Eric Bramlett is the broker & co-owner fo One Source Realty in Austin, TX. He currently manages his Austin Real Estate Guide, his Austin Real Estate companyâs website, & his Austin Lofts Guide.

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If you are interested in a career in real estate, the steps you will need to take are relatively straightforward.  Nonetheless, it doesn’t mean that it is easy to become a real estate agent.  If you hope to launch a career in this field, you will need to dedicated a great deal of time and effort to your studies.

Taking Real Estate Classes

The first step to becoming a real estate agent is to take the proper classes.  Often, you can take real estate classes at a local community college or other facility that provides continuing education classes.  Before signing up for real estate classes, however, make sure the courses are approved by your state.

In order to become a real estate agent, you must first complete schooling through an approved real estate program.  If the program is not approved by the state, you will not be allowed to complete the examination that is necessary for obtaining your real estate license.

Taking the Real Estate Exam

By completing your real estate coursework, you should be well prepared for the real estate examination.  Nonetheless, it is essential to study for the examination before taking the test, as it can be a bit trickier than you might think.  For example, some of the questions on the exam ask you to apply the concepts you have learned in your real estate classes, which means successfully passing the examination requires more than just memorizing information.

Some people do pass the test the first time they take it, but be prepared to take the test multiple times in order to finally pass it.  Once you do pass the test, you will finally be able to work as a real estate agent.

Building a Reputation

Of course, launching a career in real estate requires more than just taking the proper courses and completing an examination.  If you hope to build a client base and to be successful in the field, you need to establish a reputation and build up a base of contacts.  

In order to get your foot in the door in the real estate world, you will need to lean the tricks of trade from other professional in the field.  One great place to start is at your local real estate agents’ association, which can be found in most large cities.  These groups and clubs meet on a regular basis in order to exchange information, which is very helpful for a real estate agent that is just getting started in the field.  

Continuing Your Education

After you have completed the coursework and passed the real estate examination, you will have to take additional classes in order to maintain your licensing.  Therefore, you will need to be prepared to continue taking real estate classes even after you have successfully launched your career.

By taking these continuing education classes, you will also stay up to date in the latest changes in the field.  This will ensure that you are capable of serving your clients to the best of your abilities, which will further help with building your reputation and solidifying your career in real estate.


Eric Bramlett is the broker & co-owner of One Source Realty in Austin, Texas.  Eric currently manages his West Lake Real Estate Guide, his Austin TX Realtor company’s website, & his  Steiner Ranch real estate Guide.