How to Become a Real Estate Agent

 The process of becoming a real estate agent is fairly simple,
although it does vary a lot from state to state. Here are the
fundamentals of becoming a real estate agent.

a) License Requirements Each state has different licensing laws,
so you will need to look at your local requirements. However, in
general you will have to:

-Meet an age requirement -Pass a background check -Complete
approved real estate courses from a state-approved school -Pass
a state exam -Complete an application form -Submit various fees

Agents just getting their license work for a real estate broker.
If you decide at some point to work for yourself, you will need
to earn a broker license. Most new agents sign on with one of
the large company brokerages. Most successful agents, even if
not self-employed, treat the real estate profession as their own
business, instead of just a job. This attitude will go a long
way to ensuring your success.

b) What is a REALTOR®? Many people are confused about the
difference between a real estate agent and a REALTOR®. 

A real estate agent becomes a REALTOR® when he or she pays an
annual fee to the National Association of REALTORS® and
subscribes to its Code of Ethics. The agent joins through the
local (city) board or association. Membership in the REALTORS®
is optional, but help enhance your career. 

c) How much can a real estate agent earn? Real estate agents
more often than not are paid on commission. This commission is a
percent of the selling price of the property. The seller will
generally pay 4-6% of the sales price as the fee for having an
agent handle the complex job of selling their property. The
funds will often be split equally between the seller's broker
and broker who finds the buyer.

As an example, if the fee for a $300,000 property is 6%, the
buyer's broker will be paid 3% or $9000 and the seller's broker
will also be paid 3% or $9000. The agent is paid by his or her
broker, using their agreed-upon commission split. This is often
50-50 for new agents, so in that case the agent in our example
would be paid $4500. 

So to answer the question, the amount that a real estate agent
can earn is only limited by the number of transactions that he
or she can close.

Visit Real-Estate-Career-
Info.com for requirements for obtaining a real estate
license in your state.

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Info.com