How to Be a Successful Real Estate Agent in 2026

Being a real estate agent in 2026 is about much more than showing houses. It’s about mastering technology, data, and digital marketing. The most successful agents combine traditional expertise with AI tools, virtual showings, and online lead generation to stand out.

Today, success in real estate depends on visibility, understanding local market data, and building trust through clear and consistent communication.

Starting a career in real estate can be challenging, and income varies widely depending on your market and experience. Each country has its own rules: some require a license or working under a brokerage, while others allow freelancers to operate independently. No matter where you are, learning, adapting, and staying connected are key to long-term success.

If you want to know how to succeed as a real estate agent in 2026, you’re in the right place. Many of your questions will be answered in this article – you will learn how to be a successful real estate agent, how to use new technologies in creating an amazing real estate flyer, how to establish connections with other agents, use the available training programs, and what skills are worth improving.

How to become a real estate agent in 6 steps?

Buying and selling real estate can be a difficult and time-consuming process, which is why many people turn to agents for advice.

As a result, a good agent must be knowledgeable about both housing laws and legal issues pertaining to mortgage financing. In some countries, the profession of a real estate agent is regulated, in others, there is a national registry - which means you need to prepare yourself to become a real estate professional. Here are six important steps that will help you start a real estate career in 2026.

1. Check whether you meet the requirements

In most countries, anyone can become a real estate agent, regardless of their education or work experience. This includes both recent graduates as well as seasoned professionals. In the United States, generally, only a high school diploma is required. In most countries of the European Union, no real estate license is required. However, in some EU countries like Germany and Spain, a special course must be completed. Sometimes all it takes is simply registering a company - and presenting to the local authorities or national association that you have no criminal record. In many countries such as China and France, however, you must pass an exam.

2. Check if you need a license

In many countries, a real estate agent license is not necessary to work in this profession. Consult your local government and see whether you should obtain it. Maybe you just need to register your business or just register within a national registry. A state-issued license is necessary for real agents in the United States before they can represent clients in buying or selling property and get paid for it.

In France, however, a real estate agent must have a government-issued license. The strictest EU country is probably Germany, where a licensed real estate agent requires confirmation from the city.

3. Take care of your education

Even if a course isn’t mandatory, investing in professional training is always worthwhile. In 2026, you can find many accredited online programs that let you study at your own pace or choose hybrid options combining online lessons with live sessions for practical experience. Many agents also recommend in-person courses because they help build relationships and expand your professional network. Find a program that fits your needs and budget.

Most training programs teach the fundamentals of real estate, including business practices, ethics, and anti-discrimination laws. You’ll also learn about local rules and regulations to help you negotiate confidently and close transactions smoothly.

4. Pass an exam or join the registry

Once you’ve completed your course, it’s time to take the real estate exam and earn your license. Many countries now allow you to register and take the test online, choosing the date and location that work best for you. The cost varies — in the U.S., it’s usually between $50 and $100, while in some European countries, like Germany, it can reach up to €500. Some licenses also require periodic renewal.

In regions where no formal exam is required, you may still need to register with a national or local real estate board. This process often includes a small fee and proof of good financial standing.

In some countries, such as Belgium or the Netherlands, real estate agents act mainly as consultants for sellers, while in Italy they often represent both buyers and sellers. The level of regulation depends on the market, but in every case, being officially registered helps you work more professionally and gain clients’ trust.

5. Gain experience

Did you pass the licensing exam? Congratulations — you’re officially a real estate agent! Now it’s time to gain experience and start building your client base. In many regions, beginners are required to complete an apprenticeship or work under a licensed brokerage. This hands-on practice helps new agents learn how to manage listings, develop sales skills, negotiate deals, and build professional relationships.

Even in countries where a license isn’t required, working with experienced agents or joining a brokerage company is the best way to learn the business, strengthen your sales skills, and grow your confidence before working independently.

6. Use technology to grow your real estate business

Real estate brochures often include descriptions of the actual properties you own, their high-resolution photos, floor plans, information about location, and contact information. This means they require a lot of graphics - which in turn means that these files can take years to upload. A standard real estate brochure is dozens of pages in PDF format. Large PDF files full of images take a long time to load and cannot be attached to an email due to their size. The attachments are inconvenient to read on mobile devices for your potential buyers.

The solution is an online brochure maker from Publuu. An online brochure is a way to present a PDF as an interactive document, with a beautiful, realistic 3D page-turning effect. Digital brochures have the advantage that instead of a PDF file, you simply provide a link to the brochure. Everything is stored on the Publuu server.

Publuu’s real estate brochure example

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MAKE YOUR OWN

What's more, digital brochures are compatible with a wide range of devices - desktops, tablets, and smartphones - so your customers can access them anytime, without having to install additional apps or download large files to their phones. You can also use Publuu's online brochures as a great presentation tool - upload them to the cloud and you can access them from any device.

Brochures from Publuu can be embedded directly on your company website or in the body of an email, you can also link to them on social media. And unlike a classic PDF, they allow you to publish multimedia content. Property descriptions can be supplemented with galleries, videos, or mp3 files.

Thanks to analytical functions you know who has read your brochure and which people care most about which part of your content.

Additionally, Publuu digital brochures allow you to get contact information directly from your brochure as long as you include a lead generation form. All you have to do is ask the reader to contact you, and after some time, you'll reach out to them on your own terms!

Real estate agents - a few tips for beginners

You may already have enough knowledge and experience, but it's not enough to be the best. Real estate agents frequently make the fatal mistake of underestimating their costs while overestimating their income. As a result, most realtors eventually fail.

The real estate industry has changed a lot in recent years - the rise of the Internet, pandemics, and changes in the wealth of young prospective clients have transformed the industry. That's why below we present advice to help you succeed. Learn these key takeaways - that will be helpful in any business!

Remember that this business is not just about selling

A real estate agent can benefit from learning effective sales techniques and marketing strategies, but they are not obligated to use them all the time. You need to remember that other skills are worth taking care of - photography or the ability to create descriptions is very important. A real estate agent needs to know how to sell, buy, plan their business day, create graphics, and manage the expenses.

Today’s buyers and sellers expect personalized service. High-quality photos, short videos, and professional online communication make a big difference in how clients see your brand.

Think like a business person

In the vast majority of cases, a real estate agent is self-employed. Think of yourself as a small business rather than an employee if you want to succeed as a freelancer. It's often the case that once you've closed a sale this month, your focus wanes - you must always be selling, building contacts, and focusing on your long-term goals.

Your long-term success as a business owner depends on many factors, including a well-crafted business strategy. You need to know your prospective buyers and your market. Find out what makes you different from others and learn what past clients appreciate the most about you. Build your business by using the right tools and talents and developing yourself comprehensively. Ask for online reviews and use them in your marketing materials. Update your Google Business profile and social media regularly — this helps local buyers find you first and builds trust.

Save first and foremost

At the beginning of their career, many real estate salespeople are busy acquiring that first client or striving to close their first deal. Nonetheless, keep your expenses in check while pursuing those first goals! To start a real estate business, you may be tempted to spend everything - whether it's on yourself or the company.

Even before you set up your small business create a spreadsheet of your expenses, including both mandatory business expenses, such as rent, and optional expenses, such as coffee on the way to work. If you work freelance leave yourself a survival margin and a contingency allowance. If you manage to end the year at a profit, then you can celebrate - not before!

What makes a successful real estate agent?

Regardless of the requirements in your country and real estate market, to be a successful real estate agent you must strive to have unquestionable market knowledge, unparalleled training and courteous manners, and social skills as a salesperson and host. If you want to succeed as a real estate agent, you must constantly improve your business techniques, no matter how long you have been in the industry. Continuing education and development are very important factors in determining how effective you are as a broker or agent.

To stand out in today’s real estate market, especially in 2026, you need to blend modern technology with genuine, people-first service. Combine social media presence, great communication, and solid market knowledge to build lasting success.

How to be a successful real estate agent in your first year?

Beginning agents face stiff competition and uncertain conditions. Many agents end their careers after two years! How do you avoid this? How to be a successful real estate agent and not get burned out?

Ignore failures

A freelancer needs to be tough. Especially in real estate, it can be very difficult and time-consuming to establish a reliable source of income in the beginning. Your success in real estate may depend on your ability to endure setbacks. Remember, you have to succeed - or go straight to Plan B.

Know your local area like the back of your hand

Today, regardless of the country, many people rely on real estate search engines and similar sites. But a good real estate agent has something the Internet doesn't: personal experience and understanding. Attend your broker's training sessions and take as many courses as possible, learn the details of your city, its history, and geography. All of this can affect the property value of the homes you will sell and will give you an edge that other agents simply don't have.

Build contacts

Build a strong network both online and offline. The best agents in 2026 use social media platforms like LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram to stay connected, while also maintaining valuable local relationships through community events and referrals. You must inspire trust - this will generate leads more efficiently than any marketing tool.

Take care of your own training

If you are starting, find a mentor or training program that works for you. In many countries, pre-licensing training doesn't cover much about soft skills like sales and customer relations. Cooperate with a brokerage firm to find opportunities for self-improvement.

Successful real estate agents - what does their daily schedule look like?

A real estate agent's work week can be very hectic. This is a profession for people who are well organized. You need to know when to take care of expenses, and when to take care of income, meetings, and other scheduled appointments. You also have to fight the temptation of workaholism and meet with loved ones and family. Being a successful realtor is all about using our time to the fullest!

You have to get up in the morning

The most successful agents are those who get up early in the morning and start their day well. Depending on your needs, get up in the morning, sometimes even at five or six. Take care of exercise, breakfast, and family - so that you are ready to start your day. Today, many of the top producing agents work from home or combine home and office, so you don't always have to take care of your commute. The current trends do not excuse poor personal hygiene and attitude - especially if you're self-employed.

In the office from eight o'clock

Start your day by checking messages and posting a quick market update or video on Instagram or TikTok. Short, regular content helps you build credibility and stay visible to potential clients. This brings results. Then take care of lead generation and prospecting - find new routes, talk to people about sales, answer emails, search sites like Zillow. Many people work best in the morning, take advantage of that time. Of course, you're free to set up your own hours - adjust them to your biorhythm.

Midday meeting

Many professionals advise using lunchtime for business meetings - invite someone to a restaurant or bar for a while. You might meet with another agent, a member of your business network, or a partner in a similar industry, such as a mortgage or insurance. It's a good time to relax and put your mind on track. You combine your valuable time with relaxation - and build relationships at the same time!

Work and contacts

The second half of the day is responding to leads generated. If you already have a contact that you made in the morning, you need to respond to that in the afternoon. Listing presentations, first meetings with prospective buyers, property tours, home showings, and contractor interviews should occupy your afternoons. The last hours of the workday should be used for finishing up loose ends - checking emails and clients, making phone calls, confirming appointments, and responding to comments. If you are marketing your company yourself, this is a good time to take care of advertising and promoting your business.

Rest

After 4 pm, it's a good idea to take a breathe. However, you will almost certainly receive calls from contractors, clients, and vendors. Answer them politely, but remember - now is the time for you and your family. Even if it’s an important client, remember to protect your work-life balance. Maintaining a healthy routine keeps you productive and focused — an essential habit for long-term success in real estate.

Summary – How to Succeed in Real Estate in 2026

Being a successful real estate agent today means combining traditional skills — like communication and negotiation — with modern tools such as social media marketing, AI, and interactive online materials like Publuu flipbooks.

Keep learning, stay active online, and focus on providing value to your clients. Use technology to save time and create an excellent customer experience. That’s what makes great real estate agents stand out in 2026.

Once you have established your business and set up your working day, you can use digital brochures from Publuu to help promote your company!

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