I want to be a real estate agent?

Question

I am planning on taking the Century 21 course and I want to get a job with them right after. They have an immediate income preogram for new agents. I have 2 lil girls anda fiancee and I was told by my uncle who is going ot let me borrow the money has told me it bad idea because the real estate market in CT is bad. He says C21 will only give me the crap houses to sell the market is horrible at the time and I probaly wont sell more than 2 houses if im lucky in a year.

What do you guys truly think?

c21 has a mentor program 90 training and immediate income program

Answer 1

It is tough to start as a real estate agent, and the market has something to do with it, but houses are being bought and sold in every market. You will have to work very hard to get listings, often by speaking with those who've tried to sell and been unsuccessful, and you can use all the referrals you can get for both buyers and sellers. In my experience, it can take a couple of years to make good money, and there is certainly risk associated with this profession. But, for those who can listen to buyers, work every single angle, prospect for leads like crazy, and have the kind of personalities that like sales and people, this is a great career.

Answer 2

I can tell you that it's not easy starting out as a new agent, I work with Realtors everyday and there are some that are doing very well and there are some that are not making a dime. If you go full time you will have the best chance of getting deals but you will be up against many other seasoned agents. One of my referral partners is an agent for 3+ years now and sold 23 homes last years(one side or the other) and has 12 active listings currently, he has only sold 3 homes this year to date which shows how the market changes. This is not to say that you won't have success but it's not as easy as you think. It takes long hours and dedication as well as money to keep you a float and to market yourself.
Best of luck if you choose this path but be prepared financially before you start full time.
Leo Namiot http://www.LeoLends.com

Answer 3

If you have chosen this career for the right reasons and believe you will be a great Realtor, DON'T listen to negativity. DO listen to sound advice however. Your Uncle is concerned that you have chosen a good career at the wrong time. He is right and wrong. Yes, this is a tough market to start out in. The number of homes you will sell will depend on the number of listings you hold, how they are priced, and how well they are marketed. This is an expensive industry. Everyone thinks we are overpaid but they have NO IDEA how much money it costs to BE successful!

I started out in a "down" market. My fellow agents said I wouldn't sell anything for six months. I said "watch me". I closed my first deal within the first 30 days. Why? Heck, not because I was experienced! I babysat that floor, took everyone's floor time when they wanted to leave, kept the office open 2 hours later than the other offices....you name it....I was looking for CLIENTS....and was not lazy about it!

Before you commit to a franchise, look at what each has to offer. Franchising is expensive....usually the first 8% of your commissions goes to that franchise. You might be trained just as well by a long-standing local independent office. Big is not always better. And as far as getting the lousy listings....that isn't exactly correct. You aren't given anything. You create your own business!

You have two things to learn to be successful....real estate....and selling. Most of your real estate education will actually come from the senior agents in your office. Selling is another thing. I chose to learn from Mike Ferry and I would have to recommend his courses. I went on his website and decided what I thought I needed and looked for them used on ebay. I have a CD or a tape on in my car ALWAYS (unless I have a client with me). There is invaluable information out there.....take advantage of it.

As far as coming into the marketplace in the slow market, it will make you an EXCELLENT Realtor. It is the BEST time to learn. But be prepared, you may need to earn money on the side to keep up with your expenses. Offer to assist the top office agents or your broker. You will learn while you earn!

Best advise....follow a STAR. Find the most successful agents and do what they do!

Congratulations and I wish you much success!

Answer 4

Century 21 does have a great history, long standing in most of the country, if not the world. However, if you truly want to be a Realtor, then be sure you shop around to other brokers. Their immediate income program is likely a draw that you will have to pay back in the long run on your first closings. That may or may not be worth it.

I am not sure if you have any team concepts there, but here in Ohio large teams within brokerages are the new thing. It is fairly easy to start as a team member, with little or no costs, as they are being paid by your team leader. Maybe look into that!

Answer 5

It's possible to make it right out of the gate in real estate. But recognize that you won't be seeing your two little girls or your fiance on evenings or weekends.

I have two jobs right now. I'm a full time Realtor - been doing it 15 years, and I support my family with it. But it can be long hours. I work most evenings and most of Saturday. I don't work on Sunday. My wife is home with the kids. I would NOT want her doing real estate if she ever went to work.

My second job is in network marketing. This is new, but again, not a way to get rich quick. It's a slow-build, residual income business that I intend to eventually take over my real estate income.

Neither of these jobs gets you money "right now". It could end up being stressful for you and your fiance - how long will he be willing to support you and take care of the girls while mommy is out trying to sell a house?

Answer 6

A career as a real estate agent can prove to be a lucrative one. Even if you are just planning on being a real estate agent on the side, there is money to be made. Most people have some idea of what an agent does. If you are thinking of becoming a real estate agent, you will need to know a little more than the basics.

Read the entire report:
http://becoming-a-real-estate-agent.com

Answer 7

I'm a licensed real estate broker in N.C.
If C21 is going to give you guaranteed income, then most likely the commission split you're going to get will be crap. If you don't do well, are you going to owe them the money they've been paying you?
Also, if anyone says that they'll guarantee sales for you in this business is lying out of their rears. As a broker, you're a contractor, which means you're the owner and operator. No one is going to give you anything, when it comes down to it. What if the "client" they give you doesn't like you and wants to go with someone else?
What is your support network like? Do you have a lot of friends, family, former co-workers, and the personality to put all of those relationships together to turn them into a business? Also, do you like real estate? If the market there sucks, you'll have to be really aggressive at gaining business, marketing, learning your market, business, and how to actually be good at it...
When push comes to shove, this biz can be frustrating and it's usually someones' fault...it's a "people" business. If you don't like people, you'll be out of this before you're even into it.
I have a family and can tell you that making it in this biz is hard. No one is going to be out there telling you what to do, or how to do it. No one is going to make you get out of bed to do anything. You have to be self motivated, or you'll find reasons to fail.
Read a lot of books starting with "21 Things I wish My Broker Had Told Me" and "The Millionaire Real Estate Agent" by Keller.
If you have to have money, then you might not want to be a real estate broker...get a job somewhere else...It takes months to even start establishing yourself, and they tell me I'm one of the rare agents who came out swinging...ten contracts this year so far, with several more in the pipes. But I'm still broke from catching up...

Answer 8

BAD idea to become a real estate agent, especially right now. Many forclosures are coming out & market is going belly up. You're gonna starve to death. Besides, there are ton real estate agents already out there & ton of new agents are flooding the market every month, now that's just in California. Why don't you go back to school and re-train yourself as a nurse or something. Nurses make ton of money(most make $30/ hour) & hospitals are short of them.

Answer 9

This is the best time to get into R.E. as one person already said, it's slow now and if you can make it now you'll blow up when we come out of this.
I would also say that your traditional R.E. borkers are very good at mentoring 'newbs' but once you get your license all bet are off, cuz you're competition. If I were you I would't limit myself to R.E. sales...get into Loans too.
There a company out there that I know of that provides continuous trainning and a great mentoring program even after you're a seasoned vetran.
Best thing to do if you do get into this potentially lucrative bizniz...learn how to flip foreclosures, because thats where the national market is headed for the next 2-3 years.

Answer 10

Go in and learn...earn your keep...and then make your own way. Cent21 is a good place to start.

Real estate is slow these days..which is a perfect time for you to come in and learn...during the tough times...you'll only be rewarded more so when it turns around...my bro makes lotta dough in real estate.

Good luck..

No matter what. you will learn things that you can always use for the rest of your life..even if it's only buying and selling your own home(s) -- that alone is a savvy investment savings and probably worth over 100k for you!