Introduction
So, you have set your eyes on a rewarding and exciting career in real estate and now you cannot wait to get started.
Congratulations! You have made a good career choice as there are opportunities galore for real estate agents and brokers in Texas.
Real estate in Texas is witnessing steady increase in demand for commercial and residential properties. The market is steadily growing thanks to the strong economy and robust job market.
Due to these factors, Texas is attracting homebuyers and real estate investors from across the country.
If you are looking for an exciting, rewarding and emotionally satisfying career path, why not join Texas’ real estate industry as a salesperson?
Working in popular real estate markets like Austin can help you make around $90K annually.
Add a couple of years of experience and you can easily bring home a six figure salary with extra perks on top of it.
The best part? There is virtually no upper cap on how much you can earn as a real estate professional.
The more deals you close, the more income you can generate and that too while having flexibility to work at your own pace.
If you are excited about the prospects and opportunities to work in Texas’ real estate market, you must first obtain a Texas real estate license.
There are many prerequisites to understand and fulfill to be able to engage in the selling, buying or leasing of real estate in Texas.
To obtain your real estate license in Texas, you must complete the mandatory requirements established by the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC).
Let us walk you through the steps required to become a licensed agent in Texas and make an informed decision for a successful future.
Steps to obtain your Texas state license
Becoming officially licensed is the most important milestone for helping clients buy, sell or lease real estate in Texas.
According to the Texas Real Estate Commission (TREC), students must complete the mandatory set of pre-licensing requirements to obtain their license.
Click here to learn more about the packages and features of pre-licensing coursework.
Without a license, you will not be legally allowed to partake in a real estate transaction or help clients buy, sell or lease properties in Texas.
To start your real estate career, you must adhere to the TREC guidelines and requirements for getting your real estate salesperson license in Texas.
Below is a handy checklist of the general eligibility requirements:
- You must be 18 years in age or older
- You must have a proof of being a legal resident of the U.S.
- You must have a high school diploma in education or GED
As a word of advice for students – it is important to ensure that you fulfill the general statutory requirements for eligibility before applying for a license.
After all, paying for your education, examination and license application will require investments of time and money.
Thus, it is prudent to determine your eligibility by completing and submitting a fitness determination application to the Texas Real Estate Commission.
What is covered in Texas prelicensing education
Texas’ prelicensing education is a structured learning program which serves as an introductory course for students.
It covers the basics of real estate laws, rules, regulations and guidelines at the state and federal level.
As per TREC, every aspiring real estate agent or broker is required to complete TREC 180 hours of approved prelicensing education.
Applicants can choose to enroll in an in-person classroom or join an online prelicensing course.
The prelicensing education is formulated to give students an understanding of the principles of real estate.
These courses and their contents are as follows:
- Principles of Real Estate 1: This course provides a basic overview of the different real estate principles. Students will learn about the different property types, practices of real estate, legal descriptions, deeds, contracts and titles.
- Principles of Real Estate 2: This course focuses on in-depth knowledge of real estate regulations and principles. You will learn about property management, real estate regulations, appraisal and closing procedures.
- Law of Agency: This course explains the different types of agency relationships and their underlying laws and regulations. You will learn about ethics, fair and deceptive trade practices and consumer rights.
- Law of Contracts: This course will give you the foundational knowledge of real estate contracts and how they are used as legally binding documents between buyers and sellers.
- Promulgated Contract Forms: This course covers the usage of TREC promulgated forms and its underlying rules and regulations.
- Real Estate Finance: This course focuses on the basic principles of finance in the world of real estate. You will learn about the key terms, principles and tools used for making financial decisions.
Note that TREC requires applicants to complete their prelicensing education from a state approved education provider only.
You can explore online real estate pre license schools like RealEstateU to complete your education.