How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Edmonton, Alberta
You are thinking about becoming a Real Estate Agent, and you live in Edmonton, Alberta. How do you do it? First, we can speak from experience when we say that Real Estate is a great career path. To start in the industry, there are some steps you may find daunting, and the questions you have endless. We are here to help you simplify the process. In June, we held our first How to Become a Realtor event and had a great turnout, which tells us many of you have questions! So let’s get them answered!
Know The Costs
Within Alberta, the costs of becoming a realtor and obtaining and maintaining a license – which is required – vary based on what type of real estate you practice. You have four areas to practice in, and you can choose to specialize in one or choose all four. The costs will vary depending on which licenses you obtain. The four areas in the real estate sector are property management, residential real estate, rural real estate and commercial real estate. So first, decide if your passion is to assist a business in relocating its space, help a young couple buy their first home, help clients buy and sell ranches or lease properties on behalf of a landlord.
You will need to take the appropriate courses for your specialty, with an investment of $800-$1200. Once your courses are complete, you will join a brokerage where there will be fees that vary per brokerage and their fee structure. Once employed at a brokerage, you will apply to obtain your license from the Real Estate Council of Alberta (RECA), which you also renew annually. Licenses range from $475 to $650, depending on your industry, licence type, and practice area. Another optional yet common cost is joining trade associations, which would carry a fee. There are also optional additional courses you may consider over time to stay updated on market trends and industry changes.
Determine Eligibility
To become licensed as a realtor, regardless of which area you choose, you will need to be at least 18 years old, be able to legally work and study in Canada, have government-issued identification, and have at minimum a high school diploma or equivalent, and be proficient in English. In addition, RECA offers applicants may require a suitability review for candidates, which can assess their eligibility before going too far down the path of becoming an agent, to review items that may affect the licensing, for example, past criminal proceedings, and civil proceedings, bankruptcies and so on.
Complete Course
All courses are completed through a third-party course provider that RECA has approved. A list of partners can be found on the RECA site. The costs and delivery method – online, in person etc., will vary, so you will want to consider what option is best for your lifestyle.
Join a Brokerage
Joining a licensed Alberta brokerage is the next step you will take after you complete your coursework. There are many considerations when looking at a brokerage. You will want to weigh the brokerage charges, mentorship opportunities, resources, and atmosphere costs. Brokerages may have a set monthly fee that you will pay each month, regardless of your sales or income, which can be very daunting, and sometimes prohibitive for a new agent starting out. Other brokerages are built on a deal fee model, where you pay a fee to the brokerage for the deals you do. When it comes to mentorship, you will want to find out what the philosophy is of the broker and senior agents. Is it a team atmosphere where agents work together, or are the agents hanging their licence at the brokerage but working extremely independently? What resources does the brokerage offer to an agent? This can include marketing support, administrative support, training and so forth. There is a lot to consider, and where you choose will significantly impact how you start your career, so ask all the questions, weigh all the options, and choose the best fit for YOU!
Get Licensed
The first thing your brokerage will do is help you get licensed! Once you have signed on with them, the broker will complete the licensing process with you. You will create a myRECA account, complete and submit the forms, pay the fees, and then RECA will process the application. Then you watch your account status change to active. Once that happens, you are a fully licensed realtor!
Start Selling!
Now the fun begins! You are a fully licensed agent and can start working with your clients on their real estate needs.
More Details?
At Sable Realty, we pride ourselves on a teamwork philosophy and value mentorship. Whether you are on our team or considering a career in real estate, we are happy to answer your questions. If you would like to set up a time to chat about the industry, drop us a line! You can also register below to be put on the contact list for the next information session we expect to host in the fall of 2022 so that you receive an invitation when we finalize the dates. To learn more about how we do things at Sable Realty, click here to read about our brokerage style.
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About Sable
Sable Realty is a full-service Commercial and Residential Real Estate Brokerage Company. We combine a strong reputation, local focus, and a modern approach to the industry. As a boutique firm with thirty years of experience in the Edmonton market, Sable can do things a little differently than your standard real estate company. We stay on top of new technology and have an innovative approach to marketing the properties we represent. We pride ourselves on being accessible and responsive to our clients and their needs, providing the dedicated service they expect and deserve.
At Sable Realty, we understand Residential Real Estate, Commercial Investments and Property Management, providing a full-service experience. We also place a high value on socially responsible investing and philanthropy. We believe in building solid business relationships and creating strong community ties.