How To Grow Your Real Estate Career in Florida
Florida continues to attract homebuyers, tourists, and investors and create exciting opportunities for real estate agents and brokers.
Home to scenic natural views, a vast coastline, picturesque beaches and a strong economy, Florida’s real estate landscape is diverse, exciting, and prosperous.
Be it Miami, Fort Worth, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, or Naples, there are numerous real estate hotspots in the Peach State.
Placed among the top ten fastest-growing real estate markets in the country, Florida is an attractive destination for families, retirees, skilled workers, and migrants who seek world-class travel, entertainment options, employment opportunities, and quality of living.
Did you know that the top real estate professionals in FL can make as much as $120K to $150K in a year?
Imagine earning a six-figure income while working in a fast-growing, dynamic industry where you can be your own boss and define your own working hours.
If this sounds like a profession you would want to be a part of, now is a good time to start preparing for it.
To reap the benefits of Florida’s booming real estate market, you must obtain a state-issued license first.
In Florida, only licensed professionals are legally allowed to work with clients and earn commissions by participating in real estate deals.
Whether you want to work as a part-time or a full-time real estate agent, you must complete a set of Florida license requirements to qualify for a license.
For many beginners, getting a license might seem like a daunting challenge and an overwhelming task.
If you are keen to pursue a career in FL real estate, then this article will answer all your questions regarding how to become a licensed real estate agent in Florida.
From the basic eligibility criteria to the state-specific education requirements, we will cover all the key aspects of getting your license and starting your career in FL real estate.
What makes Florida a popular real estate market
Thanks to its world-class beaches, bustling entertainment options, and a plethora of exciting lifestyle choices, real estate is pointing towards strong growth in the upcoming years.
Did you know that Florida has overtaken New York to become the second-highest-valued real estate market in the United States?
With the average home price in Florida reaching an all-time high of $500K, the demand for residential and commercial real estate in Florida has been strong over the last few years.
This has led to a boom in residential real estate in Florida due to an influx of skilled workers, tourists, retirees, and homebuyers who want to migrate to the Peach State.
Housing prices have increased by a whopping 80% in Florida and builders and lenders are offering attractive mortgage finance plans to encourage buyers to purchase real estate.
Miami, Tampa, Orlando, and Jacksonville are amongst the top-growing real estate markets in the country.
In the last few years, Florida’s real estate market has emerged as one of the highest-valued in the U.S.
You might be thinking about how do I get a real estate license in Florida and make the most of the real estate rush, but it is important to first understand what makes the market so lucrative for agents.
Let’s take a detailed look at some positive factors behind Florida real estate’s growing popularity:
- Favorable Weather: Florida’s year-round pleasant weather, thanks to its tropical beaches and abundant coastline is a major factor fueling the real estate rush. With its early warm springs and late autumn, Florida’s weather has become an attraction in itself.
- Better Tax Benefits: One of the most favorable aspects of living in Florida is that residents do not have to pay income tax. This means higher savings on capital gains and no need to pay additional taxes.
- Growing Job Opportunities: Florida has added around half a million new jobs in the last two decades. Tampa, Jacksonville, and Orlando rank among the top cities in the country for their growing job opportunities.
- Exciting Lifestyle Choices: Florida offers attractive lifestyle options such as scenic beaches, scenic entertainment parks, world-class restaurants, and golf courses which makes it a popular destination for tourists, families, and retirees.
Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, Fort Myers, Myrtle Beach, Cape Coral, and Tampa are some of the most popular real estate markets and can offer you numerous earning and commission opportunities.
If you are ready to embark on a rewarding and fulfilling career journey, keep on reading till the end to learn more about the Florida real estate agent license requirements in detail.
However, since getting a license requires dedicated effort, resources, and commitment, one might wonder what is the need for a license, after all.
If you have been wondering about the same question, let us walk you through some of the key reasons why getting your real estate license is a must.
The need for getting a license in real estate
To work in a regulated industry like real estate, you must meet certain standards and fulfill a set of pre-established requirements.
Getting a license is a way to meet the professional standards established by the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) which is the state authority for issuing and renewing licenses.
According to the FREC regulatory guidelines, if you want to work with clients and help them sell or buy properties in Florida, you must obtain and hold a valid license.
The FREC is responsible for protecting the rights of consumers and industry professionals, and to do so, a licensing system has been put in place that ensures that only sincere, knowledgeable, and qualified individuals get the benefits of working in real estate.
With a Florida salesperson or broker’s license, you will be perceived as a skilled professional by prospects and clients who are looking for services and advice.
To enforce a minimum standard for issuing licenses to individuals, the FREC has established a set of basic qualifying requirements. These are:
- You must be at least 18 years of age or older
- You must be a legal citizen of the US or a lawfully residing alien.
- You should have a high school diploma or GED equivalent in education.
If you want to apply for a real estate license, you must fulfill the statutory eligibility requirements first.
Steps to get your Florida salesperson license
Applying for a license might seem overwhelming to beginners, but all you need to do is follow the step-by-step process and you will be on your way to getting licensed.
Step 1: Complete pre-licensing education
As per the FREC license requirements for salespersons, you are required to complete a minimum level of education to qualify for a license.
The FREC requires aspiring real estate agents to complete 63 hours of state-approved course credits, also known as pre-licensing education.
As a student, you have the flexibility to join a physical, classroom-based environment or enroll in an online Florida real estate license course to complete your coursework.
Pre-license education curriculum consists of fundamental courses that will teach you about the principles of real estate, state and federal laws, and industry standards for professionals.
To work in the industry as a professional and help clients, you must learn about the world of real estate, especially consumer rights.
Listed below are some of the topics you will complete in your pre-licensing education:
- Principles of Real Estate
- Laws of Real Estate
- Property Rights
- Laws of Agency
- Real Estate Finance
- Real Estate Business
- Promulgated Contract Forms
Additionally, completing 63 hours of pre-license coursework will also teach you about your job duties, responsibilities, and your role in the industry.
Most students prefer the flexibility offered by a Florida real estate license course online as it can be completed from anywhere on any device which makes learning more convenient.
Irrespective of your preferred medium of learning, you must choose a state-approved education provider.
Step 2: Pass the Florida licensing exam
After you have obtained a certificate of completion from a state-approved education provider, you can schedule your salesperson licensing exam in Florida.
To schedule your test, you need to submit proof of completion of pre-license education coursework along with an electronic scan of your fingerprints for background check and verification purposes.
Once your documents have been verified, you can take the FL real estate sales associate exam in person at one of the Pearson Vue centers based on your preferred location.
The duration of the real estate license test is three hours during which you will have to answer 100 multiple-choice questions. In order to pass the test, you must score at least 75 percent or above.
First-time applicants and beginners are often intimidated by the difficulty of the Florida real estate license exam and wonder how easy it is to pass the test on the first attempt.
Here’s a useful tip for you - make use of specialized exam test prep resources to prepare better and manage your learning schedule.
If you practice using the Florida real estate license practice exam and sample test questions, you can gain the knowledge and confidence needed to pass the test.
Step 3: Find employer sponsorship
If you have successfully passed all the steps above, you will receive your Florida salesperson license within a few weeks.
However, to work with clients, you need to activate your license first, and to do so, you need to find a sponsoring brokerage firm or broker licensed in Florida.
As per the FREC, it is mandatory for all newly licensed agents to work under the supervision of a senior brokerage or broker and gain practical industry experience.
This step is straightforward and easy to complete and you can easily search for brokerage firms or independent brokers in your region and reach out to them.
Once you have found employer sponsorship, you will have to submit details to the FREC for review and approval post which your license will be activated.
Step 4: Renew your Florida salesperson license
After getting your license, you must also keep it active and valid for use in the future as it is a mandatory requirement by Florida law.
The FREC requires all real estate agents and brokers to keep their licenses active by completing education and coursework before the license expiration date.
To complete this step, a 45-hour post license course Florida which will keep you up to date with the latest laws and industry developments.
After completing your continuing education course credits, you can pay the license renewal fee to keep your license renewed till its next expiration date.