editor Introduction
The demand for real estate in Texas is growing steadily and the Lone Star state is witnessing a strong resurgence in interest from homebuyers and real estate investors.
One of the fastest growing real estate markets in the country, Texas boasts of a stable economy, strong job outlook and a growing population.
If you are seeking a profitable career path where you can be of help to people and earn a six figure income, then Texas’ real estate market can be an ideal industry to work in.
Getting a license is essential to start a career and this is where RealEstateU can help you. We will discuss more about them in the coming sections of the article.
The real estate landscape in Texas is diverse and offers numerous opportunities to agents and brokers who want to be a part of the state’s growth story.
San Antonio, Dallas, Fort Worth, Georgetown and Austin are some of the popular real estate markets where the demand for residential and commercial real estate continues to grow.
If you are interested in working for yourself and being your own boss, then a career in real estate is the first step towards achieving your goal.
Texas is currently amongst the top 10 states in terms of GDP growth which indicates now is a good time to enter the market and reap the benefits of opportunities as a real estate agent.
To get started, you must first obtain a real estate license in Texas to be eligible for working with clients and earn commissions through real estate deals.
Let us walk you through the steps on how to obtain a license and embark on a rewarding and profitable career journey in TX.
Why do you need a real estate license in Texas
If you are a complete beginner, you might wonder about the benefits of choosing this career, especially applying for a license and completing the steps.
Here are some of the key benefits of getting a real estate license and why you should invest the time and effort in the process:
- Having a license means you will be more employable and can attract better job opportunities in Texas. Licensed professionals are considered as more professional by clients and employers and have a higher probability of attracting high paying jobs.
- With a real estate license, you will be able to tap into members only groups, networking events and exclusive communities in real estate. This will help you grow your professional network, expand your business and find more clients.
- As a licensed professional, you will be able to earn commissions by participating in real estate deals. You will be fully compliant with the various state and federal laws and regulations which will help you advance in your career.
Now that you have learned about the benefits, the next step is to start completing the step-by-step process of getting a salesperson license in TX.
Read: The Ultimate Guide to Crafting a Statement of Purpose That Stands Out
How to get your Texas real estate license
The first step is to meet the basic eligibility and fitness determination requirements:
- Be at least 18 years of age (or older)
- Be a legal resident of the state of Texas or a lawfully residing alien
- Have a high school diploma in education or its GED equivalent
- Have no record of any crime or felony in your name
You can also determine your eligibility by completing a background check via a fitness determination.
The second step is to complete the minimum education and training required to obtain a salesperson license in Texas.
As per the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), every student must complete 180 hours of pre license coursework which consists of 6 courses worth 30 hours each. These are:
- Principles of Real Estate 1: 30 credit hours
- Principles of Real Estate 2: 30 credit hours
- Real Estate Finance: 30 credit hours
- Law of Agency: 30 credit hours
- Law of Contracts: 30 credit hours
- Contact Forms: 30 credit hours
You can complete your education via your preferred learning medium i.e. either in-person, classroom based college or by joining an online, real estate course.
After completing your education, the next step is to pass the Texas salesperson license exam which is a mandatory requirement to obtain a license.
You can schedule the exam at any of the Pearson VUE exam centers based on your preferred day and date.
The exam is a closed-book test of 85 national and 50 state specific multiple-choice questions which covers both state and national specific portions.
You will get a total of 4 hours to tackle all the questions and to pass the test you must score 75 percent or above.
After successfully completing your education and passing the salesperson license exam in TX, the next step is to clear the federal background verification check.
In the state of Texas, every aspiring real estate professional must submit a copy of your fingerprint scan to complete the background verification and criminal history check. You can visit any of the state approved live scan vendors to get a copy of your fingerprints and send it along with your license application to the TREC for review and approval.
