Al Bunch Hey Al, I think the answer to your question really depends on what type of investing you're planning to do. Regardless of the type of transaction, licensees are required to disclose their license status, whereas a non-licensee obviously wouldn't.
The one major advantage would be the ability to access and utilize the best real estate transaction data available through the MLS. You wouldn't need to rely on another agent to pull comps. for you. There are obviously costs involved with obtaining and maintaining a license to consider as well, but one successful transaction could easily cover your expenses for the year.
Your upfront costs would be:
- Classes / materials to cover the education requirement
- Testing and finger-printing fees (for the actual licensing exam and background check)
**You will need to be sponsored by a broker in order to have an active salesperson license, so you'll need to figure out this piece as well
Your ongoing costs will include:
- NAR (National Association of Realtors) dues
- TAR (Texas Association of Realtors) dues
- HAR (Houston Association of Realtors) dues
- MLS access fees (assessed quarterly)
Again, most of the answer(s) to your question really depend on what type of investing you're looking to do.
