Before You Get A California Real Estate License
Just remember this one thing before you start your journey to getting a real estate license in California. You have to let everyone know youâre a real estate agent.
So many people start this career and never tell anyone that theyâre an agent.
When everyone you know doesnât realize youâre an agent, they wonât ever call you for your services. And as a new real estate agent, the people you know become your clients.
They are the people most likely to work with you.
So, when youâre enrolling into an accredited real estate school, that is the time to start building your database of contacts. Because it takes about 6-months for a new contact to become a client. Coincidentally, 6-months is the average time it takes to get your license.
Thatâs how you start your career with an exciting, uplifting momentum.
Complimentary Service For Buyers
DeLeon Realty is committed to providing exceptional service to its clients. We invest time, energy, and money in all our clients. Below are the complimentary services DeLeon Realty offers to each of our buyers.
Enhanced Market Knowledge
Finding the right property, paying the right price, and closing escrow on the property of your choice are the most important elements to a successful real estate transaction. Our buyer consultants, who are on salary and not on commission, have enhanced market knowledge within their specialized cities and neighborhoods. Our agents are required to regularly monitor and tour the areas in which they specialize. You will not find any of our agents espousing knowledge from Morgan Hill through San Francisco. Before we permit our agents to work outside of our core area, they must demonstrate specific knowledge of our local communities because we believe that localized knowledge is paramount to a successful transaction.
As a client, we will match you to one or more of our buyer consultants who are specialists in your city, or cities, of interest. Moreover, our agents work together to find the best house for you because they are motivated by your satisfaction, not by their commission.
Access To Ken DeLeons Market Insight And Connections
As a client, you will have access to Kens market insight, connections, and off-market listings.
Detailed Negotiation and Deal-Structuring Advice
Persuasive Offer Presentations
Superior Understanding Of The Contract
Real Estate Jobs And Their Salaries
Today there are more than 5 million people working in various parts of the real estate industry in the United States. Real estate has many wide-ranging career opportunities associated with it, both directly and indirectly. Many real estate jobs require licensingsuch as a real estate license, continuing education, or other certifications or degrees. Below we outline the different types of real estate jobs available today, as well as the typical real estate salary or income associated with each.
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Choose The Right Brokerage
When choosing the right brokerage for you, consider your needs. Every agent is looking for something different from their brokerage, but here are some factors to consider:
- Commission splits
- Mentorship program availability
Its important to find a brokerage led by real producers. Throughout your hunt, ask yourself the following:
- Does the organization have a solid hold of the market, and is it easily recognized by residents in the community?
- Have the Brokers in charge found success in their careers?
- What is their mindset and approach to business?
Pro Tip: As you look to join a brokerage, remember that youre interviewing them just as much as theyre interviewing you. If youre nervous about the interview process, check out our free ebook that explains how to successfully answer brokerage interview questions.
Job Outlook For Real Estate Agents And Brokers
Real estate agents and brokers help clients buy, sell, and rent properties. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , the number of real estate agent and broker jobs is projected to increase by 4% between 2020 and 2030, which is slower than the average for all occupations.
Still, the BLS notes that “there will be a continued demand for real estate brokers and sales agents, because people turn to these workers when looking for a new home, relocating, or purchasing property for a business, among other reasons. Employment is projected to grow along with the real estate market.”
All About Real Estate Agents and What They Do
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Career Longevity Tips For Real Estate Agents In California
Key Principles to a Long and Successful Career in California Real Estate
Real estate is one of the most lucrative industries you can join with the lowest barriers to entry. Like anything in life, the more you practice as a real estate agent, the better you get. And in this industry, the better you get, the higher your commissions can be the only ceiling to success is yourself.
Now, success wont happen overnight, and putting in the work will help you reap the rewards. This blog will get your career started on the right foot and offers step-by-step instructions for building a lasting, successful real estate business.
California Real Estate Agent Requirements
The past few decades have marked real estate as a reliable cash cow that investors are very interested in. With the rapidly growing population, the need for affordable housing has grown into an excellent opportunity for real estate agents to leverage and make good cash from commission splits.
It’s a lucrative opportunity, but not just anyone can become a real estate agent. There are certain legal requirements, steps, and procedures to get licensed and start your career as an agent. Here’s what you need to become an approved real estate agent in California.
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Does California Offer Reciprocity
California has no reciprocity with any other state to allow a waiver of any of the requirements to obtain a license.
In applying for the real estate broker or salesperson examination, evidence of completion of the statutory courses in out-of-state institutions is acceptable if the institution is accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges or a comparable regional accrediting entity, and each course provided for three semester-units credit or four quarter-units credit.
Out-of-state residents must:
- File a Consent to Service of Process with the DRE. This form must be completed, signed, notarized, and submitted to the DRE with the original or renewal application.
- Submit their fingerprints directly to the DRE. A fingerprint card will be provided with the original license application. It should be taken to a local law enforcement agency for completion.
- Submit the appropriate fingerprint fee with the completed fingerprint card, original license application, and license fee to the DRE.
- Be licensed with a California broker if engaging in business in California.
Complete Your Licensing Application
After you pass the examination, and if you have not filed a License Combo Application, then you will be sent a Salesperson License Application . This form must be completed and returned along with the appropriate fee within one year of passing the examination. A license cannot be issued until DRE receives fingerprint response information. See Fingerprint Requirements for further information.
Evidence of completion of Real Estate Principles, Real Estate Practice, and one additional course from the course requirements list must be on file before your license is issued. Out-of-state applicants must also submit a completed and notarized Consent to Service of Process . See Out-of-State Applicants for further information.
Once your application is approved by the state, DRE will issue your California Real Estate Salesperson license. You can look up your new real estate license on DRE’s eLicensing Online website here.
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Is California Reciprocal With Real Estate License
Although you do not need to be a resident of California to obtain a real estate license, the California Department of Real Estate has no reciprocity with any other state.
In other words, you still need to write the California Real Estate exam. However, if you have already taken pre-licensing courses in other states, its possible it could be used to waive the education requirement.
You can verify with the Department to see if they can accept the classes you took.
How To Get Started In Real Estate
Ready to start a new and exciting career in real estate? If youre interested in becoming a real estate agent, the first step is to take your real estate pre-licensing courses. We also recommend downloading the following free resources from our website, which will walk you through information on real estate licensing, income, and start-up costs:
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Apply For The California Salesperson Exam
Once you have met the exam’s educational requirements, it’s time to apply for the actual exam.You may apply for the salesperson examination by using the Salesperson Exam Application orthe Combined Salesperson Examination and License Application. We recommend doing thecombo application. The combined application allows you to apply for both the exam and licenseand pay all applicable fees at the same time and if you have a clear criminal background, yourlicense can be issued immediately!
Once you have submitted your application, you should be prepared to wait around 4-6 weeks foryour application to be processed.
Once approved, you will receive an Examination Schedule notice, allowing you to schedule a time for your examination.
California has an eLicensing system that you will use to schedule your examination and check on the status of your exam.
Chapter : Getting Real Estate Leads For New Agents
Once youre licensed, its time to get some leads so you can start selling.
The best part?
Getting real estate leads for new agents is easier than ever, since digital marketing has opened up many new opportunities for lead generation. Before digital marketing, knocking on doors, sending out fliers, and hoping for referrals were some of the only ways of getting real estate leads for new agents.
Of course, whichever lead generation strategy you choose, getting real estate leads for new agents can take some time. With that in mind, its smart to start your career with some savings behind you while your lead generation strategies have time to gain momentum.
To help you understand how simple getting real estate leads for new agents can be, lets look at some of the questions new real estate agents frequently ask when theyre ready to start selling.
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Commercial Real Estate Agent
Commercial real estate agents are similar to residential agents, but they work in the commercial sector of the real estate industry. So, instead of houses, commercial real estate agents sell properties to businesses. Moreover, this type of real estate careers requires you to have analytical knowledge in business and finance. This is because commercial agents work with data like gross rent multipliers, capitalization rates, and internal rates of return.
Regarding their salaries, both residential and commercial real estate agents work on commission. So, they make a percentage of the amount of real estate property in the transaction. Meaning, agents who find more leads and close more deals make more money. However, according to the National Association of Realtors® , commercial real estate agents earned twice as much as residential agents in 2017.
How To Become A Commercial Real Estate Agent In California
To become a commercial real estate agent in California, you need to complete the 135 hours of pre-licensing courses and pass the real estate salesperson exam. The CA Department of Real Estate does not issue separate licenses for residential and commercial agents. So, the requirement is basically the same one we just went through.
Furthermore, if you are going to pursue a career as a CRE agent, you should look for a brokerage that could give you the right support and resources.
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How Can You Cold Call For Real Estate Leads
The easiest way to start cold calling real estate leads is to look for your markets expired listings and For Sale By Owner listings.
Why?
Because these folks arent technically cold leads. Theyre already interested in selling their homes, and theyve either tried to sell already without any success, or theyre trying to represent themselves in the home selling process.
That makes these two types of cold leads somewhat warmed up to the idea of selling their home since we know its already a goal they have in mind. With the right connection and pitch, theyll see the value in using your services to help them achieve their sale.
The best way to approach expired listings, somewhat counterintuitively, is not to start the conversation asking if theyd like your help. Its best to start your call with some empathy and acknowledge that they must be having a frustrating time getting their home sold, and follow up with some questions with the goal of meeting in person. Once you meet, youll be more likely to make a connection with them and nurture the relationship in a way thats mutually beneficial.
Similarly, youll want to respect FSBO prospects decision to sell on their own, and approach those calls with curiosity rather than a hard pitch. Again, the goal is to establish a relationship and not make the sale right off the bat. In fact, this will help you stand out from other real estate agents who are surely calling with the same goal of winning their business.
How Allied Real Estate School Can Help New Real Estate Agents Start Selling
If you need help generating leads, Allied Real Estate School’s continuing education courses teach you how to grow your real estate knowledge so you can feel confident offering your expertise to attract the right leads.
For instance, Allied offers courses in Trust Fund Handling, Risk Management, and Sales Comparison Techniques so you can offer prospects useful information on your blog, social media, paid advertising, and in-person conversations.
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Pass The California Salesperson Licensing Exam
During the exam, you’ll be asked 150 multiple choice questions that cover California real estate laws, rules and regulations. You are given 3 hours to complete the examination and you must score 70% or higher to pass. The exam is qualifying in nature only, which means that a score is not reported unless you fail the test. If you take one of our exam prep real estate crash courses you should be just fine!
The good news is that ADHI Schools will fully prepare you for this leg of your journey so you pass the real estate exam with minimal stress!
Real Estate Loan Officer
A real estate loan officer helps clients with obtaining a loan to buy a property. Meaning, they collaborate with buyers to finance their purchase within their budget. To get a job as a real estate loan officer, you must be registered with the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and in order to register, you must meet the qualifications. In addition, you must also have knowledge in finance seeing as youâll be helping clients navigate the financial waters of their real estate purchase. After all, youâre their guide through the stress that follows money problems. Glassdoor estimates the average real estate salary for a loan officer is $34K.
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How Much Does It Cost To Get A Ca Real Estate License
Youâll need to spend some money on required coursework. With ADHI Schools, we have packages that can range from $150 up to $499. Youâll then have to take the state exam and get your license. You should budget about $550-$1,000 depending on whether you do the classes with an instructor or self study for coursework, license fees and criminal background.
Complete The Approved 135 Hours Of Pre
In California, aspiring real estate agents have the option to complete their pre-licensing education online or in person.
If youre interested in how to get a California real estate license quickly, an online format may be your best option. For instance, Allied Real Estate School has online learning packages that range from the bare minimum for self-starters, to course packages that include live Q& As and access to supplemental business and marketing courses for those who want to hit the ground running once they obtain their license.
Plus, Allied students have the option to swap courses as needed, get hard copy textbooks, and study with digital exam flashcards to prepare for their exam.
Another huge benefit of taking these courses online is that since many of Allieds course packages are self-paced, students can easily complete them while maintaining a full-time job as they transition into real estate.
At the same time, in-person classes are available statewide but may take a bit longer to complete and have less flexibility. For convenience, online options are always your best bet, and Allied Real Estate School offers a variety to choose from.
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What Are Some Of The Questions On The Real Estate Exam
At this point you might be wondering, Is the real estate test hard?
The good news is, the answer depends on you: if you use the course and study materials youre given and practice regularly, it should be fairly easy to pass your exam with a score of 70% or higher.
The material youll see on the real estate exam ranges from legal questions to working out the math on commissions. Youll also need to be familiar with real estate terminology, which is where Allieds eBook Dictionary and Digital Exam Flash Cards come in handy.
Overall, categories include:
- Practice of Real Estate and Disclosures
While its helpful to know which topics are covered on the test, keep in mind that reading every word of the exam is just as important as knowing the material. The way questions are phrased on the test can change the context of what theyre asking, so its helpful to look out for words like always or never in all your questions, or choices like all or none in the answers.
The best approach is to take your time, read each question and answer carefully, and be mindful of every word. Youll have three hours and fifteen minutes to complete your 150-question exam, which should be plenty of time if youre an Allied student who has taken full advantage of our study resources.
