So, you have decided to become a real estate agent and get your license? Well, first of all, congratulations are in order. A real estate career offers a lot of perks – from working with different clients and visiting many homes, you won\u2019t be doing the same thing every day. You also get to be your own boss and enjoy the satisfaction of helping buyers and sellers navigate through one of life\u2019s major milestones.<\/p>
However, as sweet as this sounds, it also comes with its own challenges. Thanks to the housing market frenzy in 2021<\/a>, there were more than\u00a01.5 million realtors<\/a>\u00a0in the U.S. as of 2023, and this number continues to increase.\u00a0So, the question now is, with all this competition, how do you get a real estate license and stand out of the crowd?<\/p> The process, qualifications, cost, and timeline for becoming a real estate agent differ from state to state. Hence, it is important to understand exactly what it takes to begin this exciting career. <\/p> Key takeaways<\/p>\n\n A real estate agent is a licensed professional who arranges property transactions, connects buyers and sellers, and represents them in negotiations.<\/p>\n\n In almost every state, a real estate agent must work for or be affiliated with a real estate broker, someone who is more experienced, has taken additional coursework and is licensed.<\/p>\n\n A real estate license allows realtors to legally sell, broker, or rent real estate to prospective tenants and buyers on behalf of a real estate brokerage. <\/p>\n\n There is no national real estate license, so agents must meet their state\u2019s licensing requirements. <\/p>\n\n Qualification requirements can be found on each state’s real estate regulatory agency’s website.<\/p><\/blockquote> A real estate agent is a licensed professional who arranges property transactions, connects buyers and sellers, and represents them in negotiations. Real estate agents are usually paid through a commission\u2014a percentage of the property\u2019s sale price\u2014so their income depends on the size and number of deals they close. <\/p> In almost every state, a real estate agent must work for or be affiliated with a real estate broker, someone who is more experienced, has taken additional coursework, and is licensed.<\/p> Some agents eventually become brokers, which involves additional educational and experience requirements. Brokers typically have more responsibilities, can work independently, and hire agents to work for them.<\/p> Real estate agents are tasked with a multitude of daily duties and responsibilities, from lead generation and marketing to open houses and property closings. Still, many agents start their days catching up on administrative tasks, so they might:<\/p> Because administrative duties can be very time-consuming, many agents hire an assistant to handle these day-to-day tasks. This allows the agent to leverage their time more effectively and to ultimately be more productive.<\/p>Who is a real estate agent?<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>