Should I Get My Real Estate License?

Is getting a real estate license worth it for investors? The answer is, and always will be, maybe. There’s really no question about whether becoming a licensed real estate agent is a viable option for some people. If for nothing else, real estate licenses award career-oriented individuals with a lucrative wealth-building vehicle. Earning a license opens up individuals to an entirely new stream of income, which begs the question: Should I get my real estate license if I am already an investor?

Investing in real estate has grown in popularity over the last decade. With more visibility in the real estate investing community, competition has increased as well. It is now more important than ever to separate yourself from the competition. That said, there is one thing at the top of everyone’s mind, especially when it comes to gaining an edge: becoming a licensed real estate agent.

Not surprisingly, real estate licenses have become a hot commodity of sorts, especially in the investing landscape; it offers investors a way to get ahead of the competition. But there are certain things you must consider before committing.

Is It Worth Getting A Real Estate License?

In deciding whether or not to obtain a real estate license as an investor, the real question isn’t if it will help your efforts, but rather if it would be worth it. Becoming a licensed agent can’t hurt your real estate investing prospects. However, it is important to note that becoming a licensed real estate agent will require a bit of an investment on your behalf; therein lies the dilemma most people face. Is the amount of time and money you will need to invest in becoming licensed worth more than simply working with agents on future projects?

In deciding whether or not getting licensed is worth the time and effort it will require, investors must first determine what they want to accomplish. After all, it’s entirely possible to invest in real estate successfully without a license. However, there are definitely perks to getting licensed that may be worth your time.

Chris Linsell, a real estate coach at TheClose, even goes as far as saying “a real estate license is a must” for any serious investor within the real estate industry. “Investors with a real estate license get access to the inventory, market data, and important property statistics in real-time,” says Linsell. “If you’ve got the money you need to get working, you’re losing opportunity every day you’re waiting on an agent to call you back. Having a license lets you get real-time access to the data you need to make decisions immediately, not on someone else’s schedule.”

Getting your license will grant you access to one of the best tools for investors in today’s marketplace: the multiple listing service (MLS). Therefore, if your goal is to have access to a great number of deals, getting licensed may be worth it.  Let’s take a look at a few more reasons getting licensed may be worth your while.

[ Do you have what it takes to run your own real estate business? Register for a FREE real estate class offered in your area, where you can learn from experts how to replicate successful business systems. ]

Benefits Of A Real Estate License

Is getting a real estate license worth it? The answer isn’t as straightforward as many would like to hear. While getting a real estate license as an investor can be a great idea, it’s not for everyone. There is a lot of time and money that goes into the process. Therefore, investors need to ask themselves if the time and money spend on getting a real estate license are worth the following benefits:

• Access To The MLS: As perhaps the greatest perk of them all, investors who become licensed agents will gain access to the multiple listing service, a tool used to find the majority of deals on the market. More importantly, the MLS is the single greatest source of on-market deals in the country. The MLS is a great tool licensed investors can make invaluable.
• Additional Streams Of Income: Getting licensed will open up more doors for investors to make money. For example, under the right circumstances (and with the right disclosures made), investors could make money by saving money; remember, a penny saved is a penny earned. By acting as an agent in a deal, and disclosing as much, the investor will not have to pay the commission typically associated with working with an agent. Additionally, investors will be able to serve as an agent on other deals and make commissions on their deals; it’s a win-win scenario.
• Networking Opportunities: A real estate license will grant investors access to industry events, not the least of which award personable individuals with great networking opportunities. That said, real estate is a people business, so the more people a real estate license can bring into your network, the better. Better yet, a license may put you in contact with more professionals than “hobbyists.” New contacts may be the most valuable assets investors have in their arsenals when all is said and done.
• Access To Tools & Resources: Getting a real estate license can increase investors’ access to tools and resources that aren’t available to unlicensed professionals. The tools a license can grant investors can prove invaluable, especially when they are compounded together—every little bit helps.
• Credibility: As a licensed real estate agent, buyers and sellers may view investors in a more credible light. The act of obtaining a license takes time, money, commitment, and diligence. Therefore, it is safe to assume anyone who has gotten their license in the past is dedicated to their craft. The mere process of becoming licensed instills an inherent amount of trust in an otherwise unfamiliar situation.
• Education: In addition to their network, nothing is more valuable to an investor than their own education. That said, the process of becoming a licensed real estate agent rewards diligent investors with an entirely new curriculum. The information needed to become an agent will unquestionably add valuable knowledge to investors’ already vast foundation of information.

Disadvantages Of A Real Estate License

Much like every other aspect of the real estate investing community, there are two sides to every coin. While there are undoubtedly several benefits to getting a real estate license, there are also some other things to consider buying slaterpharmacy.com. For starters, there may not be a need to spend the time and money to get a real estate license if you are already well connected with real estate investors. You see, investors with agents in their network may be able to collaborate with agents and gain access to the MLS and their benefits indirectly.

Subsequently, real estate licenses aren’t simply handed out to investors. To become a licensed real estate agent, investors will need to go through a rigorous educational course and spend money to secure the license; that means a lot of time and money will go into simply getting a license. Not only that, but licenses must be maintained and renewed over time.

If that wasn’t enough, securing a real estate license will come with a lot more responsibilities, not the least of which includes disclosures. As a licensed agent, you will need to disclose your status as a licensed agent to buyers and sellers.

Questions To Ask Before Getting A Real Estate License

Let’s take a look at four questions that can help clear up whether or not you will want to get your real estate license:

1. Will becoming a licensed real estate agent further my investing career?

In a word, yes, having a real estate license can open up a world of opportunities to investors they never even knew existed. Becoming a licensed real estate agent can grant you access to properties on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), result in high paydays through commissions, and simultaneously increase your network of professional acquaintances. At least that I am aware of, not one real estate investor would say that either of these is bad. However, there is one caveat: you must weigh the benefits of becoming an agent yourself with the prospect of simply working alongside one.

I want to encourage aspiring investors to become licensed real estate agents, but that is not to say it is for everyone. In fact, becoming an agent yourself and working with one each correspond with inherent benefits. On the one hand, becoming an agent allows you to personally take advantage of benefits without relying on another individual, but you must be prepared to commit. That said, working with a licensed real estate agent gives you access to everything I have already mentioned; you aren’t privy to it all without their help, and there is the added cost to consider.

In short, becoming a licensed real estate agent can help you as an investor, but so can simply working with a qualified agent. It is up to you to determine which situation best suits your needs. If you are short on time, perhaps working with an agent is best for you. If you want to make a little extra money in commissions, consider getting licensed.

2. What sort of investment should I expect to get and maintain a real estate license?

Not surprisingly, becoming a licensed real estate agent isn’t free, nor is it void of commitment obligations. While the criteria for obtaining a real estate license can vary between state lines, you can expect licensing laws to enforce upfront fees and periodic renewals.

More often than not, aspiring agents will need to pay to gain access to the MLS. Those intent on becoming licensed may be required by certain associations to join the National Association of Realtors (NAR) for another annual fee. What’s more, it’s not uncommon for state laws to require bonding and/or insurance to practice. In all, some states may have licensing requirements that add up to somewhere in the neighborhood of $1,500 a year. Again, each state is different, and some are considerably less, but it is in your best interest to mind due diligence and find out what your particular state requirements are.

Outside of the financial obligations that have become synonymous with becoming an agent, licensing will require a time commitment. Again, while every state is different, you will be required to continue your education. Continuing education requirements can amount to as much as 30 hours in class a year, typically mandated by the state you intend to practice in.

In deciphering the criteria required to become licensed, only one thing is certain: every state will come complete with its own standards. I encourage you to find out the requirements that will need to be met for your particular state before determining whether or not becoming licensed is worth the investment.

Even with everything that will be asked of you to become a licensed Realtor, it can be very beneficial to practice investing while also moonlighting as an agent. I only ask that you become familiar with what it will take to do so before committing to the process.

3. Are there any additional liabilities that come with the territory?

Most states will allow real estate transactions to proceed without the presence of a licensed agent. However, one thing is for certain when you don’t enlist the services of a licensed real estate agent: anything that happens is entirely on you; the responsibility is yours, and yours alone. That said, everything changes once you get your real estate license. Not surprisingly, the title of a licensed real estate agent comes with some responsibility; you will have a distinct advantage over the other party involved in the deal.

If for no other reason than the fact you are a licensed agent, more responsibility is placed on your shoulders. Your title means you are now subject to complaints with the state and even litigation in extreme cases.

It is important to note that investing in real estate coincides with an inherent degree of risk, and getting licensed as a real estate agent is no different. It is not out of the realm of possibility for buyers or sellers to bring about litigation based on both statutory or common law. That said, it is entirely possible to mitigate said risk. If you choose to become a licensed real estate agent to further your investing career, be sure to familiarize yourself with what you can, and most importantly, can’t do. Follow the rules, and you will find that litigation rarely troubles those that are scrupulous in their efforts to do good on their part.

Above all else, educate yourself. The more you are familiar with the laws of real estate transactions, the less likely you are to face trouble. Understand that if you choose to get a real estate license, your responsibilities will increase, but that doesn’t mean your risk will. As long as you follow legal procedures, you will find that having a real estate license is extremely beneficial.

4. Can I Sell Real Estate Part Time?

Not only is it entirely possible to sell real estate part-time, but it’s probably the best way to get started in the industry. Since selling real estate isn’t like your typical nine-to-five, it lacks many of the comforts people have grown accustomed to. Things like a steady paycheck and health insurance are not guaranteed by any means, which can be unsettling for someone on the outside looking in. That said, many new real estate agents will work part-time to maintain their previous benefits. It is common for someone to keep their day job (and its perks) while moonlighting as a real estate agent in their free time. Doing so simultaneously reduces one’s financial dependence on their new career path and actually gives one a chance to “test the waters.”

However, it should be noted that new real estate agents will get out of their work what they put into it. Part-time agents, for example, will hit a ceiling by limiting their time in the industry. There’s only so much one person can do working part-time in a new field. It is possible to realize success working a few hours here and there, but the real opportunities go to those who dedicate more time and effort.

What Other Careers Require A Real Estate License?

As it turns out, real estate licenses have proven to be very versatile. While there aren’t too many careers that require a license, the addition of a real estate license can help professionals in several career choices. In addition to real estate agents, the professions that would benefit from having a real estate license include, but are not limited to the following:

• Real Estate Property Managers: Real estate property managers, as their names suggest, help rental property owners manage their assets. In fact, property managers take over many of the responsibilities of today’s landlords. That said, a real estate license isn’t required, but the knowledge that comes with getting one can really help the day-to-day routine of a property manager.
• Leasing Agents: Real estate licenses give people the opportunity to become a leasing agent. Not unlike property managers, leasing agents will act as the landlord in lieu of the actual owner. Their responsibilities will include finding tenants and signing leases, both of which benefit from having a real estate license.
• Real Estate Brokers: Not surprisingly, real estate agents need a real estate license to practice. However, to practice as an agent, aspiring real estate agents must first work with a brokerage. Working with a brokerage is a lot like an internship, and it will teach real estate agents the ins and outs of their own industry.

Summary

Are investors who spend the time and money it takes to get licensed really better off than those who don’t? Unfortunately, there isn’t a universal answer. The truth remains: some investors will benefit from getting licensed while others may not need to. If you’re asking should I get my real estate license?, you’ll first need to identify what you hope to accomplish as a real estate investor. Then, if getting licensed will get you one step closer to your goal, it’s something you may want to consider. If not, you can always partner with an agent to gain access to the benefits I hit on above.

Key Takeaways

• Is it worth getting a real estate license? The answer may be hidden behind what you hope to accomplish.
• The benefits of a real estate license are well documented, but that doesn’t mean getting licensed is necessary to succeed.
• If you’ve ever wondered “should I get my real estate license,” ask yourself if it will help you achieve your goals first.