Have you ever thought of becoming a Real Estate Agent in PA part II

My last blog talked about what are some characteristics someone should have to become a real estate agent.  This blog will talk about what is actually required to become a real estate agent in Pennsylvania.  Every states requirements are different, so this only applies to PA.

In Pennsylvania, to sit for the real estate licensing exam, you must be at least 18 years old and have completed 30 hours of class by an accredited provider in Real Estate Practice and 30 hours of class in Real Estate Fundamentals.  If you have college education in Real Estate or are an attorney, the requirement can be different.  So, first thing is to take the two courses.  Classes can be done either online or in person.  Many Realtor associations offer the classes and there are other education providers around, such as Polley Associates that offer the classes.  There are many online providers as well.  One that I recommend is Career Web School.  They are very reasonably priced and I like the flow of their online classes.  At the end of each course, you must take a proctored exam and score at least a 70%.  Once the two courses are complete, you are eligible to sit for the Pennsylvania real estate licensing exam.  Once you sit for and pass the licensing exam, you are ready to decide what Real Estate Brokerage you are going to affiliate with.  After a brokerage is ready to sponsor you, the license application, course transcripts, other required paperwork and fees are sent to the state to obtain your license.

So, what about costs to get started in a real estate career in Pennsylvania?  Here is an overview of different costs involved in obtaining your real estate license in PA.  The first cost you have is your coursework for Real Estate Fundamentals and Real Estate Practice.  For these two courses, plan on spending $300-$500 depending on the school you choose.  Next, you have a fee to pay to sit for the exam of $56.  Next you have the cost for your initial license application of between $83-$131 depending on what time of the year it is.  After you have your license, some other costs you will run into are: Joining your local MLS (this is where the real estate listings are entered), which can run $250+ per year depending on the MLS, joining your local Realtor Association, which can run $350+ depending on the location, real estate signs, business cards and other office supplies and promotional items.

Bottom line is that you should plan to spend $1,500-$3,000 ballpark to get into the real estate business. These numbers could be higher or lower depending on where in the state you live and what supplies you need to get your business going.  In reality, this is a low cost of entry to have your own rewarding business.

For more detailed requirements, you can also visit the Pennsylvania Real Estate Commission website at: www.dos.state.pa.us/estate.

Springer Realty Group is a Real Estate Brokerage in Pennsylvania doing business in the counties of: Berks, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, Lehigh, Montgomery and Philadelphia.

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