The Beginner’s Guide to Real Estate Licensing Courses in Texas
Starting a new career can be intimidating, especially if you are doing it for the first time.
When the career of choice happens to be real estate, there is a lot to do before you can start working in the industry.
A career in real estate is a rewarding and challenging experience with its highs and lows.
While the field is competitive and busy, there are tons of opportunities for earning a six-figure salary and making commissions on top of it.
Embarking on the journey to become a licensed real estate agent or broker in Texas can give you the financial freedom and the career satisfaction of helping clients meet their homeownership dreams.
If you are a resident of Texas and want to become a part of the state’s booming real estate industry, you have made the right decision.
Texas’ real estate market is emerging as one of the most sought-after destinations across the country.
Planning your career is just the first step in achieving your professional goals. Now that you have decided to become a real estate agent in Texas, you have already taken the first step.
All you need next is to have a clear understanding of how to obtain your Texas real estate license.
Getting your Texas license might seem overwhelming at first, but if you follow the prerequisites and complete the required steps, it should not be too challenging.
The journey of becoming a licensed agent or broker in any state, including Texas, starts with completing your education and clearing the state licensing exam.
Good education and proper preparation can be the difference between success and failure in your endeavor to get a Texas license.
This is why it is important to make informed decisions. In this article, we will give you a detailed breakdown of the licensing process and requirements.
We will also dive deep into Texas pre-licensing real estate courses, schools, what they offer, and how to choose the right one.
Texas Real Estate Licensing Requirements
According to the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), every active real estate professional must have a state-issued license.
Whether you want to work as a salesperson, broker, or realtor, a license is mandatory for selling, leasing, buying, or managing commercial or residential real estate anywhere in Texas.
The TREC is the state’s official authority and regulatory agency which establishes the local laws, rules, and regulations governing the licensing requirements.
According to the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), you must first meet the general eligibility requirements. These are as follows:
- You must be at least 18 years or older
- Must be a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted alien
- Should meet the honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness guidelines by the TREC
If you meet all the prerequisites, you will be eligible to apply for a pre-licensing education.
Completing the pre-licensing education is mandatory for all applicants, irrespective of whether you are applying for a salesperson’s or a broker’ license.
As part of your education, you will be required to complete a set of mandatory and elective courses required for a real estate license.
A pre-licensing education will include six 30-hour courses spanning a total of 180 hours.
If you meet the statutory requirements listed above, you can submit your application on the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC) website.
The pre-licensing courses can be completed before or after you have submitted the licensing application.
However, you must keep in mind that you will have a period of one year from the date of filing your application to complete the pre-licensing coursework.
You can choose to take the courses in person or online as per your preference. Note that you will have to choose a state-approved college or course provider for your real estate licensing education.
Overview of Courses Required for Real Estate License in Texas
What is Pre-licensing education
Pre-licensing education is the mandatory coursework required to become a licensed Texas agent or broker.
It is the minimum level of qualifying education approved by the Texas Real Estate Commission to prepare applicants for TX real estate principles and other important laws, rules, and regulations.
In total, you will have to complete 180 hours of coursework approved by the TREC.
Let’s take a detailed look at some of the courses you will cover during your pre-licensing education:
1. Real Estate Principles 1 (30 hours): This course is formulated to give applicants a brief overview of the real estate industry and its underlying principles and foundations.
This course will prepare you to identify the different types of properties, real estate titles, and common industry concepts such as property deeds, liens, encumbrances, and titles.
As part of this course, you will also learn about the various real estate laws, legal descriptions, ethics in real estate, fair housing laws, and the important regulations of the Texas Real Estate License Act (TRELA).
The course curriculum will include topics that will cover the national portion of the real estate licensing exam. Listed below are some of the topics you will learn:
- Introduction to real estate
- Real estate brokerage
- Concepts of home ownership
- Different types of real estate properties
- Legal descriptions in real estate
- Fair Housing laws and regulations
- State and Federal laws
2. Real Estate Principles 2 (30 hours): In the second course, you will dive deeper into the principles of real estate and its overarching laws and regulations.
Additionally, you will also be taught about real estate appraisal, finance, and investments. The course curriculum will also include real estate specialties, regulations, and leases.
You will also gain knowledge about real estate disclosures, property titles, property management, and closing procedures.
You will also learn about property ownership rights, transfers, and real estate investments.
Listed below are some of the key topics covered in the course curriculum:
- Real estate mathematics
- Financing in real estate
- Real estate appraisal
- Land use controls
- Estate, Titles, and Transfer
- Closing in Real estate transactions
3. Law of Agency (30 hours): This course focuses on understanding the rules, laws, and practices governing an agency relationship between a client and a real estate professional in a transaction.
In this course, you will learn about the key concepts of real estate agency, including the different types of agency relationships and the role of the principal and the agent.
The course curriculum will also prepare you for formulating agency relationships, creating and terminating of agency, and how to clarify an agency relationship.
You will also learn about the best practices, deceptive trade practices, duties and disclosures, and consumer interest protection.
4. Law of Contracts (30 hours): The objective of this course is to prepare students to understand the basics of real estate contracts including its specific elements.
As part of this course, you will learn about the basics of real estate contract laws, TREC promulgate forms, and the underlying rules and rights governing the ownership and transfer of real estate.
You will start by learning about the Texas real estate law, and the different types of contracts used in the industry and then learn more about specific concepts such as - conveyance of title, contingencies, amendments, and addenda.
The curriculum will also make you aware of the real estate transaction process and the common contract mistakes to avoid.
5. Promulgated Contract Forms (30 hours): This course will equip you with the understanding of a standard set of contracts known as the Promulgated Forms.
You will learn about how they are implemented as part of a real estate transaction and what is the right way to guide your clients on using promulgated contract forms.
The course curriculum will also teach you about the fundamentals of contracts, including the TREC-established rules that govern the use of each form.
You will also learn about related industry concepts such as - promulgated addenda, covenants, and commitments.
This course is formulated to help you understand, describe, and present the required promulgated forms required in a transaction.
6. Real Estate Finance (30 hours): The curriculum of this course will revolve around the fundamentals of real estate monetary systems, the principles of financial transactions, government rules, processes, and regulations.
You will also learn about loan instruments, loan types, loan terms, loan applications, financial products, and mortgage plans.
Additionally, the course will equip you with knowledge of foreclosures, closing costs, and defaults.
The course curriculum will include details about the various loan programs and the tools required to qualify borrowers and approve their mortgage applications.
Many first-time applicants often find Texas pre-licensing real estate courses overwhelming and confusing.
However, if you prepare well and get the right guidance, they are easy to understand and remember.
The key is to choose the right course package that offers a thorough, in-depth understanding of the course curriculum with the right teachers and features.
Choosing the Right School for Real Estate in Texas
Accredited Real Estate Schools
When it comes to schools for real estate in Texas, you will not be short of options and choices to pick from.
There are many accredited real estate schools, colleges, and course providers that offer comprehensive packages for pre-licensing course completion.
Before deciding on a real estate school or online course, it is important to keep certain factors in mind to make an informed decision.
One of the most important factors is to check the reputation of the education provider and evaluate what previous students and alumni have to say about their experience.
Choosing a reputed and proven real estate school or course provider is a must if you want to boost your chances of clearing the exam.
Many first-time students and aspiring professionals often decide on the cheapest and most affordable pre-licensing course package.
This approach might work for some, but cheaper is not always better. Investing in a proven college or course provider might be expensive, but it will pay off in the long run.
Another important factor to keep in mind is that you must only choose a state-approved and accredited education provider.
This is a mandatory requirement as per the Texas Real Estate Commission and you must not overlook this.
Student Support and Resources
If you want to maximize your learning experience and get the best value for your money, you must choose a college or course provider that provides students with the support and resources they need.
The best Texas real estate courses are the ones that provide preparation materials like sample tests, mock question papers, and on-demand doubt-clearing sessions.
Additionally, you should also look for packages that include benefits like e-books, and online self-paced course delivery.