Read The Beginner’s Guide on How To Become a Licensed Real Estate Agent in Florida Easily
If you are seeking a career in FL real estate as a part-time agent or a full-time professional, learning how to become a licensed real estate agent in Florida is the first step toward a lucrative career, especially if you want to work in a fast-moving, dynamic industry.
Florida is home to beautiful beaches, scenic coastline, and a strong economy, thanks to the massive tourism industry and a growing population.
Florida is renowned for its pleasant climate, world-class entertainment choices, and diverse culture, making it a popular destination for skilled workers, tourists, retirees, and families.
Currently known among the fastest-growing real estate markets in the country, Florida boasts a strong economy and a growing job market.
Florida’s real estate market is witnessing strong demand which has created rewarding income and commission opportunities for real estate agents and brokers.
The Peach State is home to some popular and renowned real estate markets such as - Miami, Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa, Fort Myers, and Cape Coral which continue to show strong growth and sustained demand for housing and commercial real estate.
If you are an aspiring real estate agent, you would be excited to learn about the income potential in FL real estate where top professionals can earn as much as $120K annually.
Given the exciting career prospects, if you too are eager to start a profitable side income stream or build a long-term career, there is no better time than now to join FL real estate.
However, to unlock the growth and income opportunities, it is a mandatory requirement to first obtain your Florida real estate license.
Without a valid license, you will not be able to legally work with clients and help them buy or sell real estate in Florida.
For beginners and aspiring professionals, getting licensed involves the completion of a series of pre-established steps and fulfilling Florida state regulations and requirements.
Now, you might presume that the process of earning your Florida real estate license is complicated or overwhelming, which many first-time applicants feel, however, if you follow a step-by-step approach, it is easy and straightforward.
To help you get started, this in-depth guide will cover all the important aspects of getting licensed - from the basic qualifying criteria to state-specific requirements.
If you have been wondering about how to get my real estate license in FL and become a part of the flourishing industry, this post will answer all your questions.
You will gain an in-depth understanding of what it takes to start a career in FL real estate from scratch and how you can achieve your professional goals with confidence.
Understanding Florida’s Real Estate Landscape: How to Become a Licensed Real Estate Agent in Florida
Florida’s real estate landscape is diverse and inviting, creating rewarding opportunities and offering immense potential for agents and brokers.
Individuals from New York, Illinois, New Jersey, and Texas are migrating in big numbers to Florida and the exceptional demand for housing is a testament to the popularity.
The Peach State is renowned for being home to some of the most alluring and attractive markets such as Miami, Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, and Orlando.
With a median home price of $420K, Florida real estate has seen double-digit growth in the last few years.
Due to the rising home valuations and increasing demand, the Florida real estate landscape is brimming with exciting opportunities for the future, especially as the state’s population growth has risen by around five teams in the last few years.
In addition to legacy markets, Florida is also home to some of the emerging hotspots for real estate, such as Leesburg, Cape Coral, Tampa, and Haines City, making it an exciting time to learn how to become a licensed real estate agent in Florida and tap into these growing opportunities.
As more people migrate to Florida due to its picturesque beaches, beautiful coastline, world-class theme parks, and entertainment choices among other reasons, the demand for residential and commercial real estate in Florida will continue to grow.
With average home prices also rising along with the growing demand, the need for skillful and knowledgeable real estate agents in Florida continues to grow as well.
The Sunshine State is currently home to thousands of licensed real estate agents and brokers, and with a growing population, the prospects for aspiring agents are bright too.
If you are keen to pursue and build a career in FL real estate, now is the time to start taking the steps in the right direction.
To learn more about the steps to get a real estate license in Florida, keep on reading till the end of this post.
How Real Estate Agents Make Money
Choosing a career path is an important professional decision, and you might be wondering what it takes to become a successful real estate agent.
The core duty of a real estate agent is to work alongside their clients and help them in real estate deals and transactions.
For example - if you are a seller’s agent, you will assist your client in setting up their property for visits and site tours from prospective buyers.
You will also help your clients in making informed decisions, setting the right asking price, and understanding the legal and regulatory aspects of a real estate transaction.
To learn how to become a licensed real estate agent in Florida, you can choose to work as an independent real estate agent or as part of a state-licensed brokerage firm or agency.
When it comes to earnings, real estate agents are paid on a commission basis i.e. you will get a certain amount after the transaction is completed.
Typically, the commission is based on a percentage of the total value of the real estate deal, which is the selling or buying price of a property.
In Florida, you can expect to earn anywhere between 5 to 5.4 percent in commission on every deal you participate in. Here are some factors that affect your earnings:
1. Location of the property:
Popular regions and markets like Miami and Palm Beach often have higher commission and earning opportunities, as compared to emerging and less popular locations.
2. Market outlook:
You can expect to charge a higher commission amount during a strong market sentiment i.e. when the demand for real estate is higher than usual and more people are showing interest in buying or selling properties.
3. Skill and expertise:
The more knowledgeable and skilled you are, the higher commission you can demand in lieu of your expert services and assistance.
Real estate brokers tend to charge more for their services as compared to junior agents in Florida.
Now that you have learned about how real estate agents make money, you might be wondering about how to get your Florida real estate license online easily.
Before you decide to commit to a career, it is also helpful to learn about the short-term and long-term benefits of the profession.
Benefits of working in Florida real estate
If you are on the fence about deciding whether to pursue a path in FL real estate, the short answer is yes - a career as a real estate agent can be financially rewarding and fulfilling.
It is no surprise that thousands of people choose to pursue a career in real estate, and whether you want to work as a part-time agent or a full-time professional, there are numerous benefits such as:
1. High earning potential
The number one reason why a career in real estate is exciting for many is the ability to make a high annual income without any restrictions.
On top of it, you can easily make good money as the average annual income of a real estate agent in FL can range between $70K to $100K to start with.
Real estate agents can make good money in a popular market like Florida, where the demand for residential and commercial properties is soaring. If you’re wondering how to become a licensed real estate agent in Florida, this thriving market offers a promising opportunity to start a rewarding career.
If becoming financially secure and independent is your professional goal, you can achieve it by working as a licensed real estate agent in the Sunshine State.
A huge advantage of choosing this career path is the fact that there is no limit or upper cap on how much money you can earn - the more deals you participate in, the more commissions you can earn.
Real estate agents can directly control their earnings and income while working on their own terms and defining their schedules to meet their professional goals.
2. Opportunities for Professional Growth
If you want to build a thriving professional network in a fast-moving, ever-evolving industry, a career in FL real estate can be a good start.
Real estate is a dynamic industry that has been constantly changing and adapting since historic times, and even today, continues to move forward and create new opportunities.
The avenues for professional growth in a popular real estate market like Florida are plenty, especially for those who are sincere and determined to become successful.
To start your career, you can apply for a salesperson license in Florida and enter the industry as a licensed professional.
After getting your Florida salesperson license, you can continue to gain experience and apply for a broker’s license in a few years.
As you grow and advance in your career, you can also choose to become a Realtor in Florida and climb on the ladder of professional growth.
Over time, you will get enough experience to build your own clientele and maybe start your own real estate firm.
3. Better job satisfaction
Are you someone who craves job fulfillment with financial rewards? If yes, a career in Florida real estate can give you the opportunity to achieve both.
For many individuals, simply chasing financial growth and rewards is not a fulfilling career path and they want to make a difference with their work.
If you too wish to make your efforts count, a career as a real estate agent in Florida can give you the opportunity to help clients achieve their goals.
Whether you work part-time or full-time, follow these steps how to become a licensed real estate agent in Florida and guide clients in buying and selling properties, empowering them to make smarter, informed decisions with your expertise.
If you are seeking a balance between financial success and job fulfillment, pursuing the career path of a real estate agent might just be a great choice for you.
If you are keen to start the licensing process and want to know how to get a real estate license in Florida online, keep on reading as we outline the steps in the next section.
Florida real estate license requirements
Now that you are ready to apply for a salesperson license and start your career from scratch, it is time to learn about what it takes.
To become a licensed real estate agent in Florida, you must meet the state and federal license requirements and fulfill all the qualifying requirements.
A Step By Step Guide: As per the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC), beginners must meet all minimum statutory requirements to qualify for a real estate career.
These requirements are as follows:
● You must be at least 18 years of age or older
● You must have a valid residence proof as a U.S. citizen or a lawfully residing alien
● You must have a high school diploma in education or its GED equivalent
If you qualify for the above requirements completely, the next step is to complete the FREC pre-licensing education requirements for a salesperson license.
Like most states, Florida requires every aspiring real estate agent to complete mandatory training and education to become familiar with the state and federal laws, real estate industry guidelines, and various principles and practices of their trade.
Completing pre-license education and training is a crucial step in meeting the licensing requirements in Florida.
Completing pre-licensing education is essential for learning how to become a licensed real estate agent in Florida, providing you with the fundamental knowledge and training required to work with clients and assist them in real estate matters.
As per the FREC qualifying education, every applicant must complete 63 hours of state-approved pre-licensing education to apply for a salesperson license.
You might be thinking about how to get a Florida real estate license online and manage your education at the same time - luckily, you will have the flexibility to complete your course credits on your own time.
Most importantly, completing courses will help you prepare for the Florida salesperson licensing exam as it is the next crucial step in getting a license.
Note that you have the flexibility to choose your preferred medium of completing the course credits i.e. you can choose to join a real estate college and attend in-person classes or enroll in an online Florida salesperson pre-license course.
Many students choose online real estate courses as they are more convenient and help save time and effort.
Once you have successfully completed 63 hours of pre-licensing education, you will be eligible to take the licensing exam.
As per the FREC license regulations, it is mandatory to pass the state license test to prove your knowledge and competence.
Only if you successfully pass the Florida salesperson license test, will you receive your agent’s license.
The test consists of multiple choice questions covering both state and federal specific portions and to pass the test you must score at least 75 percent or above.
To boost your preparation for the test, you can take the help of real estate exam prep resources such as sample questions and mock tests.
Once you successfully pass the test, you can proceed to complete the next step which requires you to clear federal background verification and criminal history check.
Since real estate is a regulated industry governed by state and federal laws, it is important for aspiring and existing professionals to meet the industry standards.
As per the FREC, it is mandatory to meet the standards of good moral conduct and prove that you are a lawful, competent professional.
Completing your background check and verification is a critical step in your journey to becoming a real estate agent in Florida.
The purpose of the federal background check is to rule out unethical, unlawful, and incompetent individuals and safeguard the interests of consumers.
For verification, you will need to submit your fingerprints, along with some legal proof of your identity to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
To get your fingerprints taken, you can visit any of the state-approved live scan vendors in Florida. You can visit the FREC website to find a list of approved vendors.
We hope by now you will have the answers to your questions on how to apply for real estate license in Florida and start a career from scratch.
Remember - if you are determined in your pursuit and sincere in your efforts, you can achieve your goal with confidence.
The key to success is to choose the right education provider, invest in your knowledge, and duly fulfill all the state and federal license requirements.
After you have successfully completed the steps discussed above, you can submit your Florida salesperson license application to the Florida DBPR for review.
Note that you will have to submit an electronic scan of your fingerprints along with your application to clear the federal background verification and criminal history check.
Once your documents are verified and approved by the Florida DBPR, you will receive your salesperson license within a few weeks.