College degree for real estate agents ??

Member since 2019 · 215 posts · 94 votes

I am 16 years old and want get my real estate license at 18. Real estate is my passion and I dedicate time everyday to learning about it. I’m not sure if I want to go to college because I think those years could be better learning directly in the business rather than a class. That saying I am willing to put in the work to make it work and far from lazy. Questions- Do you think a broker would hire an 18 year old without a degree? Do you have a real estate/business degree? Do you think you could have been where you are without the degree?

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Nathan GesnerBusiness Member

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Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes

@Jordan Lucas This isn't 1892 or even 1962. Back then a college degree meant something. You should take a minute to look at the kind of classes people took back then and what people are taking now. College has become a money-making venture and the best way to make money is to make class easy and fun for the masses so you can collect their student loan funds before they give up or get smart and walk away.

Real estate has a very, very low bar of entry. My wife took 500 hours of education to be a massage therapist in Colorado but it only took 50 hours to become a REALTOR. You would obviously have more than 50 hours of education in college but a lot of that education will involve nonsense classes that don't apply and you'll spend $30,000 and four years of your life instead of the $2,000 and two months that it normally takes.

The difficult part is becoming a successful agent at the age of 18. It can be done. I know a local REALTOR that started at 18 and it was tough but she plowed through and has been at it for over 20 years. However, she started with her family business and that probably helped her get started.

The overwhelming majority of agents to not have a real estate degree. However, most of them do have a degree. Most of them have decades of work experience and experience as an adult. The average age is 52 so while you may be smarter at SnapChat and some other tools, you won't have 1/3 the life experience the average agent does and that will be tough to overcome.

You can do it. Stay humble, listen more than you talk, find a mentor, and hustle. Good luck!

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Jordan Lucas
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Member since 2019 · 215 posts · 94 votes
7y
@Jesse Rivera thanks so much for that advice! Those two are definitely going to be a must for me!
0 Reply
Jordan Lucas
OP
Member since 2019 · 215 posts · 94 votes
7y
@Steve B. Thanks for that advice I appreciate it!
0 Reply
Rob Massopust
Real Estate Broker · Santa Ana CA [South Coast Metro] · Member since 2016 · 459 posts · 202 votes
7y
I started rehabbing properties at 15 for my next door neighbor, learned alot.
At 23 I was managing commercial properties for a private individual, learned alot.
Pissed around and never got my bachelors but decided to get my RE license after trying to buy a 4 plex and realized I knew 100 times the agent that was showing us property.
Do both, get your degree and do RE. At 18 if you have your license a broker will hire you based on your hustle and what not, he has nothing to lose by hiring you and if you do well then thats all there is too it.
You can take online courses to get your BA if you really wanted. I was going to get my BA but realized no one would hire me at this point.
RE is merit based. You produce you profit.
2 Reply
Jordan Lucas
OP
Member since 2019 · 215 posts · 94 votes
7y
@Lee Bell that is very true and thanks for sharing !
0 Reply
Jordan Lucas
OP
Member since 2019 · 215 posts · 94 votes
7y
@Nathan Trenery thanks for your additional input and sharing that!
0 Reply
Brit Hale
Real Estate Agent · Joplin, MO · Member since 2018 · 112 posts · 96 votes
7y
@Jordan Lucas - I went to real estate class at 17 and took the exam on my 18th birthday. Experience has been more more valuable than a degree for me as a Realtor. At times, you may experience some pushback in relation to your youth. I had 10+ years experience as a Realtor and still some folks that don't due their own diligence and want an "experienced" Realtor end up working a 55+ year old person who just retired from their teaching position and haven't had their license for 60 days. Great goals, I had a friend in the same situation that you are a few years back. Fast forward, 8 years and he's got a large real estate team and very highly regarded as a Realtor in our area. Sounds like you're on the right track!
1 Reply
Jordan Lucas
OP
Member since 2019 · 215 posts · 94 votes
7y
@Joel Owens thanks so much for all that great info, I really appreciate it !
0 Reply
Jordan Lucas
OP
Member since 2019 · 215 posts · 94 votes
7y
@Cindy Shen thanks so much for that insight! It made a lot of sense and tbh I don’t have a yes or no to either scenario but I will find out some day !
0 Reply
Jordan Lucas
OP
Member since 2019 · 215 posts · 94 votes
7y
@Jason Vo that’s a great option thanks!
0 Reply
Jordan Lucas
OP
Member since 2019 · 215 posts · 94 votes
7y
@Rob Massopust thanks so much for sharing that I really appreciate it! And I thank that is a great option, thanks for the suggestion!
0 Reply
Jordan Lucas
OP
Member since 2019 · 215 posts · 94 votes
7y
@Brit Hale that must’ve been a great birthday! I have had people tell me that but there’s nothing else I want to do so I feel like if I started fearing failure I would also she fearing success. Thanks for advice too I really appreciate it !
0 Reply
Annie Irizari
Real Estate Consultant · Albuquerque, NM · Member since 2019 · 28 posts · 9 votes
7y
Jordan,
There are many facets to real estate. You may start on one point and the roads can branch out in different ways. It's not a matter of right or wrong or just going down one path. A few key points to keep in mind:
1)what's your why(go 7x deep on your why) and your goals? There's a lot of great feedback and input here for you to mull over. Give it some thought. Are you just interested in the selling aspect of real estate or the investing side too? These are two different mindsets, different outcomes, different navigations. One is debt/liability, another is asset based which leads to point #2
2) financial IQ/literacy/intelligence is important as you deal with different demographics or target audience/client - single family consumer, investor of all kinds, hotel, bankers, lenders, regulations and putting all of this together for your target audience/client. Are you dealing with an investor or just an a-typical consumer, there is a difference. Investors are not a-typical single family consumer. They don't purchase with emotions, they purchase with financial IQ, asset, profits with risk management
As an investor, I'd rather deal with someone with financial IQ and not just an agent selling to an average consumer.
3) An education shows your teachable and can learn, it doesn't guarantee anything. There is a difference between traditional education and financial IQ/intelligence/literacy. Historically, traditional schools are lagging in teaching financial literacy/IQ/intelligence.
4) commercial, mixed use, single family, small multi family, or hotels? the analysis vary depending on which real estate segments. Where do you want to specialize or should you? It's okay to maybe start out in SF then move towards commercial or hotels as you gain more knowledge and experience, some knowledge and information overlap, it's just a matter of you connecting the dots for your toolbelt.
:-) just some thoughts for you to mull over ....
1 Reply
Nathan Amaral
Lender · Charlotte, NC · Member since 2017 · 10 posts · 4 votes
7y
@Jordan Lucas sales and marketing is a must for agents. Not sure if you are aware of the process but it’s a 30 hour class and test.
1 Reply
Nathan Amaral
Lender · Charlotte, NC · Member since 2017 · 10 posts · 4 votes
7y
@Jordan Lucas boss there are 30+ year olds without a degree, dropouts and the like that are agents. Real Estate is for the rebels, we master marketing and sales not business administration.
1 Reply
Nathan Amaral
Lender · Charlotte, NC · Member since 2017 · 10 posts · 4 votes
7y
@Jordan Lucas why do you want to be an agent?
1 Reply
Luke CarlPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Tennessee Florida · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 5k+ votes
7y
@Jordan Lucas My wife had a masters degree and is a top 1% individual agent in the nation. Not quite sure the two are related other than her determination.
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Joe A.Business Member
Realtor · Waco, TX · Member since 2018 · 76 posts · 80 votes
7y
@John Clark said it 1st I think. Get the best business degree you can get considering the costs. Don’t go into too much debt. It will help you tremendously in the long run.
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1 Reply
Blake Van Ness
Bakersfield, CA · Member since 2016 · 13 posts · 4 votes
7y
I wouldn’t go if your 100%. It’s to expensive and time consuming. I think there is a broker out there that would want to take on a young grinder. Your going to be so successful if you keep learning and stick to your plan. god speed
1 Reply
Aaron Nannini
Investor · Santee, CA · Member since 2017 · 17 posts · 12 votes
7y
If you end up choosing to go to college, look at it as a once in a lifetime opportunity to start building your network. Let your friends and classmates know you are passionate and knowledgeable about real estate. Provide value and education to them. As soon as you graduate and get your license, start to represent your friends in their first transactions. As they get older and start to make more, they will continue to use you for move up houses and probably investment properties. This will help your business grow in an organic, relationship based way. Good luck!
1 Reply
Jeff Morelock
Rental Property Investor · Marianna Florida · Member since 2011 · 357 posts · 169 votes
7y
I'd get the degree. I have seen many six figure jobs advertised that required a real estate bachlor's degree. That being said, I've never been asked if I had a degree by any of the brokers I worked for. Nothing says you can't get licensed when your 18 and then go for your degree.
1 Reply
Jordan H.
Real Estate Coach · Member since 2019 · 65 posts · 30 votes
7y
  To get a degree or not to get a degree. society has been jamming into my brain for since i was just a boy " go to school, get an education, you will be better off in life!" But how true is this really?
How much of what you learn in school do you actually use in the real world?
How much can you learn and progress in 4 years if you are not forced to learn stuff you aren't really interested in?
How much debt will you owe when you get out of school? ( if you got a full ride, awesome!)

  I didn't go to college, I spent my time instead studying my trade and there are no doubts in my mind that i came out way ahead in terms of salary, knowledge, and skills than if I had gotten a 4 year degree. There's no substitute for a real world education and there's  no substitute for spending your time doing things you are seriously passionate about. If you are passionate about education and love learning the things you are learning, definitely do school.

  I dealt with the fact that i didn't have a degree while perusing jobs early in my career as well. I'm sure some people overlooked me because i didn't have one, and still do. But eventually someone will see that you know what you are doing and you know what you are talking about ( in some cases way more than some college educated folk because you spent 4 years learning your trade not 4 years learning some other things that weren't so related to your trade).
Smart brokers and employers will recognize skills and talent independent of college degrees and certifications.
1 Reply
Storm S.
Real Estate Agent · Santa Barbara, CA · Member since 2016 · 518 posts · 283 votes
7y
@Jordan Lucas if you want to go into commercial or investments. Double major as a math and economics major and get your real estate licensee. That’s what I did. Then go work for a top performing agent. You will become more competent than most other agents out there.
1 Reply
Jordan Lucas
OP
Member since 2019 · 215 posts · 94 votes
7y
@Annie Irizari thanks so much for that detailed response, I really appreciate it! And you gave me a lot to think about which i think is great!
0 Reply
Jordan Lucas
OP
Member since 2019 · 215 posts · 94 votes
7y
@Nathan Amaral thanks for that info and no I didn’t no that!
0 Reply
Jordan Lucas
OP
Member since 2019 · 215 posts · 94 votes
7y
@Nathan Amaral that is so true! And I want to be an agent to be able to have the freedom to do what I want when I want. I don’t want to take the “traditional” path nowadays and get a job working for someone. I would rather make myself successful than someone else. Also I feel in love with it when I( and I still do) would help my grandma at open houses or any other way she needed help as an agent. I also like that being an agent isn’t a salary job and that I have to close deals in order to make money. This then I believe would allow me to stay on top of myself so I don’t become lazy and inefficient. And I also want to be an investor in multifamily re and I know that I will able to find the best deals and what to look for in deal as an agent.
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