Are You Thinking Of Becoming A Real Estate Agent?

Whether you are choosing your future career path or starting a new venture now that the children are all grown-up, selling real estate may be a great choice for you.

Real estate in the past decade has been a dramatically fluctuating and challenging field, and many people would say that now is not the time to become involved in real estate — but in the words of many real estate agents, brokers, teachers and investors: “We all have to live somewhere," so the need to acquire homes will always be there.

There will always be consumers of real estate — buyers and sellers, tenants and landlords, and investors and developers who will continually need the services of real estate agents who, in return for their services, are earning commissions for their successful transactions.

In today’s economic difficulties, many homeowners have found the need to downsize from their current home to a more affordable living situation. The homeowner often gets the help of real estate agents to properly and effectively market their property so that it will sell quickly, and the agent will also assist them in looking for a new home that will meet the family's needs but won’t break the budget.

So what does it take for you to start a career in real estate and earn a living by helping people find the home of their dreams?

For an answer to that question I turned to Dylan Ferreira, Real Estate Instructor for Eastern Real Estate School at 1200 Hartford Ave., and my former real estate pre-licensing and continued education teacher.

Dylan says the first requirements necessary to becoming a licensed real estate agent are:

• Successful completion of a 45-hour pre-licensing education class
• Completion of a three-hour course in lead poisoning/lead hazard mitigation
• Certification of completing the three-hour New Agency Law course, unless it is included in the curriculum of 45 hours of pre-licensing education.

During the 45 hours of per-licensing classes, we discuss buying and selling real estate and working in the field, as well as a broad range of topics needed to become a competent and proficient real estate professional.

The class is also very informative for any individual just looking to become educated for their own purposes of investing or selling real estate.

Dylan went on to say that a big misconception about becoming a real estate agent is that it requires a lot of math studies — but that is just not true. There are some basic math skills required, but that is all.

To become a successful real estate agent, the most important quality for someone to have is good people skills.

A motivated licensed real estate agent should later become affiliated with a real estate office, which will offer additional training and also help to guide the agent while out in the field. Some real estate offices will also provide agents with continuing education needs to maintain post-licensing requirements.

For additional information regarding becoming a real estate agent Click here.

For information regarding the Department of Business Regulations requirements Check out this link

For requirements to become a REALTOR®, find more information here.

Rhonda Sasa is a Johnston resident, member and Secretary of the Johnston Senior Center Advisory Board, member of our Mom's Council, and a licensed REALTOR® with Exit Realty The New Generation. Reach her via e-mail at rhonda@exitgeneration.com