New York Real Estate License School Online

Pass the Course Final Exam

After you complete the 77 hours of coursework, you must meet the NYDOS requirement of passing the pre-license course final exam with a score of 70% or higher.

Pass the New York Real Estate Exam

Next, you must take and pass both the state and national portions of the New York Salesperson License Examination with a score of 70% or higher. You will have 90 minutes to complete the multiple-choice exam. There are 75 questions on your exam, which reflect the content in the 77-hour Pre-Licensing curriculum.

In New York, exam results are reported as either passed or failed. Test takers will not receive a numerical score after completing their test.

Choose a Sponsoring Broker

To become a real estate salesperson, licensees will need to be sponsored by an active New York broker. This person will serve as your mentor as you start your new career.

Here are some questions to consider during your search for a sponsoring broker:

• What is their overall reputation?
• Are they advanced in their specialty?
• Are they up-to-date with the latest rules and regulations?
• To what extent do they support their agents?
• What kind of commission structure do they offer? Are there benefits?
• What quality of leads and marketing material do they offer their agents?
• Is there potential to grow within the brokerage?

Complete the License Application

Finally, you will need to apply for a license with the New York Department of State (DOS). You may mail in your application or apply online. Additionally, if you plan on paying by credit card with Master Card or Visa, you must complete a credit card authorization form that will need to be submitted with your application.

Bureau of Educational Standards
P.O. Box 22001
Albany, NY 12201-2001

Dowland the Application Form 

Dowland the Credit Card Application Form 

Real Estate Agent Salary in New York

A real estate salary in New York consistently ranks among the highest in the country for real estate agents, but income varies dramatically based on experience, location within the state, and transaction volume.

A few NY-specific data points:

• The New York State average salary is $104,492 per year, based on roughly 3,000 reported salaries (Indeed)
• Most New York real estate agents earn between $65,600 (25th percentile) and $109,400 (75th percentile) per year, with top earners (90th percentile) reaching $140,583 (ZipRecruiter)

For a deeper look at how earnings compare across states and what drives the wide income range, read our real estate agent salary guide.

What Is the Average Real Estate Commission in New York?

The average real estate commission in New York is around 5.69% of the home's sale price, according to a survey from Clever Real Estate. This percentage is almost identical to the national average of 5.70%. That total is typically split between the listing agent and the buyer's agent, with each side getting roughly 2.85%.

Commission rates vary noticeably by region within the state:

• Manhattan and the Hamptons: rates often run 5% to 6% on luxury properties
• Most of New York State: 5% to 6% total commission
• Brooklyn (Brooklyn MLS): can be 3% to 4% total, since the Brooklyn MLS doesn't require listing brokers to offer buyer-agent compensation
• Upstate markets: generally, fall within the 5% to 6% range

Average Home Price in New York Real Estate Market

The average home price in New York is $435,000, up 3.8% year-over-year, per the New York State Association of REALTORS® (NYSAR). That's a steady, single-digit pace of appreciation, which is a meaningful slowdown from the double-digit jumps of 2021–2022, but prices haven't fallen.

Statewide averages don’t cover the significant regional differences:

• Manhattan: $1.3 million median sale price (Redfin)
• Westchester County: $750,000 (Redfin)
• Buffalo: $180,000 (Redfin)
• Syracuse: $179,000 (Redfin)
• Rochester: $160,000 (Redfin)
• Allegany County (rural upstate): $190,000 (Redfin)

New York Real Estate Market Overview

The current New York real estate market is shaped by tight inventory, moderating price growth, and longer days on market than the frenzied 2021–2022 peak. Most recently, NYSAR reported 24,386 homes for sale statewide, a 0.8% drop from the prior year, and pending sales slipped 3.3% year-over-year.

Mortgage rates remain a primary lever. The 30-year fixed averaged 6.18% in March 2026, down from 6.65% a year earlier, helping keep buyer demand steady despite inventory constraints.

For new agents, this market rewards a strong pricing strategy and presentation. Homes priced and marketed correctly still sell quickly; overpriced or under-marketed listings stay on the market longer. 

Typical Sales Volume for New York Real Estate Agents

A single "typical" annual sales volume for New York agents doesn’t exist. Production depends widely on experience, market, and effort. According to the 2025 NAR Member Profile, the typical REALTOR® closed 10 transaction sides in 2024 with a median sales volume of $2.5 million. 

Here’s the breakdown by experience:

• 2 years or less of experience: median 3 transactions, $500,000 in volume
• 3 to 5 years: median 8 transactions, $1.6 million in volume
• 6 to 15 years: median 11 transactions, $3.2 million in volume
• 16+ years: median 10 transactions, $2.6 million in volume

In New York specifically, transaction volume gets distorted by price points. NYSAR reported 6,574 statewide closed sales in March alone. The gap between average and top performers usually comes down to consistent prospecting, niche expertise, and a strong referral pipeline rather than raw talent.

Average Time to Contract and Close in New York

The full timeline from listing to closed sale in New York runs longer than in most states. New York transactions typically involve more parties than transactions elsewhere, such as attorneys for both the buyer and seller, title companies, and in New York City, co-op or condo board approvals. That structure adds time but also tends to reduce post-contract surprises.

Typical timelines look like this:

• Listing to contract (statewide): median 57 days (Redfin)
• Contract to closing: the national average in 2025 was 42 days, with a typical range of 30 to 60 days (Rocket Mortgage). 

Additional New York Real Estate Market Factors Impacting Income

Beyond home prices and commission rates, several New York-specific dynamics shape what you'll earn:

• Co-op and condo specialization: A large share of NYC inventory is co-ops and condos, which involve board approvals, building rules, and longer transaction timelines than traditional single-family sales. Agents who learn co-op processes early have a major advantage.
• Rentals as an entry path: Many new NYC agents start in rentals before moving to sales. Rental commissions are smaller (typically one month's rent or 12% to 15% of annual rent), but they close faster and help build referrals.
• Brokerage splits and fees: Commission splits range from 50/50 to 90/10 depending on the brokerage and your experience. Some firms also charge desk fees, technology fees, or transaction fees that eat into take-home pay.
• Geographic submarkets: New York is essentially several different markets stitched together. Long Island, Manhattan, the Hudson Valley, the Capital Region, and Buffalo each operate differently. Choosing where to focus matters as much as choosing whether to pursue real estate at all.
• Sponsoring broker support: Some brokerages provide leads, training, marketing, and tech; others charge agents for everything and leave them to fend for themselves. The right fit can mean thousands of dollars in first-year income.

How to Get Your New York Real Estate License Online

The New York Department of State (NYDOS) requires completion of the following steps to order to receive a Real Estate Salesperson License in New York.

1. Complete 77 Hours of Approved Education
2. Pass the Course Final Exam
3. Pass the New York Real Estate Exam
4. Choose a Sponsoring Broker
5. Complete the Licensing Application

To get a New York real estate license online, you must first complete the 77-Hour New York Sales Associate License Course.

Next, you need to pass both the course final exam the New York Real Estate Exam with a score of 70% or higher. Finally, you will need to apply for your license online and choose a sponsoring broker to work under. After completing these steps, you can become a salesperson and represent buyers and sellers in the real estate transaction process.

New York Department of State
123 William Street
New York, NY 10038
(518) 474-4429

How Do I Get My Real Estate License In New York?

To earn your real estate license in New York State, you'll need to complete 77 hours of prelicense education with an approved provider, pass the New York State licensing exam, find a sponsoring broker, and complete the licensing application.

I Am a Licensed Real Estate Agent in Another State. Will New York Recognize My License?

New York State used to have reciprocity agreements with a few other states, but that came to an end as of February 1, 2023.

New York State no longer offers real estate license reciprocity, regardless of home state, unless you're a qualifying military spouse. You can submit a written request for an education waiver, but if granted, that only allows you to skip the pre-license course requirement. You'll still need to undergo the rest of the licensing process.

Those with a bachelor's degree with a concentration in real estate are more likely to qualify for the waiver. If you're asking for an education waiver based on another state's pre-license course, you're probably going to have a difficult time obtaining one. Few states have courses that are long enough; NYSDOS requires the courses to be at least as long as the New York State course (77 hours for salespersons and 152 hours for brokers). NYSDOS also won't accept home study or correspondence programs. Courses that meet these requirements are still not automatically accepted. They'll be evaluated based on a detailed outline of the topics and hours.

How Difficult Is The New York Real Estate Licensing Exam?

The pass rate for the New York State Real Estate Salesperson Exam is 70%. In other words, it's a challenging test, but with enough preparation, most people will be able to pass on the first try. We recommend that you study seriously and take practice tests like the ones we offer with our exam prep.

The exam consists of 75 multiple-choice questions, and the subject matter is based on your pre-license curriculum. You'll be given 90 minutes to complete the exam. A passing score is just over 70% - you need to answer 53 of the 75 questions correctly. You'll learn your score immediately after you've completed the exam.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Real Estate License in New York?

On average, it takes anywhere from 3-5 months to obtain a real estate license in New York.

However, the amount of time it takes to obtain a real estate license depends on whether the student takes the pre-license coursework online or in a classroom and how much time the student has to dedicate to studying and progressing through their classes.

How Much Does It Cost to Get a New York Real Estate License?

Depending on the real estate school a hopeful licensee decides to attend, it costs between $200 and $425 to get a New York real estate license. The most expensive and vital purchase is that of a real estate school. The cost of pre-license courses depends on whether a student chooses to attend in-person classes or enrolls in an online course. Here are the required fees: