Thread: Thinking of getting a real estate licence

Getting a license isn't the difficult thing - in most cases it's just a course of study and you either pass or fail. Being successful at real estate sales is another thing entirely, with the average pay rates proof of that!

I think starting part time is really wise, so that you can at least keep some money coming in while you're waiting for your listings to build up, and then for those to convert to sales.

Choose your agency wisely - make sure they have an excellent reputation and that you'll be paired with a mentor who can teach you proven methods of gaining listings and sales.

Originally Posted by Christine

Getting a license isn't the difficult thing - in most cases it's just a course of study and you either pass or fail. Being successful at real estate sales is another thing entirely, with the average pay rates proof of that!

I think starting part time is really wise, so that you can at least keep some money coming in while you're waiting for your listings to build up, and then for those to convert to sales.

Choose your agency wisely - make sure they have an excellent reputation and that you'll be paired with a mentor who can teach you proven methods of gaining listings and sales.

Thanks for the advice. When you say that chose the agency wisely so does that mean I will be working with them on a part time basis or it is going to be more like business?

It's your choice whether you're full time or part time. And it's the agency's choice whether they want full time or part time staff or contractors.

Typically real estate isn't a family-friendly occupation because it demands a lot of night and weekend work, but that could work for you if you can only do those times anyway.

I'm not sure what you mean by "more like business"?

Originally Posted by Christine

It's your choice whether you're full time or part time. And it's the agency's choice whether they want full time or part time staff or contractors.

Typically real estate isn't a family-friendly occupation because it demands a lot of night and weekend work, but that could work for you if you can only do those times anyway.

I'm not sure what you mean by "more like business"?

Thanks!! Actually you are right..night and weekends would work the best for me

I guess you'd have to be more specific in your question and goals alike.

Do you want to sell real estate part time? Represent a new builder? Help buyers? Help sellers? Help investors?

I won't lie, being part time with another full time day job is tough. I hope you don't have kids or many other commitments, because Real Estate Sales is not a job you can just work 10 hours a week and have success at. A lot of full time agents end up working 50-60 hours a week and that results in maybe 30-40 homes sold per year. A good showing, but if you cut those hours down by three-fourths you also cut down your sales by that much or more.

There is so much to know in today's up and down market, you're going to have to learn fast at both sales and the mortgage business as well as local laws and regulations which are changing constantly due to the unstable market.

Originally Posted by First Time Home Buyers

I guess you'd have to be more specific in your question and goals alike.

Do you want to sell real estate part time? Represent a new builder? Help buyers? Help sellers? Help investors?

I won't lie, being part time with another full time day job is tough. I hope you don't have kids or many other commitments, because Real Estate Sales is not a job you can just work 10 hours a week and have success at. A lot of full time agents end up working 50-60 hours a week and that results in maybe 30-40 homes sold per year. A good showing, but if you cut those hours down by three-fourths you also cut down your sales by that much or more.

There is so much to know in today's up and down market, you're going to have to learn fast at both sales and the mortgage business as well as local laws and regulations which are changing constantly due to the unstable market.

Thanks!! I hear you!! I want to be the seller and maybe all the other you mentioned over the period of time. I want to start slow. I am even okay if I can sell 3-10 homes for the first 1-2 yrs and this may tell me how well I stand in this business compare to my full time job.

Just let your experience get in to your way. It's good for you to take it slower. And it will make you more familiar with real estate industry. Real estate is a more complex, its a fast pace industry, you can't expect something will happen. Don't be contented working weekends, surely, your job will require you to work on days you expect to be your day-off. And for me, don't set your goal/sales target if you don't know what you're going to do first. You'll get stressed and pressured to close that deal within a given period.

Starting part time can be a good way to get into the industry. And when you are working with clients if you have a steady paycheck it will take off stress which can help when you deal with clients.

right now its tough to sell propert just because the banks and lenders are not lending any money.

good luck deals are tough to make but they are out there!

Good luck!