How to Become a Real Estate Agent in Northwest Indiana

Simply put, it is a 3 step process.  You must complete 90 hours of pre-licensing instruction either at a Real Estate School or online, pass the Indiana Brokers Exam, and choose a Brokerage to hang your license.  As easy as that sounds, there are important details for each step that can have a major impact on your overall chance of success.  Keep reading and I will break down each step and show you how to give yourself the best chance for a successful and rewarding career as a Real Estate Agent.

REQUIREMENTS FOR INDIANA

If you are at least 18 years old and have a diploma or GED, then choosing a Real Estate School is the first step.  You can attend an In-person class or an online only course.  Each has their benefits and drawbacks.  I am a pre-licensing instructor and school owner (who took my pre-licensing online), and in my opinion, an in-person school ultimately gives you a better chance at passing the State Exam.  The most notable reason is that the instructor can teach directly to what they know to be on the Indiana Brokers Exam.  Most in-person schools offer either a 10 week night course or a 5 week day course.  To pass each course (both in person & online), you will take 3 tests with 100 questions each.  You must get a total of 225 questions correct out of 300 total questions or 75% to pass.  The state requires you to be present in 80% of the in-person classes.  That means, in a typical 10 week course, you could miss up to 6 days.  You could miss up to 4 days for an accelerated 5 week course.  The best part about attending an in-person class is you get the opportunity to form relationships you will keep forever.  Think about it.  There is no easier way to feel comfortable around new people and make friends than everyone having the same interest as you.  As a final note, the right instructor could make or break the vibe of a class.  Do a little research and check out a few reviews before committing.  It could make a big difference.  

YOUR SCHEDULE

Of course, your schedule might not agree with an in-person class.  The truth is, a career in Real Estate isn't a 9-5 job so neither should your pre-licensing education.  There are several options available online from a variety of different companies.  These courses are often presented in modules and are a mix of text on screen and videos.  You can study anywhere you have a laptop and an internet connection.  You typically get 6 months of course access with the option to extend for a small fee.  If taking an online course is your only option, I suggest viewing packages based on your learning style offered by the Listing Leaders Academy.  

INDIANA BROKER'S EXAM

Once you have completed and passed your pre license education, you then have 1 year to pass the Indiana Brokers Exam.  This exam is independent of your pre-licensing.  It is administered by PSI and can be taken at a local testing facility or, recently since Covid, you can take it proctored in your own home if you have a qualifying device and location (audio and video required).  There are 2 parts -  a national portion and the Indiana specific portion.  There are 80 questions on the national content but only 75 count toward your overall score.  You need a score of 75% (or 65 correct) to pass.  The State portion of the test is 50 questions.  You also need a score of 75% (or 38 correct) to pass.  You have 4 hours to complete this exam.  Make sure you choose your pre-licensing school carefully.  The good schools should offer some kind of specific test preparation for both the national and state content.  

TIME TO JOIN A BROKERAGE

Hooray!  You have passed your exam and now you are ready to join a brokerage.  Just passing doesn't make you an Agent.  You don’t actually become an Agent until you choose a brokerage to affiliate with.  This is a huge decision, as every brokerage operates differently.  The two most important things to consider when choosing a brokerage are training and fees.  Notice I didn't say commission structure.  While how you are paid is important, it's more important to note that all your preparation so far has been to pass the Brokers exam which is vastly different than learning the actual practice of selling residential properties.  You want to choose a brokerage that has the systems in place to help you develop your skills as an Agent and won’t fee you to death in the process.  I can’t stress enough how important early and continued training is to be successful in Real Estate.  You should choose a brokerage that provides weekly training and ongoing mentorship.  Also consider local brokerages as opposed to national chains.  There is a reason Listing Leaders is the largest brokerage  in our local Northwest Indiana market.  We operate like a family - each helping each other to succeed while doing so with zero fees.    

YOUR CAREER IN REAL ESTATE

The barrier to a Real Estate career in Indiana is quite low.  Choose a school, pass the test and find a brokerage. If you are a naturally ambitious person and follow the tips presented in this article, I am confident you will put yourself on a path to success in what can be a very rewarding and lucrative career.

WHY JOIN LISTING LEADERS

Allow me to brag on Listing Leaders just a bit.  Listing Leaders has 4 schools across Lake and Porter County including Valparaiso, Chesterton, Merrillville & St. John and more are coming.  Graduating from one of our schools and passing the state exam make you eligible to join our one-of-a-kind mentorship program.  At Listing Leaders we say we want to “meet you where you’re at.”  Meaning, if you want to sell 2 houses a year for vacation money, we will show you exactly how to do that.  If you want to sell 50 houses a year and make half a million dollars, we will show you the path.  If you are ready for a career change where you can have fun, make money and change lives, we want to talk to you.

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