How to Get Into Real Estate: Paths and First Steps

Most people get into real estate by earning a state salesperson license, which means completing pre-licensing coursework, passing a state exam and joining a licensed broker. Requirements vary by state. You can also start without a license as a transaction coordinator, leasing agent or assistant, which lets you learn the business while you decide whether sales is right for you.

Entry points: roles that hire beginners

Real estate agent: helping people buy, sell or rent, usually paid by commission. See how to become a real estate agent.
Leasing agent: showing and renting apartments for a property management company, often with a steady paycheck. Some states require a license for this, some do not.
Agent or team assistant: scheduling, paperwork, listings and client follow-up.
Transaction coordinator: managing deadlines and documents from offer to closing.
Property management assistant: tenant requests, rent collection and vendor scheduling.
Related fields: mortgage, title, escrow and appraisal each have their own entry roles and licensing rules.

Skills and credentials that actually matter

A state license for licensed activity: pre-licensing hours, exam format and renewal rules vary by state. Your state real estate commission or department lists the requirements.
Prospecting: agents build their own business. Being willing to call, follow up and ask for referrals matters more than charm.
Organization: deadlines, contracts and dozens of open conversations at once.
Local market knowledge: neighborhoods, prices, schools, zoning basics.
Money discipline: commission income is uneven, so many new agents keep another job until income steadies. Our guide on saving money in your 20s helps with the cushion.

A 90-day plan

Days 1 to 10: look up your state’s licensing steps, total costs and timelines. Decide whether you want sales, leasing, management or support work.
Days 11 to 25: hold three informational interviews with a newer agent, a veteran agent and a property manager. Ask how long their first sale or lease took.
Days 15 to 30: attend open houses and watch how agents talk to visitors.
Days 26 to 60: complete pre-licensing coursework on a fixed weekly schedule, or take an unlicensed assistant or leasing job while you study.
Days 45 to 75: interview at least three brokerages. Ask about training, mentorship, desk fees, splits and how leads are handled.
Days 76 to 90: take the state exam, choose a broker and build a simple contact list of everyone you know.

How to build a track record

Work as an assistant on a busy team. You see dozens of deals before handling your own.
Host open houses for other agents in your brokerage.
Volunteer with a housing nonprofit to learn the local market from another angle.
Keep a log of every showing, lease and closing you help with; it becomes your first proof of experience.
Bring over what you have: retail, hospitality and customer service build the same skills. See transferable skills for a career change.

What to avoid

Expensive coaching or lead programs right away: learn the basics through your broker first.
Courses promising quick wealth from investing: high-priced seminars selling no-money-down systems are a long-running scam pattern.
Quitting your income too early: plan for months before your first commission.
Picking a brokerage only on split: training and support matter more in year one.
Ignoring your state’s rules: doing licensed activity without a license can bring real penalties.

Real estate draws on finance and business skills; see getting into finance without a finance degree and turning a side hustle into full-time work for related paths.

Where a mentor helps

Real estate looks simple from the outside, but the first year is mostly self-directed prospecting with no boss checking in. A mentor helps you pick a direction, turn the 90-day plan into weekly steps, prepare for conversations and interviews, and keep going in the weeks when nothing seems to move. Mentors also help with the self-discipline commission work demands, since no one sets your schedule for you. Mentors are not career counselors, recruiters or licensing experts; they help you do the research and the work yourself. See our career and education mentoring, mentoring for young adults and mentoring for professionals changing careers.

Common questions

Do you need a degree to get into real estate?

Most states do not require a degree for a salesperson license. You do need the required coursework, a passing exam score and a sponsoring broker.

How long does it take to get a real estate license?

It depends on your state’s coursework hours and exam schedule. Many people finish in a few months while working another job.

Can I work in real estate part time?

Many people start part time, though clients expect quick responses. Leasing and assistant roles can also be part time while you learn.

Is real estate a good career for introverts?

It can be, especially in property management, transaction coordination and investor-focused work. Agent work does require steady outreach.

Get started

Thinking about real estate and want help building a plan and sticking to it? Call (888) 305 5422, email contact@blackburnmentoring.com or start with a short assessment. A member of our team reviews every assessment personally and sets up a free intro call.