Are you thinking about starting a real estate career? You’re not alone. Real estate attracts many entrepreneurial-minded professionals due to its low barrier to entry and unlimited earning potential. But how do you know where to start? This article will help you understand what you need to know about starting as a real estate agent in Tampa.
Understanding the Tampa Real Estate Market
The first step to getting started as a real estate agent is understanding your local market, in this case, the Tampa area. Tampa’s housing market is holding steady in 2026, with home sales up 5.5% year over year. Tampa ranks in the top 15 cities for new-home construction, indicating more homes could come on the market in the coming months.
Key Takeaways
- Healthy Market: Tampa’s real estate market is growing, with a 5.5% increase in sales in January 2026 (YoY). The city ranks in the top 15 for new home construction, indicating potential opportunities for real estate agents.
- Competitive Income: Real estate agents in Florida can expect competitive earnings, averaging $181,000.
- Low Barrier to Entry: Obtaining a Florida real estate license is straightforward. You must meet basic qualifications, complete a 63-hour pre-licensing course, pass a background check, submit an application, and pass the Florida real estate exam.
- Keys to Success: The first year as a real estate agent is often the most challenging. Success involves choosing the right brokerage, building a strong knowledge base, setting realistic expectations, overcoming challenges like lead generation, and celebrating small milestones to stay motivated.
How much could you expect to make in Tampa real estate?
While the Tampa real estate market looks promising, you may wonder how much you could expect to earn as a real estate agent. Full-time real estate agents in Florida can earn an average of $181,000, according to Glassdoor data from January 2026.
As with most careers, the more experience you have as a real estate agent, the greater your income potential. According to a survey of Gold Coast Schools alumni, one-third of those with four to ten years of experience earned between $50,000 and $149,999, and nearly 1 in 10 reached $150,000–$199,999 during this stage
Is getting your Florida real estate license worth it?
Anyone can become a real estate agent, but you must obtain a license, which takes time and money. However, considering the cost of getting your Florida real estate license is typically under $1,000, and you can get your license in as little as one month, getting licensed is a walk in the park, especially compared to getting a four-year degree.
Getting Licensed
You need to obtain your license before launching your real estate career. Luckily, the process is very straightforward. Just follow these simple steps.
Step 0: Meet the requirements
In order to get your Florida real estate license, you must:
- Be 18 years or older
- Have a social security number
- Hold a high school diploma or equivalent education (such as a GED)
If you already meet these requirements, congrats! You can start the process of getting your license.
Step 1: Complete the required pre-licensing education
After satisfying all the requirements for getting your real estate license, you must complete the 63-hour Florida real estate sales associate course. This course will cover the ins and outs of practicing real estate in Florida and help you prepare for the exam. Gold Coast Schools offers a wide range of courses to suit your language and learning preferences, including in-person, livestream, and at-your-own-pace online courses in English and Spanish.
Step 2: Pass a background check
Next, you must submit your fingerprints for a background check. You can even submit your fingerprints at one of Gold Coast Schools’ locations! Please note that an appointment is required.
Step 3: Submit your application
Thirdly, you must submit your real estate license application and any mandatory fees to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
Step 4. Pass the Florida real estate exam
Finally, you must pass the Florida Real Estate Sales Associate exam. If you want extra help to boost your confidence on test day, Gold Coast Schools’ instructor-led Exam Cram course is an excellent test prep program. Plus, it’s included in most of the Gold Coast Schools’ pre-licensing packages!
Once you’ve completed these four steps, you’ll be on your way to launching a successful new career in Tampa real estate.
Navigating the First Year
Your first year as a licensed real estate agent is often considered the most challenging. But with hard work and proper training, you can get through it with flying colors. Just follow these tips.
Choosing the right Tampa brokerage
Choosing the right brokerage is critical to your success as a newly licensed real estate agent. When selecting a brokerage, you need to consider factors such as the level of training provided to new agents, company culture, and commission split, to name a few. Fortunately, Gold Coast Schools hosts monthly career fairs so students can meet with local brokerages to determine which brokerage best fits their professional goals.
Building a strong knowledge base
One of the more challenging aspects of starting a new career is that you don’t know what you don’t know, so building a solid knowledge base is essential. In fact, you should view your professional development as part of your job and block time on your calendar for it. An excellent place to start is to subscribe to industry publications and newsletters, attend webinars and networking events, and partner with a mentor, such as your real estate broker.
You can also take advantage of advanced training opportunities that will help you specialize in a particular area of real estate, such as luxury homes. Additionally, you will need to keep your license active by completing post-licensing courses within the first year and by meeting continuing education requirements every two years. These courses are great for expanding your knowledge base and staying up to date on new laws and regulations.
Setting realistic expectations
Setting realistic expectations for your first year as a real estate agent is essential. Success won’t happen overnight. The key is not to get discouraged if you have a slower start than you envisioned. Those who are persistent and don’t give up when times are tough are the ones who go far in real estate.
Overcoming common challenges
One of the biggest challenges you will face as a newly licensed agent is understanding the ins and outs of real estate. While your pre-licensing education will lay the groundwork for working in real estate, the more detailed aspects of real estate are best learned on the job. Fortunately, you will have a broker available to answer any questions or address any issues that may arise.
Another challenge new agents face is the need for an extensive network to generate leads. While your friends and family would probably love to be your first clients, they may not be in the market for a new home at the time you receive your license. You will need to implement strategies to generate leads. To begin with, having a professional social media presence and website are two effective (and inexpensive) ways for prospects to discover and learn more about you. Additionally, your brokerage may have other tips and tools to help you find leads and build your brand.
Celebrating milestones and small wins
As stated earlier, your first year as a real estate agent is often the hardest, making it even more vital to celebrate small wins and milestones. Celebrate reaching 100 people in your network and securing your first client. Celebrating these “small” wins will help motivate you to continue forward to the next milestone.
Learn More About Tampa Real Estate
Want to learn more about kick-starting your career in Tampa real estate? Gold Coast School’s Tampa real estate course outlines the ins and outs of Tampa’s real estate market and the steps you need to take to become a top Tampa real estate agent. Get started today!
Disclaimer: This guide is for general informational purposes only, based on a September 2025 survey of Gold Coast Schools alumni and publicly available industry sources. While Gold Coast Schools strives for accuracy, we make no guarantees regarding the completeness, reliability, or applicability of the information. Earnings and outcomes vary widely based on factors like location, experience, and market conditions and should not be considered guarantees. This guide does not constitute professional advice. Users should consult additional sources for personalized guidance.