Are you a real estate agent? Do you like it?

Question

I am thinking of becoming a real estate agent in NC. I do not personally know any agents, and would like someone to give me their opinion, like if they like their job, make descent money, and what their schedule is like, etc

Thanks

Answer 1

My simple advice to you would be, if you can work 80+ hours a week and most weeks get nothing, not get offended or feel rejected when you give of your time and another person gets the listing, play the part of a psychologist on nearly every deal then you should go for it.  

This is a very tough market, if you can make it in this market then you can make it in any market.

Answers to your question yes & yes, but the price is very high!

Answer 2

If your a women and your husband supports you and you need something to do. As a man no good.   I worked for Weichert . Things I hated cold calling how stupid people hanging up on you. People stealing leads. People stealing your customers. Customers working with someone else have you drive them around for 5 dollars a gallon of gas. In NJ in addition to license you have to pay for liability insurance 400 a year. Licensing and other fees MLS another 300-400fee. Lock box other BS fees about 2 grand a year to get off the ground. Not including advertising that could be unlimited say 1 grand a year mail cards and  postage,   not unreasonable. A new trick I hear Re max was charging desk time you pay 800 dollars a month to have a phone and desk in their office. So what? that's where the phone rings you want to make money? Weichert I worked at no charge but that was a while ago. I would say only 5 percent make more than 40k  a year. Another 15 percent make some money usually through relatives and they are housewives so they don't care about making 8 grand in one year. I knew one lady who made 150 grand a year she was friends with owner of a small office 2 girls owner gave her all her leads. Those who make a lot either  have a lawyer mortgage person some refferal network that is giving them buyers or sellers exclusively. They aren't just walking off the street. Me I had none of that.

Answer 3

I held a valid real estate salesperson license in CA for 8 years, 3 of which I was active in the industry.

This is not a job for someone needing a regular income to pay the bills.  I was either making $8,000 in one week, or making NOTHING for 6 months.  It was feast or famine, no in-between.

I began to hate it.  Especially when CA went into a real estate recession.  I had potential buyers call me and say they only wanted to see the "desperation" case houses, so they could low-ball the seller.  I, quite frankly did not want those damned people in my car!

I was in the office 7 days a week, and once was in the office 60 days straight before I took a day off.

What really broke my heart, and got me out of that industry was when the market had taken a nose dive, and a couple to whom I had sold a house needed to move because of a job transfer, and we had to list it for $20,000 LESS than they had paid, 2 years earlier.

Additionally, although the men in real estate were great, just like brothers,  the WOMEN in real estate were real b*tches.  They'd stab their grandmother for a nickel. I hated dealing with the real estate women.

I went back into accounting.  Thank God I had something to fall back on.

Answer 4

A certain few people make a lot of money sellling real estate.

Get your license but be cautious about relying on it for income in this depressed real estate market.

Answer 5

There were 100 people in my real estate class in 1983.  I'm the only one left.  Yes, i love it.

Answer 6

Real estate, as a career, is on its way out.

Real estate agents today are like travel agents in the 1980s.  A high surcharge is levied by people who do not add substantial value to the transactions.

As the internet has done away with the travel agent, so to it will do away with the real estate agent.  It will take a little time for the monopoly to break down, but it is bound to happen.

My point is, don't shoot for a career as a real estate agent, shoot for something productive that truly adds value to our society.