Why Now is a Great Time To Enter Florida’s Booming Real Estate
Do you dream of a profession where you can earn a six-figure income while helping others achieve their goals?
Do you want to work in a dynamic, fast-moving, and booming industry that offers exciting growth opportunities for the future?
If yes, then a career as a real estate agent in Florida might just be the right fit for your professional goals and aspirations.
Florida is one of the fastest-growing real estate markets in the country and is currently placed among the top 5 hottest destinations for homebuyers and real estate investors.
The demand for residential and commercial real estate in Florida is steadily growing, thanks to its world-class tourism, scenic views, beautiful coastline, and strong economic outlook.
Home to popular real estate markets like Miami, Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, and many more, becoming a real estate agent in Florida can be a rewarding and fulfilling career.
Did you know that the top real estate agents in FL can make as much as $100K annually while having the flexibility to define their own working hours and schedule?
Due to its global appeal, booming tourism and entertainment industry, and growing population, Florida’s real estate prospects for the future are promising.
The strong market coupled with a sustained demand for housing and vacation properties with baby boomers and Gen Z entering the market has created numerous opportunities for aspiring real estate agents.
Now is a great time for pursuing a career in Florida real estate might be a smart decision and one that can make you financially independent.
However, to work with clients and earn commissions via real estate deals, you must first obtain your Florida real estate license.
As per the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC), only licensed professionals are legally allowed to help consumers buy and sell properties in the state.
Getting a license is a crucial and mandatory step in your career journey and while it might seem overwhelming, especially if you are a beginner, it is a straightforward process.
In this article, we will walk you through the step-by-step process of how to get your FL real estate license and kickstart your new career.
Why choose a career in Florida real estate
Choosing a new career is a significant decision, one that requires careful planning and consideration.
Before you start preparing to get your license, it is important to understand why working as a real estate agent in FL is worth it. Let’s take a look at some of the key advantages:
High Earning Potential
One of the most important benefits of working in FL real estate is the earning potential as the average income prospects for real estate agents are high. If you want to earn a six-figure income annually, you can choose this profession.
In addition to high-pay prospects, you will not have any upper cap on how much you can earn as a real estate agent. The more deals you close, the more commissions you can earn and maximize your income.
Greater career flexibility
If you seek professional autonomy and want to work on a flexible schedule, then a career in real estate can help you achieve it. Real estate agents have a unique lifestyle, when compared to a conventional nine-to-five profession.
As a real estate agent, you can choose to decide your working hours and define your schedule as per your goals and targets.
Depending on your personal and professional preferences, you can be in charge and choose to work on a part-time or full-time basis.
Strong growth prospects
Florida’s real estate market is witnessing strong growth and the trends estimate sustained demand in the coming future. For aspiring and upcoming real estate agents, the opportunities in real estate can be incredibly lucrative.
As home sales in FL continue to increase, so does the valuation of residential and commercial real estate which means you will have numerous opportunities to work with clients.
The career path of a real estate agent is also promising as you can advance to become a broker and a realtor in Florida. If you have an entrepreneurial spirit, you can even start your own real estate agency or brokerage firm.
While there are many benefits of choosing a career in FL real estate, to take full advantage of them, you must first obtain an FL salesperson license.
The journey to obtain a license might seem difficult at first, but it is definitely worth the investment as it opens a plethora of opportunities for career growth and advancement.
If you are excited by the possibilities and growth opportunities and are already wondering how to get my real estate license in FL, keep on reading till the end of this article.
Qualifying requirements for a Florida salesperson license
Like other states, Florida also requires aspiring real estate agents and brokers to meet the minimum qualifying requirements and prove their eligibility to apply for a license.
In Florida, the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) is the official regulatory authority and agency for issuing and renewing licenses to professionals.
The FREC has established the qualifying rules and license requirements for real estate agents and brokers.
As per the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC), you must meet the basic statutory eligibility requirements which are:
- You must be at least 18 years of age or older
- You must be a legal resident of the state of Florida
- You must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent in education
If you meet the above statutory requirements, you can proceed to complete the next steps in the licensing journey.
Education requirements for a Florida salesperson license
The FREC requires aspiring real estate agents to complete a minimum level of education to qualify for a salesperson license.
Like other states, Florida also requires agents to become proficient by completing state-approved real estate coursework and training.
In Florida, you must complete 63 hours of pre-license education from a state-approved education provider.
Pre-license education comprises mandatory and elective courses designed to help you learn about the principles of real estate, including its various laws, regulations, and standards.
The courses will cover various Florida and federal real estate license regulations and will also expose you to the different types of agency relationships, commission rules, license status types, and real estate transactions.
By completing education, you will be better equipped with the required knowledge on how to work with clients as a professional.
You will have the choice to join a physical, classroom-based real estate college or enroll in an online FL real estate license course to complete your coursework.
After you have successfully completed your pre-license salesperson education, you can apply for the Florida salesperson license exam.
Florida Salesperson License Exam
As per the FREC license guidelines for real estate agents, you must pass the state license exam to work as a licensed professional.
The FREC has established a minimum qualifying standard and a passing rate to ensure that only deserving candidates get to become licensed real estate professionals and work with clients.
The licensing exam is a closed book test consisting of 100 multiple-choice questions based on the courses covered in the pre-licensing education.
The test questions are based on both state and national-specific portions to assess your knowledge and preparation of the various laws, rules, regulations, and principles.
The exam is designed to test your knowledge and preparation of the course subjects and topics covered in your pre-licensing education.
Therefore, it is important to sincerely learn about Florida real estate laws and get a good grip on the professional standards and fundamentals of the industry.
To complete the test, you will get three hours to complete the test and you must score at least 75 percent or above to pass the test.
Exam test prep course providers like RealEstateU can give you access to real estate license Florida practice test questions to help you understand the exam format.
Listed below are some of the coming exam questions and topics you can expect to tackle:
- Federal and State Laws
- Real Estate Brokerage and Procedures
- Real Estate Business
- Real Estate Laws and Licenses
- Real Estate Contracts
- Real Estate Commission Rules
- Real Estate Appraisal
- Client Relationships, Disclosures, and Duties
- Violations of Real Estate Laws, Penalties and Procedures
- Titles, Deeds, and Ownership Types
- Market and Industry Analysis
- Planning and Zoning
In case you are wondering, failure to clear the exam will result in non-issuance of a license. However, if you do not clear the Florida real estate exam on the first attempt, you can re-appear for the exam.
You can take the salesperson license exam at a Pearson VUE center in FL as per your preferred day and date by paying a one-time examination fee.
Many students, especially first-time applicants often wonder about the difficulty of the test and whether it is possible to pass the test on the first attempt or not.
As per data, the first-time pass rate for the Florida salesperson license exam is around 56 percent. This means if 100 students appear for the test, roughly 56 of them are able to pass it on their first attempt.
If this sounds discouraging to you, you should remember that your passing chances are highly dependent on your exam preparation and knowledge.
Here’s a practical tip - enroll in a Florida exam prep course will help you become more confident and boost your preparation.
Due to the numerous course topics and subjects, preparing for the licensing exam can be overwhelming for students, especially for the ones without a schedule.
Generally, enrolling in exam test prep classes is helpful for students, as it provides a structured approach for managing your study schedule. Plus, it helps you avoid burnout.
Plus, having access to mock tests and practice questions, makes it easier for students to prepare for the licensing test.
Most importantly, it will help you manage your time, especially as many students find it difficult to complete all the questions within a stipulated time.
Your exam test preparation course provider should provide valuable learning materials, on-demand doubt-clearing sessions, and instructor-led sessions to help you.
By practicing valuable resources such as the 45-hour post-licensing Florida exam questions you can become familiar with the type of questions you will face in the test.
It is recommended that you make use of real estate test preparation courses as they are designed to give you a real-world simulation of the Florida salesperson license exam.