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.

In today's market it takes a lot more hard work than ever before to make it in this business. I am not shooting it down, I wish it for them, but they need to know it's not easy. Lot's of hard work needs to be put in this business the first year.

All the points here or valid.


You could come to this site and read and post and make your experience WAY better, especially if you get with a broker that can't give you one on one time and good training.

The thing about this business is that you might wait and delay and then run into a developer or engineer at a golf course or function, needing to buy or sell 100 acres commercial, etc. Thats the exciting thing I like. Super Realtor has a great story for ya. I talk about him with my friends and family and I don't even know the guy! There are ups and downs but if you stay focused and learn the trade you will have success. It is also about personality. You've gotta get in peoples faces, talk to people, befriend people, and know your stuff. I'm fortunate enough to be in one of the least affected areas of the "slow market". Our property values went up about 2 percent from 06 through 07 and our DOM, days on the market, went down about 10, to around 90.

go for it. It is a good thing to have some money set aside if you can or if youre married be sure your spouce can help you foot the bills for a while. But I've seen a few agents, one on here a few months back, have sellers and or buyers lined up waiting on them to get their license! But it is a business. As usual you get great advice on this forum. I havent found a better forum.

MichiganRealtor, with all due respect, letting someone know it's not easy is different than saying "Unless you're doing it full time don't even bother wasting your money."

One of the agents in my office got her first listing from someone at her full time job - and btw, that listing is now sold. She had it listed less than two weeks before it was under contract.

In a lot of ways real estate can be a total crap shoot - and some things may happen because you were in the right place at the right time.

Lots of people say floor time is a waste of time - yet I have a house under contract for a Sunday morning floor time call that came in.

Others on this board say blogging is a waste of time, yet I have gotten several buyer leads, sold one house, and got two listings from my blogging efforts.

Some say that holding open houses is a waste of time too, yet one agent in my office has closed three deals over the summer as a result of open houses.

Realtor.com enhanced listings is a waste of money to some - yet I got a call today from someone who saw one of my listings on REALTOR.com and they called me directly (rather than the office for the floor time person to get the lead) to schedule a showing tomorrow.

Whether something is "Wasting your time or money" or not can really a matter of personal preference and experience - but it's not the same for everyone. It's very subjective.

Perky, it's tough out there and it's not fair for them not to know all the facts. Being a new agent takes a lot of effort, time and training. It's not like it use to be, granted they make get a floor call or referral, but their has to be effort put towards the first year of RE. In a different time I would say yes do it part-time, but now with media driven buyers and sellers, so much more goes into being a good TRAINED Realtor.

Perky, you got that right, I make full time pay with out working more then 20 hrs a week.

and my day is already done by 8am

I don't believe in part time professionals, for me they are just half professionals. If you want to be good you need to live with your job and you need to learn every day. I am always scared when I understand that I will be served by somebody on part time.

Show me something easy on this world wow. It is not easy to be good.

And I am scared by more than a few of the "full time" real estate agents I have come across through the years.

They ignore or do not understand the law regarding deposit money, they ignore the fact that escrow money is not for them to use to pay their bills, they misrepresent their sales, they don't understand basic courtesy and organization skills, they forget appointments, they can not spell, they don't know the town their listing is in...I could go on.

"Full time" does NOT necessarily equal "professional" or even "good."

What is full time anyway??

I think we confuse full time with giving a full effort in whatever you do.I don't care if I am vacuuming my floor I am going to try to do it in the most smartest,effecient way possible.

Often times people only put forth true effort when people are looking.Integrity is doing the right thing when knowone else is watching.There was a survey of the top 1 percent of income earners in the nation in different fields.The interviewer was looking into commonalities of these people to define what makes them successfull.

What they found was suprising.Education and competency and image wasn't the top item.Integrity was the one item everyone who did business with these top earners said they had.

When they said something they did it.No excuses,no bs,they didn't always guarantee a sale or outcome but you knew by doing business with them there WORD meant something.

I beleive today people are looking for integrity,character,honor and doing what you say you are going to do.It's nice to not have to say to yourself am I going to give less today because knowone is looking.Don't talk about yourself but have other people say good things about you through your works.

I use to see full time agents work 50 hour weeks eating donuts and playing computer games and shuffling papers with minimal results.Then I also say top producers work 20 to 30 hours btu there was very little waste with there time and there focus and effort was clear.

So I beleive it's more about the level of effort and intensity with the time you have then the actual amount of time itself that leads to success.

^^^
Excellent post, super realtor.

I want to work full time too.

These 60 hour weeks are killing me.

An agent starting out needs to do a few key things:

* Realize this is a sales career. That means you need to generate prospects and convert them to leads. The emphasis is on YOU. Your company may have systems to generate leads but you will live or die based on your own efforts.

* Shortcuts don't work. Every year I see agents try to buy some magic prospect system to generate business. Often it is some lead development company that claims they have XX number of leads in your area. There is no shortcut. Don't listen to the pitches and don't buy anyone's product that they claim is the magic solution to prospecting. I'll be blunt: NONE of these work (and saying that will trigger a firestorm).

* You need to pick a couple methods that you learn about in school: FSBOs, expired listings, open houses, neighborhood farming, sphere of influence farming, etc. Then, you need to do your choices for a minimum of a year. Most don't see any success until they are a few months into a method.

* Having a personal web site and blogging can be helpful but it involves far more time and energy for success than most people can do. And, even if you have a great site or blog, it takes time and, often, advertising to get traffic. Generally speaking, few will find it and it is hard to offer good, relevant local content (I'm in an mls of 900+ and fewer than 10 have good local content). Blogging is not easy either (everyone should look at Perky's blog and site --- she has done it right but few can duplicate that level of relevant content). My point is not to forget a site or blog but understand for most agents it is not a magic bullet.

* If you are starting out, you need training. You don't know how to do much. Take every ounce of training offered by your company. Then, start looking for what is offered by your state and local association. You should plan on, after your initial training, a course at least every other month. The networking will be almost as valuable as the course content.

* Read a good guide on starting in the business. One I really like is by Patti Brotherton. She has been at the very top of both the COLDWELL BANKER & PRUDENTIAL systems. She wrote this book for her son. It is a guide to beginning the business. You can find it here: http://www.eproven.com/agentbook.html

* Keep reading and implementing the tools from good books. Jennifer Allan on this blog has an excellent book. You can get it here: http://www.amazon.com/Sell-Soul-Agents-E...99569762&sr=8-1

* If you are part of a national franchise, attend your national convention. It will enthuse you and the training is usually excellent.

It is not feasible to expect many people to begin this career at a full time status. Eventually, I'd love to be doing this full time but in order to even get started up and running, I need money and hence require some source of income. This translates into me having less time to commit to my agent career. All that means is that when I do work on my agent career, I have to work very intensely for a shorter amount of time and to get "creative" in my efforts.

The problem with "part-time" is customer expectations. Clients truly expect their agent to be available 24/7. That is not realistic. But, can you reasonably tell them that you will not be available every weekday from 8 am until 5 pm and also on Sundays?

The problem is that buyers and sellers could care less that you can't afford to be full time. They only care about what impacts them.

That is the tension. Some agents cope by lying to their clients, not telling them they have another job. If the client discovers what is going on, they will usually drop the agent. Others tell the truth and lose people.

One option is to pair up with another agent whose schedule is opposite yours. For instance, in the above example you'd want someone who works their separate job in the evenings and weekends. Have a separate phone number and transfer to the agent that is "active".

staggart, hence my "creative" reply. I work from home. That means my schedule is very flexible. ;-)

I am looking at going to a school and want to know if it would be a good one. http://www.utahrealestateschool.com/pre-licensing.htm If some of you could look at this site and tell me if it looks like a good site I would appreciate it. I will look into some of these books that are out there and see what I can learn. Alot of good info here and I thank you all for it.

I'm one of the "part-timers"...some days the job I've held for 17 years is part-time, other days real estate is. But I'm always learning and always "thinking" real estate. Today is my 6-month anniversary. One listing, 2 offers on that house (he's still waiting for the perfect one - if there is such a thing..lol) and a few buyers but no commission check yet. I have an offer on the table right now, and should have an answer by the end of the day (cross you fingers and toes!).

But yes, it's very hard and time-consuming...and if I quit, I'd hate myself forever. I also have the opportunity to become a top producer's buyer's agent...and I'm about to jump on it. That would allow me to get rid of the 17-yr job, and give this career my all...and maybe stop working 12-15 hr days!!

Good luck!!

There is sooooooo much patronizing on these boards it is pathetic. I am going to you the truth. Real Estate is a tough business that requires a lot of hard work, prospecting, knowledge, money, time, energy, confidence, thick skin and yes...salemanship.

With the right plan, you can be very successful. Fail in a few of these areas and you are doomed to a few over-priced listings, a couple of lousy offers, getting jerked around by some looky lous then spit out into the sea of part time Reeeelators that peck around on the internet all day instead of closing real estate transactions!

I believe the very first reply in this thread was from me, and I said almost the same thing. It's a tough business.

??

Oh, wait, you just mean the parts people have said that you don't particularly agree with.

Nobody on here has lied or misled with their answers. We're all speaking from our own experiences and from what we've observed from other agents.

Yet, YOU are going to tell him the truth. Please.

Real Estate is a full contact sport. It has great rewards if you are good at it...but can eat you up if you are too slow to react. If you want to try it out, I would suggest joining a team, that will give you the support structure you will need to get started.

You better be prepared for some hard punches. If you can get yourself to stand up again and again you might be cut out for this business.

The fun is that you are your own boss, that is also the curse. Time management is very important or you will start to work 80 hours a week in no time flat.

The rewards can be great. The old 80/20 rule applies.

Hey, anyone that says sales is easy is either a liar or has never sold. Chances are you won't make it right off the bat, but if you actually try, and keep pulling yourself up from failures you'll likely make it eventually. Thats sales, RE or otherwise, its persistance.

Salesmanship is definitely a hard characteristic to master. It takes putting yourself in the same situation frequently and learning how respond to the different variables. If youre quick to adapt and have uber(much) confidence to connect with large numbers of people and nurture those connections into relationships, then you have the fundamentals to succeed. In addition you must know have great time management, money management, and marketing skills.

Having that said, knowing how to use advantages of internet social networking will also prove as a great way to build relationships that turn into sales. However, nothing will ever replace power of personal contact and connection.

When I started out in the early 90's the market was pretty rough here in So Cal. I kept my full-time job, and worked as a Realtor part-time. I worked the swing shift at my regular job, so I was able to make the juggling act work.

After getting off work in the morning, I'd jam home, eat, shower, put on a tie and be at my real estate office by noon. I'd work for 4-6 hours doing real estate, and then head back home to get some sleep and get ready to start the whole routine over again the next day.

After a year, I was making more money part-time in real estate than I was with my regular job, so at that point I jumped into the business full-time, and as they say... The rest is history.

So the moral of the story is, "Part-time can work if you want it bad enough." With hard work and dedication to your business, full-time status won't be too far away. Good luck.

I don't know if it's any different where you are or not, but a great deal of new agents in my area start off by working with more experienced agents under their team. This is a great way to get the experience you need, and if the person you're working with is a busy agent, you shouldn't have a problem getting enough business for starters.

Good luck!

Hi Everyone:
I'm not yet licensed, but have started working "assisting" another agent. Right now, since I'm not licensed, I am limited in what I can do for her. I will have my license in a couple of weeks, which will mean I can do a lot more. This is something that I can defintely do part-time while I learn the biz. Once I feel ready to make the leap, I will have some experience under my belt. I would actually love to bring on another agent that I can assist, the goal being to "assist" enough to earn a living that will pay my bills, then allow me to quit my regular day job.

does any one know anyone who is a RE Assistant (licensed NOT just clerical help)?
thanks for all your great information everyone. This is a great forum.
lisaB

the secretary at my old office was also a personal assistant.

she had more knowledge in her pinky about real estate than many of us who were in the office...dare I say all of us. smart cookie.

she knew the trends, she knew the market, she knew the law. she could whip up a contract in no time flat, she coached me more than once when I was a brand new noob...

she did marketing, she did contracts, she did it all except talk with the customers.

I was a SAHM for a few years, but divorce forced me back to work. The 9-5 shift isn't for me anymore. Going into RE full-time (i.e., no other job/income) wasn't an option since I haven't enough money to survive. Being an Assistant Real Estate Agent will give me an almost immediate income since I'm not relying on my own leads and contacts. I won't get rich earning only part of someone else's commissions, but it is a great way to get my foot in the door and gain some experience from a mentor who will be able to focus her energies on teaching me while I help her get more clients through the door. Right now, she's so busy that leads are slipping through. In this situation, we both win. I was very lucky to get this opportunity from her (who was my Realtor last Summer).

The question that you need to ask yourself, is do you want a 'job' in real estate or do you want to own your own business? Because the answer to that question will determine how much risk and how much potential your real estate career will have.

If you are truly serious about running your own real estate business, then it starts with your initial mindset. You need to think big and have a vision for where you want your business to be five years from now. Then, you need to work backwards to what you need to do everyday to get there.

When I started my real estate career 7 years ago, I had to wait tables 6 nights a week, to pay for the consistent marketing that I had to commit to, in order for my real estate business to go the next level. This is not an industry to 'dip your toe into the water', you either need to completely jump in, or be comfortable with a safe employee/assistant role. Once again, it's all about where you want YOUR business and YOUR quality of life to be in 5 years.

If you have an entrepreneurial mindset, and realize that you are the product, and are committed to becoming a real estate expert, the sky is the limit! That is why I genuinely can say that the Keller Williams Realty agent model is the best place for agents that want a career worth having, a business worth running and a life worth living. It's not just about how much commissions you make, but rather, how is your quality of life. If you are making $200,000 a year, but can not spend any time with your family or doing the things you want to do, then what's the point?

Especially in these present shifting market conditions, only the agents who think like business owners and value education, technology and most importantly...cutomer service, will be the ones to survive and thrive!

The below link is to a blog and website that are solely designed to share with new and experienced agents the reasons for why KW is the fastest growing and most innovative real estate company in North America.

copied from the above post>>>> fastest growing and most innovative real estate company in North America.



exit says the same thing.

I will treat this as my business, not a job. I will not be an employee, so the more involved in the business I am, the better I will do financially. We will be more like a real estate team really.

As a single mom, I cannot wait tables all night since I have no one at home to watch my son. Right now, learning the business WHILE making some extra money with which to prepare myself for "the big leap" is a smart move (IMHO).

You also can look at being an assistant as a business. You are an independent contractor and set your own rules, rates, etc. There are plenty of VA's out there doing just that (virtual assistants) and doing quite well. Overall, I do not feel that is for me. I truly want to have a career/business in real estate. At least for me, starting out "assisting" was a great opportunity that I couldn't pass up.

Everyone is different and everyone has different goals. Mine is to have a balanced life of career and family. Ultimately, my son will always come first. I feel working for myself is the best way to ensure that.

It sure is innovative! I wish I could figure out how to get thousands of agents to fork over 6% of their hard earned commission to the mother ship, while at the same time they do all the advertising for me! What a deal. I wish I had a dollar for everytime somebody asked me if I was Keller or Mr Williams! They had never heard of it. They would say who is that??? Ain't that Hank Williams Brother? No..just a guy in a black suit in Austin handing out kool-aid by the tanker load. Sorry to all the KW fans out there. I just like a company who spits out a little of their profits on advertising instead of making there agents explain who they are. You know, like Re-Max, Cen21, Banker, to name a few. BigC

It's a tough business for sure. Make sure you have enough capital saved at the start to make it until you can get established. However, it's also a GREAT business because generally your rewards are on par with your efforts.

There is huge income potential in this business. I love working in the real estate industry. I would ask yourself what you are most passionate about and go with that!