The moment you pass the California real estate exam, you may feel that the last hurdle between you and success as a licensed real estate agent is finally behind you. And you might be right. But what comes next can often be a rude awakening for the novice agent. In most cases, the real estate exam is simply an introduction to the challenges faced by agents in the field every day. A career in real estate isn’t for everyone, and a 150-question test may not be the most adequate barrier between a dreamer and a doer. So what can you expect after making it through California’s real estate exam?
Passing the Real Estate Exam Doesn’t Mean You’re Licensed
Your first surprise will likely be that passing the real estate exam doesn’t automatically place a California real estate license in your hands. You’ll still need to apply for your Salesperson License using the official application form (RE 202), in addition to any other required documents (ie. Live Scan fingerprinting). You’ll also need to consider the licensing fee. At the time of writing, that fee is $350. In many cases, this fee will be rolled into your real estate exam fee (totaling $450, at the time of writing).
Once all relevant documents and payments have been properly submitted, the Department of Real Estate (DRE) will process your application, a procedure that can take several weeks. Then, you’ll be sent your unique California real estate license number and authorized confirmation. Congratulations, you’re a licensed agent! Now comes the fun part (or the hard part, depending on your outlook).
A California Real Estate License Must Be Under a Brokerage
The state of California requires all real estate agents to practice under a licensed real estate broker. It should come as no surprise that this can be the most crucial decision in your real estate career. And plenty of agents hop brokerages several times before they find the right fit. Obviously, we have our biases, but generally speaking, people most often consider the following when choosing a brokerage:
- Commission splits
- Culture
- Lead generation features
- Ongoing training
- Support resources (such as marketing, transaction coordination, etc.)
- Technology
At JohnHart, we put the emphasis on a support staff that includes a full marketing team, photographers, videographers, MLS Coordinators, Scheduling Coordinators, and our secret weapon, the Agent Liaison (think a Transaction Coordinator amplified). We also use proprietary technology and ongoing development courses to give our agents an advantage. This system is designed to allow our agents to do more transactions since they get to focus on what they enjoy, while our support staff handles the rest. But each brokerage offers its own business model, so it’s worth taking the time to discover which format suits your professional style.
A Real Estate Exam Doesn’t Take the Place of In-the-Field Experience
The somewhat frightening truth is that passing the real estate exam only illustrates that you understand the principles of the industry at a scholarly level. It’s not the same as in-the-field experience. You can take all the courses and read all the books you’d like, but until you start to put your learning into practice, you won’t know for sure how you’ll perform in today’s competitive real estate industry. As you enter the field, you can expect to gain valuable experience in:
- Compliance
- Hosting open houses
- Lead generation
- Negotiation
- Understanding the multiple listing service (MLS)
- Utilizing customer relationship management (CRM) platforms
- Writing competitive offers
At JohnHart, our support staff handles a lot of the heavy lifting, like eye-catching, targeted marketing, but agents are still required to immerse themselves in their work. This often means hosting open houses, taking a proactive approach with our regular training sessions and workshops, and even shadowing established agents, often as agent associates. These first few years can be exponentially more eye-opening for an agent than any portion of the real estate exam.
The Early Days of a Real Estate Agent
Even under a brokerage, becoming a successful real estate agent means building your own brand and business. Many brokerages leave you to figure this out on your own: marketing, balancing your budget, staying on top of compliance, and managing your client database. JohnHart gives you an advantage with our custom cloud-based real estate CRM (SWARMcrm), which makes tracking and connecting with your database intuitive. Regardless of whether you go to a support-based brokerage like JohnHart or a more hands-off brokerage, you’ll most often find that your early days as an agent are all about building your business. Not to say that this aspect of the career ever goes away.
Building your reputation as a real estate resource among your family and friends is imperative. But even if you do everything right, the nature of the industry means you may go several months to a year without securing any commission. Therefore, it can be wise to have some savings built up when plunging into the world of real estate. Some agents try to juggle a full-time job with efforts to build their real estate business. But this is a career that demands your commitment.
Staying Informed Beyond Your Real Estate Exam
It’s also important to note that California real estate license requirements insist that agents complete at least 45 hours of state-approved continuing education every four years. With how quickly the real estate industry and its numerous rules and regulations change, it’s not a bad idea to keep on top of developments anyway. California just makes it part of the renewal process, giving agents an extra incentive to stay informed. If you don’t align with a brokerage like JohnHart that provides regular training, the responsibility will be up to you to track down authorized education opportunities to meet the renewal requirements.
Legends Are Made in the Field, Not the Classroom
Don’t get us wrong; you have every reason to celebrate passing your real estate exam. However, it shouldn’t be a “mission: accomplished” moment. Rather, it’s the preamble to a hopefully lifelong love affair with real estate. Get excited! You’ve reached the point in your journey where knowledge gives way to action. And now people are counting on you to responsibly guide them through what will often be the biggest financial decision of their lives. That demands more attention than a 150-question exam.
With a brand that says as much as JohnHart’s, Senior Copywriter Seth Styles never finds himself at a loss for words. Responsible for maintaining the voice of the company, he spends each day drafting marketing materials, blogs, bios, and agent resources that speak from the company’s collective mind and Hart… errr, heart.
Having spent over a decade in creative roles across a variety of industries, Seth brings with him vast experience in SEO practices, digital marketing, and all manner of professional writing with particular strength in blogging, content creation, and brand building. Gratitude, passion, and sincerity remain core tenets of his unwavering work ethic. The landscape of the industry changes daily, paralleling JohnHart’s efforts to {re}define real estate, but Seth works to maintain the company’s consistent message while offering both agents and clients a new echelon of service.
When not preserving the JohnHart essence in stirring copy, Seth puts his efforts into writing and illustrating an ongoing series entitled The Death of Romance. In addition, he adores spending quality time with his girlfriend and Romeo (his long-haired chihuahua mix), watching ‘70s and ‘80s horror movies, and reading (with a particular penchant for Victorian horror novels and authors Yukio Mishima and Bret Easton Ellis). He also occasionally records music as the vocalist and songwriter for his glam rock band, Peppermint Pumpkin.
