You can try to buy and sell your property on your own, but most people rely on an estate agent to sell or buy a new home or office. It is the Dept of Real Estate that also makes sure that the public is protected with transactions. They ensure that estate agents are adequately licensed before they can work in the industry. Therefore, how to become a real estate agent means understanding that there are courses to follow before you can become licensed.
Get A Real Estate Agent To Avoid Frustrations
Many people believe they can save themselves a lot of money by selling their home or office without hiring an estate agent. Unless you are totally clued up on selling and buying property and all the legalities that go with it, you are wiser with hiring an estate agent.
Agents can help make the process enjoyable instead of frustrating as they have tools at their disposal. How to become a real estate agent requires a license from the Dept of real estate and this gives to the means to enter into this lucrative industry,
Real estate agents have access to the property in your area and have access to off-market listings that only they are privy to. They are licensed to help people buy and sell their property and showing homes, researching, and marketing are all in a day’s work for an estate agent.
You will be updating client databases, updating social media profiles, and researching and updating listings of properties. Most estate agents work for brokers so they will be attending meetings too. If all this sounds appealing to you as a career, you will want to know how to become a real estate agent.
It is worthwhile finding out how to become a real estate agent as you can be sure that your day will be filled with different things going on and you will be working with a lot of different people.
Becoming a realtor is much the same as how to become a real estate agent. Realtors also help their clients with the buying, selling, and renting of either residential or commercial real estate.
Becoming a realtor also requires completing on-the-job training and completing real estate courses. One of the first things to make sure of for becoming a realtor is to ensure you meet the minimum age requirements which are 18 years of age. You will also have to complete a few courses, have background checks completed, pass the real estate exam, and then get on-the-job experience.
How To Become A Real Estate Agent And How Long Does It Take To Become A Real Estate Agent?
Of course, these days, everyone wants to start earning money quickly. How to become a real estate agent requires you to know how long does it take to become a real estate agent? So how long does it take then to get this real estate license?
While it is not an overnight thing, it certainly does not require you to be 2 – 4 years in college or university getting a degree. You essentially need a high school diploma. There are some states that do not even require that. So how long does it take to become a real estate agent then?
It takes more or less between four to six months to get your real estate license. But then again, if you opt to do the real estate pre-licensing course online, it can be much shorter – a mere 8 weeks or so.
What Can You Do With A Real Estate License?
Wondering what can you do with a real estate license? Well, there are lots of things you can do with a real estate license, and being a real estate agent is the obvious choice but not the only one. It is not only how to become a real estate agent, but you can become a realtor for instance by joining the National Association of Realtors.
You can also join the exciting and very busy world of property management. There are so many investment properties that have to be managed and you can be sure of a steady income. What can you do with a real estate license also has other exciting options open to you such as real estate appraiser, real estate attorney, or mortgage broker among others?
Many people not only want to know how to become a real estate agent but also how to become a commercial real estate agent. This is a specialized field as commercial real estate can be more complicated than residential transactions. It can be exciting and commercial real estate brokers specialize in the sale of retail spaces, office buildings, warehouses, and hotels.
They have to assist clients with navigating the likes of zoning issues – things that are unique to commercial listings.
The scope of work varies quite a bit too and apart from buying and selling or leasing, commercial real estate agents can also be real estate developers, appraisers, or property managers. How to become a commercial real estate agent will also require getting a license from the state where you live.
It is the same license regardless of whether you are dealing with residential- or commercial property. You will also need to take prelicensure classes, pass an exam and find a real estate brokerage firm. Once licensed, it becomes important to find a brokerage specialized in commercial real estate.
How to become a commercial real estate agent will basically require you to –
- Familiarize yourself with your state’s commercial licensing requirements. To become a commercial real estate broker, most of the states want you to have a commercial estate agent’s license and a couple of years of experience as a licensed agent.
- Take Commercial Real Estate Courses. In fact, each state requires those wanting to be real estate agents to take prelicensing real estate education courses.
- Pass the exam and apply for a license. You have to pass your state’s licensing exam before becoming a commercial agent.
- Choose a commercial real estate market as in looking at the kind of commercial properties you want to specialize in.
- Gain experience and start to build a brand before looking to become an independent broker.
- Complete additional real estate courses before securing a license.
- Get the Commercial Broker’s Exam and apply for a license. After completing broker courses and also completing all background checks, pass the real real estate broker’s licensing exam.
- Start working as an Independent Commercial Broker.
The money to be earned as a real estate agent can be good too. And on top of that, you do not need a college degree. Of course, everyone has their own ideas as to why they want to become a real estate agent.
They all want an answer to the question ‘how to become a real estate agent’. As in so many questions like this, there is that standard answer ‘it depends. A lot depends on the state you live in, but most states require you to have a state license.
Each state where this is required regulates its real estate licensing process. Then again, there are states that have what is known as reciprocal licensing agreements with other states. This means that wherever you get your license, you can still use it in another state without any trouble. You would not be required to take any additional license examinations.
Rules Differ In Each State
The rules connected to how to become a real estate agent can differ in the different states. Just for starters, to be eligible to become a licensed real estate agent you need to be at least 18 years of age. If you want to become a real estate agent in the United States, you will need to have a legal US residency.
There are also some exams that you will need to pass. It requires doing some research because, in some states, you will also be required to be sponsored by a broker as you get your license.
Before you do the exams required, there will also be classes to takes where you will be introduced to subjects such as real estate law and mortgage financing among others. Also in the different states, the number of hours you need to complete will be different too but generally, it is about 60 – 90 hours.
Apart from passing the real estate exam, your state might also require you to pass background checks.
How to become a real estate agent will require you to enroll in a Real Estate Prelicensing Course. Some realty firms offer these courses while some colleges do as well. You can also complete the courses online.
Make sure you enroll with a school that is accredited and has a good reputation. Always make sure to check with your state’s real estate regulatory authority for details as some states require these background checks, as already mentioned. Preparing yourself to pass the exam takes time as the exam is not easy.
The grade you get with your real estate licensing exam does not spell your completion yet. How to become a real estate agent will mean you being licensed to act on behalf of a broker. You may have to find a real estate broker. You and your broker will both need to fill in paperwork with the state.
Once the form is accepted, your license will be issued. This license allows you to practice real estate under the sponsorship of the broker.
Becoming A Real Estate Agent In Arizona
We take a look at how to become a real estate agent in the state of Arizona where original real estate and broker’s licenses are provided for a 2 year period.
Look For An ADRE Approved School
If you received a real estate agency license in another state, there are Out-of-State License Recognition requirements so as to apply for real estate license recognition in Arizona. In the state of Arizona, pre-licensing learning must be completed online or in-classroom.
This education must be from an ADRE-approved school for real estate. You will receive a copy of the Candidate Handbook which explains what all is required to take the Arizona examination.
Once you complete the pre-licensing course and you pass the final examination, the college will supply you with a Pre-licensure Education Certificate. This will show that the education requirement has been achieved, You must know that the examinations are given in Tucson, Yuma. Flagstaff, and Phoenix and by appointment only. At the examination site, an original Pre-Licensure Education Certificate must be presented.
You will need to provide two forms of signature identification as well as a government-issued ID with a photo.
Do research to find out if there are any changes in what documents must be presented because with an incomplete list of documents you would not be able to do anything. There is a fee to take the examination, and if you retake any part of the License Examination the fee remains the same as it is for the entire examination.
In terms of fees, you will find that fees are found on the License Fee Schedule at azre.gov. You can pay to make use of money orders, checker or Visa and Master Card as well as American Express and Discover Card.
The Arizona Dept of Real Estate and Pearson VUE comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. This means that anyone with a disability can request assistance with physical accessibility Information on this can be got at pearsonvue.com.
All licensees in Arizona must have a copy of the Department’s statutes and rules. The Arizona Real Estate Law Book has all the details required for being a real estate agent.
How to become a real estate agent requires you to be ‘Above Board’
In Arizona, apart from having to be 18 years of age to become a real estate agent, you will have to complete 80 hours of classroom education at an approved Arizona real estate school. It has to be an ADRE-approved real estate school.
You Have To Be ‘Above Board’
Fingerprint Clearance Cards are provided by the Arizona Department of Public Safety. You need to know that the process to get this can take up to 10 weeks. Then there is the Disciplinary Actions Disclosure Form. This is because documents and information about the person’s background have to be provided when applying for licensure.
Your date of birth as well as your Social Security Number will be required. The Department would not be issuing any license to those who have been convicted of a felony or who are incarcerated. To be a real estate agent in the United State, you have to make sure you are above board and have completed all the courses and exams.
