Why I am trying to learn to become a real estate salesperson in Singapore?
In Singapore, a few jobs/ business can actually be lucrative – financial related, training related and property related. I have done 1 (ACLP) out of the 3 , and thus looking at acquiring one more to broaden my horizon, capable of performing 1 more kind of work beyond my core IT capabilities.. in case of adverse events like retrenchment or redundancy.
What is the minimum requirement to become a real estate salesperson in Singapore?
I summarize quickly into these:
1) Be a NTUC member to get subsidy under Union Training Assistance Programme (UTAP) at later time (link)
2) Apply and Attend at least 80 % of the RES examination preparatory course conducted by Council for Estate Agencies (CEA) approved course providers (link)
3) Apply and complete 2 RES examination papers (Paper 1: Real Estate Agency Industry Overview & Basic Land Law Concepts and Dealings with Interests in Land; Paper 2: Regulation of Real Estate Agency Industry & Real Estate Marketing and Property Transactions) – $417.30 inclusive of GST paid to NTUC Learning Hub.
4) Apply and get accepted by a licensed estate agency to submit a RES registration application to the CEA.
I have completed step 1 to become a NTUC member and is going for step 2 to sign up for the real estate salesperson course. List of CEA approved course providers can be found here.
My considerations:
- Need to balance course vs. going office in the day vs. family time in evening and weekends
- Thus, the likely plan seems to be taking time-off to clear the course as quickly as I can.
Benchmark Realpro Pte Ltd (https://www.benchmarkrealpro.com/)
- Course Fees ($650 nett)
- Online RES Quiz Portal
- Trainers: David Huan – 30 years, June Foo – 20 years of experience
- 8 weekdays (Tue, Wed, Thu 10AM to 530PM. Total of 60 hours) or 3 weekends (8.30 AM – 6.10 PM, Total of 58 hours)
- Worth: $650/60 hours is about $11 per hour
- Course Notes and Lecture training materials in PPT slides (Hard Copy)
- Verdict: Course fee is lowest but I would have to give up 8 days of leave from work to attend this.
Hastor Property Services Pte Ltd (https://www.hastor.com.sg/)
- Course Fees ($784.80+ $5.45 for Registration, including GST = $790.25)
- Course for Paper 1 duration is 27 hours spread over 9 days but half day each + Course for Paper 2 duration is 28.5 hours spread over 4.5 days = 55.5hours
- Worth: $790.25/55.5 hours is about $15 per hour
- Trainers : Daryl Ou 20 years, 25 years experience
- Course Notes and Lecture training materials in PPT slides (Hard Copy)
- Verdict: Course fee is not the lowest but I only need to give up 4 days of leave from work and somehow shift the work start time for other work days to attend this. Somehow, this course provider managed to squeeze in more unique topics in a shorter duration..
Institute of Estate Agents, Singapore (https://iea.sg/academy/res/)
- Course Fees ($688 nett)
- Full-day revision classes free-of-charge around 2 weeks before the exams. students can attend as many revision classes free-of-charge as they may require to eventually pass their RES exams.
- Trainers: Chris Koh 30 years, Robin Ooi 20 years, Randy Chan 30 years experience
- Duration is 9 full days of 6hours each = 54 hours
- Worth: $688/54 hours is about $12 per hour
- Course Notes and Lecture training materials in PPT slides (Soft Copy)
- Free IEA Membership for 1 year after the completion of the Course
- Verdict: Course fee is 2nd lowest but I would have to give up 9 days of leave from work to attend this. But there are free revision classes 2 weeks before examination! The Free IEA Membership looks to be a gateway to extending knowledge and networking opportunities too. Thus, this is my final choice !!
For info, the rest of course providers offer almost the same coursework:
- Life Mastery Academy Pte Ltd (www.lma.com.sg) @$798
- Pioneer Training & Consultancy Pte Ltd (www.pioneertraining.org) @$788
- Real Centre Network Pte Ltd (www.realcentrenetwork.com) @$850.20
- Realty International Associates Pte Ltd (www.riaschool.com.sg) @$834.60 – This is Face to Face Only.
- Singapore Estate Agents Association (www.seaa.org.sg) @$808
