How to work as a licensed real estate agent in Florida

A career in Florida real estate is an enriching and exciting professional journey for anyone who wants to achieve financial independence and be their own boss. 

Thanks to the picturesque natural beauty, pleasant climate and a thriving economic outlook, Florida continues to attract migrant workers, homebuyers and real estate investors. 

If you dream of earning a six figure income while enjoying a flexible work-life balance, working as a real estate agent in Florida can be a good profession for you. 

From staging homes and closing deals to meeting new people and building a lasting professional network, a career in real estate offers a lot for aspiring professionals. 

Did you know that the top real estate professionals in Florida can make around $100K to $120K annually depending on their skills, experience and location. 

The best part is that you do not need to spend years to obtain a college degree and become eligible for a career in real estate. 

As long as you meet the qualifying education and licensing requirements, you can obtain a FL real estate license and start your career. 

Getting a license is a mandatory and essential step to kickstart your career as a real estate agent and realize your professional goals. 

As per the Florida Real Estate Commission (FREC) regulations and guidelines, individuals must obtain a state approved license to work with clients and earn commission. 

This means you must clear every licensing requirement and prove your eligibility to be legally able to help clients buy and sell properties in Florida. 

If getting a real estate license sounds complicated and overwhelming to you, then this article will help you get started on how to become licensed in a step-by-step way. 

Understanding Florida’s real estate landscape

Since 2022, Florida has surpassed New York to become the second highest valued real estate market and there are three key factors behind this growth such as: 

• Favorable Climate: Sunny Florida has emerged as a hub for migrant workers and homebuyers from across the country who are flocking to this state due to its pleasant climate. Central Florida feels temperate during winters while Southern Florida has a summery climate year around. 

• Diverse Lifestyle Choices: Florida’s property market is also growing due to the attractive lifestyle options it provides to homebuyers and investors. Beautiful beaches, world-class entertainment options, scenic views and national parks make Florida an excellent destination for homebuyers and real estate investors.  

• Booming Job Market: Employment is a strong factor for determining the state of any real estate market. Since the last two decades, Florida has added around half a million new jobs. Cities like Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville and Orlando have shown a rapid increase in the number of job opportunities.

In addition to above, Florida has a favorable taxation which enables residents to save money on capital gains and avoid paying extra taxes.

The factors above highlight the reasons why the Peach State Florida, which has always been one of the most popular tourist destinations in the country, is quickly becoming a desirable residential destination as well. 

How to obtain a Florida real estate license

If you are ready to explore the path of a part-time or a full-time real estate professional in Florida, you can start preparing for getting your license first.

As per the FREC, individuals must meet and fulfill all the licensing requirements established by the state and federal authorities. 

Let’s start with the basic eligibility requirements to prove your eligibility for a license: 

Firstly, you must meet the age and legal requirements as enforced by the Florida Real Estate Commission. These are as follows: 

• You must be at least 18 years or older in age
• You must be a legal citizen of the US or a lawfully residing alien
• You should have a high school diploma or GED equivalent
• You must not have any criminal history and felony against you

If you meet the above statutory requirements, the next step is to fulfill the pre license education and training requirements established by the Florida Real Estate Commission. 

Since real estate is a heavily regulated industry which is governed by numerous state and federal laws and rules, it is important to learn about the guiding principles and regulations. 

To ensure this, the FREC requires that every applicant must complete a minimum of 63 hours of pre-licensing education and training.

You can choose to join a classroom based real estate college in Florida or enroll in an online, self-paced real estate course to complete your education. 

The purpose of the education is to teach you about the fundamental principles and key practices of real estate while giving you the opportunity to learn about the profession. 

You will also learn about real estate laws, real estate finance, consumer rights, ethics and regulations among other topics. 

After finishing your pre-licensing education, the next step is to take the Florida salesperson licensing exam. 

To obtain your license, you must pass the exam by scoring at least 75 percent or above in the final test. The test consists of 100 multiple choice questions.