How To Become a Real Estate Agent in Wisconsin

Are you looking into starting a real estate agent career in Wisconsin? This is an excellent choice of career and State if you are in doubt.

Being a real estate agent in Wisconsin is one of the most exciting jobs ever, not just because it is highly lucrative but it also gives you a chance to meet incredible people along the way.

What’s more fulfilling than knowing that you helped someone buy their dream home or start their own business? But first things first, you need to know how to get your real estate agent license because only then will you be able to practice legally in the state of Wisconsin.

Here is the ultimate guide.

Is It Hard To Get Into Real Estate in Wisconsin?

Being a real estate agent may seem like a lot of work from the outside. You have to attend classes and do proper paperwork to make sure that you get your license.

How hard is it to get a real estate license in Wisconsin,¹ you may wonder?

Don’t worry because, interestingly, the documentation is one of the easiest things to get, as long as you meet the legal and the real estate agent education requirements. Provided that you follow all the rules, getting a license will be a simple 5-step process that you will be able to complete in a very short time.

You should learn how to get into real estate and do it in the shortest time possible. It is exciting to know that you are finally able to practice the career of your dreams.

Getting the license is not all that there is; you should also strive to at least get the skills that all the experienced real estate agents have.

Do you want to know how to be a successful real estate agent? It is as simple as getting the necessary skills and being consistent.

Therefore, what do you need to be a real estate agent? You need excellent communication skills, time management, and organization skills, and be exceptional at negotiation, which you will do virtually every single day on the field.

Obtaining a Real Estate License in Wisconsin

Have you always had a dream to work in real estate? Do you light up when you think about having the opportunity to help people move into their dream neighborhoods and homes?

If so, you will be thrilled to find out that the only hurdle in your way is nothing but certification/ documentation. The minute you receive your license, you will be free to start practicing in Wisconsin.

Foundational Criteria for Gaining a Real Estate License

One thing that you will notice when you closely look at what different regions have to say about how to get your license, you will notice that the real estate license requirements by state vary. Interestingly, the foundational criteria are unique, so you have no choice but to adhere to the rules set by your state government.

This is a breakdown of the requirements that are in place that you have to meet before you get licensure in Wisconsin.

• You must be at least 18 years old
• You should have a minimum of a high school diploma or at least an equivalent
• You must be a US citizen of good standing, honest, fair, and with integrity
• You must be either a real estate graduate or have taken 72 hours of real estate education
• You must have passed the final real estate exam by scoring at least 70% or more
• You must have directly applied to receive your license from theWisconsin Department of Safety and Professional Services through mail or electronically.^2,3

Mandatory Age and Primary Schooling Prerequisites

Like any other state, Wisconsin is very particular about the minimum age for you to become a real estate agent. You will often be asked to submit your ID at some point in the application process, and that should tell you something: you need to be at least 18 years old in order to start thinking about licensure.

When it comes to the prerequisite schooling level, the board is also very clear that you need to have a high school diploma. You will also be asked to show proof of this during the application.

Apart from that, there is one more concern, what is the maximum age to be a real estate agent in Wisconsin? Maybe you are wondering, am I too old to become a real estate agent?

You are never too old to pursue your dream; you can start at 18 or even 60! In fact, the National Association of REALTORS® states that the average Realtor® is over 50 years old, so don’t be scared to make the change in career even later on in your life.

Requisite Relicensing Instruction Hours

Do you need to have a college degree in order to become a real estate agent? This is one of the most common questions that first-timers ask.

You don’t need to fret if you are just from high school because, according to the requirements, you can take a real estate practice course as a prerequisite education. Yes, it is easier if you already have the degree because you will only get straight to the exam part of the process.

On the other hand, if you have no prior real estate training, you have to enter a real estate program near you.

You need to go through the entire 72 hours of coursework to prove that you are ready. And it has to be from an approved real estate education provider in Wisconsin.⁴

Seems overwhelming? It doesn’t have to be because you can always take online classes if you get busy and still get your credits.

So, to the question, can you do real estate while in college?

The answer is absolutely yes. You can do real estate even as a side hustle or before you quit your other job unless you want to make it full-time.

Real Estate School Pre-Licensing Price

Going through all this, there is one thing that you can’t get off your mind: will these pre-licensing courses cost you money? Will they be too expensive?

What if you are on a tight budget and will not be able to afford them? There is good news for you because, as stated earlier, you have the choice to either go for in-person or virtual classes.

Of course, physical school tends to be pricier than learning virtually, so you can opt for online classes and only take tests in person.

Besides, you can even supplement that with free courses online that will surely go a long way in your exam prep. The entire training could cost you anything between $200- $800,⁵ and it all depends on the mode of education, the institution offering the program, and several other factors.

Essential Background Investigation for Real Estate Professionals (Fingerprint Facility Details)

A criminal background check for a real estate license in Wisconsin is mandatory, and you have to complete it first before you get your licensure. You will have to submit your fingerprints for checking for the board to determine whether you have any pending offenses.

The goal behind this is to make sure that the clients that you serve and the company that you are working under are safe. What you are going to do is fill out Form Number 3085 for the Department of Safety and Professional Services (DSPS) to determine whether you deserve the license or not.⁶

If you are certain that you don’t have any convictions from the past, then this step will be the least of your worries. However, that leads to the question: can felons get a real estate license in Wisconsin?

There are certain convictions that will definitely get in the way of your licensure,⁷ so take note of that even before you start the application process.

So, will I lose my real estate license if I get a DUI? Not exactly.

As long as you are truthful about the offense, and maybe it is your first and only time, you actually have a chance of getting licensure.

You can’t help but wonder, what states allow felons to have real estate licenses?

Quite a number, actually, because the determination is usually done on a case-by-case basis. As long as the offense is not violent and the convict already did time and completed the sentence, you may be lucky to receive licensure.

All these states have specific rules when it comes to felons getting licensed. Some will approve you after a number of years, but in all states, you have to complete some paperwork first.

Finding a Real Estate Agent Broker in Wisconsin

If you are a beginner real estate agent, you certainly need a helping hand to get you through the practice, and the best place to start is by finding a broker to sponsor you. You will have no idea where to start unless you have a real estate agent who is experienced to guide you through it all; so important that it is one of the requirements that you have to meet in order to receive your licensure.

So, how do you go about choosing a brokerage? With so many of them available, you may be spoilt for choice, not knowing which one will be perfect for you.

You will have to narrow them down and find one that specializes in the niche that you are most interested in, it could be residential, commercial, or industrial real estate. You will also definitely go for one that offers excellent rates when it comes to commissions.

There are also websites that guide you in finding the perfect brokerage for you, that will make your work easier.