Thanks... that is kick [censored]!

Keep your day job and you should be okay.

I just wanted to add one more thought about selling in a 'brisk' market. It's true that many agents got into the business during the boom times. But I'm not sure the average new agent who got their license during the boom was more successful because of the brisk market. In fact, I was in Washington, DC, when the boom got so booming that it was no longer a boom, but shear madness. Multiple offers with crazy bidding wars, escalation clauses, contracts with all contingencies being tossed out... including financing, home inspection, etc... That was VERY difficult for even very experienced agents to deal with. Were the rising prices nice to see? Of course. Was it 'easy' to work that market? Well, it was nice to be the listing agent. Working with buyers was an absolute nightmare.

While there is no 'easy' time to enter into this profession, I think the 'ideal' time might be in a calm market... neither boom nor bust. But in truth, those destined for success, who do the right things in the right ways the way we are trained to do, will succeed in ANY market!

Good luck!

[quote=Greene]Look, there is always a market. It's either a buyer's market or a seller's market, but it is a market. Our challenge as agents IMHO is in positioning our businesses to take advantage of the market at hand. [/quote]

This is what I tell people who suggest I'm insane/in denial/an idiot for making the career change now. How often does it happen that the inventory of houses is perfectly suited to the market for them?

A group of agents from one brokerage recently did a 6-week seminar designed to bring them back to basics and re-instill the enthusiasm they had as new agents. They sold a LOT of real estate over the course of the program. I figure I just need to do what they did :-)

Always is a good time to get into the real estate market, just you need to have some money saved for at least six months.

Sure and work real estate at night

this is a difficult real estate market, however, real estate is one of those activities that rewards hard work and the ability to learn and change as you make mistakes. if you think you have those two traits you will do well no matter what the market.

I am a new agent but I do believe we are overpaid. How many jobs can you get if you DO NOT have a college degree and still make 65000-100000+ a year, not a whole lot. Most people that are making 100000+ a year has to pay 200000 or more in student loans and even then will have a starting salery of only 25000 per year.(Lawyers, doctors, pilots)It takes years in those industries to make good money and it takes 12-20 years to pay off thier student loans. A REALTOR only has to complete high school and pass a short class. Also, last I checked, most companies have gotten rid of pensions and medical insurance because they are costing the companies too much money.

Well great, I hope you work for a discount company to match your moral aptitude.
Education,debt,other industries, color of underwear, etc., does NOT make a difference as to what someone deserves in pay. What about a natural musician who entertains and earns millions? What about the consultant who has no formal education but earns millions. It is the value both perceived and not perceived, that determines the pay. If I can help generate a million bucks for a million dollars house, I deserve a cut! What about the agent who saves his client hundreds of thousands of dollars and loss revenue by revealing a potential downfall in a site selection? What about foreclosure agents? What about bpo agents? The value of helping someone sell a piece of America, a piece of a local town, a hard to sell property, etc. can be almost priceless. Plus you obviously have forgotten about the potential for hedging against the potential losses of trying to do it yourself. As someone here has in there signature "If you think its expensive hiring a professional, wait until you hire an amateur!" Good luck on the listing presentation when youre asked about commission. How will you justify yours, even when its discounted? Youre a new agent? Keep us posted on who you work for, and how much youre rebating after working with a buyer for three months and paying a referral fee!

Pilot all I have to say is you have your right to your beliefs and I have my right to my bank account being fat.

Look, I am not trying to start a debate, everyone has a right to thier opinion. Let's say prices were up 50 to 100 percent in one year like the prices were in many areas from 2002-2006. In one year your salery doubled for the same amount of work. The paperwork and advertiseing prices did not change, the rest was pure profit. What was the cost of living increase durring those years?...something like 3-5%. My point is, like it or not, your commissions checks are more now than what they were in 2000 when prices were lower. yes prices are down in some areas but they still have not fallen down below 2000 numbers. I'm a new agent but have been investing in real estate for over 10 years. Markets will go up and down but in the end real estate allways goes back up, and therefore so does your salery (at least more than the cost of living index)
As agents we must learn to be good with handling our personal finance so that when times are bad we have money and investment properties avalable to live off of.

This Industry has been waiting for someone who'll work for Free and compensate for the rest of us Good-for-Nothing; Money-Grubbing; Blood-Sucking Leeches.

I'm glad Our Benefactor has finally arrived !

No offense intended nor taken. Good luck in INDIANA !

what if car dealers raised prices by 10 percent so they could pay thier salesmen (like realtors) a 10-15 percent commission, would you think that the price of a car is too much and complain? I bet most people would. I look at this from both sides. I am open minded about everything. This is not my first career, but my third. I am a little different with my opinions because I am doing this PART TIME for FUN. I do not work for a discount company (don't believe in them), and would not low ball anything. The problem in this industry is the booming FSBO. I understand your stress and hope everyone does well and makes as much as they can. Just trying to explain why people think agents are over paid.

Well, one thing, you could use some of that commission you say you don't deserve and take some classes - maybe you can learn how to spell their, salary, and always, to name a few.

You do make a valid point: it is too easy to become a real estate agent. I think one should have a solid grasp of the English language.

I personally think movie stars get paid way too much. Why don't you tell Brad Pitt he should cut his salery (sic). How about those athletes - they get paid millions of dollars to run around chasing a ball. And they do so darn much GOOD for us, too, keeping us entertained and all.

The fact is, most agents do not make anywhere near 100,000 a year - most new agents fail by the end of their first year and give up. The ones who are making six figures are the ones who have worked hard, educated themselves, and EARNED the RIGHT to that commission.

The top producer in our office is ALWAYS taking continuing education classes. ALWAYS.

The ones who are content with their high school diploma and the required continuing ed for licensing are the ones who are crying about how dead the market is...how hard it is to get deals, etc.

Agents who make six figures in THIS market clearly deserve it because they've worked hard to become experts in their field.

It's very easy to say "You earn too much" than it is to say "I need to push myself to do better."

Pilot, what percentage of agents in your area are making $100K a year? That's NET I mean. After expenses.

And of those who are netting $100K+/year, how many years experience do they average? How many hours do they work each week?

Any idea?

And do you have any idea what percentage of real estate agents quit during their first year?

Just curious.