Can you tell me about being a real estate agent?

Question

I'm looking into going back to school, I'm not sure what i want to do yet. so i was looking at becoming a real estate agent? does it cost a lot of money to become one? can i get financial aid? i have two kids so i really want to do something that will give me better money? can i make alot of money doing this? how long does it take to become one? any experiences you may have would also be great? thank you

Answer 1

Have you read the paper lately?  The housing market is dead.  Banks aren't giving mortgages and more houses are being foreclosed than are being sold.  This is not a good career path right now.

If you still want to be one, you can take a course at a community college that will prepare you to take the real estate agent test.  Once you pass, you have to get a job with a licensed realtor with whom you will have to share commissions.

Answer 2

You could make a lot of money but there are sacrifices.

It's not a 9 to 5 job and you'll have to spend a lot of time working with demanding clients that expect you to be there when they call. Yes, the market is soft now but it will pick up and if you learn to sell now you'll have an easy time when the market picks up.

Answer 3

Many people consider becoming a real estate agent one of the easiest professions to get into. If school is required for your state, it will only take a few months. With persistence and dedication, the small time investment will pay off in the long run as you become a successful real estate agent.

To become a real estate agent, you must obtain a license from the state where you plan to work. Most states require that you have at least a high school diploma to receive your license. There are some states that require the applicant to attend a real estate school prior to taking the test...

Answer 4

You really should have enough in savings to live off of for at least 2 years unless you will not depend on earning anything.   You are unlikely to break even in the first year, if ever.