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Your state's laws will often require that you identify yourself as an agent every time you contact a buyer about a property. You may be considered at an unfair advantage to the other party in every transaction you make.
Are you thinking about going to real estate school? First you should consider: is going to school right for me? What is your motivation and what benefits and opportunities will it bring you?
If you're simply interested in investing in real estate, a good first option would be to join a local real estate investing chapter; one of the foremost in the country with over 300 chapters in most of the 50 states includes the Real Estate Investing Club (REI). You'll quickly get up to speed on your local market and learn about possible problems, too. (See http://www.reiclub.com/real-estate-clubs.php for a chapter near you.)
Once you decide real estate school is for you, your second step is to consider what kind of real estate school to attend? Real estate school is for anyone who seeks to become an agent or sell properties on behalf of other people—this can be a highly desirable career choice, and if you go this route, formal training will be well worth your while.
Without agents many transactions simply would not happen. Real estate agents' expertise facilitates the process for both parties and ensures legality. The agent then makes money by taking a commission for representing the client as they purchase or sell a property. In order to be successful, do so you'll need specialized knowledge about real estate and a license issued by your state.
That's where real estate school comes in. You should consider whether or not you wish to take classes that are geared towards taking the test, or if you want to get a much broader education. Additionally, online classes are better for some people with jobs or those who stay at home with children. Your options are plentiful but you have to make sure the program meets your state's criteria when selecting a real estate school.
In order to do this, first check to see if your state government has any special requirements. The state of California has a Department of Real Estate website at http://www.dre.ca.gov/ with a list of approved courses that you can take to pass their test. Most states should have similar resources.
So first look at your career goals and decide whether real estate school is right for you. Then choose your school based on meeting the state's licensing requirements and decide whether you wish to take classes online or in person. If you do this, you will be well on your way to becoming a licensed real estate agent.
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