Real estate agent as a career?

Question

What is it like to be a real estate agent. How is the pay and what is involved. Is it a hard job, is it fun????

Answer 1

The other fellow is correct....it is a commission sales job....but before you think that that's a bad thing....I want you to consider one thing.  When you are on commission you have the potential to make a lot of money.  A lot of people speak negatively about being on commission.  That's OK..they are just more comfortable being an employee and working for a steady wage and there is nothing wrong with that!  That's fine....I on the other hand have been working most of my adult life on commission (I'm 57) and I have made so much more money then almost everyone I know.  I sell life insurance.  If I make sales I make money....

It's like being in business for yourself but not by yourself. If you get your RE license and then go to work for a broker you will be an independent business person.   You will get a ton of support from the broker ...like and office, supplies, equipment, telephone, listings, often secretarial support and more....and you will earn a commission on every house you sell.  

I can't tell you how much fun it is to make a sale and earn a fat check!  So don't let someone talk you out of commission sales....it's worked great for me!!

Raise the bar a little bit, push yourself a little bit, don't let others tell you what you should or should not do.  Life is short....do it your way!  Good luck!!

Answer 2

There's NO PAY.  You work on commission only.  If you don't sell houses, you don't make anything at all.  If that's your idea of fun - enjoy!

Answer 3

Pay is based on a percentage of the sale of the houses you're working on.  A lot of people enjoy it, a lot of people don't.  It can be a very cutthroat profession, especially in a bad economy.  The money can be very good, but you don't have set hours, if a client wants to see a house at 9pm on Saturday, you're workin' at 9pm on Saturday.  People call you at all hours for information.  

If you'd like an unconventional schedule and the potential to make as much money as you're willing to work for, it is a great profession.

If you don't like hard work and dealing with people and negotiations a lot, it is probably not for you.