The estimated cost to get your real estate license in Chicago, depending on your school, test prep, & actual testing will run you anywhere from ~$2,000-2,300.

Real Estate School ($350-600)
+ Illinois State Exam ($55)
+ License Application ($125)
+ Association Membership ($1500)
= Cost To Be An Illinois Realtor ($2030-2280)

Now that you have your license and found your brokerage it’s time to get to the nitty-gritty. You need the tools and resources to list & search for properties, send & sign documents, and more depending on your needs. These come in many varied forms, some reoccurring monthly/annually and some one-time fees, again depending on your needs. Many memberships and fees may be written off at the end of the year, talk to your managing broker for more details.

Examples of additional fees & costs to think about:

  • MLS Membership – $1,138/year

    • Realtor Association Membership – $1500/year (MLS fees included)

  • Office Transfer Fee – $50 OTF (for switching brokerages)

  • State Transfer Fee – $25 OTF (for switching brokerages)

  • E-Signature Platform Fee – $20/month

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