This morning, I was asked to make a video for a local elementary school to use during their career week. My mission was to share what it’s like to be a real estate professional, and if I’m being honest, I was a little embarrassed to answer this question: Is a college degree necessary?
Now, I know you aren’t going to agree with me, and I know my Realtor friends are going to get their feathers ruffled, but I was embarrassed to say that no, you don’t need a degree to handle what is most consumers’ largest purchase of their lives.
As a stockbroker, I had to go through massive amounts of training and a rigorous licensing program. In real estate, we take this little licensing class on the weekends or nights.
The world knows it’s too easy to get into real estate. There’s a low barrier to entry. But when we lower that bar, the people getting hurt are the consumers.
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There is no set mentorship or apprenticeship period. When somebody gets a license, the state lets he or she practice real estate, and that’s it.
As an agent, it’s really easy to do harm if you aren’t educated and serious about what you’re doing.
I think lowering the passing score for licensing would be a huge mistake, and I think that we should consider the possibility of requiring of a college degree. Because when we make mistakes, it’s costly not only to us but also to every consumer we touch. Think about it.
Leigh Brown is a full-time residential Realtor, speaker, coach and smartass. She works in the Charlotte, North Carolina, market with Re/Max Executive Realty and can be reached @leighbrown on all networks.