With the housing market finally beginning to pull out of a nose-dive and expected to turn around in the next couple of years, becoming a real estate agent may once again seem like a viable profession. However, there’s more to selling houses than the fast-paced turnover you see on reality TV shows. In fact, it requires a lot of training, schooling, and licensure in order to get started, and the more you know going into it, the better chance you have to be successful (or decide if it’s even the right career for you).
- Get the facts. Be honest. You have no idea what a real estate agent actually does beyond smiling at potential buyers and pointing out architectural features. But there is a lot more to selling a house than shaking hands and signing on the dotted line. You must have extensive knowledge of the area you live in (which neighborhoods are desirable, how much houses in different parts of town are going for) as well as finance (how to secure loans for clients, government subsidies) and law (legislation that affects the buying and selling of homes). Beyond all of that, you need to have the personality for sales, the ability to read people and determine their wants and needs, and a basic understanding of architecture. In short, you must be a smart, motivated, charming individual to succeed in real estate.
- Find a good school or program. Once you’ve decided real estate is the field of your dreams, you’ll want to pick a good school. You can get a four year degree, attend classes at a community college, select a training program, or even take courses online to prepare for your real estate exam, but you should be aware that each state has different requirements for pre-licensure programs (most states have an approved list of courses or schools, so you should find this information before you select). From there, you’ll need to decide if your ultimate goal is to become an appraiser, and agent, a broker, or any number of other specializations, to ensure that you take the appropriate courses.
- Seek advice. If you’re not really sure what you want to focus on or which courses will suit you, talk to some professionals. Most are willing to share their own experiences and steer you in the right direction. They have been where you are and may be able to offer invaluable assistance that will save you time, money, and frustration down the road.
- Learn everything you can. The more you know, the better chance you will have of joining the real estate industry and embarking upon a lucrative and fulfilling career. So consider taking related classes (psychology, business, finance, architecture, GIS, etc.) to supplement your knowledge base and help you to progress in your chosen field. And don’t forget to brush up on the basics every so often and stay abreast of trends in the market.
- Choose a viable area. The area you choose to live and work in could drastically affect your choices when it comes to proceeding along your career path. For one thing, schooling and testing practices vary from state to state, so don’t think you can obtain a license in California and head off to work in Florida. You’ll also want to consider the odds of getting a job in the area you choose, as well as ascertaining the strength of the market and how it has done in the past. You want to make sure to give yourself the very best chance to succeed in your new profession, so do your homework before you make any life-altering decisions.
Kathleen Macky owns a real estate website where you can browse Wesley Chapel homes for sale.
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