new real estate agent grows her network – what to do after getting a real estate license

What to Do After Getting Your Real Estate License: Essential Steps to Launch Your Career

By: Arizona School of Real Estate August 21, 2024

Congratulations! If you are reading this, we assume you’ve passed your Arizona real estate exam! While this article guides you on what to do after getting a real estate license, take time to celebrate your achievement. After all, you now have the ability to help your fellow Arizonians buy, sell, and rent real estate. Don’t ever forget what an honor this is.
It's important to take a moment to acknowledge your achievement. But don’t take long. You have a lot to do!

Key Takeaways

Ensure your Arizona real estate license information is accurate and find a sponsoring broker or brokerage to start your career.
Join local real estate associations, attend industry events, and connect with other professionals to build your network and find potential clients.
Create a professional social media profile and website and develop a comprehensive marketing plan to define your target audience and reach potential clients.
Set non-earnings-related goals to stay motivated, structure a budget that includes business investments, and complete the required continuing education to stay current and renew your license.

What To Do After You Pass Your Real Estate Exam in Arizona

As you admire your new Arizona real estate license, verify that all its information is accurate and complete. (If your license is active, log into your account and select Quick Links < Personal < Print License.)

Here are some next steps to follow to get your real estate career up and running.

Step 1: Find a sponsoring broker/brokerage.

Real estate agents in Arizona must work under a broker (within a brokerage.) Think of brokers as your partner and your boss, as they’ll help you maneuver through your journey as a real estate agent in exchange for a portion of your income, typically determined as a flat fee and/or commission split.

Flat Fee: This fee, sometimes called a desk fee, is paid to your brokerage monthly.
Commission Split: The percentages depend on individual agreements, but a 70/30 split is one option. This means you would keep 70% of the commission as the agent and hand over 30% to the broker.

Your real estate school may help you connect with brokerages hiring in your area. For example, the Arizona School of Real Estate and Business offers Career Expo Events to help real estate students network with brokers. But before you sign up to attend a career expo, register for the Broker Interviewing Skills Workshop.

Are you nervous about finding the right brokerage? Read Top Questions for Your Real Estate Interview in Arizona.

Related Article: Finding the Right Real Estate Brokerage

Step 2: Network with other real estate professionals.

Networking is critical in real estate. It allows you to meet and learn from other professionals and find clients who need your services.

To meet other real estate professionals in Arizona, join local real estate associations and attend industry events and workshops. Build relationships with vendors and contractors.
To learn more about your community, join local business associations and meet business owners and local government leaders.

Step 3: Build an online presence.

It’s time to start building your professional social media profile and website. Take professional photos and utilize specialists to help build your online presence. Your brokerage may help with this, or you could also hire freelancers to design, write, and optimize your pages.

Step 4: Set goals and timelines.

It’s common to feel discouraged in real estate, especially when you’re not closing deals and income isn’t coming in. If you’re having trouble with those initial sales, try setting goals that aren’t tied to earnings. For instance, aim to meet X people in person each week or plan to attend four local industry events each month. By focusing on these types of goals, you can stay motivated while building your network and advancing your career.

Step 5: Set a budget.

Real estate agents must handle their tax obligations and retirement, so add these line items to your budget. At the same time, you’ll also want to invest in your business to help meet your career goals.

Consider the work environment that suits you best. Will you be working from home, or do you envision a luxurious office space? Are you planning to hire a real estate assistant in the future? What kind of training would you like to receive to expand your reach or establish a presence in a specific niche? These factors should all influence how you structure your budget.

Step 6: Create a marketing plan.

Creating a marketing plan is essential because it helps you define your target audience, identify effective marketing channels, and develop strategies to reach potential clients. A well-crafted plan outlines specific goals, such as increasing brand awareness, generating leads, or promoting listings. It includes tactics like digital marketing, social media campaigns, email marketing, networking events, and traditional advertising. A clear marketing plan allows you to allocate resources effectively, track progress, and adjust strategies as needed.

Step 7: Complete continuing education and additional training.

Real estate agents in Arizona must complete 24 hours of continuing education to renew their licenses. While this additional education is required, the information you learn will enable you to serve your clients better and stay current on industry topics.

ASREB offers an affordable continuing education package, which includes all you need to renew your salesperson license.

Step 8: Seek expert advice.

Every real estate professional has their own unique journey, but seeking advice from those with more experience can be beneficial. Finding individuals knowledgeable about the specific market or real estate niche you plan to work in can help you catch market peculiarities you might otherwise miss. While everyone learns by putting education into practice, getting advice from someone who has already perfected their approach can be invaluable.
Identify someone whose work you admire and invite them for lunch or coffee. Chances are, they’ll be flattered by your interest and willing to offer guidance to help you in your new career.

Related Article: Insightful Tips for New Real Estate Agents

Also, learn from the best in the industry by listening to Ted Talks, following blogs, and reading books about the subject.
Subscribe to the Arizona Journal of Real Estate and Business to stay current on the local market, legal issues, and legislation affecting the industry. The Journal also includes interviews and tips from industry leaders.

Now that you have some tips for starting a real estate career, be confident in your abilities to become successful. Whether you took your Arizona real estate pre-licensing courses with ASREB or another real estate school, turn to us for assistance growing your business or becoming a broker. We offer continuing education, training, and many resources to help Arizona real estate agents.