A Career in Texas Real Estate is Closer Than You Think
Texas is one of the largest states area-wise and is home to some of the fastest growing real estate markets in the country.
As the land of opportunity, Texas is one of the promising markets where both supply and demand are steadily increasing since the last few years.
The Lone Star state is witnessing a strong growth in demand for housing and residential real estate, creating exciting opportunities for agents and brokers.
Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin are amongst the hottest real estate destinations for homebuyers and investors.
With a strong economic outlook and a growing population, TX is poised to attract skilled workers, retirees and homebuyers who want to be a part of a prosperous state.
If you are seeking a career in real estate as a part-time income stream or a full-time profession, now is a good time to start preparing for it.
The top real estate agents in Texas are easily able to make a six figure income while working in a dynamic career with a stable work-life balance.
Imagine being financially stable and independent as you find your own clients and control your career’s growth trajectory - does this sound like an ideal career path for you?
If yes, you can start by applying for a Texas real estate agent license and become a part of a fast-moving, high-growth industry.
As a beginner, you might be overwhelmed by the plethora of information available on how do you get a real estate license in Texas.
To make things easier for you and to help you get started in the right direction, this in-depth article will walk you through all the key aspects of the licensing process.
From the basic eligibility criteria to Texas specific license requirements, you will get complete clarity on how to pursue a career as a real estate agent.
The potential of Texas’ real estate market growth
Industry data and market research suggests that the Texas real estate market has been steadily booming with a recorded growth of 200 percent.
Home to more than 1000 cities, the Texas real estate market is constantly attracting the interest and investment of buyers and sellers.
Thanks to a strong employment outlook, growing presence of industries and a diverse culture, Texas has emerged as a popular migration destination for many.
Despite it being a mature market, there is still plenty of opportunity and potential for growth in Texas real estate, especially as the population increases and the economy grows.
For aspiring real estate agents, there is no better time than now to work in TX real estate as the emerging trends and possibilities are pointing towards sustained growth in the future.
Did you know that the top real estate agents in Texas can earn as much as $110K annually while helping clients buy and sell properties.
Despite being home to more than 100,000 real estate agents, the demand for skilled, licensed professionals continues to gross.
If you are ready to pursue a career in real estate, keep in consideration that you will need to complete pre-licensing education, take the state real estate license test, pay for your license application and fulfil other requirements for real estate license Texas.
You might wonder why you need to obtain a license in the first place and the reason is that real estate is a highly regulated industry, governed by a pre-established set of state and federal laws and standards.
To work with clients, engage in transactions and earn commissions in real estate deals, you must obtain a valid Texas salesperson license.
Without a state approved license, you will not be legally allowed to assist clients, discuss their requirements and help them in buying or selling properties.
Since clients and consumers also prefer working with licensed professionals and seek the advice and expertise of qualified agents, getting your license is a must to grow your career.
Steps to Obtain a Real Estate License in Texas
As per the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), you must complete a series of steps and fulfill the pre-established Texas real estate requirements to obtain your license.
Step 1: Meet the basic eligibility requirements
To apply for a salesperson license, you must first meet the basic eligibility requirements as established by the TREC. These are:
- You must be at least 18 years of age (or older),
- You must have a proof of residency in the state of Texas.
- You must be a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted alien.
- You must have a high school diploma in education or GED equivalent
Most importantly, you must not have any history of felony or any criminal activity against you.
You can determine whether you meet the eligibility requirements by completing a fitness determination test.
Step 2: Complete the pre-licensing coursework
All aspiring real estate agents in Texas are required to complete state approved pre licensing education to qualify for a real estate salesperson license.
The TREC has made it mandatory to complete the minimum level of education and training to become eligible for a license.
In total, you will have to complete 180 hours of pre license education which includes 6 courses worth 30 hours each. These are:
- Principles of Real Estate 1
- Principles of Real Estate 2
- Law of Agency
- Real Estate Finance
- Law of Contracts
- Promulgated Contract Forms
Pre license course curriculum is formulated to give you a fundamental understanding of the principles of the industry and its key laws, standards, practices and regulations.
You have the flexibility to choose between joining an in-person, physical real estate school or enroll in an online Texas real estate license course to complete your course credits.
Irrespective of where you learn from, it is important that your preferred education provider must be approved by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC).
Although there are numerous colleges, courses and classes for real estate students, not all of them are approved or accredited by the TREC.
As per the TREC, only state approved and accredited education providers are legally permitted to provide pre-licensing education to students.
How much you pay for completing your pre license education depends on the course provider and the medium of learning.
Generally, in-person real estate education providers and schools charge more, whereas online courses are more affordable for students.
It can cost you anywhere between $200 to $600 to complete 180 hours of coursework from a state approved education provider.
Step 3: Submit your licensing application
In Texas, aspiring real estate agents are required to complete mandatory federal background verification and criminal history check.
This step is essential to prove that you meet the minimum standards for honesty, integrity and truthfulness and prove good moral character.
Firstly, you need to register on the TREC website and create an account with the TREC online services to get started.
Along with the application, you must also submit an electronic scan of your fingerprints as part of the background verification and criminal history check.
You can get a copy of your electronic fingerprints taken at any TREC approved live scan vendor in Texas. You will need to pay the fee of $35 for capturing your electronic fingerprints.
Additionally, you will be required to pay a license issuance fee of $150 to the TREC for processing your license application.
Step 4: Pass the Texas salesperson licensing exam
If you are thinking about how do I get a real estate license in Texas - then it’s time to prepare yourself for the final and most crucial step of your licensing journey.
Like most states, Texas requires aspiring real estate salespersons and brokers to take the licensing exam and pass by scoring more than 75 percent or above in the test.
The 120 question licensing exam comprises 85 questions for the national section and 40 questions for the state section and you will get a total of 2.5 hours to tackle 110 multiple choice questions.
The salesperson licensing exam can be taken at any Pearson Vue center in Texas and you can schedule the test as per your preferred day and date.
If you are applying for a real estate agent license, the exam fees will be $43 per attempt and if you are unable to pass the test on the first attempt, you can take the test again.
Since passing the test is essential to earning your license, it is recommended to take your pre-licensing education curriculum seriously and invest in dedicated exam prep resources.
By taking the help of texas real estate exam questions and practice tests, you can get familiar with the test format and the commonly asked questions.
Practice exams are greatly beneficial for students who want to boost their preparation and improve their odds of passing the real estate test on the first attempt.
Step 5: Find a sponsoring broker
If you have made it this far and completed all the steps listed above, congratulations as you are now inches away from becoming a licensed professional.
Now, it is just a matter of waiting for a few weeks and you will receive your license issued by the TREC.
However, there’s one last step you must complete to activate your newly obtained salesperson license and start working with clients.
The state of Texas requires newly licensed agents to find employer sponsorship and learn to work under the supervision of a senior, more experienced broker licensed in TX.
Finding a sponsoring broker is a must to activate your license and you can easily find one in your local area, locality or city who will be willing to sponsor you.
As a newly licensed real estate agent, choosing a sponsoring broker is an important step in your career growth and informative experience of working in the real world.
The decision to choose a broker or brokerage firm should be based on the reputation, experience and credibility.
It is recommended to make an informed decision based on research as it can greatly shape your career trajectory.
While choosing a broker, you should keep in mind key factors such as - brokerage fees, mentorship resources, training resources, commission splits and technology assistance.
Note that you should invest considerable time and effort before making a final choice as there is no one-solution-fits-all approach which works for everyone.
Your career goals and objectives might be completely different from another agent, and thus,
what might work for someone else might not work for you.
Since a senior broker will help you gain experience, learn the ropes and understand the workings of the industry in real-world scenarios, you should make a conscious decision based on finding a suitable fit and aligning your expectations in advance.