How to Become a Real Estate Agent in New York

In this guide you’ll learn all the details you need to know to get your license and become a real estate agent in New York.

You’ll learn the basic real estate licensing requirements in New York, information about the exam including pass rates and test prep, reciprocity rules, county by county breakdowns of the most expensive real estate in New York, and more.

When you’re ready to take real estate licensing courses, enroll at Real Estate Express. It’s the leading online school for New York, and its learning packages range from the required pre-licensing course to continuing education that gives you everything you need for a strong real estate career. Click here to get started.

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Okay, grab a cup of coffee, and let’s start at the beginning.

Basic New York Real Estate Licensing Requirements

Getting a real estate license in New York is rather easy compared to other states. You only need a total of 75 classroom hours of commission-approved pre-licensing courses. In comparison, to get a license in Texas, real estate licenses require applicants to complete 180 hours of courses. Here’s a quick breakdown of the real estate licensing requirements in New York:

Pre-licensing Courses Required in New York

In order to get a real estate license in New York, you will need to complete 75 hours of real estate pre-licensing courses that will cover:

• 75-Hour DOS Approved Real Estate Salesperson Qualifying Course Includes:
• Basic principles of real estate
• Commercial & Investment Properties
• Human Rights & Fair Housing
• Law of Agency
• Real Estate Finance, Construction
• Environmental Issues
• Condominiums & Cooperatives

New York Real Estate Exam Information

If you work hard and take the courses seriously you should have no problem passing the exam. If you’re looking for help studying for the test, we check out Real Estate Express. They help thousands of students pass their real estate exams using practice and final exams, real estate math questions, and hundreds of real estate definitions. Their Exam Prep Master program is so successful that if you don’t pass your exam on the first try, you get your money back. Click here to get started.

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New York Pre-Licensing Exam Questions

• Total of 75 multiple-choice questions

What to Bring to the Exam

• The page “Summary of Your Submission” which you were requested to print upon scheduling your exam via eAccessNY.
• Government issued ID with photo and signature.
• Candidate Number

Passing Score

You must earn a score of 70 to pass the New York Real Estate Salesperson Exam

Pass Rate

N/A

New York Real Estate License Fee

$55

Exam Fee in New York

$15

Education Requirements

You need to have at least a high school diploma or GED in order to apply for a license in New York.

Age

Applicants must be at least 18 of age or older

Residency

Any U.S. citizen or a lawfully admitted alien can apply for licensure. You must submit proof of US residency.

Exemptions

If you are an attorney currently admitted to the New York State bar, you already qualify for licensure.

Criminal Background

To be issued a New York real estate license, you must not have any felony charges on record. However, the decision is ultimately up to the Department of State. If you do have a felony, you may still be able to get your license. The final decision is up to the investigative unit of the New York Department of State.

The DOS will put several things into consideration before deciding if you should have a license or not. The DOS will consider the type of license you desire, the nature of the felony or misdemeanor, and the court disposition papers.

Online Real Estate Schools in New York

While taking your real estate pre-licensing course in person can be helpful, online courses are much less expensive and offer the exact same education. Real Estate Express offers exam preparation programs and pre-licensing courses to help agents launch their careers. Click here to get started.

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New York Real Estate License Reciprocity and Portability

If you plan on working in states besides New York, then you need to know the real estate license reciprocity and portability laws for New York.

• Reciprocity: New York has mutual recognition agreements with 9 states:
  • Arkansas
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • Georgia
  • Massachusetts
  • Mississippi
  • Oklahoma
  • Pennsylvania
  • West Virginia
• Portability: Physical Location

To learn more about real estate license portability in New York, check out our guide on real estate license reciprocity and portability here.

How to Choose the Right Real Estate Company to Work For in New York

Let’s face it. Choosing the right brokerage to work for in any state isn’t easy. In order to make your choice a little bit easier, check out our in-depth guide on choosing the right real estate company to work for.

Once you’ve finished reading the guide, check out our buyer’s guide comparing Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and Century 21 here.

If you’re curious about which New York brokerages are the most successful, check out Real Trends list of the top real estate brokerages in New York for 2016 below.

New York City

Buffalo

*Data from Real Trends Market Leaders 2017

New York Counties with Highest Average Listing Price and Highest Median Sales Price 2016

Let’s face it, higher listing prices mean higher commission checks! To get a sense of which counties offer the best opportunities for big bucks in New York check out this sales data from Trulia’s New York home price page below: