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As a property manager in Michigan, your duties may include finding and screening prospective tenants for a property, negotiating the lease terms. You could also be responsible for rent collection, property inspection, maintenance, repair, providing updates, and communicating with the property owner.
According to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, to become a property manager in Michigan, you must be licensed as either a real estate broker or a salesperson (who works under the supervision of an employer broker). The salesperson license requires you to be at least 18 years old, complete 40-hour of pre-license education, and pass the real estate exam.
You also need to submit an application and a fee of $88 to through the MiPLUS online portal and go through a background check. The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs is responsible for issuing real estate licenses and they also have the duty to ensure public interest can be safeguarded.
In this guide, I will focus on the steps on getting the “real estate salesperson” license, so you may begin your property management by joining a licensed firm. You’ll also find out the income updates and other FAQs about this profession.
But before we start, I want to give a brief disclaimer. This post is not intended as legal advice or state/federal real estate training. It is for general information only. Please always follow your State laws and best practices.
A Table Summary to Become a Property Manager in Michigan
| Eligibility | Education | Exam | Fees |
|---|---|---|---|
| At least 18 years of age Have a valid Social Security Number Hold a high school diploma or equivalent | 40 hours of pre-license courses 18 hours of continuing education every 3 year | 3 hours writing time 115 questions Required passing score is 70% | Pre-licensing courses $275 approximately Application fee $88 Exam fee $79 |
6 Steps Become a Property Manager in Michigan
Step 1: Meet the eligibility requirement
- Citizen of the United States or lawfully admitted alien
- At least 18 years of age
- Have a valid Social Security Number
- Hold a high school diploma or equivalent
Step 2: Complete the pre-license education
You are required to take 40 hours of course from an approved education provider. The objective of the courses is to equip with you different real estate concept – for example, real estate law, types of interest and ownership in real estate, home ownership, legal descriptions, titles, liens, taxes, encumbrances, listing advertising, appraisal, finance, closings, and professional code of ethics.
According to the licensing requirement, four hours of the course needs to cover Civil Rights Law and Equal Opportunity in Housing.
When choosing a real estate school, I prefer one where you could take the courses online. This way, you could study at your own pace whenever and wherever. The CE Shop is a trustworthy real estate education provider. You may click here to see whether they offer pre-licensing course in your state. (**)
Step 3: Register with the MI Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs
You need to submit an online application through the Michigan Professional Licensing User System (MiPLUS). First, you will register an online account with them. The system is very convenient to use. It allows you apply/renew a license, track the status, receive electronic notifications.
The Department recommends using a desktop/laptop and Internet Explorer for the registration.
There is a $88 application fee and you may pay them with a credit/debit card.
If you are a non-resident of Michigan, you also need to submit the Consent to Service of Process form.
Step 4: Pass the Michigan Real Estate Salesperson Examination
It is to test your knowledge on the real estate topics that are covered in the pre-licensing course. The exam is administered by the PSI and you’ll need to register with them before writing the exam. There is a fee of $79.
The Michigan Real Estate Salesperson Exam has 115 questions. It is divided into the National Portion and State Portion. The required passing score is 70% and you’ll be given 3 hours to write it.
I’ll include more details about the exam, and some sample questions later in the post.
Step 5: Work for a Property Management Company
After you pass the exam, you must work with a property management company who holds the broker license in Michigan. This is the firm who would sponsor your real estate license.
However, not all brokerage provide property management services to their clients. Most brokerages focus only on the buy-sell side of the business. So make sure you find one that specializes in property management in Michigan.
At the time that I’m writing this guide, I can see online job postings looking for property managers in Michigan. The demand is mainly from Raleigh and Charlotte, and some in Greensboro, Asheville, Bennett.
You may search through job forums such as ZipRecruiter, Glassdoor, or LinkedIn.
Step 6: Maintain the real estate license
You are required to renew the Michigan real estate license every three years. Each year, the license cycle starts on November 1st through Oct 31st. Similar to the initial application process, you will submit the online application through MiPlus and there is a $78 renewal fee.
You also need to take 18 credit hours of continuing education, of which 2 hours of the CE must cover statutes, rules, and court cases in each year of a license cycle.
Here’s a snippet of what a property manager thinks about this career
“I’ve been a property manager for six years, and for three years before that, I was an admin and then an assistant property manager. Being a property manager is an excellent career. The schedules are long days but flexible. If you are a parent, you will be able to attend your kid’s functions as long as you are willing to work late to make up. It’s not a micro-managed industry, so you must have the drive and high standards all on your own, else you won’t last very long. The mistakes are bigger and cost more money than other real estate lines, but the pay is great, and you can create the life balance you need if you work at it.
My advice to someone wanting to get into property management is to learn everything you can as soon as you can. Take advantage of resources and lean on experience people’s knowledge and experience.”
– Nandi Cavil, Commercial Property Manager at Cushman & Wakefield
Here’s another post where you can read more on Nandi’s thoughts about the property management profession. In there, you can find my research and analysis on this career path and valuable insights from other property managers.
FAQ on property management career in Michigan
How long does it take to become a property manager in Michigan?
It takes approximately four months to become a property manager in Michigan. But it also depends on the time it takes you to complete the pre-licensing course, exam, background check, application, and get employed by a licensed property management firm.
You may speed up in getting in becoming a property manager by taking online courses. This way, you’ll have the flexibility to finish the pre-licensing education at a quicker pace.
How much does it cost to become a property manager in Michigan?
It costs approximately $442 to become a property manager in Michigan. That is the cost to get the real estate broker license and here is the breakdown:
- Pre-licensing courses $275 approximately (with exam prep)
- Application fee $88
- Exam fee $79
Can you become a property manager with a felony in Michigan?
An applicant with a felony may not obtain a real estate license to becoming a property manager if the Michigan Department determines that the offense is too severe. They would typically be more alarmed on incidents that impact the applicant’s honesty, trustworthiness, character, and integrity.
The Department will evaluate each case independently. They may require you to provide further documents and explanation about the incident. So, you may want to confirm with the Department of Licensing before you jump through all the hoops on studying and exam.
Are there any exceptions to the real estate license requirement to work as property manager in Michigan?
You do not need a real estate license if you are just managing your own properties. But you must be licensed as either a real estate broker or real estate salesperson if you are managing properties for other people.
Owners of rental property (landlords) who rent or lease their own real estate are not required to be licensed nor are the employees of the property owners who rent or lease their employer’s properties in the owner’s name …
A real estate license is required with the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs, Bureau of Professional Licensing 517-241-0199 for “property management” (third parties who rent or lease real property for others for a fee). Property managers must be licensed as either real estate salespersons (who work through an employing broker) or real estate brokers (who may work independently). “
Quote from michigan.gov – Landlord
How Much do Property Manager Make in Michigan?
Property managers in Michigan make an average annual income of $101,315. It typically range between $87,953 and $116,564. (*) Your earning as a property manager would depend on your skills, knowledge and experience in managing the properties. The type and number of real estate in your managing portfolio may also affect your compensation.
At the beginning phase of your property management career, you could be working as an assistant for a property manager. So your earning could be limited at that time.
But once you have developed the necessary skillset and demonstrated your ability to work independently, there should be a significant improvement to your earning.
(*) Source: Salary.com April 27, 2021
Helpful ideas to build a property management career in Michigan
Tip#1: Network with other real estate professionals
You may consider joining the National Association of Residential Property Managers (NARPM). This allows you to connect with other property managers, thus learn from their valuable experience and share ideas with one another. You will also find updates on the housing markets, changes to the laws and regulations.
Another group you may consider is the Michigan REALTORS. It consists of mostly real estate professionals. If you plan to run your own property management company, this can be a great referral source for your business.
Tip #2: Keep up to date with the real estate laws and best practices
Property managers are constantly tasked with new responsibilities and challenges. With the rise of online rental applications, environmental health and safety requirements, it’s important for property managers to be up-to-date on what their renters are looking for in a home.
You may also consider taking the following courses to equip yourself with the property management knowledge. They are offered by Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM). IREM is an affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS®.
- Managing Residential Properties (**)
- Managing Commercial Properties (**)
- Managing Condominium and Homeowners Associations (**)
Even though they are not part of the pre-license education requirement, your enhanced knowledge will help to set you apart from others in the industry.
Tip#3: Start your own property management company
Rather than working for someone else, you may consider getting a real estate broker license and start a property management company. This allows you to hire other licensed property managers, thus, lead to a scalable business model.
However, running a company is very different from working as an employed property manager. You need to figure out all the different aspects of the business, such as marketing, branding, prospecting, hiring, training, and accounting.
The expenses will also be a lot higher. In addition to the broker license, you also need to account for business insurance, staff’s salary and benefits, office rent, furniture, office supplies, software, many more.
To obtain a real estate broker license in Michigan, you must:
- Have at least 3 years of active real estate work experience;
- Complete 90 hours of pre-license courses from an approved education provider;
- Pass the Michigan Real Estate Broker Exam;
- Submit a Broker Application and a $143 fee through MiPLUS;
- Complete the 18 hours of CE and license renewal requirement
Here’s a complete guide on getting a real estate broker license in Michigan.
I have more questions about the real estate license in Michigan, where can I get help?
You could contact the Department of Licensing at:
- Bureau of Professional Licensing PO Box 30670, Lansing, MI 48909
- Telephone: (517) 241-9288
- BPLHelp@michigan.gov
- www.michigan.gov/bpl
Since you are reading up to this point, I bet you must be interested in becoming a property manager. If that requires you to get a real estate salesperson license in your state, your first step is to complete the pre-license education. You should select one that has an excellent reputation and a long-term track record of satisfying students. The Colibri is exactly that! You may click here to check it out yourself. (**)
(**) Affiliate Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you. Our company, JCHQ Publishing will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking on the link. Please understand that we include them based on our experience or the research on these companies or products, and we recommend them because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions we make if you decide to buy something through the links. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.
Disclaimer: The information in this post is for general information only, and not intend to provide any advice. They are subjected to change without any notice, and not guaranteed to be error-free. For full and exact details, please contact the Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing.
Reference:
- Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) (source)
- Bureau of Labor Statistics – Real Estate Agents (source)
- Real Trends: 2018 Real Trends 500 by Volume (source)
- trulia.com – Real Estate Guides for Michigan (source)
- World Population Review- Population of Cities in Michigan (source)
- Salary.com – Property Manager in Michigan (source)
- Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM) (source)
