The real estate industry has something of a reputation for helping people earn a decent living, whether through property ownership, property management, or the purchase or sale of property. If you're one of those people who has decided to start a career as a real estate agent, you could be starting down a path that sets you up for a comfortable life. Here are some things you need to do to get started.

Become Licensed

Every real estate agent needs to become licensed before they can begin their career. Becoming licensed is a state matter, and as such requirements will vary from state to state. You'll need to start by doing some educational study. You can choose between taking your course online or in person, depending on what works best for you. Once you've completed the course work you'll need to pass the state exam. Once you've passed, you can get started with building your career.

Build an Online Profile

New real estate agents don't just have clients hire them right away. How could they? They probably don't even know you exist. Yet. Building an online profile helps fix that problem. There are lots of platforms you can use to get the word out. LinkedIn is a great option for building a professional network, and Facebook can be a useful tool as well. Then there are listing platforms like Zillow. Zillow is most often used by home buyers, but real estate agents also use Zillow to promote their services. This could be a great way to find clients.

Get the Training You Need

You got some education while you were working on getting your license, but it's far from everything you'd need to know to succeed. Licensing education mostly covers things like ethics and consumer protections. You still need to know how to find clients, really sell a home, and close a deal. Consider finding a mentor to guide you. Mentors have been where you are now, and have found success beyond that point. They can be an incredible asset on your own journey towards success.

If you've become interested in a career as a real estate agent, there are some things you need to do to get started. You'll need to become licensed, get the training you need to succeed, and build an online profile that buyers and sellers can use to find you. These steps will help you get your career as a real estate agent started off on the right foot.