I'm 24 and want to start a carrier in Real Estate but after reading some of the posts on here I'm not to sure I want to. All I have read on this forum is bad stuff about being a Agent. Is there any positive stuff about being an Agent? It seems like when someone asks a question there are 10 people to say something negative about it and maybe 1 to say something positive. If this is how the Real Estate business is then maybe it is not for me.

Dear Brood,

Real estate IS a tough business. It is neither easy nor cheap to get into. You will have to be prepared to work hard and long (figure six months to a year) before receiving your first paycheck, but expect to spend a LOT of money getting "legal" (licensing classes, getting your license, NAR dues, local board dues, MLS dues, gas and vehicle expenses, lockbox key fees, and several other startup business expenses like ink for your printer, paper, supplies, etc.)

You will come across agents who will be helpful and willing to teach you the ropes and you will come across agents who will stab you in the back as quickly as looking at you.

You will have to work with all sorts of people - buyers who are wonderful and know what they want, buyers who will give you the run around for months, sellers who take a chance on your green-ness, and who will then either be great or accuse you of being a greedy good for nothing later on.

This business requires passion and dedication and without it you will fail. It is NOT for the faint of heart.

I LOVE BEING AN AGENT. I love my office, I love meeting people and taking them to find "the perfect" house. Nothing is more exciting than to receive via fax a fully executed agreement of sale, unless it is walking away from the closing table with a check for your broker, which will translate into a check for you.

However, I know that the check doesn't come easy.

Couldn't put it much better than Perky. It's definitely an up-and-down industry, not only financially, but emotionally. For those who stay committed and constantly try to learn, the business will always be there.

This is a different way to make a living, especially if you haven't had a career in sales and haven't ever worked strictly on commission. I'm glad I didn't know about the highs and lows of the business before I started, because I probably wouldn't have moved forward. You wanted to know about some positive aspects, well, here's a few: Flexible schedule with time off when you want/ need it, and you can typically work from anywhere with the right technology, meeting great people and creating friendships with clients, helping buyers and sellers achieve their goals which is fulfilling, good compensation with unlimited income, etc. Those are just a few, however, unless you hit the ground running with lots of deals right away, which isn't typical, making decent money takes time and most agents can't or won't stick with it while they're building their business.

I love what I do and wish I would have started in my 20s instead of late 30s, but then again, my life experience and years working in other industries has helped me prepare to work with many different types of people now, and handle stressful situations.

JUST DO IT!

If you try it and don't like it then there you have your answer.

Don't what if yourself to death and psyche yourself out.If you do that you will live your life in regret.

I too am an aspiring agent and I do understand why you are "nervous" - I've felt that way too while doing my due diligence about this career choice.

So sit down and make a list of all the pros and cons you read, and then step back and look at it. Some of the "cons" probably aren't THAT big of a deal. I mean think about it, with EVERY job you will have pros and cons (Doctors = malpractice suits, Teachers = hard to discipline students, Lawyers = too much too list! LOL). For me, even after reading the cons, the pros still get my heart racing and bring a smile to my face. Also, think about who you are talking to (and reading!) - not everyone is the "positive type".

I enjoy reading Perky's posts here - she is honest about what it is really like without that discouraging tone others may have. Carrealtor wrote a GREAT "pros" list for you (and me). I like to read Jennifer Allan's (sell with soul book) blogs. She thinks a lot of the way I do about what the real estate biz is all about and has inspired me alot. I also have read 6 "real estate career" books so far and found lots of helpful (and realistic) info. So find someone who you can believe in and follow their words. The right mentor will do what Perky and Jennifer do for me - realism with inspriation.

You also have to REALLY WANT IT - you know what they say, "nothing worth having is ever easy" (or something to that effect).

Now you do have to face the financial reality that you might not be making much for while (and spending a bit) but I look at it like an unpaid "internship". I am a teacher by trade and I went FIVE months with no salary while student teaching (and like most teachers, spend alot out of my own pocket during that time too). Think about how much you will be learning in say 5 months......even if you don't make a dime....I bet it will be comparable to the information in a college course (or two or three)

If that part stresses you too much, then I know alot of new realtors do take a very part time low-stress job just to help out a bit - maybe that's an option for you.

Anyway, think of this as a career, an investment in your future, and like most professionals you must start out slow, learn as much as you can and be conscientious about constantly getting better.

And I've thought about "what if I do all this and I fail anyway?"? Well, I will know that I went into it as grounded as I could and gave it my all, so there will be no regrets. Also, I will have undoubtedly learned SO MUCH that maybe I could use that knowledge in another position related to real estate.

If you still have doubts, then keep reading and researching and talking to people. You will know when you are ready (either to go forward or another direction)

Sorry this got so long!

Good luck!

Just remember, you will not be starting a cateer in Real Estate, you will be opening a small business. Without passion and dedication, you will fail.

There are alot of negative aspects of the industry. You will learn it. Alot of the negativity posted is to educate other agents about a situation. Negativity is a reality in this business.

If negative comments bother you, it likely is not an industry for you. Wait til you write a fair offer on a property and the listing agent is offended by the offer. Wait til a buyer you have been working with for months goes and signs up with a builder only to find out later.

Real Estate is like fishing. You bait your hook, put it in the water, and work the bites, When the time comes you reel in the catch. Much like fish, the clients are not going to jump out of the water and beg you to take them home and eat them. What bait works today, is not going to work tomorrow.

Once you get past the reality check of this business, it can be a very rewarding career. I treat this position with the highest respect: alot of trust is placed on me and I can do nothing except for being extraordinary for every client I serve. In this season of my life, I cant think of anything better to do.

Number 1 mistake by new agents is "Paralysis by analysis" meaning so your so busy getting ready to be busy and cover every scenario that your not out there CREATING business.

Look you want to talk pressure how about mixed use commercial buildouts of 50 to 100 million or more after it's finished.I typically make about 400 to 500k in commissions off of each deal.These developers have been doing this that I work for for over 30 plus years and it can be intimidating.

You are going to make mistakes and stubles while you learn,as your knowledge grows you will make smaller and less noticeable mistakes.If someone know more than me about something I just shut up and listen to them talk and learn.

At some point you just have to jump in and go for it.The big rewards in life come from big risks.

Thanks for your posts everyone. I do have a question and it might have been answered on here 100 times now but I still am going to ask :). As an Agent do you have to work say "on your own" Or can you work for a business?

You can do pretty much whatever your want depending on the broker you choose to work with. Some brokers don't care what you do with your time, others expect you to work some floor time.

As a real estate agent you are in business for yourself, you are actually your own boss though you will have to be under the authority of the broker.

If you think about getting into this business part-time don't waste your time or money even trying. Your first year will be lots of hard work, networking, advertising,education,and the list goes on. Some days you will think what have I done, and why did I do this to myself, but then it all comes together and the sun comes out and the clouds go away. Make sure you have thick skin, because crying won't help. One more thing, once you fall into this business, you'll never want to leave, even with all the liars that you will be faced with. Good Luck!

I know more than a few successful part time agents.

Yes, but how many years of experience do they have? This post is for someone new.

They were always part time.

It's possible to succeed part time. Besides, you don't even know what other job he has/is considering before you shot it down. Someone else on here is a bus driver - which means he probably only works a couple hours a day - and half of that is before 8:00 in the morning.