Wondering how to get into real estate? These easy-to-follow steps will give you an overview of how to get started in your real estate career. Real estate is a flexible job where you can be your own boss, but sometimes managing your own real estate career means you have to figure out most of the steps without anyone to guide you.

Here’s a quick breakdown of the main steps that will help you with how to get into real estate. We’ll go through each of them in detail right away:

1. Take a pre-licensing course.
2. Pass your licensing exam.
3. Launch your real estate career.
4. Grow your real estate business.

How to get into real estate

Now that you know the basics of how to get into real estate let’s look at each step in greater detail.

1. Take a pre-licensing course

In a pre-licensing course, you’ll learn everything you need to know about the nuts and bolts of real estate transactions, which will help you when you’re just learning how to get into real estate. You can take a course either in a classroom or online. The content of each course varies depending on what state you live in, but you can expect to learn about topics such as finances, legal aspects of real estate and property appraisal.

2. Pass your licensing exam

If you get nervous when you hear the word “exam,” don’t worry. There are many resources that can help you prepare for your pre-licensing exam, like an Exam Prep Master program. While the pre-licensing course focuses on the material your state requires you to know before becoming a real estate agent, a program like the Exam Prep Master will help you prepare specifically for what you’ll be tested on.

When you feel you’re ready to take the exam, you’ll find a testing center near you. Then, you’ll need to contact them to register for an upcoming exam date. It might be helpful to ask them if they offer any simulation test days to help you practice before the big exam.

The licensing exam has both national and state portions. Depending on how the exam is administered you might take these both together or separately.

Last but not least, remember on exam day to bring the appropriate identification. If you’re not sure what identification your testing center requires, ask them in advance.

3. Launch your real estate career

After you pass your exam you’re ready to launch your real estate career. For many real estate agents, this will involve finding a brokerage in their niche to get started with.

Here are some helpful questions to ask when you’re searching for a brokerage:

• What mentorship opportunities do they offer?
• How do they use technology to help the real estate business?
• Do they stay updated on current marketing best practices?
• Do they work in a niche I’m interested in?
• How do they support agents financially?

Your brokerage can have a huge impact on how much you earn. In fact, your earnings can almost triple depending on your brokerage.

4. Grow your real estate business

Learning how to get into real estate isn’t just about launching your real estate career, but growing it. Research suggests that agent income doubles after your first year, so hanging in is half the challenge. In order to grow your career, you’ll want to find a mentor who can help you succeed. Make sure you’re networking with other agents in your community and niche. Also, stay committed to keeping up with best practices. Our study found that top earners in real estate are also agents who know the latest real estate trends.

Getting into real estate could be your best career move

Not knowing how to get into real estate can be intimidating at first, but the steps are straightforward. Real estate professionals are consistently ranked as some of the happiest workers in the country. Starting your real estate career could be the pathway to a fulfilling future.