Realtors license or bachelors in business management?

Question

Im pursuing a bachelors in business management.  Just started.  I'm contemplating getting my license instead.  I'll be retired from my first career in 3 yrs. Which route will I benefit from as a real estate investor?

Gregory H. · Answer

I'm not sure a bachelors in Business Management will help too much with real estate investing. Finance would probably be the most beneficial major for real estate investors. Accounting would also be a great one. Some schools even offer Bachelors in Real Estate, sometimes these fall under a degree in risk management.

http://www.tamuct.edu/files/degreeplans/coba/BBA%2...

Even has a specific real estate finance course in there!

Jeff Rabinowitz · Answer

@Jeremy Jackson, as in any endeavor, education helps you in real estate but you don't need degrees or licenses. (There are some very good reasons to have a real estate license--I have one but I don't always admit to it. Search for other threads on this topic.) I know some people without much formal education who are killing it. Many aspects of real estate just aren't that complicated. Please don't misunderstand. I didn't say it is easy. If you want to succeed you will have to work and learn though sometimes you will get lucky and just fall into a fantastic deal. I find that the people who get lucky the most are the same ones who work fairly hard.

Jeremy Jackson · Answer

All very insightful info.  I'm interested in obtaining my license in order to have access to the mls and the properties.  With that being said, do I have to sign with a broker just to have access to the mls and properties?  The agent I'm using right now said the fees are pricey and staying current is an ongoing financial obligation.  I would imagine it would still be worth it as long as I'm closing deals.

Jennifer Lee · Answer

i was a real estate investor for 12 yrs before I got my license lol (2 yrs in)

I was a business major (finance)

I dont think my license in anyway made me a better investor.

I dont think my business major help a lot either.  With all that 4 yrs schooling. I wasn't ready for real life handling of contractor and negotiating deals..  Classroom is classroom

My true teacher was mom, who was an investor. She has passed bef i started my real estate endeavor.

And today, my teachers are other investors and really listening and learning. And researching.

License helps me analysis my own deal,without the opinion of another. Or fear they are doing the wrong comps. And let me have access to the mkt. Open door and see just listed.  License and helping other investor gets me into exponentially more homes. And analysis deal I'm afraid to do. Faster learning curve.

Business degree helps me manage my crew and accounting. Finance also me find deals.

Just bc u have a license doesn't mean u will be a successful real estate investor.

My license is just a tool, meanwhile I help first homebuyers and investors.

I think an entrepreneur sense is key. Knowing business. And people skills

Fred Heller · Answer

I vote for getting both. I have a BA in Business/Accounting and a real estate license. More education can never hurt. Not to mention that if things don't work out the way you hope in real estate, your degree will be your ticket to do something else.

And whether or not obtaining a real estate license is "easy' and can be done in three weeks is very state specific. Anyone who thinks it's easy should come to Texas and try it. While some states only require 60-ish classroom hours, Texas requires 180 hours for the initial license, plus another 90 hours in the two years before the first renewal.

California has similar educational requirements.

Good luck with whatever your decide!

Morry Eghbal · Answer

Knowledge is power, learn and educate yourself as you have done. Keep on learning.

Judy Parker · Answer

Get both.

Matt M. · Answer

x10 on BOTH especially since you have VA benefits!!!. Also focus your business degree; Business management is too broad. My degree is in finance and real estate. I am also a Realtor.

As others have said, you can kill it without a degree, but a degree can open doors for you in the future & if you are not paying too much with the help of your benefits, then it is a no brainer!

Brian P. · Answer

First of all a pet peeve, there is no such thing as a Realtors license, there is a state real estate license however and you may like one of those. And you can join NAR even though I would like to see it topple over and die and a new association takes its place.

Now the real question about getting a license is will you use it? 98% of people who get a license never make it. The education is useful even if you are a ex-licensee. I don't know what it is now days but at one time over 10% of Californians had or did have a real estate license and that is why many FSBO's were actually ex licensees and were using the opportunity to try and get something out of their license days. That used to be one of the first things I asked a FSBO when dealing with one.

Now having the degree is useful in case you change direction which many of my old classmates did. Many went civil service and the number one requirement was a degree. When I went to work for a fortune 500 company I was 6 units short of my BA but figured I would cover that shortage in 6 months of night classes, Well the job I landed in turned out to be the focal point of the companies new efforts to revamp and I was thrown into 90 hour weeks and barely enough time to see the real prize of my college education, my wife.

When I had had enough I was first in line for a great position and had many top executives behind me pushing for me to get the position but Corporate had just passed a new thing, BA required for the post. My desired job went to a guy with no real experience, a degree in history from Arizona State and maybe basket weaving. He lasted 6 months, I lasted 3 by giving the demand that they raise my salary to the pay grade my job actually was, or for the right to attend classes in the mornings until I got my degree or really just 6 months of coming in late but not really cutting my day short even though I was exempt management and thus no real scheduled hours. Wow cutting my hours from 90 to 70 on pay based on 40 for 6 months, Really was a horrible thing to ask for. On Friday I told the Vice president I reported to I was going to lunch, He said you don't have to tell me when your going  to lunch and I said I thought I should this time because I'm not coming back.

So back to real estate investing and getting my real estate license and never having to report to anybody but my bride, who was happy as could be when I told her I was unemployed. Point is it would have been nice to have had my license already when I took my four lovely assistants to my last lunch on the company credit card.

Rocky V. · Answer

Not to come off the subject but

The term REALTOR® has one, and only one, meaning: REALTOR® is a federally registered collective membership mark which identifies a real estate professional who is member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

Realtors license or bachelors in business management?

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