Introduction
If you are an aspiring professional looking for a lucrative career or an experienced one interested in switching professions, real estate can open multiple doors for you.
A career in real estate, especially in a popular and growing market like Florida, can help you launch a profitable, rewarding and emotionally fulfilling career path.
Working in FL real estate can bring you a six figure salary with just a few years of work experience. In fact, the starting salary of a real estate broker in Florida is around $60K.
Plus, real estate also offers opportunities for earning commissions and enjoying extra perks.
If you are someone who is looking for a non-traditional, dynamic career where you can work as hard as you want to earn as much as you can, then real estate might just be the right career for you.
Imagine earning a six figure salary while working on your own terms and having the freedom to set your own working hours – if that sounds like a professional dream come true, now is the right time to pursue a career in Florida real estate.
In fact, as you read this, thousands of Floridians are working towards getting their real estate license and venturing into a steadily growing industry.
Understanding Florida’s Real Estate Market
The demand for residential and commercial real estate continues to attract home buyers and real estate investors to the state.
People from all across the country are migrating to Florida and the state has the highest net rate of migration across the country.
As one of the top 3 biggest real estate markets in the U.S., Florida offers scenic views, diverse culture and a steady job outlook for residents and migrants.
In Florida, the job market is projected to grow in areas such as Miami, Tampa and Orlando. A strong and growing job outlook is a sign of growth and opportunity for real estate investors and home buyers.
Plus, the lower interest rates are also favorable for buyers who want to own a property in Florida.
The inventory levels are high, the number of homes sold are growing and the housing prices have been increasing by 2.5 to 3 percent year-on-year with a current median home price around $420K.
These trends point towards a clear fact – Florida’s real estate market is on a growth trajectory and is lucrative for agents, brokers and investors for years to come.
Now could be a good time to enter the market and reap dividends for a better, brighter and prosperous profession as a salesperson or a broker.
After all, Florida’s real estate industry is amongst the highest paying jobs in the U.S. and offers one of the state’s highest level employment to real estate salespersons and brokers.
To get started in the industry, you must first earn a Florida real estate license using which you can legally assist people to buy, sell or lease real estate anywhere in the state.
If you are ready to embark on your licensing journey, you must fulfill the licensing requirements established by Florida’s highest real estate authority known as the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC).
Getting your Real Estate License in Florida
Step 1: Fulfill the eligibility requirements
As per the FREC, it is mandatory that every applicant meets the basic statutory requirements which include:
- Be at least 18 years of age or older
- Have a legal proof of residence as a US citizen or as a lawfully admitted alien
- You should have a high school diploma or GED equivalent in education
Step 2: Complete the pre licensing education
To become eligible for a Florida real estate license, you must complete qualifying education first.
The FREC requires all applicants to complete 63 hours of prelicensing education from a state approved education provider.
You will learn about real estate principles, real estate law, real estate finance, ethics and regulations among others fundamental topics.
Students can easily enroll in a state approved online course provider like RealEstateU to complete their pre licensing course work from anywhere.
Step 3: Take and pass the Florida state licensing exam
Once you have completed the minimum hours of pre licensing education, the next step is to take the Florida real estate salesperson licensing exam.
The exam is three hours in duration and it will ask you 100 multiple choice questions. In order to pass the exam, you must score at least 75% or above.
Step 4: Complete your background verification and criminal history check
The FREC requires all applicants to prove proper conduct and a clean background to become a licensed salesperson or broker in the state.
You will have to submit an electronic copy of your fingerprints along with any clearance documents related to incidences of felony or any criminal history in the past.
Step 5: Find a sponsoring broker or brokerage firm
The Florida law requires every new license holder to work with a supervisory broker.
To activate your license, you can reach out to local brokerage firms or senior brokers seeking sponsorship.