I cant wait! :p

Paulie -

It is true Real Estate can afford you a nice life with luxury cars, big homes, etc. However if that is your motivation to get into this business you ought to reconsider. Your main focus should be to help other people realize their dream and facilitate that process. Do a good job, pay attention to details, and keep your nose to the grindstone and you will reap the reward. It may take some time. Over the last couple of decades I have noticed a serious decline in the level of customer service across most every industry, and I personally feel that is the key to one's success. If you build it they will come.

As for college - definately go to school if you can! I have a B.S. in marketing (go UT Vols) and it has been a huge asset in understanding the world of business. But like Mark Twain said - I never let my schooling get in the way of my education. I had one hell of a good time trying to cram 4 years of college into 5 1/2 years. But even after tons of frat parties and several Pink Floyd concerts I have a few functional brain cells (luckily I put some in the freezer for when I got out of school)

ggwwttre is right - you never know when "you need to make an intellegent comment someday while talking around a dinner table with 3 people that own million dollar homes and are thinking of trading up."

Personally my good fortunes started when I got married, set in some roots, and started a family. It's wierd too because I became less and less retentive yet at the same time more and more succesful. Perhaps my concept of success changed. Two people rowing in the same direction will more quickly get you where you want to go. Synergy - the whole is greater than the sum of it's parts.

Sorry for drifting off into such a philosophical tangent. In any event - good luck in all your endeavors!

Good feedback for him, Jollyman.

When Pauli logged onto this board of adults, he was thinking like an adult, and he will consider your advice from an adult's point of view. So he will not be turned off by your philosophy. He's here for information that will help him have a good life, a satisfying career, and of course that car he mentioned.

reality check.....

real estate can be exciting and rewarding when the markets are good. that is not the case now, at least for sales, appraisals, etc.

If you are determined to work in the field, consider getting education in areas of the field that are more stable, such as property management.

there's nothing exciting about a job that won't make you any money. choose an industry that the US Dep't. of Labor has identified as having stable or good growth prospects over the next five years.

Go for it Paulie. You'll be a star.

maybe Paulie will create a star BPO mill?? LOL

see new thread by Shana in "shooting the breeze"

I know this is an old topic but i'm basically in the same boat as paulie but i'm just a bit older. Its awesome to that you were only 16 and you had this sort of mind set when I was 16 I had no idea of what I wanted to do with the rest of my life. Now i'm 23 I plan on starting my classes some time before the summer. I didn't attend college but i'm pretty intelligent i'm hoping I could still become successful in this business after being out of school for so long and just trying to jump in the business of real estate. Im really just looking for some words of encouragement from some people who's been there before. I also want to know after I take the classes then pass the test how would I go about seeking a place at a real estate agency or a place working as an agent under a broker? One more thing for paulie I would like to know how things turned out for you if you dont mind me asking. Ill take emails also if anyone would like to reach out privately.