NY Real Estate Salesperson - Questions about license process

[Brady Boyer]

I have been researching and am considering getting my real estate salesperson license in New York. I know this is a widely debated topic on BiggerPockets, and I have no intention of ever being a real estate agent full time. However, I am considering get licensed to have access to the MLS and being able to view properties whenever I want. I also have aspirations of some day owning a real estate management company which is another reason why I would like to get my salespersons license (and eventually potentially my brokers license).

I have a couple of questions below, and I was hoping the community would be able to answer them:

1.) Do you think the above reasons are valid reasons for getting a license? Specifically, I am interested in the MLS reason because I have heard that this isn't a huge advantage anymore because you can search MLS listings on Zillow or similar online sites. What is your opinion on this?

2.) How does the MLS access work? Would I be given access to the MLS upon completion of the real estate course (75 hours in NY) and passing of the state exam? Or is this something that I would have to receive from a broker? Is there any type of monthly or annual fee associated with access to the MLS?

3.) Is there an experience component to receive the license in NY? For example are you required to work under a broker for a certain amount of time prior to being able to receive the license? I haven't been able to find any information on this topic on the internet.

4.) I am interested in doing an online, self-study course to fulfill the real estate course (75 hour) requirement. Does anyone have any recommendations on courses?

5.) How hard is it to transfer licenses between states/ maintain licenses in multiple states and what would this entail?

Thanks in advance for your help,

Brady 

[Christopher Phillips]

@Brady Boyer

Yes, you need a license to get direct access to the MLS. But yes, the listings are all on Zillow and Realtor.com for NY.

To get access you have to hang your license with a broker, pay annual dues with the local board of realtors.

No, you don't get access to properties whenever you feel like it. Most homes don't use a lockbox and the sellers have to schedule time to let you in at their convenience, especially if there are tenants involved (they require 24 hour notice).

The salesperson's license is what you get after passing the NY state exam. It's not active until you hang it with a broker. To be a broker you have to conduct multiple transactions on a point based system, plus pass another exam for brokers. The requirements are all over the internet. Every state has a department of licensing that has all the requirements:  https://www.dos.ny.gov/licensing/re_salesperson/re...

Kaplan has a good online program, but there are others.

Licenses don't transfer. Some states have reciprocity that reduces some of the requirements for obtaining licenses in that state, but each state has their own list of reciprocity states.