I'm 32 and I have 3 kids, ages 14, 14 and 6. I've wanted to get into real estate as an agent for a very long time. I knew deep down that until now, I just could not have juggled the two. I'm not even sure if I can now, but I feel a little more at ease now that my kids are getting older (older ones can watch the younger one in the evenings if need-be while dad is at work) and our youngest will be going off to school all day in the fall.

The next classes in my area start at the beginning of September and I REALLY want to start classes then. My problem is, I'm nervous as heck to jump into a career! I've been a stay at home mom for the past 6 years (work at home) and I think what I'm lacking is confidence to do this. Basically, I'm scared. I know I could be great at it though, I just need a bit of confidence. Maybe once I start taking classes. I've just been out of the "work force" for so long!

Then I worry about not being around for the kids. The older ones don't need me as much anymore, but our youngest will still be involved in soccer games, gymnastics, etc. and I will still need to be her "taxi", lol. I'm not envisioning becoming a Millionaire soon or anything, I just want to contribute to the family income more and Real Estate has always appealed to me. Can you really succeed in real estate with kids? Or does it just not mix?

Becky

My Mom has done it. Has been doing it for over 30 years. I'm the youngest, and she had me about 4 or 5 years into RE. In other words, just when she really started doing well.

By the time I hit the after-school activity age, between her, my Dad, and the other parents, they had a pretty good carpool thing going on. The most important thing was though, that my parents had a couple of contigency plans. Who I could call, or the school could, in case of an emergency for me, or if something came up with either of them.

I would say with your kids ages, it should be pretty do-able. My office is pretty flexible with parents, and when I have "floor duty" it is understood that on school days, I need to leave by 3:00.

I have not yet had many reasons to schedule appointments with folks in the evenings. Though my hubby is mad taht I'm showing one of my listings on Sunday. Oh well. LOL

I know exactly how you feel. I am 29 and have a 10 and 11 years old. My son is very active in baseball and all of the things my daughter is involved in is too long to list.

I started my classes in February, passed the exam in May,joined the NAR last week and am waiting on my business cards. I am excited and nervous. I work full-time but am looking into working part-time and doing RE full-time.

I have to believe that RE and Mommy can co-exist because I have been wanting to do this since we bought our house five years ago. I have no illusions of being the next donald trump my goal is to have something with more flexibility than being tied to a desk from 8-5, five days a week, missing field trips and classroom parties.

Good luck!!!!

A lot of us are in the same boat. I've got 3 kids and started my real estate career when my youngest was 11. I'm now just starting my third year and things are really going well. But it has been tough to juggle kids, work, husband, pets, house, school, clients, inspections, walkthroughs, closings, you name it!!, especially since my manager only hires full time agents. If my assigned floor time conflicts with my family schedule, its up to me to find someone to replace me. I work at least 40 hours a week, but have an erratic schedule. There are weeks I've been so busy I did not have a single full day off for several weeks. But I realize that you've "got to make hay while the sun shines" ( I thinks that's the way the saying goes!!) and I'm thankful I've got business to attend to.

However, If I had it all to do again, I would probably start out as a part time licensed assistant to a top producer. Having never sold a thing in my life as well as having had a very structured career as a MBA financial analyst I found myself bouncing off the walls for my first nine months. I thought real estate would be a snap after my former career. Wrong!! I think I would have gotten off the ground quicker if I was able to see how the best agents work and time manage.

Best of luck with your new career. This forum is great for support and answering questions.

That's why I decided to join the brokerage that provides a mentoring program. For a year I will be shadowing a top producer at our office while trying to get my own business going. I will have it tough too, I have a 16 month old girl.

We should form RE Moms support thread... LOL

Great idea , but I'll bet there would be a lot of RE dads lurking!!! ...we girls just seem to have too much fun when we start chatting, sharing and supporting.

That's true..

Becky...I could have just wrote your post. Im about the same age with 3 kids as well, 11, 6 and 4. Ive also mostly been a stay at home mom (except for an ebay business and getting a marketing degree) for the past 6 years. All my kids are now in school (my 4 yr old is in her last year of preschool) so will all be gone most of the day. I thought now would be a good time to get my feet wet in the career that I have ALWAYS wanted to do.

I just got my license last week and deciding where to hang my hat right now. Im starting off slow since we dont rely on my income. I dont feel as stressed about making money right now. Maybe thats good...or bad depending on how you look at it.

Good luck!

Check out this site...there are HUNDREDS of real estate Moms (and Dads!).

http://activerain.com/groups/agentmom

My kids are 14 and 17, and are behind me 100%. I'm waiting to take my exam, and hope to have my license by mid-August. Yes, we CAN do both...and do both very well!

Good luck to you!