Hello, im new around here. Well to start im in 10th grade.

I want to be a real estate agent when I grow up, and I was just wondering if theres anything ill need to do for that? Im of course going to go to college. Im already taking a business class. But i was just wondering if they make enough money to live on? 60k-80k? Anything I should know. =]

Thanks

I would major in some sort of business related major. ie, small business, business admin., marketing(that would be a good one). The most important thing that I can think of is, do you like sales? I am still in class, and not an agent yet, but I have noticed that a lot of people who would never ever take a sales type job are in my class. The "failure" rate for new agents is 80% are done within 18 months. Research as much as you can, and try out a sales job or two while in college.
Yes, you can make good money. But from what I can tell, it all has to do with your determination and sales mentality.
Good luck!

Things to do list:

1. Find an appraiser, offer to help out part time. Pricing is the most important thing in Real Estate and working with an appraiser will give you key insights. This will give you confidence and credibility when you get started in the business.

2. Find a top agent in your market. Offer to role play scripts with team members once a week, you can play the role of buyer or seller. (If they don't know what you're talking about, find someone who does.)

3. Pay attention in Algebra and Geometry. You will absolutely use these things as an agent.

4. Get involved in your community. Get a reputation as a 'go to' person in volunteer and team oriented activities. Impress your teachers, your friends' parents, your neighbors, people at church, the folks who work with your parents. More likely than not your first sales will come from this group of people.

5. Major in Marketing and Finance. Take hard classes that deal with business case studies.

6. Read the Think A Million section of the Millionaire Real Estate Agent by Gary Keller... read sales and success material for an hour a day (Authors like Brian Tracy, Ken Blanchard, Napoleon Hill and Bill Maxwell.

7. Learn good test taking skills, the Real Estate Exam is nothing but a high level reading comprehension test. Understand the test taking concepts that will get you through the SAT (600+ each) and you should do OK.

Thanks alot for the information.

To answer your original question:

Real Estate definitely has it's perks. It is a sales career though. If you think you can prove that you are the best choice to others, then it might work for you. There is a lot of potential to make very good money in this career also. I know agents that make $300,000 - $500,000 per year in commissions. They didn't get there overnight though. It takes discipline to run your own business. And that is exactly what you are doing when you're an agent. The average real estate agent only makes about $30,000/year. That is just under broke. This is because most of the agents don't treat it like a business. They treat it like a job. You really have to want to get into it and motivate yourself. I am only 24 years old, but I knew I wanted to do this since I was 16 years old too. When I was 18, I took all my pre-licensing courses and was ready to take the exam. I never ended up persuing it at the time. So 4 years later, I really had to put myself into it because it was something I wanted to do. If you have any questions, feel free to email me if you want. Good luck with everything.

Keep asking questions. There is no better way to learn.

I highly recommend college but it is not required. In most states you can get your license when you are 18 years old taking evening classes for two or three months for under $500. As others have mentioned get an internship or just offer your services to a local agent who is doing well. Even at 18 with a license you can sit open houses and deliver flyers, help with mailings etc...

I'm an 36 year old agent with a college degree who just put his 19 year old brother through Realtor school. I use him during his summer and winter breaks from college. When he graduates he will have a huge leg up on new agents who are just entering the business at 21-25

I don't know of any state that won't let you get your real estate license at 18 years old. I think that's the minimum age everywhere.

I definitely don't think college will help in your real estate career. I think learning in the field and experience will be the best ways to get going. Just my opinion though.

I'm a student right now at UT, and I have a real estate course that I'm currently studying for the liscensing test. As always, parents and teachers will tell you to stay in school, but I'm seriously considering dropping out and persuing real estate full time... This is what I've always wanted to do and I am serious about it. Does it make any difference when starting out if you're only 19 and without a college degree? Just wondering other people's opinions... Thanks:)

Tymel: get a part time job as an unlicensed real estate assistant while still in high school; get licensed while in college

In school, you learn alot of things besides just knowledge. A college education is not a requirement for success but it may help you, it probably cant hurt.

Find a major that you are interested in, business maybe. You know you can be in real estate and go to school right? You really dont have to choose one or the other.

I worked a full-time job with overtime while going to school. It's possible, but you wont have a life. My friends go shopping on weekends while I spend time in computer labs. I choose to spend my limited time productively.

I started real estate school when I was 18 years old (year 2000) right out of high school. I never pursued it so I went back to real estate school in 2004 (age 22) and now I am 24 years old. I don't think it matters how old you are to know what you're doing. You just have to have the motivation to do it. You have to push yourself to be able to run your own business and that's basically what it is. I don't think it matters if you have a degree in college or not. I think you will learn most from being around the industry more than anything else. You can make lots of money in this business, but you could also go broke real quick. Like stated above, most people can't make it past their first year in real estate. If you have any questions, feel free to email me and I will try to help you. I am young so I know how it is. Being young is another drawback in this business too. Many people will not take you serious. You just have to show them your level of knowledge and blow them away! Good luck with everything.

rwilson99 was 100% correct about getting an assistant job with an appraiser. That's what I did and I learned more with that job in a few months than I could have in 3 years as a new agent by myself. I now have a referral relationship with the appraiser I worked for. It worked well for both of us. The experience was priceless. Who knows you might enjoy appraising and take that direction in your career.

Stay in school it will give you a leg up on most real estate agents.