Chosen by Asker

You could, if the broker will allow it. But the problem is you need access to the MLS, to add your listings and to search for property for buyers. Without any access to listings you will be hard pressed to market yourself, you can't actually do anything. You also will not have access to property for viewing, without joining the board and obtaining an electronic key identifying yourself you can't show property even if you found addresses on some public version of the MLS. Lock boxes themselves as well as signs are not some sort of public service. Of course you have to buy them. Unless you have someone willing to support you for at least a year and give you money to work you are going to have a hard time getting anywhere. You might try another broker, others may not charge that high of a desk fee, but do not expect any support either. As with anything else, you get what you pay for.

by Landlord

5 months ago

Asker's Rating: 

Most brokers would want you to join these associations as a requirement to work with them and for you to hang your real estate license under their brokerage. These fees and association requirements are normally a must if you go with a national real estate brokerage such as Keller-Williams, Century-21. There are some brokers that do not require this at all. You should consider a virtual real estate office. This is a broker that will allow you to hang your license with them.You agree to a certain percentage of any commission that you might get for a sale or listing that sells. After that anything else you do is pretty much up to you. You might also check independent brokers (Mom and Pop) in your city, a few of these will allow you to hang your license with them without all those requirements. You might find these type brokers on the internet by goole or checking with other real estate agents in your area. Then there is the telephone book you might call and inquire of each broker's requirements to become an agent with them. It is good to have and belong to most of these organizations, but in some cases not necessary to accomplish your job. You might realize continued education requirements and discounts of some type by joining them. They also might offer tips on marketing and the latest in the real estate industry. My friend and I shared these. He would join 1-2 and I would join 1-2 then share any and all information from each organization. We still do as even though we can afford to join the associations now, but find the arrangement we have satisfactory. We split the cost of joining each organization. I hope this has been of some use to you, good luck. "FIGHT ON"

by loanmasterone- 5 months ago

It depends on your Brokerage. You should join the MLS, otherwise how are you going to do your job? You cannot search and find properties for your buyer's if you don't belong, I guess technically you can, but saearching on the same sights your buyer's do really isn't any good. Agents have their own site with more search criteria, etc... As for joining a Realtor Association, again, depends on your Brokerage, without joining one you aren't a Realtor, you are simply an Affiliate. Realtors have to keep up with classes, ethics, etc... I say join, you learn a lot.

by Lisa S- 5 months ago

Christina - If you truly want to be in the business, you should know that you are in business for yourself. Like any start-up business, you have expenses, and you will need to support yourself until you get the business off the ground. This is why there is such high turnover in real estate - the newbies don't have the financial ability to survive the steep learning curve. I don't know the exact numbers, but I would surmise that only one out of fifty people who take a real estate class actually end up as working agents five years later. The class you just took does not teach you anything about how the business actually works. Since you can't afford to actually start as an agent, why don't you see if you can find a successful agent who wants to hire an assistant? Good Luck!

by dog ma- 5 months ago

can you, yes if your broker agrees. Will you be a success without joining the MLS. NO!!!! How can you do your job with the MLS? And NO! you can share. I'm surprised that you didn't talk with a broker BEFORE you took the class. And the class should have covered some of this. You have to spend money to earn money. And 1,500 to start your own company is CHEAP.

by real estate guy- 5 months ago

No. THey never make you join the MLS. You can sell real estate because you are licensed to sell real estate. All the houses in MLS are open to be shown by another MLS agent with a buyer. You would have to call each listing agent and ask permission to show the house and ask to verify that the agent would pay you. THey will let you show the house and they will pay you. It just takes more phone calls than if you were in MLS. And you are not supposed to call an agent in MLS and ask if they will print you out a list of homes for sale for you.

by Ed Atun- 5 months ago