Licensed real estate professionals can assist the growing real estate market in all aspects of a real estate transaction, whether it is buying, selling, renting, and investing. It is important to know that to receive a commission from assisting in the sale or purchase of real estate in Florida, you must be licensed as a real estate sales associate or broker in the State of Florida.
Students who earn their real estate license have the opportunity to be involved in all phases of the real estate business and develop their real estate careers in Florida. And if you are a top-producing agent, there will be no limits to the amount of revenue you can produce with your property marketing and sales skills.
What sort of activities can you expect to be involved in with this exciting new career? Here’s a list of just a few of the things you’ll be involved with:
Not everyone possesses the qualities to become a successful real estate professional, but those that do can expect to enjoy a truly unique career experience.
Most individuals that excel within this industry are good problem solvers and are able to assist their customers in seeing beyond problems which could get in the way of what would otherwise be a very sound and beneficial real estate investment.
They have the ability to keep things calm during negotiations concerning price, terms, and conditions, and they help their customers maintain a positive outlook throughout the home buying and selling process. And successful sales professionals also have the ability to establish and build rapport with their buyers and sellers based on their pleasant personality and the integrity they demonstrate throughout the course of the transaction.
Also, having the desire and ability to work well on your own is a necessary skill to have as once again, this is your own business! You’ll develop the ability to create your own personal business plan and to block the necessary time to take care of your career responsibilities on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.
Sound like something you are ready to do? These are just some of the qualities that are generally deemed required if one is to be successful in this industry and certainly prior career experiences can be a benefit as well.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects a 12.2 percent job growth for real estate sales agents between 2010 and 2020 and during that time period, an additional 52,500 jobs will need to be filled. Additionally, according to the BLS in 2012, real estate agents and brokers earned a median average income of $52,870.
Further, according to the National Association of Realtors, real estate agents are as widely used as ever: 89 percent of buyers retained one in 2012, up from 69 percent in 2001. It’s the same on the seller side, where only 9 percent sold a home without an agent, down from a high of 20 percent in 1987.
In order to become a licensed real estate sales associate in the state of Florida, you must 1) Successfully complete a 63-hour course approved by the Florida Real Estate Commission; 2) Complete the required application; 3) Have electronic fingerprints taken; and, 4) Successfully complete the state examination. You must also be at least 18 years of age and have a High School Diploma. The requirements to become a real estate broker in the state of Florida are different.
You must have had an active real estate sales associate license and complete 24 months real estate experience during the 5 year period preceding becoming licensed as a broker. Then, you must successfully complete a 72-hour course approved by the Florida Real Estate Commission, and follow the same steps required for licensure as a sales associate as referenced above.