Becoming a Real Estate Agent in the US
Internationally speaking, real estate agents generally have a governing body that they adhere to. With most countries smaller than the United States, it is much easier to regulate and govern the activities that are related to housing and purchasing land, buildings, and all associated items.
With the sheer size of the United States, every single jurisdiction will have different laws and rules that govern them, including both the acceptance and ongoing conduct of the agents and realty themselves. It is always best to check with your local and state real estate commission on the practices and guidelines for becoming licensed.
Most Difficult States To Obtain Your Real Estate License
Texas is largely considered the most difficult state to obtain your real estate license. Many factors go into this, primarily the sheer size of the state. Texas is also the prime destination for immigration internationally and domestically alike.
You must be 18 years of age or above, an American citizen or legal alien, as well as a legal resident of Texas to pursue your real estate license. When you apply, you must meet the Texas Real Estate Commission's qualifications of honesty, integrity, and trustworthiness. This last part is why obtaining a license is so tricky, as the esoteric nature of this intangible requirement makes it difficult to ascertain what exactly you need to do to qualify as an upstanding citizen.
Once you have met these requirements, you must be able to pass certain knowledge and background checks. Texas requires 180 hours of pre-licensing education and a clean record. The exam itself consists of 125 questions. To pass, applicants must pass 56 out of 85 questions in the national section and 21 out of 40 in the state section. Only 60% of test takers pass on the first try. This is proof that the exam is quite challenging.
More Lenient States
There are many states that offer a real estate license without being too stringent on the rules. Some of these states include Alaska, Massachusetts, and Mississippi. Generally speaking, as long as you are able to pass a course, are 18 years of age, and have no prior convictions, you can qualify to become a real estate agent.
North Carolina, for example, is one of the easiest states to obtain your license. North Carolina does not even require its agents to be residents of the state, the only requirement is that you are a US citizen or a legal alien. Most other states also require a GED or high school completion, but North Carolina does not have such educational requirements.
While it may seem like the cutoff is very low, those who are accepted must conduct 75 hours of education and submit applications to the real estate commission. After the 120-question exam is passed and is sponsored by brokers, another licensing course must be taken afterward. There is no mention of a criminal record as well, meaning that background checks do take that into consideration, but may not restrict prior convicted felons from obtaining their license if they are indeed trying to fix their life in good faith.
FAQs
The difficulty of the real estate exam varies by state, but the California real estate exam is known to be one of the most difficult. In fact, the pass rate for the California real estate exam in the last two years was under 50%, which means it's incredibly competitive and difficult to pass.
What state is the easiest to pass the real estate exam? ›
The state of Massachusetts takes gold for the easiest real estate exam. Massachusetts not only has one of the shortest pre-licensing courses, but at 120 questions, it is among the states with the shorter real estate exams. The Bay State also provides candidates ample time to tackle questions with a long exam duration.
Which state has the longest real estate course? ›
Download Table Data
| State | Required Hours |
|---|
| California | 135 |
| Nevada | 120 |
| Ohio | 120 |
| Utah | 120 |
46 more rowsYou should study for the real estate exam for at least several weeks before your test date. The whole point of taking your pre-licensing courses is to prepare you, first for the exam, and then for your work as an agent, so really, you should be thinking of your courses as exam prep time as well.
What state pays the most in real estate? ›
The Average Real Estate Broker Salary in Each State (2024)
- GlassDoor reports that the average annual salary of real estate broker-owners in the United States is $220,507. ...
- According to GlassDoor, the top five states with the highest real estate broker salaries are New York, California, Nevada, Iowa, and Arizona.
1. The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) The United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) takes the top spot as the most challenging exam in the US, with an average preparation time ranging from 200 to 400 hours for each of its three steps.
What states has the most reciprocity for real estate license? ›
The full license reciprocity states are: Alabama, Kansas, Virginia, Colorado, Mississippi, Alaska, Washington, Missouri, Georgia, Delaware, Kentucky, and Maine. Any state with full reciprocity allows you to bypass the general real estate courses and narrow your focus to the state-specific laws and requirements.
Is the Texas real estate exam really hard? ›
Is the Texas real estate exam hard? Well, given that on average 57% (22,472 passed / 39,270 taken) pass the licensing exam on the first try, as of March 31, 2024 it's safe to say it's not an easy test. Aceable, however, currently holds one of the highest pass rates in Texas. TREC Provider Exam Pass Rates.
What state has the richest real estate? ›
The top 10 most expensive states for home values, according to the Zillow Home Value Index, include Hawaii, California, the District of Columbia, Washington, Massachusetts, Colorado, Utah, Oregon, New Jersey, and Idaho.
What state has the highest real estate commission? ›
What state has the highest commission rates? The highest commission rates are found in West Virginia, Mississippi, and Kentucky. However, the most expensive states to sell a home on a dollar basis are Hawaii, California, and Massachusetts, due to their higher average home values.
Real estate agents per 1,000 jobs, May 2022
Florida, Arizona and Colorado had the highest share of real estate agents while D.C., Connecticut and Iowa had the lowest shares.
What are the hardest real estate exams? ›
The Colorado Real Estate Exam is notoriously one of the most challenging state tests to pass in the United States. The exam is designed to test your knowledge of real estate law, principles, and practices and your ability to apply that knowledge practically.
How long does it take to learn everything about real estate? ›
The California Department of Real Estate mandates that students spend a minimum of 2 ½ weeks on each of the three required courses. That means the fastest you can complete the course would be around 7 ½ weeks. As soon as you complete the required real estate courses, you'll get your Exam Application submitted.
How much commission does a realtor make in CA? ›
The standard is 5-6%, but for high-priced properties (i.e. $1+ million) the commission may be more like 4-5%. The amount is negotiated between the seller and listing agent before a contract is signed. Next comes the commission split between the listing and buyer agent. Typically, the commission is split 50/50.
What is the hardest state to buy a house in? ›
Perhaps unsurprisingly, Hawaii tops the list of “the hardest state in which to buy a home”. It has been a tourist favorite since becoming the 50th U.S. state in 1959, with the yearly visitors outnumbering the residents in 2022.
How difficult is it to pass the Texas real estate license test? ›
Is the Texas real estate exam hard? Well, given that on average 57% (22,472 passed / 39,270 taken) pass the licensing exam on the first try, as of March 31, 2024 it's safe to say it's not an easy test. Aceable, however, currently holds one of the highest pass rates in Texas. TREC Provider Exam Pass Rates.
Is the FL real estate exam hard? ›
Most reports say the first-time pass rate for the Florida real estate exam hovers between 40% and 60%. While these numbers may not sound encouraging, the proper focus and attitude – and an excellent real estate school – will help you prepare for this difficult exam.
