When it comes to a busy, dynamic place, there are few parts of the United States that fit that bill as well as the nation’s capital, Washington DC. Not only is this the seat of power for the country—and arguably the world—it’s a place full of professionals from every walk of life that need to live in or near DC in order to help the apparatus of the government to keep the nation running.
For me, this means just one thing; people are going to keep coming and going, and they’ll need to buy or sell properties in order to do so. And that means that anyone that is thinking of getting a Washington DC real estate license is being smart and thinking strategically for his or her career. So how do you go about getting that Washington DC real estate license?
Best Online Real Estate Schools For 2022
Is It Right For You?
Before you even start looking at the actual legal requirements, or thinking about whether to get your Washington DC real estate license online or not, you have to look in the mirror first. Not everyone is cut out to be a lawyer, or a plumber, or a painter. And not everyone has the personal characteristics required to get a Washington DC real estate license and then succeed in the business. So who does?
First and foremost, people willing to work without a fixed salary. Your financial situation at the beginning of your real estate career is going to be very uncertain, because you work on commission. This means that you only earn as much you sell. So while you can make a lot of money, sometimes far in excess of what you’d make on a salaried job, that’s only when you’re actively selling. You may need some savings to lean on in the beginning, or perhaps even work part time at another job to supplement your income. However, if you and your family absolutely rely on a fixed salary, and the idea of giving up that financial security makes you break into a cold sweat, consider backing out now, while you still can.
Being Organized
The other major characteristic you need to make the most of your Washington DC real estate license is an ability to organize yourself, and, perhaps more importantly, stick to it. As a real estate professional, you have no obligation to come in to a workplace, five days a week, from 9 am to 5 pm. Instead, you’ll be showing up at properties at appointed times, meeting people, and helping to match their needs with the properties currently available. If all goes well, you’ll then facilitate the deal that allows them make the sizable investment in another property.
All of this needs to be done without a manager or supervisor watching over you, or scheduling your “shift” or making a list of duties you’ll be expected to have completed by the end of the day. You must be able to create these schedules for yourself and execute them on your own. This even extends to before you actually get your Washington DC real estate license.
Preparing For The License
If you’re new to the profession, and a Washington DC real estate license will be your first one, you’ll need to go back to school. A minimum 60 hour, state approved course is required for you to take, with all the pertinent information you’ll need on both property and financial law and practices. Once you’ve taken the course, you’ll need to write and pass an exam. After successfully completing these steps, you’ll be free to apply for and receive your Washington DC real estate license.
Of course, going back to school as an adult can be quite challenging, not necessarily because you’re out of practice for studying. For me the biggest issue will always be all the other commitments now. You might have a relationship, maybe you have a family, and maintaining these things is important. Or you may still have a fulltime or part-time job, or other professional obligations that mean your time during the active hours of the day is short. The traditional alternative of classes at a physical location still exists, but the fixed, ongoing schedule and requirement to be within an accessible distance of such a building puts limits on how useful this can be for busy adults. This is where Washington DC real estate license courses online can be essential.
Managing Yourself
An online Washington DC real estate license course is the perfect alternative for people that can’t regularly make it to physical classes. This does mean, however, that you’ll need to schedule yourself according to what kind of commitments you can make. For some, this means waiting until the evening, when the kids are asleep, and sitting at the sofa with a laptop. Others might wait until the weekend arrives, and cram several hours in front of the computer in the study or home office. Still others might study a few minutes at a time, throughout the day, on a plane or a train, using a phone or tablet.
You’ll have to manage your own time in the way that works best for you. You’ll also have to start looking up which online schools offer classes for a Washington DC real estate license. This is an important point to note; not every online school in the USA offers state approved classes for every state. Some schools, for example focus only on Texas or California. You’ll need to do your own research and discover which schools aren’t just approved for a Washington DC real estate license, but also teach you in the way you want.
As a start, I think everyone should look at The CE Shop or Colibri Real Estate they’ve both got stellar reputations, and have a range of tiers for different levels of support and service. It all depends on what your preference is and your budget for getting your Washington DC real estate license. And if you live in Maryland or Virginia, you’re in luck! It’s pretty straightforward to get a license in either one of these states that will also let you convert that into an active Washington DC real estate license.