It’s no secret that Boston’s real estate market presents a lucrative opportunity for would-be real estate agents. But how do you get started? Brokerage licenses, surety bonds, classes, and exams: it can be a bit overwhelming at first.
First of all, What’s the Difference Between a Real Estate Salesperson, Broker, and Agent?
Like many fields, real estate has its own vocabulary. While it can be confusing at first, it’s actually pretty straightforward. A real estate broker can work for themselves and/or run an office and have agents under their license. A real estate salesperson has to work under a licensed broker as their agent. Of course, both salespeople and brokers use the term “real estate agent” to describe their job, so it can get confusing!
Luckily, there’s a clear path no matter what you want to do. Whatever your ultimate goals, you’ll start out as a salesperson. After you have three years under your belt, you can get licensed as a broker, if you wish. If you decide you would like to become a broker you will have to take a second more extensive test in order to achieve that goal.
A Comprehensive Guide to Becoming a Real Estate Broker in Massachusetts
Step 1- Take The Required Pre-Licensing Courses
Here’s where the licensure process really begins for real estate. In order to get your real estate license in Massachusetts, you must begin by taking a 40-hour pre-licensing class at a certified Massachusetts real estate school. (This is a relatively new standard—in years past, you only needed to take a 25-hour course before sitting for the exam.) Find a list of licensed schools here.
There are real estate schools in cities and towns across Massachusetts. Some offer a week-long program where you attend class Monday through Friday, 9am to 5pm. That’s the fastest way to crank out the course, but also assumes you don’t have other obligations to attend to during the day. An alternative option is to attend a part-time course. There are less…