As I have posted here before, I work 35 to 40 hours a week in my field of IT and am able to pick and choose my schedule, work from home and take days off regularly.

I have noticed that with technology these days, it's very easy to work real estate and be successful on a part time basis (at least to start).

Example #1:

There are days that I am working at my job, broker loading a listing in the system, looking up other listings for buyers, e-mailing them all the information and even communicating via text message, BBM (BlackBerry messenger) and following up by phone when I need to.

Example #2:

I am able to take days off during the week or come in later (flex time) so that I can attend broker meetings, agent caravans, broker lunches, trainings and meet with clients at my office or theirs.

This being said, I am able to hit two birds with one stone and while I am making a salary from my employer, I am running a business at the same time!

IT'S POSSIBLE AND THE TECHNOLOGY THESE DAYS HELPS!

While I agree in theory and know it is the only way many people can get started what I have noticed is that when real estate is the only source of income, it pushes people to do the unpleasant prospecting that is critical in being successful. When you have money coming in it's easy to not do the prospecting.

I disagree! I think that if you are hungry and want to be rich and make a lot of money you will work hard, spend money on the business and advertising and will always look for multiple sources of income which is the foundation of every successful person.

How long until your "real" employer gets irritated that you are doing real estate on his time?

I agree in part. I have another business which I own and I don't do the prospecting others do, but on the other hand I've noticed those that are full time and NEED To make a sale to earn a living sometimes can lead them to do questionable things ethically.

It also is up to that person what success means to them. For me I'm happy doing a deal a month. Or depending on price of sales less or more. For others that is unacceptable isn't seen as a success.

"I've noticed those that are full time and NEED To make a sale to earn a living sometimes can lead them to do questionable things ethically."

I've actually found the opposite to be true...those who do not "need" the income from real estate don't seem to care what they do because even if they lose their license, they still have an income. I hate dealing with some agents who work full time elsewhere because they can be very hard to get a hold of and want everybody to work around their work schedule. I really don't care if you have to wait for your shift to get over, I believe it is in your client's best interest to respond to showing requests, offers, etc. Some people make it work, others, not so much.

My question:
If it works why do you keep the other job?
I know from experience that when being an agent is working, you make more per hour (by a large margin) than most IT jobs.

To the point of this thread having to do with technology making it easier to do real estate part time. Then yes it is. If you use docusign and the like and your clients are technically savvy then it makes it much easier. Plus e-mailing, texting and the like don't have to wait until "reasonable" hours to send them. You could do all your real communicating before and after regular business hours. Plus if you work a traditional job reply to e-mails and calls during breaks. With a myfax account or something you don't even have to go to the office to pick up faxes. So yes technology makes it easier for the part timer and the full timer.

But then when you have people that don't use technology it makes it more difficult. I have a client now that uses dial up internet. The only thing I can do with them is send basic messages.

OP..."it's very easy to work real estate and be successful on a part time basis"

i think that some people might be on a different page than others.

i agree. it is easy to be successful, but we all have a different idea of success.

ColoBroker hit it right on the head


to the op...>>>>>>>>
could you share your definition of successful in regards to an agent in the real estate business?

I wont hire any PT agents unless they agree to move to full time within an agreed amount of time frame. Personally, I wouldn't feel comfortable selling my most valuable asset with someone who wasn't doing this full time day in and day out.

I would want my agent to call me back promptly when I call, I don't think I would like to wait for them to be on breaks and lunch to get a call back when I'm paying good money to be served.

I think my point is, I would choose a full time agent over a part time agent given a choice.

Just my feeling on this.

In regards to doing real estate part time and being successful at it (my original post), I just wanted you all to know that no matter where I am or what I am doing I make it a priority to get back to my clients within the hours that they call, e-mail, BBM or fax me anything! I do this because I want to sell my service along with the real estate.

I am still working at my IT job full time because:

1) It's a steady, secondary income that I can invest in my real estate business for desk fees, advertising, marketing, training etc. This in my opinion gives me an upper hand on everyone else in the market working with me for the time being.

2) I am able to go a month without a sale and not be worried about renewing my license or missing payments on anything in my personal life.

3) I am able to use my resources at work (IT job) for real estate, such as printers, faxes, phone, computer, internet, e-mail etc.

Note: my employer is fully aware that I am in real estate and supports my decision because I am an "independent consultant" and it's hard to replace someone with my skills in todays job market.

514, I agree with your post. Tech is making it easier to offer better service to our clients. "The office" is not necessarily a place anymore. I can help my clients, prospect and do everything related to my business from wherever I am.

However, my challenge to you is to look carefully at how much the job is costing you.
Would going a month without a sale be very likely if you would be full time in real estate?
I am making no statements about your proficiency in the business, just challenging you to see if you can afford to have the job.


Please don't take this as a personal attack, that is not my intention.

I concur that technology is making everything easier/more efficient by having many steps being automated. However, the level of success would be, to a large extent, determined by how competitive that given market is. And of course, an individual's level of proficiency and aptitude would be critical in determining how technology can be integrated (if at all).

Realtor514,

when i started in this business, i was part time. i quit my fulltime job because i realized that i was holding myself back due to the restraints of the work world.

would you trust your life to a doctor who practices law to keep his medical business up and running?

would you trust your finances to a financial advisor who hangs sheetrock to be able to pay for his storefront for his advising business?

would you invest your lifesavings into a company that borrows money every month to pay the lease, salaries, utilities because they cannot make enough in sales to sustain their own business

should a homeowner who has worked thier entire life to pay off their home trust the sale to someone who cannot make a fulltime living from selling homes?

a measure of success in my opinion is the ability to make a stable living fulltime in teh business that you call yourself an expert. if selling is your business and you cannot sustain your business and pay for your living expenses and put money away fore retirement then would you call your selling business successful?

i too was part time when i started....i did not achieve success(by my definition) until i quit my other job and became a master of my craft. i used to wake up in the morning and feel like i would vomit because i had left the life of stability that i had known since i started working. i have learned that the life i now live is much more rewarding. it does take a leap, but for the few that take it, it can be well rewarded!

I want to start off by thanking everyone for their input!

I am currently working part time in real estate but I fully intend to go into real estate full time once I have enough of a nest egg (financially) and a strong pile line of prospects and sales. I remember a teacher telling me (when I took my real estate course) that you are in ''cruise control'' and people know you at the five year mark in real estate, considering that this is the end of year #1 for me, I still have time.

Lastly, I have agents at my brokerage making anywhere from $0.00 to $300,000.00 a year and to be honest with you, I see them in the office less than I am and most of them are always talking about what else they are doing at the moment and their next venture of project, I even know a full time police officer and even a guy that owns a grocery store that is working as a part time real estate agent and does well.