How do I become a real estate agent?

Question

Ok. Here's the deal. I'm 17 and about to be a senior in high school. I know that I want to be a real estate agent and after college I would like to work at Coldwell Banker in Malibu. In college I plan on majoring in business. But what about now? What can I do now that will help me to become the best real estate agent is Southern California? I would like to do something so that I'm not just wasting time, so that I can really get a jump on my career.

Answer 1

* Must be least 18 years of age.

* A high school or high school equivalency diploma

* No criminal record

* Complete a 75-hour real estate course.

* Pass both parts of a 2-part state exam (by at least 70%)

Of course, state requirements varies. So make sure to find out requirements for your state.

When you're done with above, you need to know the following:

Cost of fingerprinting is about $75.00 & it has an expiration date. So, get hired by a real estate broker (make sure you get an employment contract), get fingerprinted, make the sale and get paid. lol

Answer 2

I was born in the Malibu area in the 40's, so, congrats on your

career choice.

My peers are correct. I would suggest also that you keep a smiling

distance from CB for your first few years.

Become, instead of a SELLER's agent, a BUYERs agent.

CB  has no decent buyer's agents cause their

specialty is helping sellers list homes and finding buyers for those

homes; thus, creating dual agency; a legal but very

DANGEROUS activity.  IN classes, we are

reminded of the "idiocy" of having the district attorney

representing us a criminal defendants......we would fry.

NO dual agency can get as good a deal for a buyer as

a buyer's agent can; why? IT is illegal to do so!

I will tell you why later!

[and learn about county tax foreclosures.......and get back to me]

Answer 3

Well, I wish I had the drive you have at 17.  You're quite ambitious.  To be successful in real estate, you need this type of quality.  Working hard, hustling, striving to learn more...refusing to quit.  

That being said, sales is very hard.  You need patience and determination.  There is a ton of competition out there.  To become an Licensed agent, you must first attend a school.  There are many of them that you can find just by typing real estate school in the computer.  You essentially learn Real Estate Principles, Practices and Law.  You need to have certain qualifications to be a licensed agent...18 or older, high school diploma or equivalent, good character, honesty, disclose if ever found guilty of crime, etc. etc....  

Assuming you qualify once in the class, theres a lot of required reading and memorization.  After the course, you will likely get a certificate for passing.  You will have minimal fees to pay too on a regular ongoing annual basis.  Each year you must take "continuing education" courses too, which aren't hard, just a little time consuming.

Next you will have to take and pass, I think passing grade of 70% (depends on the state), the CA real estate license test.  The tests are challenging but certainly attainable so long as you study from the course material and read the books, which you will learn in class.  You can take the course multiple times, I believe until you pass.  There is a cut off point, when you may be required to take the classes again as a "refresher course."

Beyond this, to become an agent, once you pay the fees and receive your CA license, you then are required to "hang your license" with a "real estate broker".  The broker is the person who legally can transact sell/buy real estate.  Without going in too much detail, you want to find a broker who's established like Coldwell Banker, Keller Williams, REMAX to name a few...

Beyond this, there are endless number of real estate books that you can buy at Borders/Barnes & Noble or take out of the public library to read more about the industry.  

Additionally, visit the National Association of Realtors (Realtor.org).  You can learn a lot more here...to help immerse yourself in this exciting and yet crazy industry.  Finally, go in to a real estate office.  Ask to speak to an associate there.  Explain that you'd like to ask some exploratory questions i.e. do you like it, what's a day in the life like, what's best part of job, what's least favorite part of job, etc...Doing this can help get your foot in the door...Go to several broker offices...This process can help you become familiar with different office environments.  This is a good thing that you can do right away and its free.  

Good luck...becoming an agent is definitely attainable.  Also my last bit of advice, don't get discouraged.  Anything that you want is achievable.  

Sincerely,

Steve

Answer 4

   Start off with a community college to cut back on cost. Get your associates in Real Estate, and from there you got a future ahead of you, but be aware of the real estate market here in California.

Answer 5

Go directly to the source for answers:

http://www.dre.ca.gov/lic_home.html

Suggestions for schooling:

http://www.dre.ca.gov/exm_avail_statutor...

As a student, perhaps this is the best way to go:

http://www.californialicense.com/?source...

For any online courses you may be considering, always verify that particular online course is approved by your state's real estate commission by contacting them before making the purchase.

Best of luck in your decisive endeavor!