What to Do After You Pass Your North Carolina Real Estate Exam

Young real estate broker interviewing with a broker-in-charge after recently passing her real estate exam

Congratulations! You’ve passed your real estate exam. As a new addition to the large network of North Carolina real estate professionals currently working to aid buyers and sellers through the process, there are a few logical next steps to take after completing your exam. The best approach to getting work will vary depending on the nuances of the specific market you’re looking to enter. Nevertheless, here are six basic steps that most real estate professionals would agree are the most beneficial way to kick start your North Carolina real estate career.

Step 1: Find a sponsoring broker-in-charge

In North Carolina real estate, brokers-in-charge are brokers with at least 2 years of experience and a broker-in-charge (BIC) license designation. When you’re just getting started in your career, it helps to tap into the knowledge and network of someone who has worked in the region in which you’re looking to do real estate transactions.

You can think of a broker-in-charge as both your partner and your boss, as they’ll help you maneuver through the beginning of your journey as a real estate agent in exchange for a commission split. The price of the properties being bought or sold through a brokerage determines the commission amount. But usually, brokers-in-charge calculate their cut based off of a flat fee or commission split. Here’s the difference:

  • Flat Fee: This is usually determined on a monthly basis and requires that you pay a broker-in-charge a set fee for their services.
  • Commission Split: The percentages depend on individual agreements, but a 70/30 split is common. This means that you would keep 70% of commission as the broker and hand over 30% to the broker-in-charge.

Get useful career info and insights. Download your free copy of the North Carolina Real Estate Income Guide.

Step 2: Engage in professional organizations

There are countless professional organizations that can help real estate professionals connect, network, and increase their knowledge of the field. A simple Google search can usually yield a plethora of state-wide real estate organizations to become a part of, and there are a few national organizations to consider as well.

You can choose to become a member of an organization based on the type of property you’re looking to sell, as well as the region. For example, the Association of Foreign Investors in Real Estate (AFIRE) has a global investment emphasis that other organizations might not have.

Consider what is important to you as a real estate broker, and look for organizations based around that. Here are some reputable organizations to get you started:

  • Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM)
  • National Association of Realtors (NAR)
  • National Council of Real Estate Investment Fiduciaries (NCREIF)
  • U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
  • Society of Industrial and Office Realtors (SIOR)
  • Urban Land Institute (ULI)

Step 3: Build your professional profile

There’s never a better time than the present to start building your professional profile. Creating a website, social media presence, getting professional portraits taken and attending local events to establish a rapport with residents of a given city are all great steps to take. Small details like having business cards with you can show potential clients that you are prepared and organized.

If you aren’t inclined toward social media, there are people who can help! Consider employing the help of a social media expert who can help you build your online presence. There are a lot of freelancers looking for work in the world of digital design, and websites like UpWork or Freelancer can help you connect with experienced designers and social media experts.

Step 4: Set a timeline for yourself

In real estate, if you’re not selling property, you’re not making money. After you’ve passed your real estate exam, we recommend setting up a timeline for the things you’d like to accomplish early in your career. Whether you choose to outline your ideal first five years or would rather keep things shorter term by planning the first year of your professional career, creating a timeline can be a good way to keep yourself accountable for success.

Step 5: Budget for future plans

As you see the trajectory of your career goals unfold, it’s a good idea to budget accordingly. Based on the kind of real estate you’re looking to get involved in, consider what your projected annual revenue will be. After you’ve established an ideal salary, think about the work environment that would make you most comfortable. Are you planning to work from home? Is a luxe office space in visions of your future? Do you plan to eventually have an assistant? These are all factors that influence how you should structure your budget.

Some professional budgeting apps that can help you through the process include QuickBooks and Wave.

Step 6: Seek advice from other real estate professionals

Every real estate professional has their own journey through the industry, but it can help to get advice from people with a bit more experience. After you pass your real estate exam, seek out individuals with knowledge of the specific market or niche in which you’re planning to work. They can teach you about idiosyncrasies of the market that you wouldn’t have otherwise known about. Everyone learns as they put education to practice, but it usually doesn’t hurt to get some advice from someone who has already ironed out their way of doing business. Find someone whose work you admire and ask them to lunch or coffee. Odds are, they will be flattered that you want to pick their brain and agree to give you any help they can with your new career.

Now that you have some tips for going forward into the real estate sphere, be confident in your abilities to become successful. You’ve already completed the biggest step, passing your real estate exam, and are on your way to a fruitful career.

Free Download: North Carolina Real Estate Career Starter Kit