How To Become a Real Estate Agent in New Hampshire

Do you want to start a career in real estate in New Hampshire? Do you want to know what it will take to get licensed?

Then this article is for you. Real estate is one of the most lucrative careers.

While different states have different rules, you must get a real estate license from the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission (NHREC) to become a real estate agent in New Hampshire. Moreover, you must undergo pre-licensing training for real estate agents, pass background checks, and pass the exam.

But, who can become a real estate agent in New Hampshire? How long will it take to get the license?

Is getting a real estate license worth it? This article will answer these questions, plus much more on how to get a real estate license in New Hampshire.

Getting a Real Estate License in New Hampshire

You’ll need a real estate license to start a career as a real estate salesperson or real estate broker in New Hampshire. This is necessary because you’ll represent buyers and sellers during real estate transactions.

The good thing is getting a real estate license in New Hampshire is relatively easy. You just need to meet the requirements, and you will have your license within 2 to 6 months.

This means you’ll already have a license before your buddies settle for their first year in college. So, what do you really need to do to get a real estate license in New Hampshire?

1. Meet the requirements needed
2. Finish the pre-licensing course
3. Pass the background check
4. Pass the real estate exam
5. Find a sponsoring broker
6. Submit license application

Essential Conditions for Real Estate Professional Licensing

When applying for a real estate license, you must check the NH Real Estate Commission website for all the application details. This will help you submit all documents needed and meet deadlines as even minor mistakes can lead to license denial.

Below are New Hampshire real estate license requirements.

Requisite Age and Basic Educational Criteria

You don’t need a college degree to start a career as a real estate agent. This is good because not everyone wants to go to college, and even many graduates want to change their career path.

To become a real estate agent in New Hampshire, you must have a high school diploma or GED. However, a college degree will increase your chances of securing a job.

“Am I too old to become a real estate agent?” This is a common question for older people thinking of getting into real estate.

The answer is no. Although the New Hampshire state has set 18 years as the minimum age for getting a license, there is no maximum age.

There is nothing to stop you if you want to change your career or join real estate after retirement.

The average Realtor® is 57 years old based on data from the National Association of REALTORS®.¹ This tells you there are more of your peers in the industry.

Most seniors will even have an edge over other beginners because they already have experience from their former careers. Usually, people with experience in customer service, marketing, or negotiation, will transition and take off easily.

Moreover, most seniors already have experience in home ownership.

Thirdly, you must be a US citizen or authorized to work in the US. You don’t necessarily have to reside in New Hampshire state, as you can take online real estate classes but appear in person to do the exam.

Needed Pre-License Course Duration

If you have met the requirements above, you can now sign up for the pre-licensing course. There’s a deadline to complete the course and take the exam within six months.

Otherwise, you may have to repeat the entire course. The course is offered by several accredited real estate schools in New Hampshire,² so you must do a background check on the school you choose before committing.

Most schools also offer online classes, so you don’t have to attend physical classes. They schedule 1-2 hour blocks on days, nights, and weekends so that even if you have a busy schedule, you still get time to finish the 40-hour course before six months.

However, if you are fully available, you can still take the course and finish quickly. Remember to check the New Hampshire Real Estate Commission classroom guidelines.

For the salesperson license, you are expected to attend 32 hours of classes in a classroom. However, it doesn’t have to be a physical class, and most schools usually livestream their classes.

Some of the topics covered in the 40-hour pre-licensing course include;

• Real estate principles and practices
• Property ownership and land use
• Contracts and agreements
• Real estate financing
• Real estate law
• Property valuation and appraisal
• Agency relationships
• Real estate ethics
• Environmental issues
• Property management
• Real estate calculations
• Transfer of title
• Property disclosures
• Real estate commission
• New Hampshire principles and practice
• Regulation of licensee conduct
• Regulation of agency conduct

Fee Schedule for Pre-Licensing Real Estate Education

NHREC does not regulate the pre-licensing real estate education fee. Therefore, the education centers charge different fees.

On average, the cost of pre-licensing real estate education in New Hampshire is $150 and $350.

When looking for a school, compare prices among the accredited schools. However, while pricing is an important factor, you should also consider customer support and learning formats.

The most popular learning formats include livestream, self-paced, and on-demand video.

So, can you take free real estate courses instead of a paid course? Yes, but it must be from one of the accredited real estate education centers by NHREC.

Here are the prices of 5 real estate education centers in New Hampshire.

Real Estate Education Centers	Pre-Licensing Course Price
The Real Estate Class	Basic access: $175 Full access: $350
Barry School of Real Estate	Package 1: $ 169 Package 2: $ 260 Package 3: $ 388
Freedom Trail Realty School	Base plan: $ 217 Peak plan: $ 284 Summit plan: $379
The CE Shop	Courses only: $ 269 Standard package: $329 Value package: $379
Ann Flanagan New Hampshire Real Estate School	Package: $300

Real Estate Background Verification Conditions (Fingerprinting Locations)

As part of the licensing process, you’ll also be required to undergo a background check. Background checks are important to ensure the applicants have a clean criminal record and are of good moral character because real estate agents usually deal with sensitive financial and legal matters on behalf of their clients.

You should take care of this early enough to avoid delays but remember that the results are valid for only six months.

So, what are the real estate agent background check requirements for a NH real estate license? Usually, you don’t need fingerprinting to apply for a salesperson license in New Hampshire.

But you must submit a notarized criminal record report to the NH Department of Safety,³ Division of State Police. This can be done in person, via mail, or by a third party.

You’ll give out your name, email address, and phone number and pay $25 by cash, money order, check, visa, discovery, or MasterCard.

However, if you are asked for fingerprinting (in case of a criminal background check for real estate license), you should schedule an appointment online or call (603) 223-3867. You can choose any of the seven live scan locations below;

• Department of Safety Building, 33 Hazen Drive (Concord)
• DMV Substation, 377 South Willow Street (Manchester)
• State Police Barracks Troop F, 549 Route 302 (Twin Mountain
• DMV Substation 50 Boston Harbor Road – Dover Point
• State Police Barracks Troop C, 15 Ash Brook Court (Keene)
• State Police Barracks Troop E, 1864 Route 16 (Tamworth)
• DMV Substation, 154 Main Street (Salem)

But can you get a real estate license with a misdemeanor or felony? The New Hampshire Real Estate Commission can grant or reject a license application whether you have a record or not.

Even without a record, you can still get rejected if you don’t follow the instructions outlined on their website.

If you have a record, follow all the guidelines in the application and submit all the needed paperwork. You should request and submit any criminal record for offenses convicted in other jurisdictions.

While you won’t be disqualified automatically for having a criminal record, it might affect your eligibility in the following ways;

• Disclosure: Did you disclose your criminal history during the application? The commission has outlined guidelines for license application, which include disclosure of criminal history within New Hampshire State and outside.
  If you fail to disclose the information, the commission will deem you untrustworthy and lead to license denial.
• Nature of Conviction: What offense did you commit? Remember, a real estate agent deals with sensitive financial and legal matters on behalf of their clients.
  The Real Estate Commission requests background checks to safeguard the interests of real estate stakeholders. For this reason, the severity and nature of your conviction will be a significant factor in determining your eligibility.
  Some crimes involving fraud, dishonesty, and financial misconduct can raise more concern.
• Rehabilitation: While the commission doesn’t give the criteria it uses to give license to people with a criminal record, they may consider factors like the length of time since conviction, if there has been restitution made to the victims, completion of probation or parole and evidence of a law-abiding lifestyle since conviction.

The New Hampshire Real Estate Commission usually assesses each circumstance before deciding. Remember to submit your Arrest and Conviction form and explain your situation as much as possible.⁴ Mention any steps you’ve taken for rehabilitation, and you can also include references from reputable people who can attest to your rehabilitation process.