If you have a little bit of free time on your hands and a 4 year degree then get your brokers license. The 4 year degree gets you out of any work experience requirement for a brokers license and the brokers license lets you belong to the MLS in CA without being a member of the CAR. The brokers license also lets you shop your own mortgages as a mtg broker, effectively giving yourself wholesale rates.

The money you save on 1 RE transaction will more than pay for an entire lifetime of MLS access & license dues.