Monthly Archives - April 2017

Buying and selling homes in Florida may seem like a difficult process, but obtaining your real estate license may be just the beginning of seeing the world in a new light. If you have ever been interested in Florida properties, you have many reasons to consider seeking an associate salesperson license. As always, requirements for obtaining a real estate license vary from state to state. If you are considering obtaining a license in Florida, this guide will walk you through the process.

1. Meet Basic Requirements

If you want to work as a real estate agent, you must first be 18 years or older. You must also have a United States security number as well as a high school diploma or the equivalent. This includes a GED. You do not have to be a resident of the state of Florida to have a real estate license in the state.

You must also agree to undergo electronic fingerprinting via a Livescan vendor. This does not take long, and you can even have your fingerprinting performed by Pearson Vue when you go in for your real estate examination.

2. Take Pre-Licensing Courses

In order to work as a real estate agent in Florida, you must first take a 63-hour pre-licensing course that covers real estate material. You can take courses in a variety of ways, including both in a classroom and online. Courses for Spanish-speakers are also available through Florida’s real estate schools.

In order to move forward in the process, you must receive a score of at least 70% on the final examination of the course. Upon completion, you will receive a certificate that serves as evidence.

3. Submit an Application

The Florida state license application must be completed after you pass the pre-licensing education. You may complete it online or print it and send it in. It is important that you are as honest as possible to avoid delay or denial of your license. You should receive notice that your application was approved in the mail.

Florida real estate is diverse in its offerings, which makes pre-license education all the more important.

4. Pass the Real Estate Examination

Pearson Vue hosts the real estate examination, which takes 3.5 hours to take. Make sure to bring with you two forms of identification, both of which need to have your signature on them. One piece of identification should also have your picture on it. Make sure to bring the certificate showing that you completed the pre-licensing course as well.

The exam itself contains 100 questions, all multiple choice. Of these questions, 45 pertain to real estate principles and practice, 45 pertain to state and national laws, and 10 are linked to math issues. You must pass with a score of 75 or higher. You will know the results as soon as you complete the examination. You can reschedule the exam if you do not pass.

5. Work with a Real Estate Broker

You will also need to activate your real estate license, which cannot be done until you have a signed statement from a real estate broker who has agreed to sponsor you. The broker will act as your mentor as you begin your real estate career.

Once you have your license, you must complete a 45-hour post-license course within the first year. You must also take 14 hours of continuing education each renewal period. Contact us for more information about taking these courses online with ease, allowing you to renew your license efficiently.

As a real estate agent, you likely send and receive dozens of emails each day. This means that you need to create an eye-catching and appealing brand. Part of this brand is in the email signature you create. How do you find that perfect balance between an email signature that is too bold or too boring? How do you make it as appealing as possible for potential buyers and sellers to get in touch? This guide will help you create that sizzling email signature that stands out.

Photos Are Tricky

There are pros and cons to adding graphics to your email signature. For instance, your emails could be potentially marked as spam, or people with slow service may not be able to see your graphics if they load slowly. On the other hand, there are benefits to using photos too. For example, your clients are more likely to remember you if they have seen a picture of your face. This personalizes you.

Ultimately, there are a few things to keep in mind if you do use a visual in your email signature. For starters, don’t use an attachment. Your readers will not open it. Second, make sure that you only use it in the initial email you send out. You do not need to include your photo in every email you send.

Link with Care

It’s smart to include a link to your website or page of new listings in your email signature, but make sure that you don’t include too many links. It is more common for your reader to click one link rather than many links, so it is important that you include only one link that speaks to your overall message. Consider this link your call to action at the end of your email inviting the recipient to take charge.

If you opt to include information about upcoming events or recent blog posts, make sure that you change this frequently. The quickest way to lose clients is to appear as if your web presence is outdated.

Mobile email checking should not get you down. It’s time to tailor your signature for smartphone users.

Email Signatures Should Be Short

Remember that your email signature should be exactly that — a signature. Keep it short and simple including only the basic information — your name, company name, phone number, and website link, for example. If you are frequently using social media, it is totally acceptable to include a link here. Just make sure you do not include unnecessary information. For instance, you will not need to include your email address. Ultimately, no more than four lines is perfect. Like the professionals will tell you, your email signature is not your autobiography.

Guide the Eyes

Building a hierarchy of information and using visual cues, like bolding, italics, and color, can help to create an appealing signature that looks professional yet creative. The more that people check email on their phones, the more you will want to appeal to mobile users as well. Make sure you create a real estate signature that signs on a computer, tablet, or smartphone.

Of course, being a great real estate agent does not end with crafting the perfect real estate email signature. Continuing education will keep you abreast of real estate trends. PDH Real Estate can help you stay on top of it. Contact us for more information about maintaining your real estate license with helpful courses.

In order to sell real estate in New Hampshire, you must first obtain a real estate license from the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission. The real estate salesperson license allows you to facilitate the buying and selling of properties under the guidance of a New Hampshire broker. Many amenities to working as a real estate agent lead New Hampshire residents to follow the path. For instance, real estate agents are offered freedom in scheduling, making it a great opportunity to work when you are also caregiving for a family member or going to school. These steps will help you take action to become a real estate agent efficiently.

Meet Minimum Real Estate Requirements

In order to qualify for a real estate license in New Hampshire, you must first be at least 18 years old. It is also important that you have a high school diploma or the equivalent.

Becoming a real estate agent also requires you to submit to a criminal background check. While certain criminal convictions may not automatically disqualify you from operating as a real estate agent, it is essential that you are honest about prior and current convictions. Dishonesty could disqualify you from obtaining your license, even if the original conviction would not have.

Complete Required Real Estate Education

Real estate licensees must complete 40 hours of education before applying. These courses will introduce you to the practice and principles of real estate sales in New Hampshire. Course topics in the pre-licensing class include real estate law, fair housing regulations, real estate interests, real estate ownership, and land descriptions. Real estate students must also learn about title transfers, title records, real estate brokerage, and real estate agency. Pre-licensing courses also cover real estate contracts, real estate financing, the government’s role in real estate transactions, and leases.

These courses are meant to encourage students to learn about the real estate industry before they actually begin practicing under a broker. The coursework will also prepare you to take the next step in becoming a real estate agent, which involves passing a state and national examination.

Take the New Hampshire Real Estate Examination

First, you must send in an examination form with a fee and copy of certificates for completed education. You can choose to take the real estate exam Monday through Friday in either Concord, Portsmouth, Nashua, or Manchester. The examination for New Hampshire is offered through AMP, Applied Measurement Professionals. You can use a personal check, money order, or cashier’s check, to pay the examination fees.

When you arrive at the testing center, be prepared to show two forms of identification, one with a photo and both with your signature. A state-issued identification card alongside another card is best.

The real estate exam is administered via computer, and you may bring a calculator with you. The examination itself lasts 3.5 hours and consists of 100 questions pertaining to national real estate and 40 questions pertaining to New Hampshire real estate. A passing score requires 70% of questions complete on each portion. You will be given your score on the exam right away, allowing you to know how you did immediately.

Even if you fail a portion of the examination, you are eligible to retake the test eight times in the span of a year. After this, you would need to re-take a pre-licensing course in order to take it again.

Dreaming of colonial New Hampshire homes? Real estate may be the career field for you.

Find a Real Estate Broker to Work With

You will need to submit your real estate license application with a signed statement from your real estate broker. Working with a real estate broker will help you learn the ropes of working in this fast-paced industry.  Brokers can act as mentors, showing you how and why things should be done when you work with clients buying and selling homes and properties.

Your first step to finding a real estate broker to work with is to begin research. Which local brokers seem like they would be a great fit for you? No two real estate brokers are exactly alike, and the choice you make could impact the rest of your career. It may be worth your while to interview brokers just as much as they interview you.

Submit a Real Estate License Application

Send your application to the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission. With your application, you should also include the original exam score you received as well as the licensing fee. Right now, this fee is $90.

Application questions include those regarding any potential previous real estate licenses you have held and previous employment. The real estate license application will also ask you to be honest about any prior or pending charges and convictions against you. You must discuss any bankruptcies as well as answer some character-related questions.

It is also important to note that the license application requires a notarized signature before you send it into the commission for approval. Your principal broker must also complete a portion of the form. Character witnesses must vouch for your trustworthiness.

It is essential that you are thorough and honest in filling out the form to prevent delays in processing. Any discrepancies could lead to delays or refusals of your real estate license.

Take Continuing Education Courses

Every two years, New Hampshire real estate licensees must take 15 hours of continuing education every two years. Of these courses, three must be a core course and the rest may be electives. Courses may allow you to focus on the niche of your choice, from environmental concerns to selling to first-time buyers.

PDH Real Estate offers bundles and individual courses for real estate agents in New Hampshire who want to meet all education requirements easily each renewal year. These courses can be taken online, making it so much easier to renew your license while you are working. Taking online courses could be the key to renewing your real estate license efficiently.

Contact us for more information about taking continuing education courses that will apply to your New Hampshire real estate license. It could be easier than you think to stay on top of continuing education requirements while you work.

Becoming a real estate agent in Maine is a multi-step process that begins with fulfilling educational requirements. Real estate agents are offered plenty of freedom in their work, which is actually one of the major factors people consider when coming into this field. You may have more control over your schedule, and you may have more earning potential in this field than in another. There are many other reasons to consider becoming a real estate agent, including the desire to help fellow Maine residents move into their dream homes. This guide will help you become a Main real estate agent in just a few steps.

1. Meet Basic Real Estate Requirements

There are just two basic requirements you must meet in order to pursue a real estate career. In Maine, you must be at least 18 years old and possess a high school education or its equivalent. If you do not have your high school diploma, you should complete the process of obtaining its equivalent before taking your pre-licensing course.

You must also pass a criminal record check, which you are responsible for paying for. The cost of this check is $21 and is payable when you apply for your license. Having a criminal conviction in your background does not necessarily mean that you are unable to pursue a real estate career. The board reviewing your license application will take several factors into account, including the severity of the offense and how long ago it occurred. Overall, the committee must believe you to be a trustworthy and honest individual.

2. Complete a Sales Agent Pre-License Course

First, you must complete a 55-hour course with a grade of 75% or higher. This course will include all the information you need to begin operating as a real estate agent, offering you a sense of preparedness. The course will help you operate as a real estate sales agent in Maine, helping you become acquainted with the laws and practices associated with selling and buying homes.

The sales agent course is typically the best preparation for the real estate examination. The courses may be taken online or in a classroom setting depending on which method of learning fits in with your schedule best. The cost of these courses will differ from school to school, and you must ensure that the school you choose is accredited and accepted by Maine’s Real Estate Commission.

3. Pass the Real Estate Exam

All real estate examinations in Maine are given through Pearson Vue. You must make a reservation for your exam either by phone or through the Pearson Vue website. When you arrive at the testing center, you must bring your certificate of course completion, which is valid for one year after you pass the course. The test is administered in Bangor and Westbrook, so you may need to make additional arrangements if you live further away from a testing center.

In order to receive your real estate license, you must pass the exam with a score of 75% or higher. Your test will be administered via computer, so you can receive your score immediately and know if you have passed right away. Additionally, you must pass the exam within a year of completing the real estate pre-licensing course. If a year has passed, you may be required to take the course again.

4. Submit a Real Estate Application

The Maine Real Estate Commission handles all real estate license applications. The application and licensing fee is $121, which is not refundable. This includes the fee for the application, license, and background check. Checks should be payable through the Maine State Treasurer. You must submit your application within one year of passing the real estate examination.

Ensure that you fill out the real estate sales application accurately and thoroughly. You also must include your original examination results and certificate of course completion. Additionally, you must be sure that you are completely honest when you fill out the paperwork. Inadequate information may lead to a delay in the processing of your application.

It is also essential that you are honest about any criminal background you may have. The committee is going to find out about your history during the background check, and your application may be declined if you have lied about your history. If you are honest, your prior convictions may not necessarily hold you back. Honesty is the best policy here.

Could you be selling your first Maine beach house by next year?

5. Work with a Licensed Real Estate Agency

In order to perform brokerage services in Maine, you must be affiliated with a real estate agency when you are licensed. This allows you to learn how to work as a real estate agent on your own in the future. In exchange for this mentorship, you will be expected to share some of your commission with the brokerage firm in charge.

Finding a real estate agency to work with begins with interviewing and researching potential options. It is wise to look around for the best fit for your personality, scheduling desires, and abilities.

6. Apply for an Associate Broker License

Your real estate sales license is valid for two years. The Sales Agent license is not renewable, so you must then apply for the Associate Broker license, which requires that you have been actively affiliated with a real estate agency for a full 24 months. If you find yourself unable to meet this requirement, you may be able to receive an extension.

In order to be eligible for your Associate Broker license, you must complete 21 hours of continuing education every two years. This includes a three-hour core course and several elective courses. You may use this opportunity to find a niche that you want to focus on in the future.

This where PDH Real Estate comes in. We can help you achieve the next step of the process with our selection of continuing education courses. Contact us for more information about taking courses you are interested in to further your career.