Hello all viewers and Members,
I am 16 years old and aspiring to learn more about real estate and all angles involved in the art of selling a home or helping a client buy a home. I am trying to research a career in Real Estate and learn more so that I have an edge on other new real estate agents/brokers once I finish my High School education. I am currently reading books on Real Estate and doing in depth research with my vast computer skills. I would like to become a Real Estate agent after H.S by obtaining my license and a few years later becoming a broker. I feel this lifestyle would be best for me and would make my life very successful and full. If anyone that is involved in real estate would like to give me some insight or help with what I should do to prepare for such a career, please post or email me!

Thank you all for viewing and for your help! Hope to hear from all of you!

I'm not licenced yet (taking classes next month) but while I was in college I worked as an unlicenced assistant and learned a great deal about how it all works by seeing it in action. I also think this will help me get my first few clients as I have some expierience in the field. So my advice to you is to see if you could get a summer or weekend job working in a real estate office or for a realtor!

Good luck!

But is it important to go to college if you want to become an agent and then a broker? Or would just a few college courses do? I dont really think I could handle college =/ Im more focused on making money and working a white collar job at this point

Remember that you will need plenty of money to get yourself started. I realize that I'm no seasoned veteran, but I have already been involved in the whole money layout in starting things for me.

How much are we talking to start out?

A thought or two about college...

No, you don't need it to be a Realtor. Not even a few courses really, I did all my license training on line. But it really is worthwhile to be educated for lots and lots of good reasons, many of which are economic. Real Estate is a people business...everything you learn will help you succeed, even the stuff that "doesn't matter". Art, literature, Babylonian astronomy... even that kind of "junk" just might give you what 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. I think you'd do well to get a degree and some of your classes general ed, not all business classes.

Now, if you have parents willing to sponsor a degree... if you can get through college before you have to worry about the rent and the kids. If you skip it just cause your a little sick of studying Well, that'd be like having dad hand you the keys to a new 'Vette on your sixteenth birthday and saying "No thanks, it's low to the ground and it's too much trouble to wash." ... only like 10 times worse.

As for hou much to start... that's tough. Most of us who say you need lots of money to start actually started on a shoestring ourselves. But we still remember eatin' beans and borrowing rent money now and then. If you could get established before you started paying rent, that would be really nice.

I didn't answer how much did I? No way to... you need to promote yourself a whole bunch before you get any income, the more bucks the better. I can say this, the day you get your license you have to lay down about a grand for MLS dues, lockbox rent, NAR membership and all that...the day you start.

Hmmm. Lots of great information. If i do real estate in the North east liek NY,CT,NJ, and so fourth how much do I pose to make in my first year as an established agent?

The stats overwhelmingly say that you'll lose money in your first year, and in fact never be a success at all and you'll give up not too long after. So that's answer you didn't want to hear.

That said, a few highly motivated agents do well at this and make good to great money. Some from the very beginning. I had over a hundred grand net profit in my first year and that was in Dallas where the sales prices (and therefore commissions) are a lot lower than your part of the country. My goal is to double through each year going forward.

What's the difference between these agents? Hard to say. Plenty of smart hardworking agents fail, and some great agents seem to just breeze by. sales sometimes seems like the hardest easy way to make money in the world but I love it.

One thing he has going for him (hopefully) is that at that young age, he more than likely doesn't have all the financial responsibilities we as old people have.

Your needs at 18-20 are a lot less expensive than needs when you are 35

I am planning on living with my parents for my first 2 years as an agent. (ages 20-21) So that the financial responsabilities are less dampering on my career. And this way I can save for a downpayment on a Loft or something. Do you guys think that this is good ,and makes it a little less stressful getting into real estate at a young age?

wow, Paulie I congratulate you on your maturity and desire to prepare yourself for the road ahead. I wish most 16 year olds had that mine set.

Well I have had a rough time in school and have always loved business and dealing with people. I love being Proffessional and dressing the part. All these factors attracted me to the world of Real Estate Sales. And I am good and starting small business's and EBusiness's at my age. Just trying to eat up as much information as I can so that I could make a nice life for myself and a nice income to go with it. But I know real estate goes deeper then the income, It is also your people skills and other factors. But all this information is helping! I enjoy it and thank all of you. And hope to hear more from others!

Hey Paulie... if you're pretty good with computers why not poke around and find a realtor to do some part time work for. Part time, making flyers, keeping websites up to date, stuff like that. Don't expect much more than gas money, it's not about getting rich it's about learning the industry and making some friends in high places.

Just a thought.

Hmmm, could real estate allow you to own a nice luxury car and maybe a nice house or apartment in NY?

Well it allowed Donald Trump a jet and a penthouse and the whole building between the penthouse and the street...

But the first year you gotta starve and the first 10 years you gotta work 8 days a week.

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.