Is it worth it to become a real estate agent in florida

4 Steps to Get a Real Estate License in Florida

Step-By-Step Guide to Becoming a Real Estate Agent in Florida

There is no doubt about it, real estate is thriving in Florida. With such a hot market, it’s no wonder you’re looking at getting your Florida real estate license. 

It can get a little complex – trust us, we’ve been there. That’s why we’re here to break it down for you step by step. 

Step 1: Take the Pre-licensing Course 

In Florida, you must take 63-hours of a pre-licensing course. Don’t worry though, there are lots of options, including many that are online.

See Course Options 

There is a breakdown of the best Florida real estate schools and how they compare to one another. We’ve ranked them for you based on affordability, difficulty, and reviews. Feel free to read what others who have taken the courses have to say about them.

Florida is different than most states, however. While the courses are designed to be self-paced, here you must finish the course within six months. So you’ll want to make sure you’re committed before purchasing a course. 

Compare Online Courses

Step 2: File for Your Real Estate Agent License in Florida

This step is pretty self explanatory. You’ll need to fill out a few forms and pay a fee to file for your license on the state of Florida’s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) website.

This is when they will ask you to provide fingerprints that the Florida Real Estate Commission will use to make sure that all information you’ve provided is accurate.

They will run a background check and look into your criminal record, while making sure that you meet all of the requirements listed above.

It’s important that you don’t withhold any important information when filling out this form, because it could jeopardize your ability to get a license in the future.

This step should only take a few days, and then you are ready to move on.

Step 3: Take the Real Estate Exam in Florida

Once you’ve filed for your license, you’ll have to take the Florida Real Estate Licensing Exam. This can take about 3.5 hours to complete. So, remember to fuel up on some brain food before heading in.

The test is a 100-question multiple-choice exam. There are 45 questions on real estate principles and practices, 45 questions cover Florida and Federal laws, and 10 questions require math calculations. You must score a 75% in order to pass.

Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, you can take the exam again if you don’t pass on the first try. You can apply again after 24 hours of taking the exam. It can be tricky, especially for those that flew through the course without paying too much attention.

Step 4: Find a Brokerage 

Passed your exam? Congrats! There are still a few more steps to activate your real estate license:

1. Find a licensed Florida real estate broker who will sponsor you. Look for a reputable broker who you can feel comfortable working with. There’s nothing worse than unintentionally landing a terrible employer. Yikes
2. The broker you choose then must complete Form #RE 11 on your behalf and submit it to the DBPR website (Less work on your part, woohoo)

You’ll get to choose a brokerage you like, that focuses on a niche you love, that has a company culture you love, and most importantly … has a good commission rate, so your paycheck is XL. Worried about finding a brokerage yourself? AgentAdvice helps with warm introductions to hiring brokerages if you sign-up for a class through us. Phew!

You have total freedom to choose your sponsoring broker. Here’s some things agents look at when choosing a brokerage:

• Commission Rate – Look at each brokerage’s commission rate when you’re shopping around. If they’ve got a good rate, your commission checks will be larger than life. 💸
• Niche – Maybe you want a brokerage that focuses on a niche on a location or a specific category of real estate like commercial retail, single family homes, or fixer-uppers. So if you have a specific interest you can find a broker who shares that interest.
• Culture – Maybe the company’s culture is important to you. If so, get to know what they’re all about, how they work, and what’s important to them.

That’s all just to say that you have the freedom to choose a brokerage that fits you.

Mission Complete

That’s all folks! Once you make it through these steps you’ll have a brand new career ahead of you. If there’s anything we can do to help you make it through these steps please let us know. We’ve got pre-licensing classes, cram courses, and all sorts of resources to help.

What are the requirements to get a real estate license as per FREC?

First off, what the heck is FREC? Simply put, they are the governing body overseeing all things real estate. The Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) is in charge of setting industry guidelines and licensing requirements.

Before you pay for any courses, let’s first make sure you meet the general requirements set forth by the state. They are pretty simple, but we’ll go through them just in case.

1. Must be 18 or older
2. Must be a US citizen
3. Must possess a high school diploma or equivalent. No college degree required!

How much does it cost to get a real estate license in Florida?

The DBPR charges a flat fee of $83.75 for the FL real estate license at the time of the application. However, it does not include the cost incurred for the courses required. The cost of the courses varies depending on the school you attend. Typically, both pre-licensing and post-licensing courses cost around $300.

Compare Prices 

The full list of approved real estate schools is available on the DBPR website, and more information regarding the best ones, agents’ ratings of them, and current pricing are available on this site. You will also need to pay $36.75 for the Florida state real estate exam. The fee is for one single exam and you will need a 75% score to pass. If you fail, you will get the opportunity to retake the exam but you need to pay again.

How long does it take to get a real estate license in Florida?

For example, one way to accelerate the process would be to take the real estate courses required as soon as possible. An online class may help you complete faster since you’re primarily on your own schedule. Another way to get your license faster is to make sure you’ve prepared well for the exam so that you don’t need more than one attempt to pass it.  Most schools offer a “cram course” or “test prep course” to review all the material before you take the test – and it is highly recommended to take one of these. Please note that you will need to wait up to 30 days to retake the exam. This may waste a lot of time. 

It is also advisable to start building your networks in the real estate industry early enough to ensure you can find a sponsoring broker faster. On average, it shouldn’t take more than three months to get the license as long as you pass all the background checks and meet the requirements in the state.

How much do real estate agents make in Florida?

The average real estate agent in Florida makes $62,790. The top 90% of all Florida licensed real estate agents can earn as much as $147,140.

Perspective from a real estate pro:

“It all depends on your hustle. I recently sold a home in Naples for $5M in less than 2 months after it was on the market for 1,200 days with another agent. Great photography, marketing and our network brought in a local buyer. I ended up with that sale, not the previous agent.

I also earned a Top Producer award for Compass Florida. This is the second time that I have achieved this award. Selling $47 million individually and $77 million as a team, we ranked in the top 50 out of 1,200 agents for Compass in Florida.

But I had to work hard and hustle every single day to get to where I am now.”

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