Hey guy's I need some inspiring advice. I live in Austin Texas and have been working with a friend of mine for 4 years. I've been basically a glorified handyman for all this time, working mostly for restaurants but have done residental as well.

In the last 2 years I've been trying to get my Real Estate license. I failed the test a couple times, then took another 4 month break from it. Now I have until Feburary to pass the exam and really want to do it.

I don't want to get to far into details but in the end, my friend who I have been working for just dropped out of the maintenance business because we haven't been getting much work in the last 4 months. So I am out of work, although he owes me enough money for me to survive for about 2 months.

Now I'm at a crossroads. I have given myself 3 options to go from here.

1) I can go off on my own doing maintenance, but the problem is I really don't like doing it. But it's a good skill to have and I do what I have to do to survive.

2) I can just suck it up and get a 9-5 job that barely pays the bills.

3) I can pass this test and take a risk diving into real estate, dedicate all my time to get my first couple sales.

I'm getting ready for all 3 but I need to make a decision on what I want to do soon. I ordered business cards for going out on my own. I am studying for my test, and I have been applying for jobs.

I'm definitely going to take the test again, I don't want to let it slip away. But with the economy right now I'm not really sure what direction I should take.

My issue here is that whatever I choose it's going to be full time, I don't want to do anything part time I just want to go full blast with whatever I decide to do.

any advice would help, also input from anyone who is here in Austin would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Yezzo:

I don't think your #3 option is very viable. While it may be a good plan in the long run to get your R.E. License you also need to understand a couple things about starting in this business. First, you will need some start up cash. There are a number of expenses that are due early on, not just the license but board dues and MLS access fees just to name a few (there are many more). Second, It typically takes a matter of months before you will have closed your first transaction. Unfortunately I don't think your current financial position can support that goal.

Option 1 may not be very viable either, if there isn't enough work for your prior employer to keep you on then it will be difficult to find enough work to start that business either.

This leaves your option of getting a regular job, assuming they are hiring in your area. If you do that there would then be income to live on while you get your license and phase into the real estate business, initially on a part time basis.

Mr. Foreclosure

If you haven't passed the test yet, that worries me. That aside, if you don't have 6 months to a year in living expenses in the bank, plus $2-4,000 for start up costs, then you need to wait.

While Austin's market is still good, it is not uncommon for agents to go 6+ months before their first transaction.

There are plenty of great paying jobs in Austin, so I would suggest getting solidly on your feet that way. You could even find a good job as a real estate assistant, either for office work, scouting deals for an investor-driven brokerage or handling tasks for an REO agent. Also, builders are still hiring on-sight representatives and pay well.

Also, I see you already ordered business cards for option #3 (real estate). Have you already picked a brokerage? Why or how did you manage to order them first. Seems out of order.

Additionally - DO NOT give out a business card to ANYONE claiming (or implying) to be a licensed real estate agent or Realtor until you have passed the test, and paid your NAR, TAR and ABoR dues. You could end your real estate career before it ever begins.

I assume the cards you ordered are for option 1 (contract handyman maintenance). If by chance they were for option 3 (real estate), then please note the advice from TB in TX, it could be a real career stopper to misrepresent your status.

I think if it were me I would stay in the handyman business. You should evaluate right now if you can go out on your own and survive, such as do you have enough leads/clients that you can get work with?

If not, the smarter option would probably be to simply get a full-time job working for someone as a handyman. Maybe an apartment complex where you can get discounted rent and get paid. Wherever it is I am sure you will get paid better than an entry level 9-5 because this is a skilled position that not everyone can do.

You can do this while studying for your state exam. Work full-time and study your butt off in the evening and on weekends. Learn the material and take as many practice tests as possible so you can ace the test.

Then you can start out in real estate part time while you still have a full time job until you really decide to take the plunge into RE full time.

The business cards are for the maintenance business.

Thanks for confirming that, per my previous post that was what I had assumed.

Thanks for the advice. I sent out a few resumes but I have decided just to go with option #1 for now. I didn't like doing it but I realized it was because my boss had trouble paying me. I'll pass the test then when the time is right I'll move into real estate.

Also by being self employed I can move my schedule around if I need to later, instead of being tied down to a 9-5 job.

So if any of you agents in Austin have an inspection list with minor repairs let me know