Becoming a Real Estate Agent in Houston (The Woodlands, League City: sales, real estate market) - Texas (TX) - City-Data Forum

Meeshee · 04-03-2009, 10:34 PM

How hard is it to become a real estate agent in Houston? Katy? The Woodlands? and/or League City? Is it difficult to find a company to hang your license with after receiving your license? And is it fairly easy to combine property management with selling real estate in Houston?

Thanks in advance

lhafer · 04-04-2009, 06:30 AM

I really can't answer your question.

But why do you want to become a real estate agent when the housing market is so slow? There are houses that aren't moving, and I am not sure how current REA's are surviving on their commissions. And when they do sell, it's usually for a lot less than what the house is worth.

Might be better to wait a couple of years.

Meeshee · 04-04-2009, 07:49 AM

Thank you for your response. I figured that I could start out now and gain the experience, so that by the time the market picks up I would be more knowledgeable than just starting out. I think I may be more interested in the property management side of RE, which requires a RE license. I manage our condo right now, however I do not have any other experience. Currently I am a stay at home mom and I would like to go back to work eventually, hopefully working my own business. So my income isn't entirely necessary but would be nice, and would hopefully be there in a few years. I did some research and if I want to have my own property management company then I would need to be a broker or at least have a broker in my office, and becoming a broker requires two years of RE experience. I just want to get my ducks in a row KWIM?

MJay · 04-04-2009, 07:53 AM

Despite the recession, house sales rose by 5.1 % from January to February 2009 in the U.S (the highest since July 2003!!). Houston has got one of the most stable real estate markets in the nation.

westres1 · 04-04-2009, 08:11 AM

Once you get your license it is very easy becasue you are paying your broker a monthly fee weather you sale a house or not. Lots of brokers welcome new agents. It is typically $100 per month plus your MLS,supra and HAR dues. It can cost you alot of money if you dont lease or make a sale every month. Plus you drive people around on your own dime and many times they decide to buy from the model,lease an apartment or cant get financed. You do not get all of the 3% either. Some brokers take HALF, but most take an 80/20 split. It is not as easy as it seems. But if you are up for a challenging job give it a go.

lane_change · 04-04-2009, 08:26 AM

When you say 80/20 split, do you mean, 80 Realtor/20 Broker? or the other way around? If you sell a $200k house, your firm takes 3% = $6000, and if you receive 80% of that, then you are looking at making $4800 net for that sale? I always though it was 50/50, but I am not a realtor, always been interested in real estate though. I studied architecture in college and I simply enjoy critiqueing designs and layouts.

westres1 · 04-04-2009, 08:51 AM

Realtor gets 80 broker 20....some do a 50/50 split. The agent still must pay the IRS.

Lake Conroe resident · 04-04-2009, 07:53 PM

[quote=Meeshee;8181363]How hard is it to become a real estate agent in Houston? Katy? The Woodlands? and/or League City? Is it difficult to find a company to hang your license with after receiving your license? And is it fairly easy to combine property management with selling real estate in Houston?

It's very easy to get your RE license...Too easy, that's the problem; the barriers to entry are way too low for this profession, that's why there's such public disdain for it.

If you want to be a property manager best to start studying Texas Landlord Tenant laws, and the Texas Property code; this will make for a much more rigorous passage to get through than obtaining your RE license.

Once you have a license it's very easy to hang it some where. Don't get the idea that you're begging some broker to hang your license at their office, rather they are chasing you to come to them. Like others have mentioned the splits can vary anywhere from 100% to a 50/50, with or without desk fees, transaction fees, and E&O Ins fees.

Mom2Feebs · 04-04-2009, 09:12 PM

Super easy, Meeshee, come on down!!

I got mine about 5 years ago and don't regret it, even though I'm inactive. It was very easy. I went through Kaplan, I can't remember how much it cost but it was not super expensive.

tstone · 04-04-2009, 09:43 PM

There used to be cardboard-type signs all around Houston that said "Get your license in 30 days." I'm assuming if that still appiles, it must not be too hard.