Congratulations! You have made up your mind to become a realtor in Ohio. The hard part is behind you. The next major move is to determine what it takes to become one. The answer is given in details on the Ohio’s department of commerce official website.
f you have talked to a realtor agent before, you are probably familiar with the license requirements in order to become a real estate agent in Ohio. There are many regulations and rules as to how to become one, but a few basic requirements are common to people from all states.
In Ohio for instance, in order to be eligible for a license, the person should be:
- At least 18 years old
- Complete 120 hours of real estate education
- Be a legal resident of Ohio
- Hold a high school diploma or equivalent
- Pass the Ohio real estate license examination
The first step however is to making sure that you have passion for real estate. For this, you need to do some research and find out the various tasks involved in a typical real estate agent’s daily routine. Some of them include but not limited to paperwork, office management, contact management, dealing with clients and follow-ups. If you can reach out to an experienced realtor agent in the field, you are in a better position to understand and see personally what they go through on a regular basis. Remember that, you cannot treat a job like this as a hobby; it requires full commitment on your part. Your mentor should be instrumental in the process of teaching you this.
There are many specifics in real estate license requirements that vary by state, but in Ohio, these requirements for certified realtor are simple. The official website will offer an insight into all of the pre-licensing needs to become a licensed realtor. Nevertheless, you will have to enroll in a pre-licensing course that is offered online or offline in the state of Ohio. Once you are enrolled in a live classroom location or online at your local area be prepared to focus on study materials that are necessary to pass the final examination.
Many realty firms, technical schools and universities in Ohio offer real estate licensing programs and other certified realtor education. Make sure to get enrolled in a good reputable program, and ensure that the course meets the standard guidelines required. It may take quite a bit of time to complete the course, but once you are there, the path towards obtaining the license is easy.
Preparing for your real estate salesperson exam is the final step to completing the course. Follow the application process and be well prepared for the exam. There may be a fee, around $60, to take the exam. If you fail the first test, you can retake it as many as 3 times a year. However, you cannot reschedule the test on the same day at the same center. Check with the Ohio real estate regulatory authority for more details about the examination retake to get real estate license. The state may also require that you submit fingerprints and pass background check before accepting your real estate license. This may take weeks or months to process.
Passing the real estate salesperson or licensed realtor exam needs extensive preparation. Most people fail this exam the first time. It is important that you prepare yourself for the exam day by practicing various mock exams available online or school and working through comprehensive reviews. Also important is to show up at the exam location with a positive attitude. This is an opportunity for you to showcase your skills, knowledge and experience that you have accumulated through studies and real estate workshops.
Last but not least, to become a realtor in Ohio, you need to find a real estate broker who you can associate with at least for the initial years as a real estate agent. As per Ohio real estate guidelines, a licensed real estate agent should work on the behalf of a real estate broker and not as an independent agent. Once you have completed the pre-licensing requirements as well as pass the license exam, the broker you are affiliated with will complete a few paperwork and make you a part of their team. Your license is issued when this paperwork is submitted, and you are now under the sponsorship of the associated broker.
As you may have heard or seen, a broker can make or break a deal, so you need to choose wisely. Find a broker who is not just a good fit for your immediate license needs but also one who will agree to build a long term relationship with you. You need to find someone who is experienced in the field and professional who can deal with any kind of real estate business or house mortgage loan. Loyalty does matter here, so you may want to offer the terms of your work, like realtor commission, that are matching with the needs of your broker. If the needs of each other match well, then by all means stick with him or her.
Additionally, find out more about the company that the broker is working for and the reasons why the broker chose that company. If you are selecting a company that is the biggest and has the best brokerages, it will be a plus for your future. Small independent firms that are thriving are also a good option when you are starting out in the real estate field.
Don’t be afraid to ask for suggestions from other real estate agents in Ohio. They may know something about the field that you weren’t aware of before. If selecting the broker, ask exactly what your contribution to the firm should be and what you will receive in return, such as benefits and realtor commission. It is not uncommon to have different plans available from these firms based on your experience and level of performance.
