4 answers
Rebecca
Student
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
2
Questions
Asked
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Can I start taking real estate classes at 16, and should I?
- 11th Grade
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4 answers
Michelle M.
Entertainment Industry
1737
Answers
Updated
Michelle’s Answer
Hello, Rebecca !
Even though you would not be able to take Real Estate classes until you reach the age of 18 (in your state), that's only a couple of years away for you and may be well worth the wait. You wouldn't be able to even get the Wisconsin License until you're 18 anyway so lets see if there's anything you can do now that could prepare you.
My first reaction for someone contemplating a career in real estate is to embark on looking at houses. Any properties that are for sale and Open House events are great to frequently attend. You can get the gist of how the realtor discusses and tours the property. It's like a fun way of shadowing. See if one of your parents or older family or friends would accompany you on this because I don't recommend you doing it alone.
Another thing that you can do is volunteer work at a real estate agency or an apartment complex that has a management office which are run by real estate management companies. Real Estate Management at an on site property is very busy and I am sure that they would like the extra help that you offer. You will pick up information and become familiar with terms, leases, State guidelines so that when you study real estate you will already be familiar with some of it.
Some high school classes you can take now that would support a career in real estate would be Business or Entrepreneurship, Economics, Math and Statistics, Communication and Public Speaking, and Computer Applications or Technology. The applications that real estate professionals use are most times property management systems and marketing tools.
Once you are 18, you can enroll in the pre-licensing training which is 72 hours of instruction in your State. Once you pass the final exam for this course, you take the Wisconsin Real Estate Exam. This exam consists of 140 multiple choice questions for your State. Passing is a score of 75 or higher. Then you would work at a good (and of course Licensed) real estate company and apply for your Real Estate License through the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. It costs $60.00 to apply at this current time. On-going you will need to take 18 hours of continued education every two years by the middle of December of that year. That is the route for this career in your state of Wisconsin.
Do not worry about having to wait till you are 18 because there is so much that you can do now with touring properties and volunteer work. It's great that you are exploring this now because it is never too early to be prepared. I wish you well and much enjoyment exploring this exciting possible career !
Even though you would not be able to take Real Estate classes until you reach the age of 18 (in your state), that's only a couple of years away for you and may be well worth the wait. You wouldn't be able to even get the Wisconsin License until you're 18 anyway so lets see if there's anything you can do now that could prepare you.
My first reaction for someone contemplating a career in real estate is to embark on looking at houses. Any properties that are for sale and Open House events are great to frequently attend. You can get the gist of how the realtor discusses and tours the property. It's like a fun way of shadowing. See if one of your parents or older family or friends would accompany you on this because I don't recommend you doing it alone.
Another thing that you can do is volunteer work at a real estate agency or an apartment complex that has a management office which are run by real estate management companies. Real Estate Management at an on site property is very busy and I am sure that they would like the extra help that you offer. You will pick up information and become familiar with terms, leases, State guidelines so that when you study real estate you will already be familiar with some of it.
Some high school classes you can take now that would support a career in real estate would be Business or Entrepreneurship, Economics, Math and Statistics, Communication and Public Speaking, and Computer Applications or Technology. The applications that real estate professionals use are most times property management systems and marketing tools.
Once you are 18, you can enroll in the pre-licensing training which is 72 hours of instruction in your State. Once you pass the final exam for this course, you take the Wisconsin Real Estate Exam. This exam consists of 140 multiple choice questions for your State. Passing is a score of 75 or higher. Then you would work at a good (and of course Licensed) real estate company and apply for your Real Estate License through the Wisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services. It costs $60.00 to apply at this current time. On-going you will need to take 18 hours of continued education every two years by the middle of December of that year. That is the route for this career in your state of Wisconsin.
Do not worry about having to wait till you are 18 because there is so much that you can do now with touring properties and volunteer work. It's great that you are exploring this now because it is never too early to be prepared. I wish you well and much enjoyment exploring this exciting possible career !
Kevin P Hust, MBA
Risk Administration and Army Officer
40
Answers
Dallas, Texas
Updated
Kevin P’s Answer
You can, you could, but I wouldn’t. Atleast not the traditional classes. Here is why: most states (Texas for a fact) requires you to be 18 in orders to be licensed. If you study for the test now by taking the classes, you’ll have to hope you remember everything AND that nothing has changed or updated until you turn 18.
Real Estate changes often, for example, one of the biggest changes to real estate law just came into effect last Saturday. The change in how buyers commission is calculated.
Here is what I would do instead, make YouTube your best friend. Listen to some realtors, follow the buying and selling process, watch videos on appraisals, inspections, showings.
Learn different types of real estate transactions… BRRRR, flip, wholesale. This can all be done without spending a dollar.
Remember that you are a self employed salesperson. So study business, taxes, and marketing as well.
There is a lot more to real estate than just showing the house. This is what will separate you.
I’m also a fan personally on reading about successful people in the industry. I like Ryan Serhant, but many others are out there.
Once you’re closer to being able to be licensed start studying for it and find a brokerage you want to work for.
Lastly, remember this, you will help people make the largest purchase of their life. There is something special about that. Celebrate that. Best of luck.
Real Estate changes often, for example, one of the biggest changes to real estate law just came into effect last Saturday. The change in how buyers commission is calculated.
Here is what I would do instead, make YouTube your best friend. Listen to some realtors, follow the buying and selling process, watch videos on appraisals, inspections, showings.
Learn different types of real estate transactions… BRRRR, flip, wholesale. This can all be done without spending a dollar.
Remember that you are a self employed salesperson. So study business, taxes, and marketing as well.
There is a lot more to real estate than just showing the house. This is what will separate you.
I’m also a fan personally on reading about successful people in the industry. I like Ryan Serhant, but many others are out there.
Once you’re closer to being able to be licensed start studying for it and find a brokerage you want to work for.
Lastly, remember this, you will help people make the largest purchase of their life. There is something special about that. Celebrate that. Best of luck.
Frank Saucedo
Forms Administration
14
Answers
Simi Valley, California
Updated
Frank’s Answer
I agree with the answers given by Michelle and Pam. If you know you want to go into the real estate sales field, then those are good words of wisdom for you.
My question to you would be "What is it about a real estate career that attracts you the most?"
I was a real estate agent for 9 years in California and learned so much about the business and most of all about myself. After several years I found out that I really was a detail person and not a "salesperson". Do you love talking to people? Do you influence people at school, that is, are you a leader that people follow or listen to? I was a really shy person throughout school and the real estate business did bring me out of my shell but I found my real passion was realized after the buyer and home seller agreed to a price. Working through all the details and deadlines of a loan approval, termite inspections, home inspections, working with title companies etc. was what I enjoyed most about my real estate job.
After the 9th year I decided to put those organizational skills to work and I ended up working for one of the largest mortgage companies in the country at the time, becoming a technical writer and writing the guidelines of the various loan programs the company was purchasing from lenders across the country. It was an exciting time. I now work for a large insurance company managing the hundreds and hundreds of forms needed to do our business. I love every moment of my day because I'm doing what I love.
I say all that to encourage you to find out what career will suit your personality. I know many people think that those in the real estate industry make tons of money and as they sell multi-million dollar homes and drive fancy cars. The reality is that most real estate agents make a moderate middle class income and are not rich. Those that really love meeting people and getting people excited about real estate property will stand a chance of making a good income. But the primary focus in any career should not be the income, it should be about doing a job you will love everyday and the income will take care of itself. I encourage anyone looking to get into a real estate career or any other career, to find out what personality type suits that career. You may want look up a "day in the life of a real estate agent" video on YouTube to see what you will expect in that career or any other career. See if you will enjoy it. My other suggestion, if you are not fully sure of your personality type, is to take a quick personality test on YouTube or another website. With the results, you can get a good idea if you're heading in the right direction with your career plans. From there you can take more rigorous personality test, if needed, with more questions that goes more in depth. You'll probably pay a couple of hundred dollars for a professional test but it will be well worth it.
Do your homework early to discover your personality, gifts, and abilities and your career path will start off on a smoother path.
It is truly an exciting adventure as you start planning your career and I hope you find an amazing career whether in real estate or elsewhere that you will enjoy working everyday.
All the best to you.
Take a personality test, if unsure what type of career suits you best. I've been quite satisfied with the Myers Briggs personality test. You can find a free quiz on YouTube that will give you some good clues to your personality.
Search the Internet or view a video on "the day in the life of a realtor" or any other career you are interested in.
Ask people who know you best what career they see you doing. Do they see you as a real estate person or something else?
Have fun exploring your future career. Don't stress.
My question to you would be "What is it about a real estate career that attracts you the most?"
I was a real estate agent for 9 years in California and learned so much about the business and most of all about myself. After several years I found out that I really was a detail person and not a "salesperson". Do you love talking to people? Do you influence people at school, that is, are you a leader that people follow or listen to? I was a really shy person throughout school and the real estate business did bring me out of my shell but I found my real passion was realized after the buyer and home seller agreed to a price. Working through all the details and deadlines of a loan approval, termite inspections, home inspections, working with title companies etc. was what I enjoyed most about my real estate job.
After the 9th year I decided to put those organizational skills to work and I ended up working for one of the largest mortgage companies in the country at the time, becoming a technical writer and writing the guidelines of the various loan programs the company was purchasing from lenders across the country. It was an exciting time. I now work for a large insurance company managing the hundreds and hundreds of forms needed to do our business. I love every moment of my day because I'm doing what I love.
I say all that to encourage you to find out what career will suit your personality. I know many people think that those in the real estate industry make tons of money and as they sell multi-million dollar homes and drive fancy cars. The reality is that most real estate agents make a moderate middle class income and are not rich. Those that really love meeting people and getting people excited about real estate property will stand a chance of making a good income. But the primary focus in any career should not be the income, it should be about doing a job you will love everyday and the income will take care of itself. I encourage anyone looking to get into a real estate career or any other career, to find out what personality type suits that career. You may want look up a "day in the life of a real estate agent" video on YouTube to see what you will expect in that career or any other career. See if you will enjoy it. My other suggestion, if you are not fully sure of your personality type, is to take a quick personality test on YouTube or another website. With the results, you can get a good idea if you're heading in the right direction with your career plans. From there you can take more rigorous personality test, if needed, with more questions that goes more in depth. You'll probably pay a couple of hundred dollars for a professional test but it will be well worth it.
Do your homework early to discover your personality, gifts, and abilities and your career path will start off on a smoother path.
It is truly an exciting adventure as you start planning your career and I hope you find an amazing career whether in real estate or elsewhere that you will enjoy working everyday.
All the best to you.
Frank recommends the following next steps:
Pam Ode-Woznick
interior designer/photographer
9
Answers
Novi, Michigan
Updated
Pam’s Answer
Michelle's response was truly exceptional! I encourage you to heed her advice and also consider taking some additional beneficial steps. When clients approach you with their requirements for a new home or to sell their current one, it's crucial to understand the potential of the spaces. As an interior designer, I always consider the functionality and aesthetic appeal of a space. I suggest you enroll in a few design courses. This will equip you with knowledge about furniture dimensions, the necessary spacing between them, and how to ensure easy movement within a room. Such insights can make you more valuable to your clients and boost your sales. Sometimes, a simple color change can help clients grasp the potential of a house. You might even consider learning how to create room layouts and experiment with color schemes on a tablet. Many people struggle with visualizing these aspects, so this could be an invaluable skill for you to acquire.
Remember, you have time on your side! Make the most of it and savor the learning process.
Remember, you have time on your side! Make the most of it and savor the learning process.