By Peter D. Wilton
I joined the line of shuffling would-be real estate representatives on a mid-April morning in 2011 and slowly made my way towards the Ontario Real Estate Association (OREA) information desk and a new beginning. I took note of my line mates. Most were middle-aged women dressed business casual and most were on their cell phones speaking or Twittering.
It was my wife who first suggested real estate to me. “It will suit you.” she said, and then as an after-thought, added, “You are very personable.” As I listened to the woman in front of me complain to her invisible cell phone friend about the cost of chicken, I wondered if my wife had been right.
For the previous 25 years I had worked as a writer, but the world has changed and the long essay had been replaced by the 78 character twits. So I put the pen and pad away to buy and sell homes.
“So, I says to him, I don’t want your stink’en chicken, and I threw the package down and left the store!” the lady in front of me droned on, and the line edged forward.
I had my transcripts with me from a university degree I’d received in a prehistoric time, when essays were either hand-written or typed. I’d brought these faded documents because, according to the OREA web site, proof of higher education may allow for a bypass of the pre-entry math and English test.
The line edged forward. I asked the woman behind me, “Do you know what the best position in a line is?” She didn’t answer, so I continued, “Second from the front.” She looked confused. “Because there is less pressure being second than first, but you have the satisfaction of being next!” She nodded and smiled. Yes, I thought, I am personable.
Soon I was at the counter pulling out the Visa card and signing up for the first of the three pre-registration courses required to get your probationary real estate license in Ontario.
The OREA rep was named Debra. It turned out that my university degree saved me from the pre-course registration tests. She typed away, inputting my info into the system. Debra looked up and smiled. “Do you want to take the course through correspondence or in the classroom setting?” I opted for correspondence because of the flexibility. I could start immediately, while there was a long waiting list for the classroom course.
“Why don’t you get your real estate license?” I asked her.
“It’s not for me! I wouldn’t be any good at it,” she replied. “Too iffy! No security!” I almost bolted for the door. In fact, I started to turn, but seeing the length of the line behind me, stayed put.
Debra input away and then asked when I wanted to schedule my first exam. “Do I have to tell you now?” I asked. “Yes,” she replied, “Now.” I pondered, “What is the average length of time between starting the course and the exam?” She was still calm, even though the line of people behind me was growing longer. “Six weeks is recommended.” I said, “Make it eight weeks.” Debra input this into the system.
“Do you want passit?” she asked.
“Yes, I want to pass it,” I replied. “I’m not signing up to fail!”
“No,” Debra patiently replied. “I mean the online tutorial program. It might help you pass, and we recommend it.” Another swipe of the Visa card and I had ‘passit’.
Once processed and in the system, I was handed a nondescript brown cardboard box. I said my goodbyes to Debra and nodded towards the chicken lady. When I opened the box, I found a handsome OREA computer bag and a text book entitled Real Estate as a Professional Career. To my horror, when I cracked it open, it was full of math questions.
The first step into the real estate profession was taken. Six months later, I was through the courses.
Rookie lessons that I have learned:
1) The first of the three courses required to be registered in Ontario can be done quite easily at home.
2) Remember you need a mark of 75 per cent to move forward with the courses.
3) Buy the calculator that is recommended.
4) The math is not that difficult once you get your mind in ‘math mode.’
5) The second course is quite difficult and would be worth doing in the classroom. There are lots of definitions and the text is about a third longer than the first text.
6) The third course consists of two texts. I found the three-week-in-class course very helpful.
7) Buy the “passit” study aid. It does help you pass it!
8) Take advantage of any real estate help line that is offered.
9) Reaction from family and friends about your newly chosen career will vary, depending on their perception of the business.
Peter D. Wilton is a sales representative with Sutton Sadie Moranis in Toronto. 416- 449-2020.
