No matter where a person lives in America, one thing is certain; if you have the means, you are going to try to buy and own your own property. We’re lucky in the USA to have a system, market, and economy that allows anyone, with a little hard work, to own a home. While it’s not something guaranteed to every citizen, homeownership is still something many aspire to and succeed at. And one of the things that makes this possible is the work of professionals within the real estate industry.
It doesn’t matter which state you live in either. Whether it’s Hawaii, Alaska, California or Arkansas, the best way to buy or sell property is not to do the work yourself and talk directly to a prospective buyer or seller. You need someone that understands both the legal, financial and market requirements, and that’s a real estate professional.
It’s a dynamic, promising career with a lot of potential for upward mobility, but I always advise people to do this right. If you want to get into the real estate industry in Arkansas, get a real estate license in Arkansas.
I’m going to explain how and why this works.
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An Arkansas Real Estate License Is A Serious Responsibility
One thing people need to understand about getting a real estate license in Arkansas is that this is something the state takes very seriously. On your side, as a person contemplating a career change, I can understand the perks that you’re seeing from this line of work. Yes, as a real estate professional, you are, in a sense, your own boss, since you don’t really have a manager or superior you need to report to with quotas and results. You also make your own hours, meaning that you don’t have to be a “9-5er” always going to an office or other workplace, and always doing the same thing, five days a week for a paycheck at the end of the month.
On the other side of the equation, however, is the customer or client, and this is where things get very serious. A person with a real estate license in Arkansas isn’t a carefree spirit that does whatever he or she feels like. A real estate professional is part of a huge financial transaction. When I close a deal for someone who is buying a home, I understand that many people are about to make the biggest purchase of their lives, and they are trusting me, and my professional integrity, to do right by them on this deal.
This is one of the primary reasons why a real estate license in Arkansas is required for this profession. There are legal requirements, financial requirements, and, in the case of customers, serious emotional and psychological investments that are on the line. The Arkansas Real Estate Commission is an organization you will become very familiar with. Whoever is handling such a transaction needs to be held accountable, and a formal, legally verifiable real estate license in Arkansas is part of that process. So how do you get one?
Background Requirements To Obtain A Real Estate License In Arkansas
The state of Arkansas wants to make absolutely sure you are both accountable and registered and ready to work. This means meeting certain background criteria before you can even think about writing the exam to get your real estate license in Arkansas.
The Arkansas Real Estate Commission requires that you submit yourself to a police and FBI process. It doesn’t matter whether you have passed your exam or not, if you can’t supply the following proof, you won’t be allowed to work in the state. You will need to be at least 18 years of age, have taken 60 hours of a state-approved class, and, most important of all, you will need to pass a background check and have your fingerprints taken for Arkansas Real Estate Commission records. This means that both the Arkansas State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation will be conducting their own background checks on you. In addition to his, you will have your fingerprints taken, and applied to a card.
The background check and fingerprinting can be handled by AREC itself for $85, and can be submitted with an application to write the exam to get your real estate license in Arkansas. If you can pass that background check and supply the fingerprints, then you only have two other major hurdles, taking the classes, and passing the exam to get your real estate license in Arkansas. Here’s a quick breakdown of the requirements to get a real estate license in Arkansas. You can also get more info on the requirements here.
- Have reached the age of majority, eighteen (18).
- Successfully complete sixty (60) classroom hours of real estate education of which thirty (30) classroom hours must be in the basic principles of real estate, from an accredited postsecondary school or a school or organization licensed by the Arkansas Real Estate Commission
- Pass the licensure examination.
- Send the proper forms and fees to the Arkansas Real Estate Commission no later than ninety (90) days after passing the examination.
Pick The Best Online Real Estate School In Arkansas
The other major requirement for getting your real estate license in Arkansas is taking the classes. AREC requires a minimum 60-hour course for prospective real estate professionals. You can take this course either the conventional way of signing up for classes at a physical location, and interacting with fellow students and instructors, or you can attend an online version of these classes.
For many people, the online alternative is preferable. It means not having to spend the time to drive down to a class and, more importantly, it doesn’t require a fixed schedule throughout the week. So if you can only study for your real estate license in Arkansas in the mornings before the kids get up, or only on weekends, an online class can accommodate those needs.
It’s just a matter of picking the right school. For people that know they’ll be doing a lot of studying on a phone or a tablet, in a café or some other locale away from the distractions of home, The CE Shop is a good choice. On the other hand, people that want some extra support while studying might want to look at Colibri Real Estate instead.
The most important thing, however, when looking at a school for your real estate license in Arkansas is to make sure that an online school is valid for Arkansas itself. Not every online school actually services every state. So while the price might be right on a school you’re looking at, if they only serve Texas and California, for example, you’re out of luck. Research your prospective schools carefully and look at in depth reviews before you make your choice.