Pursuing a Real Estate License

When evaluating your current lifestyle, it’s important to take into account what your career is. With over 50% of Americans unsatisfied with their careers, learning how to identify the intersection of your professional and personal interest should always be a top priority to ensure job satisfaction. To that end, real estate is a dynamic career choice with multiple job options for all types of individuals.

Different Career Paths Real Estate License Holders Can Pursue

After taking real estate courses and securing a real estate license, a holder of this credential can apply to a number of different career paths. The most notable three paths people tend to pursue in real estate, however, include:

1. Real Estate Sales Agent

A real estate agent facilitates a transaction between a buyer and seller for a home, apartment, or other type of domicile. They will work to market and list properties and help both parties with the paperwork process when a deal is settled upon.

2. Real Estate Broker

Real estate brokers often have multiple real estate agents working under them. A broker specializes in doing everything an agent does, but also has the capability of authenticating deals that occur where an agent is facilitating the process. This helps to ensure the legality of all deals.

3. Real Estate Property Manager

Property managers have a unique role in real estate most closely similar to a landlord. They set and collect rent, take care of maintenance requests, fill vacant units, and more. Most property managers oversee large buildings or communities, whereas landlords typically own a single home.

What Lifestyle Does a Career in Real Estate Foster?

If any of the above career paths caught your eye, you may be wondering what type of lifestyle real estate cultivates and if it’s a match for you. This field is a rewarding one, but only for those who have the time and effort to dedicate towards building out their business. Agents often have to work for months, or even years, to land their first big close, not to mention the length of time it takes to become a broker. These two career paths are best for a tenacious lifestyle and a motivated individual.

Should a person prefer a more laidback career path where they interact with people less, looking into the property management side of things may be the better choice. Be aware, however, that this form of real estate still requires people skills, so if a focus on social integration isn’t in your lifestyle plan then this may not be right for you.

How to Obtain a Real Estate License

Assuming all of the above has made you consider a career in real estate, the next natural progression is learning how to obtain a license in real estate, which can be done in relatively a few steps:

Be 18 years or older
Complete 135 hours of preapprove license education
Pass a background check
Pass the state salesperson license exam
Seek out a broker you can work under
Complete your application and receive the license

Each state has slightly different rules regarding what it takes to secure a real estate license in that area, so research any state-specific requirements prior to starting the process.

Tips Before Entering Real Estate

As of recent data, there are over three million active real estate license holders in the U.S. alone, going to show that this career path isn’t rare. If you want to stand out in the industry in order to make a name for yourself, there are a few tips you should follow to increase your odds:

Focus on building your book and throw out any notion of getting a major close right away

Understand that real estate is a game of patience

Create a business plan before you even take your license exam

Work your own network first when thinking about where to start

Seek out one or more mentors who can help you get your feet wet when starting out

Develop a career that matches your lifestyle

Finding a career path that matches how you live your life on a day-to-day basis with your lifestyle is crucial. After all, if your job requires skills and interests that you simply don’t have, you’re far less likely to feel motivated at work. Instead of simply going through the motions, focus on finding a career that combines all of your passions into one job which matches your ideal lifestyle, regardless of what that may be.