successfully managing your new business.
As long as the real estate school is accredited by your state, you can choose the school you like best. Online real estate schools enable you to complete the courses from the comfort of your own home. This allows you to finish the courses at your own pace and start your new career much faster. This is a great alternative to sitting in a classroom and online courses are what we recommend.
Pre-Licensing courses are the regulatory education required by each state’s real estate commission for getting your license and working in the real estate industry.
Test prep classes prepare you for successfully passing the exams by providing you with practice questions, study materials, and even group study sessions.
As an independent contractor, you are free to do business on your own terms and are not required to work a certain number of hours each week.
Lead generation is the key to being successful in the real estate industry, so it’s important to learn how to do it. There are many different lead generation methods including Internet lead conversions, contacting Expired/Withdrawn listings, For Sale By Owners (FSBOS), Open Houses, Door Knocking, etc. Using these tools will ensure you are making enough contacts to be as successful as you want to be.
Although it’s not impossible, a part time agent is not likely to be as successful as a full-time agent. However, if you are currently working in the real estate industry in a different capacity (i.e. as a real estate investor, etc.) or feel you have what it takes to transition to a full-time agent quickly, we would love to speak with you.
While the courses to obtain your real estate license provide you with basic knowledge of contracts, agency, ethics and principles, they do not cover the most important information a new agent needs. Lead generation, marketing, and running your real estate business are key components to a solid career in real estate.
We receive inquiries from many candidates who are thinking about starting a career in real estate. Once you have committed to starting the licensing process, we want to hear from you. Our FAQs answer most questions people have but if we missed one, please reply to our email or reach out to us via the chat feature and we’ll happily get back to you with an answer.