Real estate is a viable career in New Jersey for people who can handle commission-based income and want control over their schedule. The barrier to entry is low: a 75-hour pre-license course, the state exam, and a background check, typically five to eight weeks and under $700 total. The hard part is the first year. Nine out of ten Absolute Real Estate School graduates close their first transaction within three months of getting licensed. Here's what the career actually looks