Wondering How To Get Your Texas Real Estate License Online? Read This Guide Before Starting.
Did you know that the top real estate agents in Texas can make as much as $140K annually while enjoying a stable work-life balance? If you're looking to join this lucrative field, the first step is learning how to get your Texas real estate license online.
Texas’ real estate market is continuing its amazing run and witnessing unprecedented demand from homebuyers and investors from across the country.
In recent years, Texas has outgrown many other major states to emerge as one of the most promising and exciting real estate markets for agents.
Thanks to a strong economic outlook, a growing job market, a rising population, and favorable business policies, the demand for real estate in TX continues to grow.
Dallas, Houston, Austin, and Fort Worth are some of the strongest real estate markets in the country and have experienced significant growth in home sales and median home valuation.
With demand for housing projected to grow in the next five years, the number of opportunities for real estate professionals will also increase in tandem.
As more individuals seek the expert assistance and guidance of real estate agents, it is expected that Texas is going to be a lucrative market for professionals in the coming future.
If you are interested in building a part-time income stream or building a long-term career in real estate, now is a great time to start preparing for it.
Imagine earning generous commissions and working as per your own schedule - does this sound like a professional dream come true?
Your job as a real estate agent will be to represent the interests of your clients, whether they want to buy or sell properties.
In exchange for your services and assistance, you will earn a commission on every deal you help close.
To work with clients and earn commissions, you must first obtain a Texas real estate license by fulfilling the various state and federal license requirements.
The license regulations and requirements are established and enforced by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), the state’s highest authority.
The TREC allows licensed professionals to work in the industry and legally practice their profession to assist consumers anywhere in the state.
Many beginners often wonder whether it is possible to become a licensed real estate agent easily or not - the short answer is - yes, it is certainly an achievable goal if you plan well.
To help you become a licensed salesperson in Texas real estate, this in-depth guide will cover all the important steps and requirements.
Whether you are a complete beginner or someone interested in switching careers, if you want to learn how to get a real estate license in Texas online, keep on reading till the end.
Understanding how to get your texas real estate license online landscape
Being one of the largest states in the country area-wise, Texas offers a unique and dynamic value proposition to real estate investors, agents, and homebuyers,
The Lone Star state has seen notable growth in demand for housing and residential real estate, thanks to a slew of investments from businesses and corporations in the state. With this booming market, now is the perfect time to learn how to get your Texas real estate license online and take advantage of the thriving opportunities.
Moreover, Texas is benefitting from favorable government policies such as no income tax and other initiatives to build more supply of real estate.
The state is home to many promising real estate markets such as - Houston, Dallas, Frisco, San Antonio, and Georgetown.
As per market reports and data from property listing sites, the valuation of a single-family home in TX has appreciated by more than 100 percent since the last decade.
The overall sales of homes have gone up with higher average months of supply. Mortgage rates have also decreased, indicating a higher demand for housing in TX.
When it comes to luxury real estate, Texas’ market is no slouch as it has shown impressive growth and sustained demand from high-net-worth individuals seeking premium properties.
For aspiring real estate agents who want to seek a stable, high-growth career, Texas’ dynamic and diverse landscape can be an ideal launchpad for your ambitions.
Be it part-time or full-time, Texas is proving to be a fertile opportunity ground for agents who want to be at the center of a high-growth market attracting homebuyers and investors.
Now that you have learned about the big picture, it is time to move to completing the steps to get Texas real estate license.
However, before you start preparing for getting your license, you must also prepare for what you will be doing in the job role of a real estate agent in TX.
The Job Role of a Real Estate Agent
As a real estate agent, you must be prepared to tackle a myriad of job duties and tasks as part of your job profile.
From pre-sales and customer service to post-sales, marketing, and operational tasks - a day in the life of a real estate agent is never dull.
Your core job responsibility is to assist your clients and work with them to help them achieve their goals and needs. If you're looking to start this rewarding career, you may be wondering how to get your Texas real estate license online.
Whether you are working with a buyer or a seller, you must represent their interests and help them make informed decisions. Here is a list of the common duties and tasks in your life:
- Responding to inquiries and service queries from prospects and clients
- Evaluating the requirements of a prospect and suggesting the ideal solution
- Assisting clients in finding the right properties to buy
- Helping clients set up their property for site tours and home visits
- Educating potential clients about real estate laws and guidelines
- Negotiating on behalf of your clients to help them get the best deal
- Coordinating with brokers, property appraisers, and home inspectors
- Collecting all the required documents and paperwork to initiate a deal
- Ensuring compliance with state and federal laws for real estate transactions
- Updating records of all documents, transactions, and deal-related paperwork
- Attending marketing and networking events to promote your services
- Assisting in creating and promoting advertorial and marketing material
Clearly, a day in the life of a real estate agent in TX is never dull and requires you to juggle multiple duties and tasks.
To make the most of this career, it is important to develop strong sales, relationship, and managerial skills.
Building successful relationships with clients and nurturing them is one of the crucial skills to grow in real estate and expand your business and clientele.
However, the first and foremost step is to apply for a Texas salesperson license and meet all the licensing requirements to obtain yours.
If you're a complete beginner, you might wonder whether pursuing a Real Estate Career in Texas is worth the time, effort, and cost to obtain a license.
It is common to think that the only benefit of getting a license is regulatory compliance - while it is a big reason to get licensed, there are many additional advantages as well.
Before you learn about the exact process and steps to get a real estate license in Texas, it is important to take a step back and understand why you must earn a license first.
The benefits of a real estate license
Like many regulated industries and professions, real estate is also governed by a set of state and federal laws and rules.
As per the North Carolina Real Estate Commission (NCREC), every individual must fulfill the licensing requirements and obtain a valid state license to work with clients.
Working in real estate requires you to obtain a minimum level of education and training, which you will complete as part of your licensing journey. If you're wondering how to get your Texas real estate license online, the process involves completing state-approved coursework.
There are numerous benefits of getting licensed and if you are serious about starting a part-time or a full-time career, here’s why you must obtain an NC real estate license:
High income potential
The law allows only licensed professionals to work with clients and earn commissions, therefore if you want to boost your income, getting a license is a must.
With a real estate license in Texas, you will be allowed to work anywhere in the state and earn commissions on your own without relying on others.
Having a license will also allow you to work with clients anywhere in the state and earn commissions in exchange for your services.
A state-issued license will also make you more employable and boost your credibility significantly.
Access to the MLS
MLS (Multistate Listing Services) is a statewide database of real estate properties in a particular locality, region, or neighborhood.
Only licensed professionals who get a real estate license can access the vast network of MLS (Multiple Listing Service) and the complete database of property listings in Texas.
If you have access to the MLS, you can save time and easily benchmark properties and compare listing data to evaluate potential business opportunities.
Professional networking opportunities
With a real estate license, you can get the opportunity to join members-only communities and be a part of exclusive groups for licensed professionals only.
By joining professional networks and exclusive communities, you can connect with industry professionals, peers, and other experts which will help you grow your knowledge and skills.
Since real estate works on relationships, having a vast network of professionals and peers can be highly valuable for expanding into new markets and growing business.
Step-by-step process to obtain a Texas salesperson license
As per the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), every aspiring and experienced real estate professional must have an up-to-date, state-issued license.
Irrespective of your background or location, you are required by state and federal law to obtain a license to work with clients and engage in a real estate transaction.
With a Texas salesperson license, you can work anywhere in the state, practice your profession, and assist clients in real estate deals without restrictions.
To start with, you need to obtain a salesperson license in Texas which will be a stepping stone to enter the industry and work with clients.
After you have gained some real-world experience and have advanced in your knowledge and skills, you can apply for a broker’s license in Texas by completing additional education.
Now that you have learned about the basics, let us walk you through the step-by-step process of how to get your Texas real estate license online.
Step 1: Meet the basic eligibility requirements
The TREC requires all applicants to meet the basic statutory requirements to prove their eligibility for a career in real estate.
To join the Texas real estate industry, you must first meet the following requirements:
- You must be at least 18 years of age or older
- You must have a valid proof of residency in the state of Texas
- You must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent
To ensure that you meet the minimum eligibility requirements, you can take a fitness determination test.
Step 2: Complete the pre-licensing education
Education is the foundation upon which a successful career is built and working in real estate also requires you to complete a minimum level of education and training.
In order to work with clients, assist them, and provide your services, you must be aware of the fundamental principles, processes, and policies of working in TX real estate.
As per the TREC license requirements, you must complete 180 hours of pre-license education and training to qualify for a salesperson license.
Here’s a list of the courses you will cover during your 180 hours of pre-license education:
- Principles of Real Estate: 60 hours
- Law of Agency: 30 hours
- Law of Contracts: 30 hours
- Real Estate Finance: 30 hours
- Promulgated Contract Forms: 30 hours
The purpose of pre-licensing education is to gain the knowledge, skills, and training required to work in the industry as a professional.
The courses will equip you with the knowledge of the principles of real estate including the various state and federal laws and industry regulations.
From state and federal laws to industry guidelines and regulations, you will learn about the key principles and general real estate topics as part of your courses.
You are free to complete the course as per your preferred medium of learning and convenience.
This means you can choose to join a physical, in-class-based real estate college in TX or enroll in an online, self-paced real estate prep course.
However, you must keep in consideration that you must choose only a state-approved education provider and you can visit the TREC website to find approved education providers.
Speaking of completing the coursework, many students prefer the flexibility offered by online pre-license courses and classes as they can be completed as per your preferred schedule.
If you're thinking how to get your Texas real estate license online, the process is convenient and flexible allowing you to study at your own pace.
When it comes to the cost of pre-licensing education, it largely depends on the course provider, their pass rate, years of experience, type of package, and medium of learning.
Generally, you can expect to spend anywhere between $200 to $700 to get your course credits completed from a state-approved education provider in Texas.
Step 3: Pass the Texas real estate licensing exam
After completing 180 hours of pre-license education and training, the next step is to take the Texas real estate licensing exam.
The TREC has made it mandatory for all applicants to take the exam and pass it to get their license.
You will have 150 minutes in total to complete the exam and the exam consists of 120 multiple-choice questions in total covering both state and national-specific topics.
The purpose of the exam is to test your knowledge and to pass the test, you must achieve the minimum passing score of 75% or above.
You can schedule your exam at any of the Pearson VUE centers in Texas based on your preferred day, date, and location.
Note that if you are applying for a salesperson license exam in TX, the exam fees will be $43 for each attempt.
In case you are unable to clear the test on your first attempt, you can re-attempt it by paying the exam fee again.
Step 4: Complete background verification
As part of the Texas qualifying requirements, the TREC requires applicants to complete mandatory background verification and criminal history checks.
Note that passing the background check is mandatory for getting a state-approved real estate license.
If you have any criminal history, the TREC will allow you to present your case and history before accepting or rejecting your license application.
Once your background verification and criminal history check come clean and you have proven good moral character, you will not face any issues in getting your license.
If you are wondering how to apply for real estate license in Texas, you can visit the TREC website, submit your license application, and pay the license application fee.
Step 5: Find employer sponsorship
If you have successfully completed all the steps discussed above, you will receive your Texas salesperson license within a few weeks.
However, as a licensed real estate professional in Texas, you must first activate your license by finding a sponsoring broker or brokerage firm license in the state.
The Texas Real Estate Commission requires all agents to find a sponsoring broker with an active Texas real estate license.
To activate your salesperson license, you must submit your employer sponsorship details to the TREC for review and approval.