Want to work in Florida real estate? Read this before starting!
Real estate is a dream career for thousands, after all, who wouldn’t want the potential to earn a six-figure income while escaping the rut of a traditional nine-to-five job?
If you value work-life balance, flexibility, and the freedom to work for yourself, then a career in Florida real estate might just be the right fit for you.
Since the last decade and so, real estate has become a great career choice for anyone who wants to start a side hustle part-time or build a thriving, full-time career for the long run.
Many ambitious individuals, first-timers, and even experienced professionals from other industries are eager to step into the dynamic and exciting world of real estate.
Post-pandemic, the real estate industry has been witnessing a strong comeback with high demand for residential and commercial properties from homebuyers and investors.
In Florida’s diverse real estate landscape, there is a noticeable growth in the number of job openings for agents and brokers due to the rise in demand for housing and rental properties.
If you are a resident of Florida and want to reap the benefits and make the most of the growth opportunities, now is a good time to embark on your career journey.
Whether you want to work on your own or join a real estate brokerage, getting your real estate license is the most important step of your professional journey.
Getting a license in Florida is the most crucial aspect of starting a career, whether you want to work as a part-time agent or on a full-time basis.
We understand that getting a license might sound complicated or overwhelming but if you follow a step-by-step process and meet the Florida licensing requirements, it is a breeze.
In this article, we are going to give you a deep dive into how to get a Florida real estate license easily.
Plus, we will also walk you through the ins and outs of working as a real estate agent including the key skills you must have and your job responsibilities and duties.
After reading this in-depth guide, you will be completely clear about what it takes to start a thriving, successful career in Florida real estate.
What does a real estate agent do
Meet the real estate agent - a licensed professional who is responsible for representing sellers and buyers in a real estate transaction.
The core job of a real estate agent is to assist their clients in buying or selling residential and commercial properties in a lawful, structured, and secure way.
As a real estate agent, you will be responsible for ensuring that the homeownership and related goals of your clients are met successfully.
The role of a real estate agent in Florida can vary depending on their employer or niche.
For example - a commercial real estate agent is responsible for assisting clients in the buying, leasing, or selling of commercial real estate such as - hotels, offices, and resorts.
Whereas if you are a residential real estate agent, you will be working with homeowners and buyers to present, negotiate prices, and close deals for residential properties.
If you are aspiring to become a part-time or a full-time real estate agent, here are some of the job duties and responsibilities you will have to take on.
- Responding to client queries via text, email, or phone calls
- Reaching out to potential clients to offer your services and assistance
- Assisting clients in the selling, buying, or leasing of real estate
- Advising homeowners in setting up their property for showings
- Reviewing and finalizing the formulation of purchase and sales agreements
- Helping clients negotiate prices, finalize contracts, and close deals quickly
- Formalizing and delivering disclosures and documents related to a transaction
- Drafting, filing, and maintaining deals and client-related paperwork
- Assisting in promoting your brokerage firm or your services for lead generation
- Researching potential opportunities in your locality or region
- Attending marketing and networking events on behalf of your brokerage
As you can see, a day in the life of a real estate agent requires juggling multiple tasks and duties.
If you are interested in building a thriving career in a competitive industry like real estate, you must prepare yourself with the required knowledge, training, and essential skills to succeed.
Ideal skillset of a real estate agent
Now that you have learned in detail about the job profile and key responsibilities of a real estate agent, let us walk you through what it takes to build a thriving career.
Many beginner students and aspiring professionals often think that the benchmark of success in real estate is closing more deals.
Yes, it is certainly a huge factor in deciding how much money you make and the level of financial success you have.
However, a successful career goes beyond money and commissions, it is also based on how big your network is, what your reputation is, and how knowledgeable and skilled you are.
To truly stand out in a competitive industry like Florida real estate, you must prepare yourself to obtain the required training and acquire the necessary skills to boost your career.
- In-depth Knowledge
Real estate is a dynamic, fast-paced industry and to stay on top of your game, it is imperative to expand your knowledge of the emerging trends and latest developments.
Successful agents understand that an investment in knowledge pays the best dividends.
Hence, they duly complete post-licensing training and continuing education to update their knowledge of real estate laws, guidelines, markets, trends, and industry updates.
- Confident Personality:
Skilled agents not just help their clients sell or buy real estate, they are responsible for interacting with their clients through the various stages of closing a deal.
Having a pleasant, confident, and affable personality will help you settle into the career more easily.
There is a lot of competition in the industry and your personality can help you stand out from the crowd.
- Good Attention to Detail:
As an aspiring real estate agent, you will have to manage multiple tasks and responsibilities as part of your job profile.
Having strong attention to detail is a great skill to have, especially as you will deal with real estate, deeds, contracts, financial records, and transaction documents.
Good attention to detail will bring rigor to your work and help you avoid any potential errors and miscalculations.
- Self-motivation:
Working in a competitive industry like real estate can be overwhelming, especially at the start of your career.
The markets can be rough and it isn’t always sunny and easy to close deals. To become a successful agent, you must be self-motivated to navigate through the difficult patches on your career journey.
Being confident, knowledgeable, and self-motivated can help you achieve your professional goals easily and become a well-rounded professional.
If you are already wondering how can I get my real estate license in Florida, let us walk you through the key steps and licensing requirements next.
How to get your Florida real estate license
To work in Florida real estate, you can apply for two main license types - the salesperson license and the broker’s license.
At the start of your career, you will have to earn a salesperson license first and once you gain a few years of industry experience and training, you can apply for a broker’s license.
Most states have their unique set of pre-licensing education requirements and qualifying guidelines for applicants who want to obtain a salesperson license.
In Florida, you are required to fulfill the minimum eligibility requirements established by the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) which are:
- You must be at least 18 years or older
- You must be a legal resident of the state of Florida or a lawfully residing alien
- You must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent in education
If you fulfill the above statutory requirements, the next step is to complete state-specific pre-licensing education to qualify for a salesperson license.
As per the FREC qualifying education, every applicant must complete 63 hours of state-approved pre-licensing education to apply for a license.
Completing pre-licensing education will equip you with the knowledge and training necessary to start working in the industry.
You will learn about fundamental topics such as - principles of real estate, real estate investments, finance, ethics, and consumer rights.
If you are thinking about how to get your FL real estate license, then you must take your pre-licensing education seriously as it is a crucial step in your licensing journey.
The purpose of completing mandatory courses is to understand the state and federal laws, rules, and best practices for aspiring professionals. On top of it, education will help you prepare for the Florida salesperson licensing exam.
Note that you have the flexibility to choose your preferred medium of completing the course credits. As long as you are learning from a state-approved education provider, you are set.
You can choose to join a real estate college and attend in-person classes or enroll in an online, self-paced real estate prep 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.
If you successfully clear the Florida salesperson licensing exam, you will receive your agent’s license. To clear the test you must score at least 75 percent or above.
When it comes to passing the salesperson licensing test, many applicants and students often wonder whether it is possible to clear the test on their first attempt or not.
While the exam certainly is challenging and arduous for many, it does not imply that it is impossible to pass it on your first attempt.
Surveys and industry reports estimate the passing rate for the Florida salesperson licensing exam to be around 58 percent.
However, if you are well-prepared and confident about the coursework, passing the exam shouldn’t be a monumental challenge.
To boost your preparation, taking a Florida real estate exam practice test can come in handy.
With the help of practice tests, you can easily understand the exam structure and the common questions you can expect to face in the test.
Since the test consists of both state and national-specific portions, it is important to get familiar with the type of questions you will tackle.
Many real estate prep courses and pre-licensing course providers help students practice using sample tests and mock exams which give a simulated feel of taking a test in real time.
With enough practice and preparation, you will feel more confident about how to tackle the different test questions within the time limit