How long does it take to become a realtor? Many students want to become a realtor after completing their education. Helping people find their ideal home inspires many new students to pursue a career path in the real estate sector. Becoming a realtor is a long path, one that needs pursuing with a plan.
If you want to start a career in the real estate industry and become a realtor, first, you must know the requirements of being one. These requirements include having a license and maintaining a standard qualification in academics.
Go through this article to learn about things you need to become a realtor.
Who Is A Realtor?
A realtor is a professional in the real estate industry who helps people buy, sell, and rent their commercial or residential real estate properties. They also help their clients find properties according to their requirements. Drafting contracts and negotiating with the buyers and the sellers is also part of being a realtor. As expert professionals in the industry, they also have to conduct market research and create a network of clients and sellers.
How Long Does It Take To Become A Realtor?
If you want to become a real estate agent or a realtor, it will take you six months. Throughout this time period, you have to complete the courses needed for the profession and also pass the licensing exam. But, the time you need to become a full-fledged and independent realtor will depend on the brokerage you choose. But, if you are really serious about your career as a realtor, you must at least be prepared to spend a year on the training courses and the licensing exam.
How To Become A Realtor?
How long does it take to become a realtor? Now that you have the answer to this question, here are the steps you need to fulfill to become a realtor.
Meet Your Minimum Age Requirements
The first requirement or criteria one must meet is the age requirement for becoming a realtor. The minimum age for this career path is common across different states. However, it might vary in a few of the states. However, the age bracket for becoming a real estate agent is around 18 to 19 years across all states.
Most states require a high school degree or GED if you want to become a realtor. Of course, there are benefits to having advanced levels of education, like a college degree, but they are not mandatory. Adding communications, marketing, and basic administration skills to your resume will help you exponentially.
Enroll In Courses
What education is required to be a real estate agent? You do not need a bachelor’s degree to get started. But, you must complete a few standards to match eligibility criteria. One among them is taking real estate courses and completing the course hours. But how long does it take to finish real estate school online? In most cases, you will be required to complete 40 to 300 hours of classes.
You can start by enquiring about the number of classroom hours of coursework your state requires. Then, check with the local course-providing institutions and learn about the course hours they have for different courses. Now, you can enroll and complete the courses accordingly.
Background Check
Now, before you take the exam, you have to go through and pass a real estate agent background check to get the license. Different states have different requirements for background checks. In some states, you have to go through a criminal record check or a fingerprint check.
Pass The Realtor Background Check Exam
Once you pass the background check, you are eligible to appear for the real estate agent exam. Each of the states issues state-specific licenses. The exam has two portions in most of the states. Here are the two of those sections –
- The national portion includes questions about selling, listing, and managing properties. It also includes questions related to professional responsibilities and financing.
- The state portion of the exam includes statutory requirements, licensing requirements, and duties related to the Real Estate Commission of the states.
Gain On The Job Experience
Once you have your license, get ready to work in the field. It is wise to work with a real estate brokerage and get on-the-job experience of becoming a realtor. Most states would require you to have a few years of experience on the job before you start working independently. Here are two options you can choose between –
- You can start by looking for a job in some renowned and traditional brokerage. This way you will gain experience of working with a team and learn on the job.
- Or you can look for work in a nontraditional real estate brokerage and give yourself flexibility and independence. This way, you can focus on specific areas in which you want to build your specialty.
Run Your Market Research
Success does not only come with experience in this sector. You must also gain knowledge about the real estate market in your locality. Spend some time analyzing the property value of your local areas. Understanding different property values, market standards, and market trends will sharpen your insights and help you make faster decisions.
Pursue NAR Membership
If you do not want to stick to just being a real estate agent and become a realtor, try pursuing a NAR membership. By enrolling for NAR, you will have the opportunity to join in continuing education, gain access to current market data, and more.
Bottom Line
How to become a real estate agent with no experience? If you have gone through this article, you must already have an answer to this query. Going through the steps mentioned above should set you on the path to becoming a real estate agent. However, if you want to build your skills and competencies in the sector, you must gain experience working with a brokerage and network within the industry.
Now that you know the skills and the process to become a realtor, would you be interested in following this career path? Let us know through the comment section below.
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