How to Become a Real Estate Agent

Do you have an interest in real estate? Have you ever dreamed of being your own boss? Do you have experience in sales? Would you like a more flexible schedule? What are you waiting for! Do you think you have what it takes to be a real estate agent? Find out today with our free quiz below!

Real estate isn’t for everyone so it’s important to educate yourself before you dive in. But not to worry, we have plenty of information and resources to help you make the best decision for you! We recommend chatting with an actual real estate agent to get a “day-in-the-life” perspective of what they do! This will also give you an opportunity to ask questions and see if you could picture yourself living a similar lifestyle.

How’d you do? Are you ready to jump right in or looking for a slower start? Either way, let’s learn a little bit more about the steps to becoming a real estate agent! You can also schedule an informational interview directly with us to get that “day-in-the-life” of a real estate agent experience! You’ll get the opportunity to ask questions and learn firsthand if this is the career for you!

Alright so…that was the VERY quick version Jovannie shared with us ? let’s break it down a bit more.

Step 1 | Find a Real Estate Team (or meet with an experienced agent)
Now this one isn’t a necessity, there are people out there who become an agent on their own, so that’s an option. But working with a team, especially when you are first starting out, gives you the ability to always have a mentor. You’re never alone when you’re on a team and always someone there to help with the process, answer questions, or guide you in a tricky situation. Not to mention, if you don’t already have your license, some teams will even help cover the cost of getting started! However, if you choose to go on your own, we recommend at the very least doing some informational interviews with more experienced agents. Find out how they got started and educate yourself on the tools and resources used in this career.

Step 2 | Take the Class
After talking with some experts in the field and liking what you’re hearing, it’s time to take the official first step towards your career in real estate! Your real estate pre-license education consists of three 30-hour courses, each one covering important information about the industry, rules and regulations, legal information, and so on. There are multiple places that offer these approved courses as well as both in-person and online options. The Minnesota Department of Commerce has more detailed information about how to get started. We personally recommend Kaplan’s courses. You can learn more about them here: www.kapre.com/real-estate-courses/minnesota

Step 3 | Pass the Test
Of course, just like any other class, this one also comes with a test. After completing the first of the three courses, you take your exam. The exam is done in-person under supervision and consists of 80 general/national questions and 50 state questions. You are given 2.5 hours to complete the first portion and 1.5 hours to complete the second portion. To pass, you must answer at least 75% of the questions correctly! Check out Kaplan’s exam info here: https://www.kapre.com/real-estate-courses/minnesota/mn-licensing-exam-info

Step 4 | Get Your License
After passing the test, you still have the remaining two courses to complete. Once those are complete, you can officially apply for your license! The Minnesota Department of Commerce has a complete breakdown of everything needed: https://mn.gov/commerce-stat/pdfs/re-license-guide.pdf Jump to page 43 to get the license application procedures.

Step 5 | Start Working (aka making the money)
Yay!! It’s official, you’ve got your license in hand and ready to rock. Now for the fun part, time to hit the ground running and really start working. Your days will often consist of phone calls, emails, paperwork, personal marketing, client meetings, showings, open houses, and of course team bonding! There are many perks to becoming a real estate agent, but there are a couple of things our agents seem to like best. The first is schedule flexibility. You have the ability to choose when you work and when you don’t. Now of course no one is going to do a showing at 4 in the morning or answer your phone call just before bed, but you still have the flexibility to make your schedule work for you and your life, rather than the other way around! The second perk is the unlimited earning potential. The cool thing about this type of job is you get to decide how much you make. Your effort directly correlates to how much you make. There is no boss telling you your salary for the year or a CEO putting a cap on your commission, you are truly in charge of your own success.

Now that you have a base understanding of what it takes to become a real estate agent, it’s time to learn more about the ins and outs of the market and industry processes. We have an entire YouTube channel dedicated to educating buyers, sellers, and even current and future agents! Check it out.

Ready to take it a step further? Set up an information interview with us! Learn what life is like as an agent, ask any questions you may have, and see if being a real estate agent is right for you! Click below to schedule a 15-minute Zoom call.