Real estate license?

Question

I am just starting out. Interested to hear from other investors if you are a licensed real estate agent. If you are, did you get licensed right away or after you had some experience?

Rich Darragh · Answer

I got my real estate license immediately. I wanted to have access to MLS so that I would be able to pull my own comps for the deals I evaluated, rather than pay a realtor a percentage of my profit to do the same thing.

Byron K. · Answer

Hey Angela Maurer Green,

I'm just getting started in this and plan on getting my Real Estate license once I move down to Atlanta in a month.

It all depends on your eventual business goals and objectives. I "potentially" want to own/start a Brokerage with agents underneath me which will require 3 years of being licensed as a RE Agent. Additionally, commission costs and MLS access will be beneficial.

There are downsides as well as James Vermillion alluded to in the link he posted but you must figure out what your goals are and it will make the decision much easier. Many do NOT have their license and still find ways to get some of the benefits through networking, etc.

James Vermillion · Answer

Angela, use the search bar in the top right and you will find numerous threads with hundreds of opinions on this. As for me, I am licensed and did so right away (as I was working on other aspects of preparing my business such as learning my market, writing a business plan, learning more about REI, lining up contractors, etc).

I believe getting licensed can provide some nice advantages with very few disadvantages.  Here is another thread to check out:

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/48/topics/82302?page=1

Angela Maurer Green · Answer

Thank you for the thoughts and for the link, David.  I am just figuring out how to navigate all of the great info on this site.

David Niles · Answer

This has actually been discussed many different times here Angela, many different views on it.  Here is a recent one I found.

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/12/topics/81783-debate-on-a-realtor-license

I am a licensed agent, got mine when I was sick of waiting on agents and losing deals.

Joel Owens · Answer

I am a principal broker and owner of a commercial real estate firm.

I understood the business side from owning businesses before I became licensed. I love having my license and helping my clients and also doing my own deals.

Real estate license?

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