Thinking About How Can I Get My Real Estate License in California And Start My Career? Read this
California is home to some of the world’s most popular and sought-after real estate markets in the world.
From San Francisco and Los Angeles to Bay Area and Hollywood Hills, California offers a diverse real estate landscape second to none in terms of its appeal and allure.
California has been one of the fastest growing real estate markets post pandemic and has emerged as a popular hotspot for wealthy, high net worth and luxury buyers.
Working as a real estate agent in CA can be your entryway into a high paying and fulfilling career where opportunities for growth and success are abundant.
Did you know that licensed real estate agents in California can easily make between $100K to $120K annually while enjoying a stable work-life balance and professional autonomy.
The demand for residential and commercial real estate in CA has been growing significantly and the Golden Gate state is abundant with opportunities for aspiring real estate agents.
Whether you want to start a part-time income stream or become a full-time real estate professional, a career in real estate will give you the opportunity to mold your profession as per your goals and needs.
Imagine being your own boss, working on your desired schedule and finding your own clients - all while earning a six figure income annually in a dynamic profession.
If you are keen to pursue a career in CA real estate, now is a good time to start preparing for entering the industry.
The best part about starting a career in CA real estate is that you need not spend years getting college education or complete an advanced degree.
As long as you have a high school diploma or GED equivalent, you will be eligible to apply for a real estate license.
Getting a CA salesperson license is a mandatory requirement to work with clients, assist them in buying and selling properties and earn commissions through deals.
Without a valid state issued license, your career will be limited and you will not be legally permitted to assist clients.
If you are ready to embark on the journey to become a licensed professional and want to know how to get a California real estate license easily, this post will guide you.
What does a real estate agent do
Before pursuing a career path, it is important to take a step back and understand what exactly you will do in your job.
A real estate agent is a licensed professional who works with clients on a commission basis to help them buy, sell or lease properties.
To become a successful professional, you must understand what a real estate agent does and how they help clients and consumers with their knowledge and skills.
Real estate agents can represent sellers and buyers in a transaction and help their client achieve their goals.
Real estate agents are also expected to be proficient in the matters of lawful practices, deeds, property laws and consumer rights.
A day in the life of a real estate agent involves a lot of calls, emails, meetings, appointments and site visits. You will be juggling multiple tasks and duties in a day
Since you will be juggling multiple tasks in a day, there’s rarely going to be a dull moment at work.
Let’s take a look at some of the common responsibilities and duties you will perform:
- Answer phone calls, texts, emails from potential and existing clients
- Respond to client queries, inquiries and understand their needs
- Assist clients with property staging, site tours and inspections
- Set up appointments from interested buyers and schedule property visits
- Help buyers scout for locations and desirable properties in California
- Meet with clients to discuss their buying, selling or leasing needs
- Connect with industry professionals on behalf of clients or brokerage firms
- Gather information related to properties, market trends, pricing, competition
- Guide clients through various stages of buying or selling properties
- Educate clients regarding consumer rights, real estate laws and best practices
- Ensure compliance with the state and federal laws for all paperwork and documents
- Liaison with industry professionals such as brokers, home inspectors, property appraiser and realtors in California
- Stay on top of the latest industry trends and stay updated with the local market
- Research about the real estate market opportunities and identify potential leads
- Create and distribute marketing material to promote yours services
- Draft clear and accurate deeds, terms and contracts for real estate deals
While your exact job duties and responsibilities will depend on your employer’s discretion and needs, listed above is what a newly licensed real estate agent is expected to do.
If you are excited to dive deeper into the world of real estate and want to know how to get your CA real estate license, keep on reading till the end.
The list of job duties, tasks and responsibilities might seem overwhelming to many beginners, and you might wonder if there are any benefits of choosing this career path.
Pros of working as a Real Estate Agent
High Earning and Income Potential
The number one reason why thousands dream of working in real estate is the potential to earn a six figure income annually.
The top real estate agents in California are able to make as high as $120K to $150K in annual earnings.
The best part is that you can earn as much as you want to as there is no cap or limit to how much money you can make in real estate.
The more deals you close, the more commissions you can earn and this gives you the ability to influence your financial growth and career development.
Plus, the bigger your network and clientele, the higher will be your earning potential as there is practically no limit to how much you can earn.
A Fulfilling Career Path
A career as a real estate agent will give you the opportunity to help people buy and find their dream property.
If serving people and helping them realize their goals gives you fulfillment and job satisfaction, then this is a good career path for you.
When working as a real estate agent in CA, you will get opportunities to meet, connect and network with clients from all walks of life.
Many individuals seek fulfilment along There is no bigger satisfaction than the realization of helping clients achieve their home ownership dreams.
If you want to help people as a professional, you can guide them navigate the journey of buying and selling properties in CA.
High Independence and Flexibility
Do you crave professional autonomy and want to work in a flexible career? Most individuals choose real estate as a way to become self employed and work as per their own schedules.
As a CA real estate agent, you can set your own schedule and define your own working hours to suit your career and professional goals.
You can choose to work part-time or full-time, based on how much money you need to make and as long as you are closing the deals and getting the job done, it does not matter how many hours you are putting in.
A career in real estate will give you the freedom to work on your own terms and create a flexible schedule as per your convenience.
Real estate agents also enjoy the flexibility to work from anywhere - be it from the office or from the field or their home.
Opportunities for Professional Growth
If you have been looking for a dynamic, high-growth career with numerous opportunities for growth, then working in California real estate is an ideal path.
California’s booming real estate is a fast-moving and evolving industry as it continues to attract skilled workers, tourists, high net worth individuals and wealthy investors.
With a real estate license, you will gain access to members-only communities, exclusive groups and networking events which will help you grow and advance.
Once you get your real estate license in CA, you can continue to work with senior agents and brokerage firms to gain experience and advance in your career.
After completing additional education and certification, you can also become a broker and climb the career ladder.
With time, you will gain the experience to find your own clients and also start your own real estate brokerage or agency in California.
Clearly, there are numerous possibilities and exciting rewards of working as a licensed real estate professional in California.
If you are eager to pursue this career path and are already wondering how do I get a real estate license in CA, then you will learn about the step-by-step process in the next section.
Costs to become a licensed real estate agent in CA
Pursuing a career requires one to invest significant time, effort and money and if you are interested in becoming a licensed professional, you must be prepared for it.
The cost to obtain a CA salesperson license depends on various factors, as there are different factors and cost components associated with the process.
Here is an overview of the key costs and expenses in the license process:
Pre-licensing education costs
Depending on your state and the education providers, completing pre-licensing qualifying education can cost anywhere between $200 to $800 or higher.
The cost depends on various factors such as the experience of your education provider, their pass rate, the medium of content delivery, the type of course package.
Generally, enrolling in an online pre license course is more affordable and cost-effective than joining a classroom-based, physical learning environment.
California Real Estate Licensing Exam
To obtain a license, you must pass the state license test and prove your knowledge and competency to work with clients.
Generally, the licensing exam fee ranges between $50 to $80 for each attempt and it is recommended to check the same with the California DRE website.
Background Check and Verification
Like other states, California requires aspiring real estate agents to meet the minimum standards of honesty, integrity and truthfulness to work in the industry.
This step to ensure that all applicants meet the standards of good moral and professional conduct to assist clients.
As a result of this, it is a mandatory requirement to complete background verification and clear the federal criminal history check.
To complete the background verification process, you will have to submit a copy of electronic fingerprints which will cost you between $50 to $80.
Salesperson License Application Fee
Once you have completed your pre licensing coursework, passed the state license exam and cleared the background verification check, you can submit your real estate agent application to the California DRE for review.
To process your application, you will have to pay anywhere a one-time fee of $100 to $300.
Now that you have learned about the general estimate of the cost required to become licensed, you might be wondering how do I get my real estate license in CA quickly.
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Basic eligibility requirements for a real estate license in CA
Like most states, California also follows a pre-established set of state and federal laws governing the real estate industry and its professionals.
The Department of Real Estate (DRE) in California requires all individuals to meet certain statutory requirements to prove their eligibility for working as a real estate agent or broker.
To apply for a salesperson license in CA, you must meet the basic eligibility requirements:
- You must be at least 18 years of age or older
- You must be a legal resident of the state of California
- You must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent
If you fulfill the above statutory requirements, the next step is to complete the remaining steps of the licensing process.
Education requirements for a Salesperson license in California
As per the California license regulations and requirements, you must complete 135 hours of DRE approved pre-licensing education and training.
To obtain a salesperson license in CA, you must complete qualifying education and gain the required knowledge and skills to assist clients.
Pre license education comprises mandatory and elective courses which will equip you with the knowledge of real estate principles, practices, state and federal laws, consumer rights and other fundamental topics.
Most importantly, pre license education will prepare you for the next big challenge in your licensing journey i.e. the California salesperson license exam.
The pre license course curriculum is broadly divided into three courses worth 45 hours each.
These include - Real Estate Principles (45 hours) and Real Estate Practice (45 hours). The third class is an elective of your choice which you can pick based on your interest.
You will have the flexibility to choose whether you want to learn in an in-person, classroom environment or complete your coursework by enrolling in an online course.
Many students prefer the convenience of enrolling in online pre license courses as they can be completed from anywhere as per your own schedule.
After completing 180 hours of state approved pre license education, you will become eligible to take the salesperson licensing exam in California.
Passing the California salesperson license exam
After completing your education, you might wonder how do you get a real estate license in CA and what are the remaining steps.
To obtain your salesperson license in CA, you must take the state real estate license test and pass it by scoring at least 75 percent or above.
Passing the test is a mandatory requirement to earn your license as established by the DRE in California.
The exam consists of 150 multiple choice questions and you will get 3 hours in total to attempt all the questions.
Note that if you are unable to pass the license test on your first attempt, you will get two more attempts to pass the test.
If you are unable to clear the California salesperson license exam in three attempts, you will have to complete pre license education again.
Many students often wonder about the difficulty of the test and whether it is possible to pass the test on the first attempt or not.
Like any other test, the difficulty of the California sales associate licensing exam depends on your level of preparation.
The test is based on the topics and subjects covered during your pre license course curriculum.
You should start your preparation by understanding the exam format and looking at the type of questions asked.
To boost your preparation, you must learn about the common exam topics which are most frequently covered in multiple choice questions.
Many real estate courses and schools provide exam prep resources such as simulated tests and mock tests to help students get better at the exam.
Another important aspect of preparing for the real estate test is to learn how to manage your time better.
This is why having a pre established study routine will help you allocate enough time to specific topics.