Real estate agent careers can be rewarding and lucrative, but they do demand a major time and effort commitment. Real estate agents normally need to complete a particular amount of education and training, pass a licensing exam and fulfill any other requirements imposed by their state or other governing body. Depending on your unique situation and the particular regulations in your location, the time it takes to become a real estate agent can vary. The level of education and training needed might differ, and some states have more strict standards than others. However, generally speaking, the procedure will take a few months to a year or in some rare cases more than a year.

Real estate licenses are not something you can get overnight. It requires a lot of work and dedication, so if you are interested in becoming a real estate agent, we will help you by covering the necessary information regarding how to become one. So, without any more delay, let's begin.

 

Massachusetts Real Estate Licensing

You must obtain a particular level of real estate education before you can work as a real estate agent. This education can be obtained in a number of ways, such as by enrolling in a Massachusetts real estate school, real estate pre-licensing course or getting a real estate degree. Additionally, you will be required to pass a licensure exam, which may include both a written and a practical component. You will need to satisfy any further requirements imposed by your state or jurisdiction, such as finishing a specific amount of work experience or going through a background check, once you have finished your study and passed the licensing exam.

In general, being a real estate agent is a multi-step procedure that needs commitment and tenacity. That being said, you can make your ambition of a career in real estate a reality if you put in the necessary effort and perseverance.

 

Steps to Become a Massachusetts Real Estate Agent

There are certain steps you need to take in order to become a real estate agent in Massachusetts. The following six steps are the ones you will need to complete in order to achieve your goal.

The first step is to meet the age requirement and to have a valid social security number. In the state of Massachusetts, you need to be 18 years old or older. The second step is to take a real estate course that is 40 hours long. This course can be taken both online and in person. The third step is to do the exam. Here you will need to apply in order to take the exam, and you will have to provide the course completion certificate in order to do so. The fourth step is to pass the exam which consists of 120 questions. Same as the course, this test can be taken both online and in person. The fifth step requires you to pay a certain fee of $150 and to have your photo taken in order to obtain a real estate license.

Now that you have acquired a real estate license, go talk to some real estate brokers and join a brokerage as the last step in becoming a successful real estate agent.

 

How Long Does it Take?

As we mentioned, the process of becoming a real estate agent in the state of Massachusetts can take anywhere between one to six months. This is mainly influenced by your decision to either take classes full-time or part-time. Additionally, depending on how much time you take studying and preparing for the exam can prolong the process. If you want to become a real estate broker, you will need some experience first. In the state of Massachusetts, you need at least three years of working experience as a salesperson and to be bonded for $5,000.

 

The Costs

The costs of becoming a real estate agent in Massachusetts are probably not as high as you might originally think. First of all, you will need to pay for real estate classes. These can cost anywhere between $229 and $499 depending on where you choose to take them. Additionally, you will have to pay a test application fee that is $31 and a test registration fee which is $54. The license fee we already mentioned is $150. If you want to access the MLS listings, then you will have to spend another $20 to $40 on monthly fees. Furthermore, you will have to pay another $30 per month for the E&O insurance.

All in all, you can expect to pay anywhere between $450 and $750. If you compare these costs to other professional licenses such as law or medical licenses which are much more expensive and take much longer to get, then the real estate license is not that expensive or hard to get.