Hi,

First of all, this forum is wonderful!! : )

I've been the Office Manager/Bookkeeper for a small, family-owned drycleaner for the past 16 years. Prior to that, I was a bookkeeper for a health club, and an accounting assistant for a printing company. But WAAAAAAY back when, right out of high school, I wanted to sell Real Estate. The "working nights and weekends" put me off, as I had a boyfriend and didn't want to give up my free time. Then I got married, had babies and, well, those 'babies' are now 17 and 14. : ) I feel the time is right for a change...and I'm seriously considering my first choice -- Real Estate.

I'll be 48 this year. Is it too late for me to start a totally different career? I've bought and sold my own houses (with the help of a wonderful agent, of course!), am good with numbers, and get along great with people. I've just never been in sales before. Thinking ahead, I've already ordered Jennifer's "Sell With Soul" book. Have I also mentioned I'm enthusiastic?!?!

Thanks in advance for any help you can give!

Sue

Oh my goodness, no! When I read the topic I expected you to say you were in your 70s or something. The average Realtor in 2006 was 57 years old; you've still got 9 years before you're even average.

I think you should go for it!

If real estate is what you want to do, then go for it! Just make sure that you understand what kind of business you are getting yourself into first, sales. Also, make sure you put aside some money to keep your family going until you get off the ground in this business. Expect about a year or two before you are actually making any money. Most importantly, have a plan.

You're only too old if you think you're too old - go for it!

Warning, I am a newbie, do not take my advice

Ok. Just share with you my thinking.
I am 44 years old. Had been an engineer all my life, 20 years,
in silicon valley. The engineering job is good payying, butvery demanding here,
long hours, 300+ emails a day plus work. I don't think I can do
this when I am 50, plus a lot of engineering jobs are now being
outsourced to India. I have made the decision to switch to real
estate because I see a lot of succesful agents in their 60s. I figure it's better start now then later! I had always liked real estate.

Do make sure you have money set a side, from what I hear and read, the first year is tough. 80 percent drop out the first year. Make sure you can tough it out. I belive if your passion is there, and I am, very, I think money will follow.

Just my 1/2 cents.

You should definitely go for it. My advice is to read as much as you can on marketing and sales. I highly recommend "Mastering the Art of Selling Real Estate" by Tom Hopkins. Also the marketing package from MarkMckee.com. Together, you'll spend about $60, but it's worth it. I wish I'd had this stuff when I started three years ago. Good luck!

Go for it! I on the other hand may be a bit young to start, but I still want to get into real estate.

Thanks everyone! I'm going to attend a Real Estate career night in 2 weeks at Hondros College here in the Cleveland area. I'll also be meeting with the agent who sold me my first house 20 years ago (where did THAT time go??). She's helped me over the years buying and selling, knew me before kids, and raised 5 children of her own. So between her experince and the input I receive here and at the career night, I should be able to make a wise decision. My husband will flip when he hears about the "have 1-2 years wages put aside", as we don't have that NOW and I'm working full-time. I don't want money to stop me from pursuing this -- does that sound foolish?? I do have a part-time "work-from-home" job that brings in $400-$800 per month, depending on the time of year. I'll always have that to fall back on.

Decisions, decisions....

Sue

Hey Elecat.. remember that Life Begins in 40 so surely you can go for your goal!

That's right, it does!!

Elecat, what do you do for your "work at home" part-time job? Just curious on how you're bringing in that extra cash by working at home.

I work for a company that audits moving invoices for companies
who relocate their employees. I do preliminary audit work from
home, then enter the data onto their server. I'm paid per-audit,
and am busiest when YOU'RE the busiest -- moving season. Right
now, it's slow, and I may only have 60-70 audits a month. In
the summer and fall months, it's well over 100. More with
special projects. As long as they're in business, I'll always
have that extra income...but it's not enough to live on by
itself.

41 Here. Started when I was 21. Did real estate for about 5 years then got a bit of a dream offer from Apple Computer and took it.

Did the high tech stuff in Silicon Valley with that first gig at Apple then did some things with Radius, Media100, Digital Origin and AutoDesk. Finally quit the rat race and returned to real estate in the late '90s.

What is my point? Do what you want to do, when you want to do it.

I find that being a bit older, mature, whatever you want to call it has made me a much better real estate professional.

My time with various hi-tech firms has taught me how much I hate working the corporate grinder, while learning a great deal about how to run a business and create effective teams. Not to mention all the technology skills I have collected that really give me an edge as an agent.

So, all that experience you have had doing other things is only going to make you better at being an agent.

R

Robert,

Thank you so much! I think I needed to hear that. Honestly, what scares me the most is having the 6-12 months income saved up. I don't have that...not by a long shot. I'll have to keep working part-time at the other jobs to keep the bills paid. The one part-time job, that I do from home, is very flexible. My current full-time job, I could reduce to 2-3 days a week (my job-share partner would pick up the slack)...this would give me several days to build my 'business'. It's funny, but I never thought of being a real estate agent as having my own business. That makes it more attractive to me...and also scarier!

I sure hope not, I'm 50 and just getting started! :-)

Much success to you!! And aren't you just a tiny bit TERRIFIED?!?!

It is scary, but I'm doing it while keeping my day job, so I'm not worried financially. I have found that most new agents coming in now are keeping their current jobs at least for the forseeable future, especially given the current market conditions.

I know my husband would be much happier if I did that, too. I haven't told him the "have 6-12 months salary saved" part. He's very old school -- "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." He knows I want to do something bigger and better with my working life, but also is afraid to rock the boat.

It's just that every time I think about being a Real Estate agent, I get excited. When I stop and think about staying in accounting, sitting at a desk for 8 hours, for the rest of my working life -- I cringe! I keep telling my teenage kids not to ever settle. So why should I??

What?! I hope not! I was 50! Seriously, one of the agents in my office started at 70. She's 80 now and still going strong.

Ok...so I'm not too old. : ) But I've never really 'sold' anything. I'm not pushy (on the contrary, most times), but if I truly believe in something I'll work my butt off to get it...and to convince those around me that it's a great idea, too!
Hopefully that'll help offset the lack of sales experience.

You'll most definately have your own business- and that is the beauty of it. But, you do have to treat it like a job. Write out a job description with daily, weekly and monthly activities just like an employer would give you. Set hours that you will work, just like an employer would. Otherwise it's easy to waste time- and waste money on things that aren't effective.

Thanks Carla! This forum is such a wonderful source of information. I'm thinking some of those hours that I schedule during my day will be just reading from here!

I first considered real estate as a career in my early 20s but went the route of engineering instead. After a few decades of the ups and downs of the aerospace industry my interest in real estate was renewed. My first license was at age 55, split from the "big company" to go on my own at 65. God willing I can do this as long as my mind stays clear and I have physical strength.

To answer your question on the title of the thread: No, you are not too old!

Congratulations!! I realize I'm going to age, no matter WHAT I'm doing with my life, so I'd might as well do something I enjoy, etc. I'm just suffering from all those "what am I getting myself into" doubts. The upfront $$ is scary, as are all the business details that I've never really had to take care of before. But I can learn (I used to think I'd love to get paid to go to school -- learning is the best!) and I do NOT like to give up -- and I DO love a challenge! So we'll see...

Sales is not a PUSHY business when it's done right. There are skills that you learn to help lead a prospect to a favorable decision, but "TELLING" is not selling. If you spend a little time with some Jeffrey Gitomer books, or Zig Ziglar, or some Tom Hopkins, and implement their completely "non-pushy" ideas, your sales abilities will skyrocket.

Pushy salespeople are the ones who THINK that's how to sell, but never study the art of doing it right, so they end up being terrible, patienceless salespeople that give the rest of us a bad name.

The "pushy" salespeople are the ones who turn everyone off. There is a realtor around here who I absolutely ABHOR. He'll tell you he'll sell your dead parent's property for you before they're even in the ground (true, that. he's done it.)

Creepy is not the way to be!

I've always said I wanted to be the kind of salesperson I'D want to work with. Helping and caring, NOT pushy. The Golden Rule is how I've raised my children, and it's what I'll continue to live by. I'm just afraid I'll be too timid to close the deal. That'll come with time, and mentoring and reading. Lots and lots of reading!! : )

Ironic note to my last post...I just gave a business card to someone who was cleaning out his deceased parent's house, which he plans on selling - though the parent died in December, so at least it's not before the funeral.

Well that's different than combing the obituaries.

Actually my real estate teacher got a lively discussion going in class about using the funeral home to get real estate leads. He threw that out there...and the whole class was in an uproar, saying how tacky it was, blah blah blah. He said that you could go to funerals and pass out cards during the viewing. He sat there and let everyone snort in disgust. He even said "You know how the deceased usually has folded hands? What a perfect spot to stick your business cards!" Some people sat there with their mouths open, believing he was "dead" serious. LOL

Then when he knew he had everyone's attention, he said "Now, here's the way to do it without being a hearse chaser. Usually the funeral director gives the family something, a memory book, a booklet with helpful phone numbers, etc...that has advertising for local businesses in the back. Get in on that page, and you'll be an asset rather than a bloodsucker."

Ahhh. I thought it was a pretty good idea myself.

That IS a very good idea! And I'll bet it isn't toooo expensive, either.

So I should just call the local funeral parlor? nice.

No silly, go visit in between viewings.

I brought this topic up in another thread about contacting funeral homes and attorneys that handle estates, but the idea got frowned upon.

I don't see anything wrong with contacting the funeral home itself and asking to be included in the materials they hand out to people.

Cold calling bereaved family members, on the other hand...is kinda gross.

Ahhhem. Unless of course you just happen to be walking by the house months after the funeral and see them emptying it... *cough*

quit following me.

You flatter yourself. I was here first. Who is following whom?

Or you could "farm" in the neighborhood.

Isn't the average age for a realtor 55? Your closer to that then me @ 20. I've heard of too young but I have yet to hear of a agent who's too old.

It's just that it's been YEARS since I've been in school! I've tried to keep up with technology, but my 2 teenager kids will have to help me create a website, because I have ZERO idea where to even begin. I've worked in accounting my whole adult life...the past 16 years with the same company. Same people. Same desk. Starting over, in my opinion, is harder than starting from the beginning. Everyone expects you to have your career all mapped out and settled by the time you're in your 40's. It's a bit scary. : )

Good luck to YOU, by the way!

Actualy, I think we will. I just made a really great postcard, too.

Perky, show us your postcard. I would like to see it. You can probably attach it to a post.

I'll send it to you in an email.

Elecat,

Congrats! I think you'll do well. I'd second the motion on reading Tom Hopkins, "Master the Art of Selling!" Fabulous book! I've become an avid note writer due to Mr. Hopkins, and it has exploded my business! Everyone is here to help! Just ask!

Thanks Betty! I started reading Jennifer's "Sell With Soul" the other day, and today received (via Amazon...LOVE that site!) Gary Keller's "The Millionaire Real Estate Agent". I'll add Tom Hopkins to my "pre-school" reading list. : )

Honestly, the more I read...in books and on this forum...the more excited I get!

Sue

If I am not wrong, Colonel Sanders didnt start Kentucky Fried Chicken till he wasa 67. So at 48, you are still a newbie! I think working/ doing what you enjoy especially after you really have your life to live after the kids is such an awesome opportunity to see where you can really shine. Go for it. It will be a wild ride. You will have happy and sad days. But at the end of the day, as long as you are at peace at what you do, just like Nike said, "Just do it!".

Thank you so much, Loreena!! And by the way, I LOVE your website, and your "signature". How long have you been an agent?

Sue

I'd say you're the right age.

From my experience, no body warms up to or trusts a younger agent as much as the older are simply because age implies experience, wisdom and control.

I've seen it quite a few times where prospects gravitate to the older agents making the younger ones have to work and hone their "game" more.

Now is always the best time to start.

I think you should look at your market as well. I am on the coast so a lot of buyers are second home folks. They tend to be boomers and would rather work with someone like themselves. Around here, it can be to your advantage to be 50 something.

Good point! Actually, I have an appointment Monday with the manager of one of the Realtors I'd be interested in working for.
She's the same age as me, and said the average new agent is 52...and female. So I'm still young!!!