Belt Auction - Thinking of becoming a real estate agent please help for advice!?

Thinking of becoming a real estate agent please help for advice!?

I'm 26 years old and I've been stuck at the same job for 7 years as a meat cutter and the pay just isn't that good. My wife told me I should be a real estate agent. I believe that I would be good at it, I'm great with people, I love helping people get the best for their buck, and in the past I've had customers tell me that they would pay more just get customer service from me. So any rookie real estate or anyone who has been doing this for a while please give me some advice, I've already talked to an agent about getting started at coldwell banker and he said it would be about 1500 to 2000 to get started for the test, getting my license, and some other things as well. I figured I would get a student loan to get started but if anyone who is going through with it or has gone through with it tell me what you think about it to help me make the right decision. I live in mobile alabama if that gives some idea how the market is I've heard its slowed down but still houses are selling thanks I don't have bad credit or have a problem getting a loan, I just wanted to get a student loan so I wouldn't have to start paying it back right away, I was going to get it defered for when I graduate and pay it off around next tax season. You people aren't getting what I'm saying is it a good idea to become a real estate agent or not. I know I'll strugel at the beginning but for how long and is it worth it?

Public Comments

now is not a good time to be getting into the real estate business.
There are two sources for student loans -- the federal government and private lenders. In order to obtain most federal student loans, you will first need to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). In mostyou can combine all of your eligible federal student loans into one loan with a Federal Consolidation Loan. Consolidating also locks the interest rate you pay on your loan.
Here in CA it would cost the price of a real estate course plus cost of state test plus license fee. Perhaps $500. My advice is get the license but do not make any attempt to sell real estate now. I don't know how many real estate agents there are in Alabama, but there are about 500,000 real estate agents in California trying to make a living in this poor real estate market. Pass the test, don't go into practice, don't get a student loan.
I've been in real estate for 7 years but recently got my license. I worked in title, mortgage and settlements up until last year when I got the license just in time for the market to collapse. I have to tell you that you should expect to go no less than 6 months without a paycheck. Not to mention that there will be some steep startup fees. 2000 sounds a little low to me, but your market could be different. Mine was closer to 2500 You need to pay for school to learn how to take the test - (you can't just take the test in PA which sucked for me because I knew every answer on the exam from memory/experience, but that's another story altogether) the test, your business cards (DON'T skimp on these) your E&O insurance, realtor dues, MLS dues, electronic lockbox keys, signage for your properties. I spent the first 6 months just cold-calling people. It's tough. People don't like being bothered in their home, but you have to get your name out there and distinguish yourself from the herd. You're looking at a good company. I'm a CB agent just outside Philly, Pa I would recommend against borrowing money to get into this business. It's too uncertain even for those of us who have been doing it for a long time. Getting started can take a while, and your wife will probably be the one paying it until your commission checks start coming in. If you do go this route, just remember that you never ever stop prospecting!! My favorite is talking to people in line at the store. They're not going anywhere, and it helps to brush up on the one minute "elavator speech"
Hello dear, I'm Theressa Maxwell, About 9 months ago I was doing great until my daughter started going a very bad divorce. She had to take herself and my 2 granddaughters into hiding to be kept. They had no money so I paid for it. Then when she arrived back she was having numerous death threats, which the police department has taken care of for now. So I paid things for her to keep her from losing her daughters. Then she was unable to pay her car payment, its my car now and also my son decided that he could not pay his truck payment which both viehcles are in my name. Then I loaned a man some money and he wrote bad checks to cover what he owed me, which has put me deeper in financial situtions.. The Country Prosecuting Attorney is after him for the money. I was told that I would be lucky to get the money back to make other plans. But i could wait no longer that i have to look for a private lender anywhere else as the bank could not help situations too. I met this truthful, God fearing and kind Man, Mr.Arnold marvis of Arnold Loan Affairs Incorporated via email (arnoldlnaffairs9@gmail.com) as regards to an ad that i saw on yahoo Q/A who was a God sent to rescue my situation with a loan of $ 90,000 USD which brought me back to feet.I have decided to tell his Goodness to me and advice people in my formal shoe's to contact them. He can do it for you too. Wish you goodluck.
Hello Every body, I live in the US and i really have never seen goodness shown to me this much in my life as i am a struggling mum with three kids and i have been going through really rough times in my life and my name is Helen Peters and in all this hard times, a worse incident occured in my life as i lost my job which was my only means of survival and things became really bad as i had bills to pay and my last son suffered a knee injury incurred when he fell from a tree house and the doctors informed me that he needed a surgical operation for his knee so he could walk again and at this point, life was useless to me as i have no family and no one to run to and each night, i will sit down and cry till the break of dun until one day, i read an advert on yahoo answers of man that stated that he could help people in my shoes with loans and in my desperate situation, i had no choice but i had to try and so shocking and suprising, it was like an impossibility becoming a reality, i got a loan of $60,000 USD even with my bad credit within 48 hours and my sons surgery was done and thank GOD it was successful and now, i am okay and living in comfort with my kids and i said to my self, i have never ever seen this kind of wonder in my life and i decided i will tell it to the whole wild world and i need every one to thank GOD for Mr Patrick Harvey, the man GOD used to rescue me and my family even when all hope had been lost and gone and i will say to every one, no matter how dark and sinful the world is today, there are still GOD fearing and reliable people on earth and if you are in my former situation or require a loan legitimately, i will advice you contact this loan lender and you can reach him via patrickharvey12@yahoo.com and i want you all to pray for this man for me.
Ok, here's the deal. Starting a career in real estate is like starting your own small business. The cost of getting your license is the easy part. I would not recommend getting a student loan for this because the real estate classes usually do not take long to complete, I don't know what the requirements are in your state though. The hard part is paying for your dues, the MLS, your key, advertising, business cards, gas, etc. Unless you both can live off your wifes income alone, and her income can cover these costs I would at least wait until the market picks up a bit. Which may be about 1 1/2-2 years. Yes houses are still selling, there is business to be had, but this is not the market to try to start out in, unless you keep your day job unti you get going.