Should I Pursue a Career In Real Estate?
New to Real Estate · South Texas · Member since 2026 · 13 posts · 10 votes
Should I Pursue a Career In Real Estate?
Most Popular Reply
Realtor · Hanover Twp, PA · Member since 2018 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
7mo@Robert Gonzalez, a few thoughts:
1. Nobody can ever take away education! So, whether you decide to work as an agent or not the foundational knowledge you get from those classes is useful for an investor.
2. I wouldn't focus on what's cheap/easy for pre-licensing classes. I would focus on what you will get the most benefit from. In my experience most of the pre-licensing options are pretty affordable, BUT probably 90% of people who take the classes are NOT working as agents 2 years later. MANY take the classes and never even get a license!
So, think about that! The vast majority of people in those classes will not go any further than those classes. So, if you want to be one of the 10% who does, focus on what will get your the MOST OUT OF THE CLASSES. So, consider in-person options and also live remote learning options as well.
3. Whether being a real estate agent is a lucrative career is HIGHLY dependent on the individual. Many residential agents work part-time and are 1099 self employed. So, its hard to gauge how much they earn for the time they invest. However, there are many agents who make a very good living in every market. So, you absolutely can make it worth your while as a career.
4. If its going to be a full-time career choice, plan for a transition period. Since its typically 100% commission based the income can be feast or famine. Also, you have to find your own business typically. So, a reasonable rule of thumb is that it will take ~2 years or so working diligently at it to start making a real living at it. So, you need to plan to be able to get through that time period with less and inconsistent income.
5. Even if you only choose to be an agent as a "side hustle". It can help you stay engaged in the industry, make contacts with lenders, tradesman, lawers, etc, stay on top of changes going on such a new laws, etc. In addition the extra income could help fund some investing.
6. Being an agent might also allow you to find some deals off market as you prospect for clients.
5 Replies
- Realtor · Hanover Twp, PA · Member since 2018 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes7mo
@Robert Gonzalez, a few thoughts:
1. Nobody can ever take away education! So, whether you decide to work as an agent or not the foundational knowledge you get from those classes is useful for an investor.
2. I wouldn't focus on what's cheap/easy for pre-licensing classes. I would focus on what you will get the most benefit from. In my experience most of the pre-licensing options are pretty affordable, BUT probably 90% of people who take the classes are NOT working as agents 2 years later. MANY take the classes and never even get a license!
So, think about that! The vast majority of people in those classes will not go any further than those classes. So, if you want to be one of the 10% who does, focus on what will get your the MOST OUT OF THE CLASSES. So, consider in-person options and also live remote learning options as well.
3. Whether being a real estate agent is a lucrative career is HIGHLY dependent on the individual. Many residential agents work part-time and are 1099 self employed. So, its hard to gauge how much they earn for the time they invest. However, there are many agents who make a very good living in every market. So, you absolutely can make it worth your while as a career.
4. If its going to be a full-time career choice, plan for a transition period. Since its typically 100% commission based the income can be feast or famine. Also, you have to find your own business typically. So, a reasonable rule of thumb is that it will take ~2 years or so working diligently at it to start making a real living at it. So, you need to plan to be able to get through that time period with less and inconsistent income.
5. Even if you only choose to be an agent as a "side hustle". It can help you stay engaged in the industry, make contacts with lenders, tradesman, lawers, etc, stay on top of changes going on such a new laws, etc. In addition the extra income could help fund some investing.
6. Being an agent might also allow you to find some deals off market as you prospect for clients.
- 7moStuart UdisPro MemberAttorney · Philadelphia · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
How many Morby minions were on these message boards telling everyone how great “subject-to” investing was. The best were those lecturing us on how it’s perfectly fine to buy underwater real estate as long as the properties cash flow. They all appear to have disappeared. No sympathy for them. However, I can only imagine the damage they did on the sellers financial wellbeing who remained personally liable for the debt and credit reporting is now in ruins.
- Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes7mo
Quote from @Stuart Udis:
How many Morby minions were on these message boards telling everyone how great “subject-to” investing was. The best were those lecturing us on how it’s perfectly fine to buy underwater real estate as long as the properties cash flow. They all appear to have disappeared. No sympathy for them. However, I can only imagine the damage they did on the sellers financial wellbeing who remained personally liable for the debt and credit reporting is now in ruins.
they want to mass market and own the RV parks now in the US. Now that subject to is not a viable strategy since prices are not improving they are on to the next thing.
7e investments53 Reviews
- Real Estate Broker · Atlanta · Member since 2024 · 1k+ posts · 606 votes7mo
Robert, Aceable Agent is a legitimate option for pre-licensing and many people use online schools to get started. That said, you don't need a real estate license to be a real estate investor. Some investors get licensed for access to the MLS and the commissions while others prefer to focus strictly on investing and partner with a good agent instead. It really depends on whether you want a career in real estate sales in addition to investing.
- 7moBruce WoodruffPro MemberContractor/Investor/Consultant · San Diego / Phoenix · Member since 2021 · 12k+ posts · 15k+ votes
Get a license for the knowledge. Or if you really really want to be in the business of helping other people buy and sell Real Estate (a perefectly nice career if you have the skills and do it right)
You do not need it to help your own investing career.
Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.