Questions about becoming a Real Estate Agent

[Rebecca R.]

Good morning BP,

I'm currently exploring the idea of getting my real estate license in the state of Maryland and I have a couple of questions regarding the license that I am hoping to have answered by knowledgeable forum members.

First, does getting your license preclude you from working with other buyer agents to purchase a property? I would assume the answer is no, but I am unsure. I understand the value of networking and making connections, so I don't want to shut the door on the idea of working with other agents in the future to help me find and purchase properties.

Second, does having your license in one state make it easier to get your license in another state? I know that there are some states with reciprocal agreements that allow you to use your license without additional credentials, but what about those states that don't have reciprocal agreements? Is it essentially starting over from scratch if you want to get your license in other states?

Third, for those in the local Maryland area, do you have any suggestions for what criteria to look for in a brokerage to join? Based on my reasons for initially getting my license (to help expand my personal portfolio), I think I should focus on finding a smaller brokerage so that I'm not required to attend a lot of training and/or meet minimum sales requirements.  However, if there are additional factors I should consider in my search I'd love some insights.

Thanks in advance for your help, BP!