How To Become a Real Estate Agent in South Carolina

Getting into real estate in South Carolina can be one of the most exciting careers ever, especially if you are a fan of helping people land their dream properties and want to have a flexible job, which virtually everyone craves. As long as you are honest, great at communicating, and good at solving problems, then you just might need to consider becoming a real estate agent.

The rewards are handsome, and it will eventually be worth the effort you put into getting the license. But most importantly, you want to know how to get into real estate in South Carolina, so read on to find out.

How To Get a Real Estate License in South Carolina

The South Carolina real estate license requirements are the ultimate guide when you are looking to start an active career in real estate. If you want to be a licensed real estate agent in SC, you will have to have them at your fingertips.

It doesn’t matter where you live, Mount Pleasant, Columbia, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Charleston, or any other place in SC, you can easily learn how to become a real estate agent with no experience. The only catch is that you have to meet the requirements.

The region is an excellent place to live in, judging by the South Carolina solar incentives and now the booming real estate market.

South Carolina Professional Real Estate Agent Requirements

Taking a closer look at the requirements from all over the country, it is fascinating to learn that the rules vary, with each state having its own non-negotiables. South Carolina is not left behind, although it has pretty simple rules that you need to abide by if you want to practice real estate in the region.

So, here is a breakdown of what is expected of you as an aspiring real estate agent in SC.

• You must be 18 years old or older.
• You must have completed the 90 hours of the required pre-licensing education related to real estate in SC.¹
• You must have passed the South Carolina real estate licensure exam.
• You must have submitted a maximum of three background checks that confirm criminal records.²
• You must have secured a place working with a broker real estate company that will serve as your sponsor.

Mandatory Age and Primary Schooling Prerequisites

One mandatory rule when it comes to working in real estate is that you must prove that you are an adult who is eligible to work in the United States of America. So, you have to show proof that you are at least 18 years old, and apart from that, you also need to confirm that you have already graduated from high school and have a diploma as proof.

This means that you can start your career early on and even work part-time while pursuing further studies.

Minimum Pre-License Education Hours

In order to become a professional, regardless of any career, you will need some lessons, and in this case, real estate agent training. Therefore, the South Carolina Labor Licensing Regulation will only approve your license if you are able to confirm that you have the necessary skills and have indeed attended the approved schools for a real estate license.

The rules are very different when it comes to pre-licensing education in the various states, and in South Carolina, you are expected to undertake a total of 90 hours of pre-licensing courses.³

Out of these hours, 60 are dedicated to the Unit I: Salesperson Pre-Licensing course, while the other 30 hours involve Unit II: Advanced Real Estate Principles, and for this, you can take it after you have passed the licensing exam. However, both parts have to be completed for you to get your license.

Did you know that you can take the courses for a South Carolina real estate license online? This means that you can still go about your other commitments while studying online for the real estate exam.

Real Estate School Pre-Licensing Price

For virtually every state in the country, pre-licensing courses and exams need money, and you will have to make sure that you have it in your budget. Since there are different education programs that you can go for that are offered by various approved course providers, the cost will greatly vary.⁴

But all in all, you should expect to pay up anything between $350-$800 before you are able to get your license.⁵

Financial Requirements For Joining the South Carolina Real Estate Commission

Here is a breakdown of the costs involved to help get your SC real estate license.

• Application: $25.00
• Background checks (fingerprinting): $43.05
• Exam fees: $63.00
• Pre-licensing courses: $135.00- $500

Fundamental Real Estate Background Examination (Fingerprint Location Information)

There is one more thing, after meeting and passing all the educational requirements; you have to pass the background check for real estate agents. These real estate agent background check requirements are mandated by the South Carolina Real Estate Commission,⁶ and it is vital to confirm your true identity and give a perspective when it comes to whether you have a criminal record.

You will need to pass three checks; two pertaining to the state and nationwide fingerprint system, while the other involves your social security number. In the first case, the State Law Enforcement Division (SLED) will take charge, and the SCREC will direct you on how to submit your fingerprint details, while the FBI will handle the national fingerprint check.

There are common questions related to the background check, first, can you be a real estate agent with a criminal record? Having a record doesn’t really mean that you are automatically ineligible for a real estate license, and you can still apply for it and go through all the normal processes.

However, real estate license disqualification is possible based on the nature of the crime committed.

For instance, financial crimes (forgery, theft, fraud) and felonies related to drugs and violence are grounds for denial or withdrawal of your license. So, to answer your question, will I lose my real estate license if I get a DUI?

The DRE has created a list of the most common disqualifying convictions, including DUI, but still, given that it is on a case-by-case basis, there are chances that you could still get your license.

What Skills Do You Need To Be a Real Estate Agent in South Carolina?

Are you thinking about how to become a real estate agent in South Carolina? Are you very keen on the real estate market and want to take part in helping shape your city?

If so, then you are going to need some skills, and the following will help you become one of the best agents.

• Negotiation Skills: At the very top of what it takes to make it in real estate, you have to be very good at negotiation. Your clients are going to need someone who is very aggressive when it comes to closing deals while leaving both parties satisfied.
• Communication Skills: Remember that you are the intermediary between the buyers and the seller, so you have to make sure that the communication channels always stay open. You need to be able to relay information in a timely and clear manner.
  You should know how to sell such that all the parties are taken through the entire process with you as their guide.
• Organization Skills: You will find yourself multitasking a lot of times because there could be so many clients that you are dealing with all at the same time. You have to handle all the tasks and make sure that they are all done perfectly, giving each the attention that it deserves.
• Problem-Solving Skills: Any client coming to you literally expects that you solve a problem for them in one way or another. So you have to put your best foot forward to make sure that you listen to them and provide the necessary solutions.