I’ve always found that Virginia’s location makes it a great state to live for people with professional aspirations. It’s centrally along the east coast, between the north and south. It’s still within easy reach of many parts of the country by short flight, but has proximity to important areas like Washington D.C., making it very attractive for people with obligations in that region who don’t want to deal with the property price situation in the D.C. area.
That means that there’s a pretty lively housing market in the state of Virginia, and I’m always confident about recommending that people consider getting into the real estate industry as a possible professional venue. But how would you go about this, if you were interested? What does it take to become a real estate professional in Virginia and what are the Virginia real estate license requirements? I’ll take you step-by-step through the things you need to consider for this line of work.
Best Online Real Estate Schools For 2022
A Real Estate Career In Virginia Is Best For Independent Individuals
Virginia real estate license requirements fall into two areas; what you as a person need to bring to the table to get into this industry, and what the actual legal and administrative Virginia real estate license requirements are to get certified and start working. I think it’s important to go over the personal requirements first; if you don’t have these, this shouldn’t be your line of work.
Beyond the bureaucratic Virginia real estate license requirements, there’s the question of your character and predisposition. This is not a salary-based job, but a commission-based one. So while it’s certainly possible to make more money in just two months than you would have in a salaried job for the entire year, it’s also possible to not make any money for two months or more, depending on your ability to get sales. If you need the security of a fixed, monthly income, you need to consider whether you’d be comfortable with the financial uncertainty that comes from real estate, especially in the beginning.
You also have to be self-motivated and organized. Theoretically, I’m sure everyone loves the idea of being their own boss, setting their own hours and appointments. Pragmatically, you have to have the self-discipline to set up appointments when you need to, organize your own day around what needs to be done, set your own goals and deadlines, then meet them without a supervisor overseeing you.
The Basics Of Obtaining A Real Estate License In Virginia
If you think that you meet your own character/personal Virginia real estate license requirements, then I’ll move onto the fundamental legal requirements. Of course, you need to be at least 18 years of age in order to even qualify for this. You must also have some basic educational certification, whether that is a high school diploma, or the equivalent from another country. After that, however, you need to ask yourself whether you want to get the Virginia real estate license requirements to become a salesperson, or keep going with the ambition of becoming a broker. What’s the difference between the two?
VIDEO: How To Obtain Your Real Estate License In Virginia
The Salespersonn Real Estate License
This is the first step of any Virginia real estate license requirements, and all potential real estate professionals start right here. A salesperson is someone that shows potential clients homes, acting as both an advocate and an advisor on the specifics of buying property. However, a salesperson does not have the legal authority make listings of property, or broker the actual transaction. A salesperson, in other words, is a facilitator. But there are specific Virginia real estate license requirements to become a salesperson, because this is still initiating a huge financial transaction that can potentially run into the millions, depending on the type of property involved.
Meeting your Virginia real estate license requirements involves, first and foremost, education. At the salesperson level, aspiring professionals need to take a minimum 60 hour course that has been approved by the state. This also requires passing an exam with both state and national PSI requirements, as well as submitting an application with a fee paid for processing. These are the basic Virginia real estate license requirements
The Real Estate Broker License In Virginia
For people that really want to be not just in charge of their own career, but run their own business, becoming a real estate broker is the next step. A real estate salesperson cannot work independently, he or she must work under a broker, who obviously came up from the same ranks. It is a broker that can actually handle the legal documents and logistics of listing properties and handling financial transactions. However, there are Virginia real estate license requirements in order to become a broker as well.
Of course, you already have to have met your Virginia real estate license requirements to become a salesperson, so those 60 hours courses, and passing the initial exam are already under your belt. But in addition to that, you need to complete a total of 180 hours of approved instruction with 45 of those hours focused on real estate law, financing and/or appraisal. The exam for this level must also have a minimum average of 75% to be considered a pass, so the stakes are a bit higher.
The Learning Experience To Obtaining A Real Estate License In Virginia
The most crucial part of your Virginia real estate license requirements will be the schooling. Without a proper education, you won’t be able to pass the exam and get your license. While traditional courses in a classroom setting still exist for people that prefer this setting, have the time to meet a fixed schedule, there are alternatives.
I always like to recommend online classes as a reliable, effective way to meet Virginia real estate license requirements. The material is still just as valid, but online courses offer the flexibility to let consume the content on their own schedule, as quickly or as slowly as their personal obligations allow. As long as you choose a good school like AceableAgent or Colibri Real Estate you can get a quality education, and be prepared for passing your exam, meeting your Virginia real estate license requirements, and entering into your new career. After that, it’s all up to you!