Tips on How to Renew A Real Estate License in Georgia
Working as a real estate agent, broker, or appraiser in a popular market like Georgia is a dream come true for many.
After all, Georgia is one of the oldest and most stable real estate markets in the country. The Peach State is famous for its natural beauty and historical places and hence, people from all over the USA migrate here to make the state their permanent place of residency.
Over the past decade, Georgia has become a real estate investor’s paradise, both in the short and long term.
This is why there exists a plethora of opportunities for real estate professionals as well as investors.
Whether you are a salesperson, broker, agent, or appraiser in Georgia, you are expected and required to keep yourself updated on the prevailing laws and regulations governing the real estate sector.
If you hold an active real estate agent or broker’s license in Georgia, then it is crucial to renew it before the expiration date.
By doing so, you can not only stay compliant with the real estate laws and regulations but also keep your career on track to success.
Steps for Renewing a Real Estate License After Expiry in Georgia
Steps to Renew an Expired Real Estate License
The Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC) mandates the renewal of a real estate license once every four years. However, if you fail to do so, go through the following steps to activate your expired license again.
- Fill out and submit a license reactivation application if it has been 30 days or less since your license has expired. Additionally, you will need to submit a lawful presence verification form to the Georgia Real Estate Commission and the late fee charges of $125.
- Fill and submit the license reinstatement application in case your license has expired for over a year. Along with the application, you will need to ensure that your continuing education documents and coursework are updated on your file. You will also need to pay a license reinstatement fee of $225.
Note that the more time you lapse since the expiration of your real estate license, the more difficult and expensive it will be for you to renew your license.
Required Documents for Renewing an Expired Real Estate License
If your GA real estate license has expired more than a year from now, you will need to fill out and submit a license reinstatement form to the Georgia Real Estate Commission.
A license reinstatement form can out be filled and submitted online along with a one-time license reinstatement fee.
Note that you might be required to submit a background verification application if your license has expired for more than a year.
Georgia Real Estate License Renewal Requirements
Continuing Education Requirements for Georgia Real Estate License Renewal
To maintain the active status of your license, you are required to fulfill the state-specific requirements of real estate continuing education in Georgia.
Note that continuing education requirements are different from post-licensing education requirements.
Continuing education in Georgia is spread out over 36 hours and applies only to real estate professionals who have renewed their license for at least one time in the past.
Out of these 36 hours, every student must complete the mandatory 3 hours of license law training as directed by the Georgia Real Estate Commission.
You can choose your elective courses to complete the remaining 33 hours of continuing education. Some of the elective course options include:
- Real estate finance
- Real estate ethics
- Real estate housing
- Property inspection
Fees and Renewal Period for Georgia Real Estate License
According to the Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC), first-time licensees must renew their real estate license within 1 year from the date their license was issued.
If you are an experienced real estate agent or broker, then the renewal period of your license is every four years from the licensee’s date of birth.
Legal and Background Check Requirements for License Renewal
If you meet the Georgia real estate license renewal requirements, then completing the background check will be the next step toward getting a real estate license.
To do so, you must first submit the latest criminal record report as issued by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. This report can be easily obtained at any state police station or sheriff’s station by submitting your fingerprints for verification and paying a one-time fee of $51.50.
An Overview of Real Estate Continuing Education Requirements in Georgia
Completing the mandatory continuing education classes might seem like a daunting task but thankfully, there are numerous options available for learning.
There are several online courses for real estate continuing education in Georgia to choose from.
The benefit of enrolling in an online course, as compared to a traditional, in-person college, is the added convenience for learning at your own pace.
Plus, working real estate professionals will have the extra flexibility to learn remotely from anywhere.
To find the most suitable and useful continuing education course in Georgia, you can do a simple online search or ask around in your network.
Generally, student reviews and teacher feedback are good ways to evaluate the quality and success rate of a course provider.
How to Fulfill the Continuing Education Requirement
You can think of continuing education as an evolutionary upgrade to post-licensing education.
It is like a level-up in terms of knowledge, skills, and training required to take you to the next level of your real estate career.
For the sake of an analogy - you can consider pre-licensing education as an extra skill to be added to your repertoire.
However, continuing education is more like unlocking a whole new level of information and skills to advance in your career.
Cost of License Renewal in Georgia
Renewal Fees for Different Types of Licenses
If you are wondering how much is it to renew a license in GA, here’s the answer - the cost depends on a couple of factors,
Renewal fees depend on the type of license you have and the duration for which your license has expired.
For example - if your real estate license has expired for more than 30 days, then it will cost you $!25 as a one-time license renewal fee (for mail) and $100 (for online).
Whereas, if your license status is inactive for more than a year, then you will have to pay almost twice the amount i.e. $200 for online renewal or $225 for mail renewal.
Note that for every four months of license expiration, you will have to pay an additional late fee charge of $25.
Additional Costs Related to License Renewal
When it comes to how much is it to renew a license in GA, there are certain additional costs you should be aware of.
To successfully renew your license, you must comply with the state and federal requirements.
This means you will have to complete a few additional steps and bear related costs to complete your license renewal process.
Frequently Asked Questions about Georgia Real Estate License Renewal
Can I Renew My License Online?
Yes, you can easily renew your agent or broker’s license in Georgia online.
Going for an online license renewal is what is recommended to save time and money.
Did you know that you can save $25 by choosing to submit your license renewal application online, instead of submitting it by mail?
Yes, you read that right! The license renewal fee in Georgia is $100 for online applications whereas it is $125 for mail applications.
What Happens If I Fail to Renew My License on Time?
If you fail to renew your GA real estate license on time, then it is going to be considered as lapsed or invalid by the Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC).
This means you will not be legally allowed to engage in the selling, buying, or leasing of commercial or residential real estate in Georgia.
However, you can still apply for renewal of an expired real estate license. It is common for real estate agents and brokers to reinstate their expired licenses again.
There are state-specific requirements and guidelines to be followed when one has to renew an expired license.
Your real estate license can be reinstated by enrolling in a continuing education course within six months of passing your license’s renewal due date.
Can I Still Practice Real Estate with an Expired License?
According to the Georgia Real Estate Commission (GREC), you cannot practice real estate with an expired license.
However, some people take the risk of getting involved in real estate transactions with an expired license. Doing so is highly risky and not at all recommended as it is against the state and federal laws.
In fact, in the event you are found to be engaging in the sale, purchase, or renting of real estate without an active license, you could face legal action.