Imagine having a job with the potential to pull in an annual six-figure salary and help you make your dreams come true. A Texas real estate license can unlock that career path and lead you to a lucrative career. After all, everyone needs a home, and businesses need a place for their operations. You could be the one to find those properties.
How to become a real estate agent in Texas? To become a real estate agent in Texas, you must obtain a real estate license from the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC). The following step-by-step guide can help make that happen.
Step 1: Meet the Basic Texas Real Estate License Requirements
You have to accomplish three basic Texas real estate license requirements. You must be 18 and have a high school diploma or GED equivalent. That means you can embark on your real estate license journey right out of high school and without attending a traditional four-year college. You also need to be a U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted alien.
Additionally, you must meet the Texas Real Estate Commission’s standards for honesty, trustworthiness, and integrity. That is where the issue of your background comes into play.
Various factors, including prior criminal convictions, outstanding judgments, disciplinary actions related to your professional or occupational licenses, or engagement in unlicensed activities, might necessitate a Fitness Determination (FD) request from the TREC.
You can save time and money by requesting an FD. While this step is not mandatory, opting to request an FD as your initial action in the licensing journey allows you to ascertain your eligibility for licensure before investing in qualifying education courses, application fees, and examination expenses.
This proactive approach ensures you’re on the right path from the beginning. If you meet those basic real estate license requirements, you can begin the pre-licensing education leading to your new Texas real estate agent job.
Step 2: Complete Your Pre-licensing Education
Although you don’t need to go to college for a Texas real estate license, you have to take a real estate agent pre-licensing course. The TREC has developed courses that every Texas real estate agent must pass. Here are the Texas real estate pre-licensing courses:
- Principles of Real Estate – 30 credit hours
- Principles of Real Estate II – 30 credit hours
- Real Estate Finance – 30 credit hours
- Law of Contracts – 30 credit hours
- Law of Agency – 30 credit hours
- Promulgated Contract Forms – 30 credit hours
A total of 180 hours of coursework covers all aspects of Texas real estate laws and regulations. You have one year from start to finish to complete these courses.
Step 3: Pass the Texas Real Estate License Exam
After completing the 180-hour coursework, you can apply for the Texas real estate license exam. You need a passing grade of 70%. Every applicant is allowed to take the test three times. After three fails, you will be required to retake the pre-licensing course.
Step 4: Find a Real Estate Broker to Sponsor You
You will be issued an inactive license after passing the license exam. This license serves as a “learner’s permit” for buying and selling homes. And just as you need a licensed driver with a student permit, you must also set up a Texas real estate license sponsorship with an active Texas real estate broker. That broker will act as a guide and mentor, providing you with hands-on knowledge.
Step 5: Apply for and Activate Your License
After locking down your real estate agent sponsor, submit your Texas real estate license application and application fee to the TREC. When everything gets verified and approved, your license will be activated, and you can start work as a real estate sales agent.
Tips for Getting Your Real Estate License in Texas
The first step to earning your real estate agent license is completing the required coursework. Take the time to research the school to ensure it has a good reputation and a high passing rate.
Studying early and providing yourself with ample preparation time for your exam is another essential component of your success strategy. Real estate licensing exams can be demanding, covering a range of topics, from legal regulations to Texas real estate market trends. The more you study, the better prepared you’ll be.
Finding the right broker to be your sponsor is crucial. You want an experienced broker who knows the market and has a track record of success in the industry. They should also be willing to share their knowledge with you. The goal is to learn as much as possible from your sponsor and create a relationship you can count on for advice.
You’ll also find that networking will be a crucial element in building up your Texas real estate career. That network of real estate professionals can be accessed through a variety of sources. Consider membership in the National Association of Realtors. You can begin to attend industry events and apply for membership in local real estate associations. You can also join online forums to gain more first-hand knowledge. These relationships will prove to be a vital resource for your career as a real estate agent.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Real Estate License in Texas?
Getting your real estate license in Texas will take anywhere from 4 to 6 months. You can set your own pace. Most students complete a single 30-hour course in just three days.
How Hard Is It to Get a Texas Real Estate License?
According to the Texas Real Estate Commission, the overall passing rate is 57%. That number covers those who took the exam and passed on their first try.
That pass rate demonstrates that the Texas real estate license exam is not easy, and one should study the pre-licensing coursework materials well to join the ranks of “passed” applicants.
What Are the Minimum Qualifications to Become a Real Estate Agent in Texas?
The minimum qualifications to become a real estate agent in Texas are the following:
- Must be 18 years old or older
- Must be a high school graduate
- Must be a U.S. citizen or lawful alien
- Must take 180-hour pre-licensing course
- Must pass the license exam
- Must train under a licensed real estate agent sponsor
- Must apply to TREC and pay the application fee
- Related Article : How to Get a Florida Real Estate License
Conclusion
Getting a real estate license in Texas can be a rewarding experience. It is the type of career that requires a lot of initial coursework and studying but can be completed fast compared to other professions. You could start that coursework in January and be out in the field, showing homes by August.
Your Texas real estate license is also “portable.” Once you earn that license, you can act as an agent anywhere in the state. You’ll also find yourself in a network of like-minded professionals who are all dedicated to making the best deals for their clients.
By following the steps above, you can start your career as a real estate agent in Texas.
