I admire your passion for this business. I can sense it in your email.

Believe in your self and remember you are starting up a business. Do you have a good business plan in plan? What type of marketing are you doing? I am a huge fan of all sorts of online marketing, both regular pay per click and organic search rankings.

Diversify your business: learn how to work with investors, regular owner occ sellers and buyers...find a mentor.

Don't give up. There is alot of business out there! Be patient and persistent, and work this business like a business!

Firstly well done on taking the step and going for it that takes guts!
Dont be afraid of your inexperience be honest and find an advantage that is unique to you (there is nothing worse then a sales person pretending they are more experienced then they are, but in saying that act like a professional who has just undertaken and exciting new venture).

Study your market and the sales process and do not try and wing it unless you are an excellent persuader. Get the knowledge you need to be able to confidently know what to say and how to say it to get the results you need. Then get active.

And the worst number in any business is 1 (1 lead) so hey you are on your way.

Rich

Very good responses from veteran members and new members alike. Be careful that you do not spend all your time with just these two prospects. Like some earlier responses indicated. Having the client commit or more on. If they are not ready to list their house then thank them and keep in touch with them a few months down the line. As far as the buyer or sellers motivation. Maybe you can tell them that now is a very good time to buy with so much more inventory on the market and sellers willing to give concessions to make the deal attractive. Also what are you doing to get to know your market? Are you driving you neighborhood, taking broker tours or visiting open houses? If you really want to do this you will find a way. Just be smart and determined about it. Also how much is your broker helping your in all this? I too started Real Estate part time. But, after over a 1 year with no sales and a potential one in the works. I quit my full time job and finally had a sale. Now I am trying to keep the ball rolling and have another sale in the works and 1 or 2 listings that might be headed my way. Is this where I would like to be? No, but it is sure exciting to finally see my plan unfolding. Keep up the good work and start concentrating on building your client data base. If you would like some ideas to supplement your income give me a PM and I would be more then happy to share with you.

I think you may consider working for a heavy hitter for awhile. Google "Your City Real Estate" and call the people who come up in the first twenty positions and see if they are hiring Buyer's agents. You might be able to get in a position where you will be handed viable leads and have some mentoring to help with the learning curve. 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing!

Good luck! hang in there and don't listen to the nay sayers. They say Tom Cruise got turned down a bunch of times before he got his first part in a movie. Quitters never win and winners never quit! Corney but true.

A year without any sales. hmmm
That's gotta be tough.

tell us what you do to find buyers/sellers?

Be very, very careful about this. Too much "rah, rah" on this forum. Look at SALES. How many sales were there in your target market? Look at LISTINGS. How many listings in your target market? Check for sales during the same period of time last year. In my area the VOLUME is down 35%. Now look and see if the Realtor population has dropped. If it hasn't dropped and volume is way down. Don't quit your day job. In certain situations you can prospect until the cows come home. Won't matter if half can't get a loan and the other half won't budge. You might get a sale or two jawboning fence sitters, but I have to tell you that most Realtor's need to respect the force of sheer numbers far more than they do. Starting out full-time with major head winds is daunting and perhaps unwise. KNOW your market. KNOW the risks. KNOW THE NUMBERS and if it doesn't look good, make sure plan B is in place.

Good luck.

I agree with this 110%.

Sooner or later, you may have to cut your loses. It simply makes no sense to stay in a career or business where you are not making money. EVEN IF there is income coming from another job or from a spouse's income.

You say these are promising prospects, but won't commit. Then they are anything BUT promising.

In my own opinion, a promising prospect to me is...

1.) A Buyer who has submitted an offer. Even if it doesn't work out on a particular property, for the most part they are ready to make a move.

2.) A Seller who signed a Listing Contract. Not saying that the seller is completely committed to do what needs to be done to sell their home, but unless they are signing paperwork, they are not a promising prospect.

It is hard to do RE part-time, but not impossible.
I'm licensed since Jan. this year, I work a government full time job, manage a vineyard distance away and an investment business on the side, and I'm a single mother with one 12yo. So far I've closed one side, put one under contract, have a listing came in today, and done dozens of BPO's...all what I can say is that you've got to put 100% of yourself into the work - not 100% time, but consentrate all the energy, creativity, people skills...into the RE work when you're working it. My first client so far referred me to at least five other prospects. I guess she was impressed enought when working with me that she started to spread words out. My point is that don't hope for things to happen next, but work the fullest what you have and you'll get something.

Go get MOTIVATED people. It's easier than you think, when you think outside the box. It's a number game, so get a thousand of them and you'll get a couple of listing and sales. You need training and experience. You get that by knocking on doors and talk to people..Good luck...

I am an owner of a Coldwell Banker Franchise and I have one question for you; what has your broker done for you to help you grow? What training have you taken through Coldwell Banker University your local MLS. What RE related books have you read? I too started out part-time, worked phones after work "opportunity time"; when it was quiet I developed my marketing resume (book) telling who I was, intro to my family, etc... info about my real estate experience (in beginning) go off of your offices success - have no's so the prospect knows what a strong person you are in your knowledge but also take credit for what your company has accomplished. When you are a new agent you think you have to work with whom ever contacts you. Learn that you don't; time is money! And wasted time is a loss of money. You ARE not a tour guide and the real estate office is not a library. At 6 months in the business I was asked to speak at convention on a panel as a Buyer Agent Expert. I couldn't believe my broker wanted me to do this; but I was passionate about working with Buyers (15 yrs ago). I was told I knew just as much about BA as anyone of those seasoned agents on the panel. And you know what I did, my passion showed and afterward the person with the most individuals lined up to ask questions and to get a business card to keep in touch and get advise from was me. Find your niche, your passion. Set goals and don't get discouraged. It will come. If you work your plan and invest in yourself, it will come..... Funny never though I'd want to be a top Listing Agent, but I am and I don't work with Buyers anymore unless they are referred to me. I have agents working on my team who work w/my buyers off my listings. Partner up with an experienced top producing Listing agent and spread your wings. You'll learn a lot and more than likely become successful. Menotring is so important and the successful agents love to empower other agents if they are worth their salt.

"Mike Ferry... look him up."
+1

If you've been in the biz for a year and no sales there's only one reason: You are not working properly. This business is actually extremely easy... in theory. But do the following and you will be fine:

EITHER BE ON AN APPOINTMENT OR BE LOOKING FOR ONE.

But what about paying your bills?

Your husband must make a nice salary, since he's able to support the family.
Otherwise, I hope you have savings doesn't it take 30-45 days for a buyer to complete the underwriting and loan approval process.

Aren't you worried about the winter slow down?