Thank you all for the responses. Will look into hiring requirements. My little brother has good work ethic, and fortunately while he lives at home doesn't have any major expenses so he definitely has time to spare while he gets situated and launches a career in real estate. At minimum I'd like him to have a 'fall-back' into real estate -- although I believe he can succeed in the role and will be pro-active in getting a foot in the door. I just don't want to see him do nothing and have no options.
Salam Al Le Kum!
I went through this disillusioning route before so here's my insights:
Since my career in education wasn't making enough money, I ventured into real estate. A colleague at work was also teaching Real Estate courses and I audited a few of them. She gave me copies of the textbooks and lots of practice tests which I feel are the most important part for anyone passing the test. Before taking the licencing test, your brother will need to have completed a certain amount of courses and/or lectures. Having done that, he will then need to register online to take the dreaded test in Oakland.
I sampled a few of my fellow classmates in the real estate classes (sample size <20) and here's an unscientific correlation I found- If your brother was a straight A student back in high school, the licencing test is pretty easy to study for and pass on his first try. If he was an A-B student, he might have to try 2-3 times before passing because the trick questions will keep him second guessing, especially the ones asking about ethics. Memorizing specific dates for paying property taxes and specific laws about discrimarion is imperative. If he was a C average student, he'll probably eventually pass by the 5th or 6th attempt.
The test is still being held in Oakland and parking there is a PITA. Tell him to bring his own lunch because the food at the cafeteria sucks. Travel lightly because the test proctors won't let him take anything with him into the testing room. Personal lockers will be provided but they are tiny and don't put anything valuable in those lockers because thefts happen. It's Oakland after all.
Should he pass, his mail box is going to be inundated with dozens of solicitations from realtors all over California to join their team. But signing up with a firm is even more arduous than preparing for and taking the test! The initial sign up fees with them right away are cost prohibitive. Like hundreds to thousands of dollars prohibitive. Getting MLS access, buying the wardrobe to achieve the "professional look", Staples runs to print stationary and other forms, paying for shitty buggy software... those minor business expenses add up quickly all before he even makes his first successful deal. He's also going to start at the bottom of the totem pole, everyone in the firm will treat him like a peon and view him as a potential rival out to cut him/her out of their game. If he is lucky enough to find a mentor however, his chances of surviving will increase exponentially. Attractive Asian women seem to have an uncanny ability to easily get mentored in this industry while for guys, it's next to impossible.
This industry is merciless and isn't for the faint of heart. Even though I was taught in classes to have the highest of ethics and be an honest "agent" for my client... Even though 50% of the questions for the license is about ethics and ethic violations... in the real world of this business, everyone who is good at this game is a lying piece of shit. The management will do everything and anything in their power to make money, and will instruct their employees accordingly. They embezzle, lie, cheat, scam, misinform both buyers and sellers and the best ones do it in a way to finagle their way out of legal trouble even when they get caught.
Needless to say, I didn't have what it takes to survive in this industry and didn't last long. Nevertheless, I did learn a lot of valuable information and this certainly helps in the long run- especially when it comes to buying property and renting it. If I had to do it over again, I still would because the experience was certainly enlightening and taught me a lot about my personal character. I'd like to say I'm now wiser when dealing with realtors since I know their bullshiting tactics and tricks.
If your brother is really sociable with high charisma, I advise to encourage your brother to do it. But if he has very high ethical standards, he won't last very long.
Sorry for this long winded reply.
