I have for about the past 5 years contemplated real estate but never really gave any serious thought until recently. I am married & have 3 children 14y, 7y & a 5 month old but I have tons of support. I have been discouraged by most saying my baby is too young, I will treat this as a job and put my little one in day care part time (MWF ot T/TH). I am very dedicated and self motivated and feel I can do this but need advice. It was suggested by one realtor to become a buyers agent until my little one becomes older, I am open to this however she is the only one to suggest this others have said to wait. I know this is personal decision but wanted to get advice from those who do this daily. Thanks for your advice!!!!

Asanders,

I have a couple of questions;
1. I am assuming that you want to do this full time and as you said you are willing to put your child in daycare to achieve your goals.
2. How is your current market?
3. Do you currently have a full/part time job?
4. Do you need immediate income?
5. Do you have start up costs to achieve your goals?
6. What company are you thinking about? Discount? Traditional?

I have more but would like the following answers to get a better idea of your position.

Maldune

Just so you know, I did real estate prior to having children and now my baby is almost 7 months old. I started my brokerage firm, became the sole realtor of my company during my pregnancy. Can it be done? Definitely! Is it easy? Of course not! Because my baby is my priority, my business is scheduled around his time.

I work by appointments only because I can only give extraordinary service to a few clients at a time. All of my past and current clients have no problems working with me that way.

It can be done if you put a business plan/ model around your family/ priorities. If the income is more important, (and that's definitely okay) then you might need to sacrifice a little family time so as long as you are gone some of the time, not All of the time.

Most of us realtors that run this as a business set our off days (be it Sundays/ Mondays, etc.). And we definitely need to take a break to recharge and recoup.

So, yes, it definitely can be done.

1. Yes I want to do it full time.

2. I live in Houston, TX I have been told by a few that the market is good contrary to what everyone is saying.

3. To make a long story short we opened a business agreed to a lease that was out of our league and we have sold the business to the owners of the bldg. I stay on to manage the business and receive a % of the gross but only have to spend about 10 hours a week, more in summer but it is still flexible. I have good flexibility because I have asst mgrs who can run the business for me. So with that said if need be I can stop working at that business and do this solely if necessary.

4. Trying to save our business has depleted everything we had and although my husband has consistent benefits/income it would help since I was not able to pay myself a paycheck. But I can make it temporarily w/o immediate income since I have some now coming in.

5. We can squeeze about 2k for this venture. The cost of the class and prep here is $880. Not sure if $1200 is enough for licenses, business cards, etc.

6. I am thinking about traditional and becoming a buyers agent only because this is what was recommended. I have heard that Keller Williams has awesome training here in Houston I am still investigating companies.

Love the reply post from fatmaxxv.

Dont you love how so many people will always let you know why you shouldn't do the things you really want.

The only opinion you should listen to is yours and your husbands and other people who have achieved what you want and you certainly seem to be driven and clicked on.

Good luck

I also have had to be a parent to very young children and do real estate. Why someone would suggest you focus on buyers in that situation is beyond me.

Should you get into this business now? It will be tough. I have been kicking around in real estate since 1988. I just came back to the business after living in the UK for 2 years. I have not been back at it for over 6 months and have not closed a deal yet. I am not loosing business to other agents (I have been on over a dozen listing appointments. They simply decided not to list.) It is simply a market that has everyone worried to make a move. At least in my area.

Be ready to work without any income for an extended period. In my area, I am suggesting that agents who start up now, should have at least 18 months of money to pay the basic bills.

If you already have a support network to get those bills paid, go for it.

R