# What's involved with becoming a Realtor? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 25, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-involved-with-becoming-a-realtor/286641 "2005-01-25T20:58:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![stargazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@stargazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stargazer)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-involved-with-becoming-a-realtor/286641/1 "2005-01-25T20:58:08Z")
So, in my quest to earn a better living and achieve The American Dream (or something), I’m tossing around the idea of becoming a real estate agent/Realtor. I know that the two terms are not equal, but I’m just in the beginning stages of gathering information on the whole process. And I have some questions (mods, if this is in the wrong forum, please move it – it seemed like it might generate more anecdotes than is appropriate for GQ). I know I have to take classes to get a license. Where do I take these classes? How much do they cost? How long would it take me to get my license if I’m also working full time? Once I’m a real estate agent, what is involved in becoming a Realtor? How much does that cost, and how long does that take? So I have my license. What then? Do I sign on right away with a real estate company? Do I just work out of my home, on a freelance basis? I would go into this as a full-time job. As such, what kind of money might I be able to earn? How long before I’d get a paycheck? What kind of money would I regularly have to put out in the course of my business? Overall, how much money might it take for me to get started? What’s a good way of getting started stably? – money is tight right now, and I’m the main breadwinner. We can’t really afford for me to have little or no income. I know the answers to these questions will vary greatly by location and stuff – and I’ve made appointments to talk to some people in my area about this. But I’m too curious to wait until next week just to get an idea of what I might be in for if I decide to do this. Any other advice would be very helpful. Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![ouryL](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ouryl/32/6067_2.png) [@ouryL](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ouryL)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-involved-with-becoming-a-realtor/286641/2 "2005-01-25T21:36:23Z")
First off: You gotta learn that a [Realtor](http://www.realtor.org/rocms.nsf) (the term) is copywrited and trademarked for a member of a particular [real estate organization](http://www.realtor.org/rocms.nsf). ---
**Author:** ![taxi78cab](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47c2d/32.png) [@taxi78cab](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/taxi78cab)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-involved-with-becoming-a-realtor/286641/3 "2005-01-25T21:36:29Z")
Ooooh, oooh, oooh! ::raises hand:: (I just got my license in December so I’m still pretty excited.) OK, so I don’t know how much this will help since my experience is in NY, not WA, but here’s what it’s like out here. You have to take a class and pass a state exam. (I’d search WA’s website to see what licensing law is there.) In NY there are salespeople - what I am - and brokers. You can’t become a broker - and thus work for yourself - withough first being a salesperson. Salespeople must work for licensed brokers, and salespeople must work for at least a year before becoming a broker. Again, this may be totally different in WA but those are the rules in NY. REALTORS are members of the [National Association of REALTORS](http://www.realtor.org/). Yes, for some reason they feel the need to always capitalize the word REALTORS. \ I don’t know the answers to a lot of the other questions since I do market research and other info management type stuff for my company and don’t actually sell. A different option to consider if you have business experience is commercial real estate (the world I work in). The hours are better - generally 9 to 5 - where residential is nights and weekends, although which is “better” depends on your schedule. There are generally fewer deals in a year in commercial RE, but each one grosses more than a typical residential sale. Just another thought for you. ---
**Author:** ![stargazer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb8c5e/32.png) [@stargazer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/stargazer)\ **Post date:** [January 25, 2005, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-involved-with-becoming-a-realtor/286641/4 "2005-01-25T22:06:43Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > First off: > > You gotta learn that a [Realtor](http://www.realtor.org/rocms.nsf) (the term) is copywrited and trademarked for a member of a particular [real estate organization](http://www.realtor.org/rocms.nsf). Yeah, I know – that’s why I didn’t use the terms interchangeably, and asked what more one has to learn/spend to become a Realtor instead of “just” a real estate agent. **taxi78cab** , it took just one class? Wow! (hm, I don’t know if I should be excited that it was that uncomplicated, or if I should hereafter look at real estate agents with a bit more skepticism… 😛 ) It’s good to know that there is a 9-5 option – my husband is in theatre, so one of us already has a weird schedule. I don’t know if it would be easier if both of us did!