Hi everything, I'm about to finish up all my work for real estate soon and will be taking the exam this summer.

My situation is, I am planning on commuting to school from Houston Tx to Austin Tx which is about 2 and a half hours.
I would leave monday evening and return Thursday afternoon to Houston.

Could I still be an active real estate agent in Houston from Friday to Monday? I'm curious because I need to make sure this is possible and that it is possible to make some money as a realtor this way. Perhaps leasing is the best way to go under the circumstances?

Please advise,
Tony Tovar

P.S. I am making a career of this but need to finish my last two semesters at UT as well.

It's not how MUCH time you have each week it WHAT money-making actions you do during that time that you have.

Focus on that and you will see results.

Super realtor,

Thank you for your reply. I feel like I'm going to be doing some canvassing work around the universities both in Houston and Austin area. I might have to go with a broker that has offices in both places to accommodate that.

By Money-Making Actions what do you mean?

I know I would still have to find ways of promoting myself. I might even have to connect with a Realtor who is doing leasing full time whom I could refer my clients to and agree on like a split commission do to it being my lead etc in case i can not be there when my clients need me during the Tuesday - Thursday period if that is the case.

Respectfully,
Tony

Most agents focus on "busy work" that a clerical person can do at 7 bucks an hour.

With your time you want to be focusing on the highest per hour activity possible which is writing contracts and meeting clients or (potentials). Everything else can be delegated or automated.

Oh I had not thought of that. I know I can get quality help at an inexpensive wage rate for sure.

So, what you are saying is that I could potentially set appoints for Friday through - Monday while I'm at School during the week and then meet my clients and finishing the contracts while im there in Houston. I could potentially leave the rest of the work to someone who would be my assistant?

What exactly constitutes "busy work" in your opinion?

Respectfully,
Tony

Also, as an "leasing" agent, would the broker be providing clients into the office? Like walk ins or call ins?

You decided to become an agent so make the best of it.

You will be in both cities part of the week so work both cities. When it gets to be to much, refer out to another agent in one of the cities. You may have to spend a little extra to belong to multiple MLS's but I could see it working. I convinced my Broker to pay for my fees to belong to several MLS's.

REODayton,

Thanks for that piece of information. I think I'll let my broker know about that and have them pay the fees for it.

Also, I like your "Just Do it" attitude.

Tony

Hmmm. Interesting.

Now that came about with me giving away business that the brokerage could handle if we had access to the various MLS's. They mainly involve REO properties as well. So I get a listing in Cincinatti which is an hour out of my way, instead of referring it we then list it and market it. There is a buyers agent who will handle the buyers in place. So instead of getting 20% of the listing commission I then get the listing commission. I don't charge a referal fee to the buyers agent at all, as he will do the property checks and what not.

When it comes to my broker paying for it, he does. We have a seperate agreement and he gets a larger split on these deals. On the out of area deals he gets 45%. A couple deals/per year covers his investment to pay for me, and gives him more exposure. A higher split keeps money in my pocket and gives me more exposure with banks and investors.

You just can't ask your broker (you can but....). You have to make a business case. I showed my Broker how him paying for me to belong would benifit his company. I gave him data, he is an accountant and went through the numbers, and it made sense. Sometimes it does, sometimes it does not. I'm lucky enough to have a Broker who will entertain such things, not all will.

OK you will be part time agent then. In this rough market you need to market yourself a lot and this takes time. I am not sure that three days would be enough.