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The Real State of Real Estate Why You Should Start a Real Estate Career Now
Weve heard, read and seen it all before. The real estate market is down. Because of the nancial crisis, nobody is interested to buy houses anymore. Thus, more real estate agents are out of work. Obviously, a career in real estate is really not an option now, right? WRONG! Real estate experts agree that NOW is the best time to start a career in real estatewhen the market is down. In fact, the down market presents a wonderful opportunity for SERIOUS agents or future agents to become successful. Read on to understand why.

Success in a Down Market

The real estate boom during the early 2000s saw a very high in ux of beginning real estate agents. And why not? With skyrocketing housing prices and easy licensure requirements, a career in real estate seems to be the perfect chance to rake in the bucks. So here goes Person A, leaving his job at a company to start his ourishing real estate career. Unfortunately, thousands of people also had the same plan. In California alone, there are over 400,000 licensed real estate agents in 2005enough to form the population of the 8th largest city. Down the drain goes Person As dreams of a prosperous career and easy money. And the same goes with most of the newly-licensed agents. Surely, we cannot blame Person A for being attracted to start a career in a booming market. So what went wrong?

Common Mistakes that Can Cost You Your Real Estate Career
1. The timing is not right.
A boom market may seem to present an attractive opportunity to start a career. But thats just what it isseemingly attractive. In reality, thousands of wannabe agents also see and want the same thing. The result? More competition, less customers. Chances are, youll end up in a place where everyone is an agent and nobody is the customer. On the other hand, why would anyone want to start a career in a down market? Simply because its the best time to start! Why? In a down market, only those who take their careers seriously will succeed. Aside from lessening the competition, the down market also weeds out agents who are just order takers. The challenging climate gains you invaluable experience in handling clients, negotiation and other skills that will set you apart. When the market improves (and it surely will), well see a ood of newly-licensed real estate agents. While others are just starting, youll already be real estate SUPERSTARa seasoned pro who survived tough economic conditions!

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2. Getting into real estate for easy money.

Real estate agents who believe that a real estate career can make them rich easily are usually those who do not last in the business. Yes, its true that a career in real estate can make you wealthy. But like most things in life, it is NOT achieved easily. Real estate agents are paid by commissionthey get a percentage from their sales. Without sales, there are no commissions. Selling involves hard work, tons of patience and lots of reserve money. (Yes, you need reserve money to go through the slow months.) Unlike normal o ce jobs where you are paid regularly, real estate agents are only paid if they sell a house. And selling a house is not like selling shoes where people can buy as many as they want, as often as they like. It takes days, weeks, months, and in some cases, years to make a sale! Real estate agents are rewarded well for their hard work. But if the hard work is not there, neither are the rewards.

3. Assuming a real estate job is easy.

One of the most common reasons that many are lured to the real estate business is the perks of the job. A career in real estate allows you to be your own boss and gives you a exible work schedule. Yes, in real estate, YOU ARE THE BOSS! Now who can say no to a job like that? Easy work=easy money, right? WRONG again. A real estate career is not as easy as it seems. Real estate agents wake up every morning to nd a job. They are only employed if they have a prospective client. No client, no sales, no job. A good agent invests time and e ort into every sale they make. Remember that clients have di erent tastes and needs. Each sale is personalized according to the clients preference. You will encounter di cult clients who will demand too much, and along the way, you will also learn how to deal with them. What if you spent months with a particular client who in the end, did not want to buy the house? Dont fret. Its not just about selling. Its also about creating relationships and building a network of contacts. So what if they dont buy for now? In the future, they will look for your expertise and ask for your help. And who knows, they might also refer someone who can bene t from your expertise too! A job in real estate can only be as easy as you make it to be. You need tons of hard work, lots of patience and a good understanding of the business. Without proper knowledge, you will just be another sh swimming aimlessly in the vast sea.

Becoming an Agent: A CHECKLIST

You now have a fairly good idea what to expect in the real estate business. And you are serious about getting a career in real estate. What do you do next? Weve provided a checklist of things you need to do to get your career started.

THINGS TO DO: Familiarize yourself Check state requirements Get educated Choose a brokerage Get licensed

1. Familiarize yourself.
Start in your neighborhood. Take a look around, visit places you often pass by, talk to people and just be familiar with everything! A career in real estate is based on personal interactions. So you need to familiarize yourself with people and places to start building your network. Youll never know who might need your expertise!

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2. Check state requirements.

Each state has its own set of requirements to follow. Contact your states real estate commission to know the speci c requirements. Or better yet, visit www.agentcampus.com to see the list of licensing requirements for each state. Its all in there!

3. Get educated.
No matter where state you come from, you need to get a pre-licensing education course. Choosing a good school is important because you also need to get continuing education courses to renew your license. Opt for a school with a good reputation, o ers high quality courses and can accommodate your busy schedule.

4. Choose a brokerage.
A brokerage is the agency or o ce where real estate agents and brokers work. Working with a broker is a requirement in order to practice so you must contact a brokerage before graduating. When choosing a broker, think about the size, reputation and additional training o ered.

5. Get licensed.
Now that youve got everything covered, you can now take the real estate exam and get licensed! Just remember to enroll in a good school so you can get the necessary training and knowledge to ace the exam.

Choosing a School: GO FOR THE BEST FIT

Getting educated is one of the crucial steps when starting your real estate career. A certain school may be the best for this person but may not work for you. Choose a school that best ts YOUR needs. Consider the following before signing up with any school.

THINGS TO CONSIDER: Budget Mode of instruction Quality of education Future plans Support group Accreditation

1. Budget.
How much are you allotting for your education? Check out the TOTAL cost of the schoolit includes tuition and other fees, transportation, books and supplies and living expenses. Where is the school located? How much is the cost of living there? If your preferred school exceeds your budget, it may be better to consider other good options, like online education.

2. Mode of instruction.
Are you going for the typical classroom setting or considering online education? If you are planning to be a full-time student, a typical classroom setting may be a good choice. But if you are a working student or a student parent, or you simply want to take more control of your studies, online education may work best for you.

3. Quality of education.
Whichever school you choose, quality of education MUST always be considered. Will you be getting a high-quality education thatll be worth your money? Are the courses designed by experts? Will it be relevant to the eld youre studying? Do some researchread forums, ask people, get feedback. Be patient. After all, you are choosing your PARTNER to your success.

4. Future plans.
Are you planning to take your education further? Be sure to choose a school that o ers continuing education programs. Enrolling in the same school is practical because it eliminates the hassle of going through the process of reporting, matching and verifying your credits to other schools.
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5. Support group.
Whether on-site or online, it is essential that you choose a school that has a support group. These groups are your go-to persons when you encounter problems. In online education, technical support is a MUST because the last thing you want to deal with your studies is technical problems.

6. Accreditation.
If your school is not accredited by a quali ed accrediting agency, nd another school. Why? Accreditation means the school operates on a sound nancial basis, has an approved study program, quali ed instructors, approved recruitment and admissions policies and advertises its courses in a factual manner. Accreditation is your assurance that the course you're taking will lead to a viable certi cate or diploma.

Why should you choose online education?

Since you will not be working a typical 9-to-5 job, why not try options other than a typical classroom? Online education gives you exibility and control over your schedule and your location. With just a computer and internet, you can access your courses anytime and anywhere! Agentcampus.com, a subsidiary of leading online course provider, 360training.com, gives you the bene t of online real estate education without sacri cing quality. One of the rst ARELLO-certi ed real estate schools to o er online courses, agentcampus.com has been an American Top Real Estate School since 1997.

3 million students

have been successfully trained by agentcampus.com.

At agentcampus.com, you can get the best possible online real estate education.
ARELLO-certi ed courses Pre-licensing, licensing and continuing education Faculty composed of top industry professionals Fast, easy and a ordable online training High passing rate and instant certi cate upon completion Immediate ling of credit hours Approved by your states real estate commission 24/7 online and telephone support

ARELLO--Association of Real Estate License Law O cials facilitates the exchange of information and cooperation among regulators and policy makers in the area of real property. To know more, visit www.arello.org.

Courses at agentcampus.com include:

Business Law Property Management Real Estate Appraisal Real Estate Principles Real Estate Finance Real Estate Practice Real Estate Economics

I really enjoyed being able to take courses at home. Thank you so much for providing a great alternative to the traditional classroom approach. I will recommend your service to everyone I know. Susan T.

When it comes to your education, do not settle for anything less. With a good school like agentcampus.com, you are one step closer to achieving a successful real estate career.

Learn more about real estate education! Visit www.agentcampus.com or http://www.360training.com/corporate-solutions/real-estate/

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About Agentcampus.com
AgentCampus.com is the real estate industry's premier online real estate school providing professionals in the Real Estate industry with career training for licensing, continuing education, and ongoing professional development. AgentCampus.com is continuously expanding our library of courses, e-books, textbooks, CDs, and additional resources to help real estate students prepare for a new career, pass the state exam, renew a license and achieve greater success in their careers. Mortgage, title/escrow, appraisal professionals can also receive online training and professional development through agentcampus.com. In addition, AgentCampus.com o ers corporate solutions to real estate industry professionals and has helped many institutions deliver their courses and products online. A liate opportunities are available to interested companies.

Contact Us:
Agentcampus.com c/o 360training 13801 N. Mo-Pac, Suite 100 Austin, Texas 78727 Toll-free: Local/Intl: Fax: Visit: 888-360-TRNG +888-318-3497 512-727-7683 http://www.agentcampus.com

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