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Becomming A Real Estate . . .. agent?

Hello everyone! Once again I go to yahoo answers, I feel like i get better answers than searching regular yahoo nowadays. Anyways, im 22 years old, trying to figure out something to do for work. So i came to real estate. I was wondering if anyone could help me with the folllowing: 1) where to start? - what classes to sign up for? - which is the most successful route to take? - how long to complete class and be actually working? 2) is there anything else I could take in a class that could relate to being a better real estate agent? Like communication skills and such? 3) what type of money could an average to better than average real estate agent could make anually? if anyone could help me as i try to continue searching for these answers, I would greatly appreciate it.

Public Comments

1. The requirements vary state to state, but you should probably be able to meet with a real estate agent or two to see where they recommend you take the classes. I live in Utah, and I know that there are several "schools" that offer the required classes. The same goes for mortgage brokers. I found the school I took my classes from by asking other mortgage brokers where the best place was. Real estate agents can likely answer your other questions too. In general, I think here in Utah it takes about 2 months, to complete the course. I think once you are a real estate agent and have some experience you can make 50-90k a year on average, but it will take a couple of years to work your way up there, once you get your contacts and learn the best method. I worked closely with a couple of real estate agents. One started just a few years before and made about 30k+ on average a year, but in one month this spring he made 67k. The other, who was the broker for the company, made quite a bit more per year, since he did commercial properties too. i would say he might make 150-200k a year, but he had done it for several more years and had a unique "in" within his community.
2. Since real estate is a licensed occupation, and thus, classes are required FOREVER--be really sure you want to enter this field. The average agent earns 2x minimum wage! Also, 95% of all agents earn no salary! They work on commission. Depending on your age, find out what activities you love to do or think about and study those! I can guide you further if you wish, at no cost. kkemper1@mindspring.com
3. Okay, I JUST went through the process, so I hope I can give you some good information! I had those same questions you have, earlier this year! I started out the wrong way (for me anyway) I started with an online, self study course, which took me waaay too long to finish, not because it was so long, but because I had no structure. I would not study for weeks at a time. It should have only taken 2 or 3 months. That turned into almost a year. I didn't understand most of it because it was like a completely different language! I needed someone to give me examples of what they were talking about. So eventually I went to Century21 and signed up for their exam classes. This was the best thing I could do. They had 2 classes a week, and you could finish all the classes within a month and a half. You could keep taking the classes over and over again if you wanted to. It was about $400 for the classes. All they focused on was getting you to pass the State Exam. A lot of the stuff in the Real Estate Principals book is stuff you don't need to know to pass the state exam. I passed the state exam on the first try =) You can also get reimbursed for your $400 when you sell your first house. If I would have just gone to the classes (without the online course) I would say realistically from start to finish, it would be a month a half to complete the classes, and maybe a month at taking state exam practice tests over and over and over until you get 85% of better, until you take the exam and pass. (You should schedule your exam in advance. Sometimes the classes fill up quickly) Then it takes about a week or 10 days to find out if you passed. Then they mail you the License application. Then you have to fill out all the confusing forms (in California anyway) and get fingerprinted and mail off your application. It can be another 6 weeks before you get your license. They have real estate certificates you can get at local community colleges that would help you in your career, and some other classes are usually neccessary to keep your license. What I've heard about income is that the large majority of agents make no money at all. I think they say 80% of agents are out of the profession within the 1st year, and 50% more are out the 2nd year (something like that) They the majority of agents that do make money, make about $45,000 a year (in California), but 5% make over $100,000 a year! Of course the goal is to be one of those top agents! I hope this information helps! Its really exciting to finish the process and get your license! Good luck to you!!