Skip to content
×
PRO
Pro Members Get Full Access!
Get off the sidelines and take action in real estate investing with BiggerPockets Pro. Our comprehensive suite of tools and resources minimize mistakes, support informed decisions, and propel you to success.
Advanced networking features
Market and Deal Finder tools
Property analysis calculators
Landlord Command Center
$0
TODAY
$69.00/month when billed monthly.
$32.50/month when billed annually.
7 day free trial. Cancel anytime
Already a Pro Member? Sign in here

Join Over 3 Million Real Estate Investors

Create a free BiggerPockets account to comment, participate, and connect with over 3 million real estate investors.
Use your real name
By signing up, you indicate that you agree to the BiggerPockets Terms & Conditions.
The community here is like my own little personal real estate army that I can depend upon to help me through ANY problems I come across.
Real Estate Agent
All Forum Categories
Followed Discussions
Followed Categories
Followed People
Followed Locations
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback

Updated over 5 years ago, 07/10/2019

User Stats

215
Posts
94
Votes
Jordan Lucas
94
Votes |
215
Posts

College degree for real estate agents ??

Jordan Lucas
Posted

I am 16 years old and want get my real estate license at 18. Real estate is my passion and I dedicate time everyday to learning about it. I’m not sure if I want to go to college because I think those years could be better learning directly in the business rather than a class. That saying I am willing to put in the work to make it work and far from lazy. Questions- Do you think a broker would hire an 18 year old without a degree? Do you have a real estate/business degree? Do you think you could have been where you are without the degree?

User Stats

215
Posts
94
Votes
Jordan Lucas
94
Votes |
215
Posts
Jordan Lucas
Replied

@Robert Hodgson I love that advice thanks so much! How has the BRRRR method been for you ?

User Stats

8
Posts
4
Votes
Robert Hodgson
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Matawan NJ/York, UK
4
Votes |
8
Posts
Robert Hodgson
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Matawan NJ/York, UK
Replied

It's working great. 

To answer your question... you don't need to go to college.

1-800 Accountant logo
1-800 Accountant
|
Sponsored
Unlock Year-End Real Estate Tax Savings: Buy your accounting services now and deduct them on your 2024 taxes. Flat rate, never hourly.

User Stats

215
Posts
94
Votes
Jordan Lucas
94
Votes |
215
Posts
Jordan Lucas
Replied

@Robert Hodgson thanks for your additional insight !

User Stats

37
Posts
20
Votes
Nathan Boyer
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Manheim, PA
20
Votes |
37
Posts
Nathan Boyer
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Manheim, PA
Replied

@Jordan Lucas

Yeah I did it at 18. You can do it no problem if you have a willingness to learn!

User Stats

215
Posts
94
Votes
Jordan Lucas
94
Votes |
215
Posts
Jordan Lucas
Replied

@Nathan Boyer thanks for sharing and I do have that!

User Stats

116
Posts
33
Votes
John Krasner
  • Bellevue, ID
33
Votes |
116
Posts
John Krasner
  • Bellevue, ID
Replied

I don't think you need a degree, perhaps a business diploma would equip you with the tools necessary. Real Estate is an easy industry to get into, with a minimum level of time and effort to get in the front door. 

User Stats

215
Posts
94
Votes
Jordan Lucas
94
Votes |
215
Posts
Jordan Lucas
Replied

@John Krasner thanks so much for you insight? How’d you get into RE?

User Stats

125
Posts
92
Votes
Andrew Cornstubble
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Sedan, KS
92
Votes |
125
Posts
Andrew Cornstubble
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Sedan, KS
Replied

@Nathan G. Good call. Half of my friends with degrees are just working average Joe jobs because they hate their field or can't find work.

I hate how I learned nothing useful in school besides basic math yet had to spend over a decade there.

Why on earth would I want to become a doctor, lawyer, engineer, etc when I can own the buildings they work in and the houses they live in?

User Stats

125
Posts
92
Votes
Andrew Cornstubble
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Sedan, KS
92
Votes |
125
Posts
Andrew Cornstubble
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Sedan, KS
Replied

@Jordan Lucas I beat out 12 temp people for a permanent sales job. All I did was do what they said to do and hussled. Never sold before. Once they started talking about the numbers I started working 16 hours a day. They would help make you two leads a day and the rest was yours. The fact that you are here and interested in real estate puts you far ahead of your peers.

User Stats

215
Posts
94
Votes
Jordan Lucas
94
Votes |
215
Posts
Jordan Lucas
Replied

@Andrew Cornstubble thanks so much for sharing that and your insight !

User Stats

81
Posts
112
Votes
Don Alder-LaRue
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Palm Springs, CA
112
Votes |
81
Posts
Don Alder-LaRue
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Palm Springs, CA
Replied

Jordan,

Good for you!   It's nice to see someone so eager at your age.

I don't know of a state that requires a college degree in order to get a real estate license, but I can say this (all based on personal experience) if you have a college degree you'll be better off.  The degree is actually in business administration with a concentration on real estate.  Fewer than 1500 people across the nation get this degree each year, and there are positions out there that require it, but being a real estate agent isn't one of them.

I've been licensed for over 20 years, and am now back in college at the same time I am working real estate.  I'm actually working towards my Masters degree in business administration with a concentration on real estate from the University of California at San Bernardino.  The best college in the nation to attend is San Diego University, but they're a little far away from me, and are expensive. $$.

To cut the cost of the degree, I recommend starting at at Junior College.  One that has agreements with a local university to accept their students credits.   I did this, and went to college for 2 years and it cost me NOTHING!!  I got grants which paid for it all!  Even if grants didn't pay for it all, it's cheaper for those two years.

NEVER let anyone stop you from getting a college education.  Even if you don't use the degree you majored in, it's very helpful in finding employment should you need to in a down market like what we saw from 2008 to 2013.   

In order to get your real estate license, you can order classes online.  I wouldn't sign up for them until you're about 17 1/2.  Most states won't let you get the license until you are 18 as you need the capacity to contract.  In California 3 classes are needed to get your license.  Since you are young and in school, you'll probably do better than most people who have been out of school for some time.  You're used to studying.

In addition to all of this, learn where ever you can.  If a local meetup group has a guest speaker - go.  IF someone is wiling to mentor you, let them.  Listen to the podcasts and webinars here.  Every bit of education is gold!

Wishing you nothing but the best!

Don Alder-LaRue

Real Estate Agent in California, CalDRE#01244398

User Stats

4,353
Posts
1,722
Votes
Sam Shueh
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Cupertino, CA
1,722
Votes |
4,353
Posts
Sam Shueh
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Cupertino, CA
Replied

Commercial, mba, CCIM

Appraiser,  college degree-mandatory

Realtor, no requirements. In our area most have a mba, ms, 20% Ivy League adv degree.  Very few do not have college degree.

Broker, 15% has  JD, esq, ex-prosecuter. We got a MD, a few Phd.

That being said a few top agents never went to college.  GED while serving terms.

Vacasa logo
Vacasa
|
Sponsored
We do the work. You get the ROI. We do it all for your vacation rental. All—marketing, pricing, guest requests, housekeeping & more.

User Stats

22
Posts
21
Votes
Kristin R.
  • Realtor
  • San Diego, CA
21
Votes |
22
Posts
Kristin R.
  • Realtor
  • San Diego, CA
Replied

@Jordan Lucas I would definitely consider getting a business degree or something like that. Some colleges offer degrees in real estate too. My only reasoning for this is that you are 16 and no matter how sold you are on something now, you’ll grow and change and you may decide you want to do something else and do real estate investing more passively. No matter what anyone says about the value of a college degree, it does give you a little something to fall back on (networks especially).

I definitely am thankful I went to college instead of jumping right into the workforce. I am doing a pretty similar job to what I would have been doing, but I’m getting paid a hell of a lot more to do it, and now that I’m older and realizing I don’t want to do it much longer, I have an education, an alumni network and a lot longer of a financial runway to make the leap.

You can still do some REI on the side to help grow your portfolio, develop credibility, and maybe help pay for school!

User Stats

136
Posts
54
Votes
Replied

couple things

You need to learn stuff about the career you want....if you need the structure of school to force yourself to do the work then go

If you like learning on your own and your disciplined in your approach its not necessary.

Either way you need to learn the material....you pick your poison

Think of a degree as a ticket to a destination( usually a specific job)....dont buy the ticket if you dont want the destination