Prepare for Real Estate Exam.

How to Prepare for the Real Estate Exam.

Getting started in real estate often seem daunting. But like everything else, take it one step at a time.

Once you have completed the basic course/s required by the Department of Real Estate (DRE), you are ready to start preparing for the state licensing exam.

A number of books and publications on how to prepare for the exam are available in the libraries, bookstores and on the Internet. Choose one that is state specific (different states, different laws and regulations). Most importantly, choose one that has as many practice exams and mock exam questions with full explanation of the answers.

No doubt that you have heard how difficult the state exam is. It can be if you're not prepared for it. So, do the prep work and take as many practice exams as you can; do them at least a month prior to your taking the exam. As with anything else, if you are prepared, most everything comes easy.

Review and “crash” courses. Exam preparatoy schools usually offer review program for taking the licensing exam. Their registration fees vary from $175.00 to $500.00. They basically give you the materials to take home and practice, and maybe offer one or two live classes. In essence, you are studying on your own anyway.

If taking this type of a review course raises your confidence level and you can afford to spend that kind of money, then it may be advantageous to go this route. However, if you simply pick up one or two exam preparation books from the library or purchase them from the bookstore, and commit to do as many practice mock exams as you can before the real exam, many of my former students do just fine and pass it the first time.

Some of the textbooks used in live classes in the community colleges and similar institutions include a practice exam CD. The CD usually contains 500 to 1500 mock exams. This is an invaluable tool and the price is right because it is included in the textbook cost.

In California, where I live, the Department of Real Estate publishes a guide which usually has sample questions and tips on how to take the exam: http://www.dre.ca.gov/pub_referencebk.html.

Just commit to do it, and as one of the shoe company says, Just Do It!