Learn Why California Real Estate is an Ideal Career Path
Working as a real estate agent is a professional dream come true for thousands, especially in California’s flourishing real estate market.
Be it the prospects of earning a six-figure income or the allure of working on your own schedule and being professionally independent, real estate offers numerous benefits.
If you are seeking an ideal career path where you can be your own boss, define your own career goals, and become financially stable, working as a real estate agent can be a good fit.
Unlike most conventional, nine-to-five jobs, working in California real estate can offer you financial benefits as well as job satisfaction.
California’s real estate market is renowned for its exciting possibilities, strong demand, sustained growth and continuous development, and initiatives.
As a result of this, real estate agents and brokers in CA enjoy a high-paying job in a lucrative career where they can help clients achieve their homeownership goals.
San Francisco, Los Angeles, Santa Monica, Nevada, and Las Vegas are popular real estate hotspots where the demand for housing and commercial properties continues to surge.
Did you know that the median price of a single-family home in California is around $850K, making the Golden Gate state one of the most valuable real estate markets in the U.S.
Imagine getting the opportunity to work as a real estate agent and earn anywhere between 4 to 6 percent commission on every deal you close.
Your earning and income prospects in California real estate are not limited, and the more deals you close, the more commissions you can earn.
Whether you are looking to start a profitable side income as a part-time real estate agent or become a full-time professional, CA offers a fertile opportunity to grow your career.
To work with clients in California and earn commissions through real estate deals, you need to obtain a valid salesperson license first.
As per the state law, only licensed professionals are allowed to assist consumers in buying and selling properties.
Getting licensed might seem like an overwhelming and daunting task, especially if you have a limited understanding of the steps and process involved.
To help you get started in the right direction, this in-depth guide will cover all the key steps and requirements on how to get your CA real estate license easily.
Let us start with the basics first and understand the importance of following the rules and regulations of the Department of Real Estate (DRE) in California.
Understanding the role of the California DRE in your career
The California DRE is the state’s leading agency for regulating and managing matters of real estate, including its professionals and firms.
California was the first state in the country to establish and enforce a set of laws and regulations for real estate professionals.
The DRE in California is the state authority for serving the state’s resident consumers and for overseeing the functioning of the state’s real estate market.
Primarily, the DRE in California is responsible for providing licensing services to real estate salespersons and brokers. It authorizes the issuing and renewal of licenses to aspiring and experienced license holders.
The authority is also in charge of establishing and enforcing the real estate licensing rules, regulations, and standards for professionals and firms.
Whether you are an aspiring real estate professional or an experienced agent or a broker, you must keep yourself abreast with the latest and most up-to-date rules, regulations, and guidelines issued by the California Department of Real Estate.
Be it the basic eligibility criteria or the educational requirements, every individual is required to fulfill the minimum qualifying criteria to become eligible for a CA salesperson license.
Curious how long does it take to get a California real estate license? To get one, you must meet the licensing requirements put in place by the DRE and ensure that you maintain and uphold the standards.
Since your real estate career hinges on your license, it is important to keep in mind that you must fulfill all the qualifying requirements enforced by the DRE in California.
Advantages of working in California real estate
Pursuing a profession is an important career decision and requires careful planning and consideration to ensure success.
Many beginners often wonder about the career benefits of working in real estate and whether it is worthwhile to put in the required time, effort, and costs involved in the journey.
If you are interested in pursuing a career in CA real estate but are not entirely convinced of the possibilities? Let’s discuss in detail some key advantages of choosing this profession:
High income potential:
One of the most popular reasons why real estate is a sought-after career is the high potential for earnings and commissions.
Did you know that the top real estate agents in California can earn as much as $120K in a year!
Being a financially rewarding and rewarding career, you can earn a six- figure income in California’s lucrative real estate market.
The best part is that your income will be directly related to the efforts and hours you put in. This means the more deals you help close, the more money you can make.
Imagine you help sell a California home with a median price of $1M or above - you can easily fetch $25-$30K for yourself in commissions.
Flexible working hours:
Having the flexibility to set your working hours and be a master of your own schedule is one of the most important advantages of working in real estate.
For aspiring real estate agents, this career will give you the freedom to work on your own terms and create a flexible schedule at your convenience.
As a CA real estate agent, you can choose to define your working hours and escape the nine-to-five grind of conventional jobs.
This does not mean that you work less, but it simply indicates that you have the flexibility to set your own schedule.
If you are someone who strives to achieve a work-life balance, working in real estate might be a good way to achieve your goal.
Whether you work for a brokerage or open your own real estate agency, you can gain the autonomy to put in the required hours and meet your professional goals.
Flexibility in working hours is one of the most valuable and underappreciated benefits for real estate professionals. Especially if you have a family or plan to start one in the future.
Lower barrier to entry:
If you want to know how to get a California real estate license and start a career, then you are in luck because, unlike other high-paying professions, the barrier to entry in real estate is low.
To work with clients and earn commissions, you don't need to spend years getting a college degree or complete advanced education.
As long as you have a high school education or GED equivalent, you are eligible to apply for a CA salesperson license.
Once you complete 135 hours of mandatory pre-licensing education in California, you can qualify to apply for a salesperson license.
This means you can start working as a real estate agent in Georgia within a span of a few months and the licensing process will not require multiple years of investment.
Rewarding Career Helping People Buy or Sell Properties
Do you want to be of value to others and serve them as a professional? If yes, a career as a real estate agent can help you achieve this goal.
One of the many reasons why people choose to start a career in real estate is the ability to help people buy and find their dream property.
Whether you are working as a real estate agent, broker or realtor, spending time with clients and understanding their needs and preferences is going to be a big part of your job.
This means you will get to know people better and help them navigate the vast market of choices with your knowledge, skill, and expertise.
If serving people and helping them realize their dreams sounds exciting to you, then a career in real estate can be your calling.
To conclude, working in California’s booming real estate industry is a rewarding and fulfilling career path and one that can set you up to achieve financial and professional independence.
Once you get your real estate license in CA, you can launch your career with confidence and the knowledge required to succeed. Next, let us walk you through the step-by-step process.
Basic California Real Estate Licensing Requirements
To apply for a license, you must meet the minimum eligibility California real estate license requirements established by the DRE, which are:
- You must be 18 years of age or older.
- You must be a legal resident of California
- You must have a high school education or a GED equivalent in education
To confirm your eligibility, you can also take a fitness determination test, which will ensure that you fully qualify for a career in real estate.
Complete pre-license education requirements for a California
Like most states, California also requires individuals to complete a minimum level of education and training to qualify for a license.
As per the DRE in California, every applicant must complete 135 hours of pre-licensing education to qualify for a salesperson license. Here are the courses you will learn:
- Principles of Real Estate (45 hours)
- Real Estate Practice (45 hours)
- Real Estate Finance (45 hours)
When exploring how to get a real estate license in California online, you'll find numerous real estate colleges, schools, and pre-license education providers to choose from—each offering options that suit your learning style, schedule, and budget.
Note that it is important to learn from a DRE-approved education provider to ensure you are meeting the education and training guidelines.
Clear Background Verification
The DRE in California aims to enforce and maintain the highest professional standards in the industry applicable to professionals and firms.
The DRE requires all aspiring agents to meet and clear the federal background verification and criminal history check.
To complete this step, you must submit an electronic scan of your fingerprints to the State Department of Justice (DOJ) for verification if you are applying for the first time.
There are many state-approved live scan vendors in CA, and you can visit any of them to get your fingerprints taken.
Pass the Salesperson licensing exam in California.
The state license exam consists of state-specific and national-specific sections, consisting of 150 multiple-choice questions in total.
You will get a total of 3 hours to complete the test, and to pass it, you need to score at least 70 percent or above. Passing the exam is mandatory to obtain a salesperson license.
The real estate exam questions are based on fundamental topics you will cover during your education; it is recommended to take the help of California real estate exam practice test.