Maxwell Clayton - How to Become a Real Estate Agent: Strategies for Success

It's a balancing act of investing the right time and money into education, finding a broker that can get you clients, and passing all of the associated licensing exams if you want to become a good real estate agent. However, there's more to it than just this. Keep reading if you want to see some of the most overlooked factors of this industry to see how you can succeed.

Every state will require you to take pre-licensing tests and courses, but each state differs on what these requirements really are. For example, you only need three college courses in California. Some states, like Idaho, require a certain number of course hours. Be sure to contact your local real estate office for the specific requirements.

Many people work as real estate agents because it's a fairly easy career to join, though it's hard to really succeed. Aside from making a lot of money, agents are also helping society by connection buyers to their ideal home. You might be wondering if anyone can become a real estate broker. Not really.

While you do need a license, the requirements for a license are fairly easy to fulfill if you have any college experience. The qualifications are minimal when compared to other licenses and certificates. Make sure to check with your local agencies to see how old you need to be, what the educational qualifications are and any other stipulations. Then you can go ahead and start the training.

A large number of offline and online schools can give you this training. While you can probably do all of the work within a few months, it's best to spread everything throughout a year so that you have enough time to really grasp everything. Remember, you want to become successful, not get your license as soon as possible. Regardless of which school you choose, you will learn about many different topics so that you can adequately sell property.

A great place to get your Real Estate license online is : Real Estate Express, they offer online courses in nearly any state.

You can learn more here:

Real Estate Express - http://agenttrainingtips.com/reex

This ensures that you will develop an understanding of real estate brokering and all of the associated aspects, like laws and contracts. Once the training is done, you will then have to take the license test. If you pass this test, then you usually have to do a little more training before you can legally sell property. That's all there is to it.

Most states will also stipulate that you have to continue your education to keep your license, but this is only a few hours out of the year, so it won't be very hard to do.

Now that you know how to get your license, you can start a career in this field. However, success depends on more than a license. Let's go onto the more serious aspects of succeeding.

What is a brokerage? It's the agency where real estate agents work. This is a requirement if you want to work as an agent, so be sure to contact a broker before you finish your training. A broker is similar to an agency, but he or she has three additional years of training. They can guide you through the real estate world and help you in the field.

Don't just choose the first brokerage that you come across. It's a better idea to check out the establishment's reputation, size and if additional training will be offered. You can do this by calling the establishment, doing some online research or talking to your teachers.

You can also learn more about the brokerage by asking some carefully crafted questions during your interview. These questions will help you understand the brokerage better, and it will help the establishment see that you'd be a good fit with their agency, which makes everything better for both parties.

Here are some good questions that you should ask:

Does your establishment require or prefer extra class work?

How long have you been working in real estate?

Is there someone that I can work under during the majority of the time?

How do you contact clients when developing leads?

What is the average amount of time that it takes to earn a commission check?

Every brokerage will have different answers, but there are no set good answers. It all depends on what you are looking for. If the establishment wants extra coursework, then that can be good if you want to specialize or bad if you are done with school. Think about what you would want to hear before asking the questions.

Getting Licensed

You can't get a real estate license unless you pass both state and national exams. Many states also require you to submit to a background check to see if you have a criminal record. You will probably have to pay about $200 to $300 for all of the fees, but this price will vary based on state.

Developing a Budget

It's not cheap to become a successful real estate agent, but the costs are lower than starting a business or entering many other professions. Considering the licensing fees, business card printing, advertising and signs, you will probably end up spending about $2,000 before you are ready to sell any houses.

You must also remember to have enough money set aside for several months because this is a common-based career. You won't make any money unless you sell a home, but you'll make a lot once that happens.

Realtor or Real Estate Agent

If you want to call yourself a realtor, then you have to join the NAR, or National Association of Realtors. You can do this by working with an affiliate brokerage agency and going to a number of meetings. This can be useful, but it's not a requirement to sell real estate.

Building a List of Clients

You can build your list of clients by doing two things: using your personal network and working with a mentor. Finding a mentor is easier than you think. You can enter a deal with a senior agent at your chosen brokerage. The two of you will split the commission of any house, but he or she will guide you towards making contacts. This will also help you learn more about your career without having to attend more classes.

You might also want to ask family and friends if they need real estate or if they have any referrals. While this may not make your list explode, it's a good way to start if you don't have a long list of clients.

Conclusion

You'll find that becoming a successful real estate agent is nearly the same as starting a business. You still need startup money, you must advertise yourself and you will only make money if you can sell your services. If you take everything seriously, then you should easily be able to sell a house before your funds dry up.

Every day, thousands of people are eagerly working towards getting a real estate license. While many people pass these tests, the reality is that about 50-75% of these people won't renew their license.