Everything You Need to Know About Texas Real Estate License Requirements Before Starting Your Career
Texas’s diverse and vivid real estate market is inviting agents and brokers to be a part of the fertile opportunity landscape and reap exciting career benefits. By meeting the Texas real estate license requirements, you can unlock a rewarding career in this dynamic industry and seize exciting professional benefits.
Working in Texas’ booming real estate can be a professionally lucrative career move, especially if you want to work in a dynamic, fast-moving industry with growth prospects.
Did you know that real estate agents in Texas can easily make north of $100K annually, thanks to the strong demand for housing, residential and commercial real estate?
Home to flourishing real estate markets like Austin, Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth, working as a real estate agent in Texas can be financially rewarding and professionally fulfilling.
Since the last decade, the Texas real estate market has witnessed unprecedented growth, and thanks to a strong economy and growing job market, the prospects are bright too.
Working in Texas as a real estate agent can help you tap into the numerous opportunities for earnings and commissions, and the best part is, that there is no limit to how much you can earn.
As a real estate agent in TX, the more deals you close, the more money you can earn, and the higher the value of the deal, the larger will be your commission amount.
On top of the high-income potential, you can also enjoy the ability to work as per your own schedule and find your own clients as a real estate professional. To get started, understanding the Texas real estate license requirements is key to becoming a licensed professional in this dynamic field.
Home to more than 1000 cities, the Texas real estate landscape is booming and with a growing population, the demand for properties will continue to soar.
If you are keen to start a career in real estate, Texas can offer you a great start, irrespective of whether you are a complete beginner or someone switching careers.
The best part is that you do not need any advanced education or college degree to become a real estate professional.
To get started, you must first prepare to apply for a Texas real estate license by completing the various state-specific requirements.
Different states have their unique set of license requirements for aspiring professionals who want to obtain a salesperson or broker’s license.
Like other states, Texas also allows only licensed professionals to work with clients and without a valid license, you will not be legally allowed to earn commissions.
There are many prerequisites to obtaining your license and if you are ready to learn about what it takes to start a career as a real estate agent in Texas, this post will guide you.
In this blog, you will learn everything about the Texas real estate license requirements including the eligibility criteria, education requirements, and other mandatory requirements.
What Does a Real Estate Agent Do to Meet Texas Real Estate License Requirements?
Many individuals take their first step into starting a career in real estate at various professional stages of their lives.
Before pursuing a career and committing to the process of getting licensed, it is important to set expectations and understand what you will be doing in the role of a real estate agent.
Working as a real estate agent is one of the most common and popular career choices, especially as the barrier to entry is low and you can achieve the goal in a few months.
A day in the life of a real estate agent in Texas is filled with numerous tasks, duties, and responsibilities and they all revolve around finding prospects and helping clients.
Since buying or selling a property is an important decision involving various legal, regulatory, and financial regulations, consumers rely on the assistance and guidance of agents.
Before we discuss the real estate agents in Texas requirements in detail, here is a checklist of some of the common tasks you will perform:
● Respond to inquiries via phone calls, texts, emails, from prospects and existing clients
● Help clients identify suitable locations and properties for buying
● Set up appointments and schedule property visits and showings
● Assist clients with property staging, site tours, and conducting inspections
● Regularly track the industry trends and stay updated with the local market
● Meet with clients to discuss their real estate needs and align expectations
● Educate clients regarding property laws, market conditions, transactions, and so forth
● Guide clients through various stages of buying or selling a property
● Maintain regulatory compliance with the state and federal laws for transactions
● Negotiate on behalf of your clients to help them get the best deal
● Collaborate with industry professionals such as brokers, home inspectors, property appraisers, attorneys, and realtors
● Research about the Texas real estate market landscape and identify potential leads
● Gather information related to properties, market trends, pricing, competition
● Create and publish marketing material to promote listings and find new clients
If you are reading this, you might be wondering whether it is a good idea to complete the requirements to get real estate license in Texas or not.
Do not be intimidated as completing the licensing process is straightforward if you follow a step-by-step approach.
The career path of a real estate agent in Texas
Real estate is a vast, dynamic industry that offers numerous career paths for each skill and experience level.
To start your career, you will have to obtain a Texas salesperson license first, as it is going to be the first milestone of your career.
As you gain industry experience, build a clientele, and complete a few years as an agent, you can apply for a broker’s license in Texas by meeting the Texas real estate license requirements for brokers, which include specific education and experience criteria.
Having a broker’s license in TX will open up the avenues to start your own real estate agency or brokerage firm and manage junior agents.
With a few years of experience as a broker in Texas, you can choose to obtain a Realtor license and further advance in your career.
However, for the scope of this post, we are only going to discuss in detail the requirements for real estate license Texas and how to complete them.
Basic eligibility requirements for a Texas salesperson license
Are you ready to pursue the career path of a Texas real estate agent? If yes, you must start by understanding the basic Texas real estate requirements first.
As per the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), you must meet the minimum eligibility requirements to qualify for a salesperson license. These are:
● Be at least 18 years of age or older.
● Be a legal resident of the United States or a lawfully admitted alien.
● Have a high school diploma or GED equivalent in education.
Educational Requirements for a Texas salesperson license
Real estate is a highly regulated industry that is governed by a pre-established set of laws, standards, and frameworks applicable to professionals and firms.
One of the key regulatory requirements is to obtain a minimum level of education and training for working with clients.
As per the TREC license requirements, for becoming a real estate agent in Texas, you must complete 180 hours of education.
The course credits are divided into six mandatory courses worth 30 hours each which will teach you about the principles of real estate along with the state and federal laws.
You will also learn about real estate regulations and industry fundamentals such as - property management, real estate regulations, legal descriptions, consumer rights, appraisal, contracts, and closing procedures.
Completing pre-license education and training is a must to qualify for a license and as per the Texas law, you must enroll in a state-approved real estate college or online course.
Note that you must complete the pre-license salesperson course with sincerity as it is one of the most important requirements to get a real estate license in Texas.
Note that you will have the flexibility to choose your preferred learning medium i.e. you can choose to join a physical, real estate college in Texas or enroll in an online course.
Compared to in-classroom-based education, many students prefer online real estate pre-licensing courses as they can be completed from anywhere.
Passing The Texas Real Estate License Exam
After completing your education, the next step in completing the Texas real estate license requirements is to take the salesperson license exam.
The license test consists of 125 multiple-choice questions covering both state and federal-specific portions and you will get 240 minutes total to attempt the questions.
To pass the salesperson license exam in Texas you must score at least 70 percent or above and it is mandatory to pass the exam to obtain a license.
If you complete all the above steps properly and fulfill the pre-established requirements to get real estate license in Texas, you will obtain your license within a couple of weeks.
Many beginners often wonder about the cost and budget aspect of starting a new career, especially since there are multiple steps associated with the process.
Cost breakdown of obtaining a real estate license in Texas
1. Pre-licensing education costs
Becoming a licensed real estate professional requires a significant investment of time and money, especially when it comes to completing the pre-licensing education.
Since completing a salesperson license course is one of the mandatory Texas real estate license requirements and a foundation for a successful career, you must not cut corners.
Investing in a state-approved, experienced pre-license course is a must to boost your preparation for a competitive career path.
When you are well-prepared and have the required knowledge and skills, you will find it easier to ace the Texas real estate license exam.
2. Exam fees
Passing the Texas salesperson license exam is amongst the most fundamental Texas real estate license requirements you must
In order to figure out the real estate exam cost in Texas it is important to determine the type of license you are applying for. Applicants must complete and pass the licensing exam, which includes both the state and national level parts of the industry.
The 120-question licensing exam comprises 85 questions for the national section and 40 questions for the state section.
Note that you will have to pay around $40 for taking an attempt at the test and if you are unable to clear the test on your first attempt, you can take the test two times before you will be asked to complete your course credits all over again.
3. Application fees
Completing your Texas salesperson license application is an important step to obtain your license and once you have duly filled the application, you can submit it.
The TREC will process and approve your license application and you will be charged a $185 fee for the same.
Note that if you are unable to pass the Texas real estate licensing exam in one attempt, then you will have to reappear for the exam and pay the application fees again.
4. Background check fees
One of the key Texas real estate license requirements is to pass the federal background verification and criminal history check.
The state law ensures that professionals must have a clean background with no history of felony or unlawful activity.
The TREC requires aspiring real estate agents to submit an electronic copy of their fingerprint scan to the department for review.
In Texas, every applicant must complete a background check and prove a clean record with no history of felony or any charges against them.
If you meet the qualifying standards of good moral and professional conduct, your salesperson license application will be processed.
The fee to complete your background verification and get your fingerprints scanned is $38.25 as a one-time cost.
5. License fees
Once you receive the approval from the Texas Real Estate Commission, you will be required to pay a license issuance fee of $150 to process your application.
You can pay this fee online by logging in to the TREC official website using your credentials and once all the steps are completed, your license will be issued.