re: Thoughts on real estate as a profession

In Alabama, it's 60 hours pre license and 30 hours post license. If you read the material and take the tests, it will take that long. Even if your reading speed and retention are phenomenal, you'll likely spend at least 15 hours in review.

Also, don't expect any of those classes to teach you frick all about selling real estate. Get a good mentor as soon as you can and stick to him/her like glue. Also, you might consider taking an assistant's role while you're getting your license. It will give you an idea of what the job entails -- and put a little money in your pocket -- before you go spending $2,000 to get started.