I've decided I need to be a licensed Real Estate Agent

[Barbara Brown]

I'm really interested in wholesaling and maybe some rehabbing in the future.  I believe having a license will help me in these areas. What route or (school/ course) did you take to become an RE Agent.  What school is the best? I'd prefer in class vs online i'm looking at Bob Hogue right now any reviews or suggestions out there?

[Jay Hinrichs]

@Joe Villeneuve 

that's a good question Joe... and one that I can answer I think !... Its regionalized in areas were if your goal is to buy SFR's and there are plethora's of them then probably not that important as agents will bring them to you and you will always have deals to bid on.

But if your in Very tight inventory markets were wholesaling is not nearly as prevalent as other areas. Then Access to the MLS is the key to being successful... The hot sheet comes out at 3am.. you need to be reading it by 5 am so you can make offers by 8am... your agent has not had their coffee or put on their makeup by then and your out of luck.

Plus in higher value markets being an agent is as profitable if not more than being a wholesaler and you LEGALLY need none of your own money when you sell a property to someone else.. Especially in states that are cracking down on non vested sellers, like Ohio an Florida. 

As an agent you build a business that you can do for a lifetime.. Show me many flippers or rehabbers that have been in the business 15 to 40 years like many many RE brokers myself included..

But that all said just because you have a license does not mean your going to make a bunch of money selling RE.. its like anything else  20% of the agents make 80% of the commissions.. So you take my market here in PDX those 20% make 250 to a million or more a year all without having to ever buy one piece of property... I have had years were I made over 300k just on referrals and other deals that came to me and I was not even activiely in the business but I could take a commission because I keep my license up and current..  NOw I have to take my CE for California this month ..