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sam102012
LIF Zygote
Member since 1/13 14 total posts
Name:
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Changing Careers/Real Estate Agent
Hi Ladies,
So I am not a big poster at all. I do a lot of roaming on the boards though! I am starting to get my real estate license coure on Saturday and very excited for the next chapter in my life. I have faced a lot of obstacles in my life and have decided now it is time to focus on myself and do something I have always wanted to do. I love real estate, I have a rental property in the poconos that my husband (boyfriend at the time) bought 4 years ago which is doing very well for us and I think real estate is an amazing field to get into, although risky, I think the pros outweigh the cons! So anybody else changing careers or thinking about it so I know I'm not alone? It can be scary but you only live once!
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Posted 8/1/13 12:49 PM  |
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JDubs
different, not less
Member since 7/09 13160 total posts
Name:
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Re: Changing Careers/Real Estate Agent
I would message Christine Braun (vendor on here) for advice, I believe she switched careers into Real Estate.. good luck!
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| Posted 8/1/13 4:14 PM |
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familyoffive
LIF Toddler
Member since 6/10 483 total posts
Name:
Candice
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Re: Changing Careers/Real Estate Agent
I am  I am a certified teacher but with no job prospects I am working currently as a retail manager. I hate it. I love real estate so I decided to take a leap of faith. I have already passed the state exam and completed 95% of the coursework. I just have a few things to finish up and pass the school final. Can't wait to start the next chapter of my career. Good luck to you.
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| Posted 8/1/13 7:51 PM |
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Re: Changing Careers/Real Estate Agent
Both Christine and Beth who are both vendors on this site will have a ton of info for you.
I'm not in RE but am intrigued by their posts.
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| Posted 8/1/13 8:26 PM |
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sam102012
LIF Zygote
Member since 1/13 14 total posts
Name:
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Re: Changing Careers/Real Estate Agent
Posted by familyoffive
I am I am a certified teacher but with no job prospects I am working currently as a retail manager. I hate it. I love real estate so I decided to take a leap of faith. I have already passed the state exam and completed 95% of the coursework. I just have a few things to finish up and pass the school final. Can't wait to start the next chapter of my career. Good luck to you.
Awesome!! I didn't know you could take the state exam before finishing the coursework. I'm excited I have somebody to sponsor me and take me in at exit realty! I'm hoping to finish the school by the end of August which is a tight stress but Im going to try! It's nice to be able to start the same thing with somebody!
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| Posted 8/1/13 9:32 PM |
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Re: Changing Careers/Real Estate Agent
As other posters said, I made a career change (I was a litigation attorney for a city firm) into real estate a few years ago (in 2010).
I love my career and have no regrets. But it is a very different kind of career than many people expect. It's much more about being an entrepreneur than having a job. I always say the best thing about it is that I am my own boss, but that can also be the worst thing!
The most successful agents are those who can stick with it, because it can take awhile to build your business and be a bit slow to start. So you need to go in with realistic expectations. I think very successful agents also have innovative approaches when it comes to attracting and retaining clients.
Many agents come in thinking it's a pure "sales" job, but I think the key to being a good agent is being able to relate to other people well. You have to be able to listen to their needs and guide them through one of the most important transactions of their lives (for most people). It's about being knowledgeable and communicative and letting people know you care about them and their situation!
It's also about being adaptable - it's not a cut and dried business. A lot of different scenarios can and do pop up!
But overall, it's a fun career. I get to see all types of houses and meet a lot of different people, and while it can be very busy, it's also flexible in that I can set my own appointments/hours (which is great with a young son).
Definitely feel free to FM me if you have other questions about the career transition! Good luck - the market on LI is very active right now, so it's a good time to make the move, I think!
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| Posted 8/2/13 9:14 AM |
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bikramaddict
mommy-to-be
Member since 8/06 4376 total posts
Name:
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Re: Changing Careers/Real Estate Agent
Talk to Beth. She changed careers to be in real estate.
i am working with her right now and will say she is much more than a realtor. she's like a therapist lol. i think a good realtor (and she's not the only one i've worked with in my life) is the one who makes you feel like it isn't all about what's in it for them and when are they getting paid.
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| Posted 8/2/13 9:51 AM |
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Re: Changing Careers/Real Estate Agent
A few of my attorney friends have made the switch. I've considered claiming my license (it's an expedited process for attorneys as we have already been required to take a lot of real estate coursework) but with a severe cat allergy, I can't enter some houses at all, even some that are super clean. That would limit me too much & it was even an issue when I was house hunting. It's not super fast money but it will come.
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| Posted 8/4/13 1:39 AM |
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sam102012
LIF Zygote
Member since 1/13 14 total posts
Name:
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Re: Changing Careers/Real Estate Agent
Posted by Century 21 Dallow - Christine Braun
As other posters said, I made a career change (I was a litigation attorney for a city firm) into real estate a few years ago (in 2010).
I love my career and have no regrets. But it is a very different kind of career than many people expect. It's much more about being an entrepreneur than having a job. I always say the best thing about it is that I am my own boss, but that can also be the worst thing!
The most successful agents are those who can stick with it, because it can take awhile to build your business and be a bit slow to start. So you need to go in with realistic expectations. I think very successful agents also have innovative approaches when it comes to attracting and retaining clients.
Many agents come in thinking it's a pure "sales" job, but I think the key to being a good agent is being able to relate to other people well. You have to be able to listen to their needs and guide them through one of the most important transactions of their lives (for most people). It's about being knowledgeable and communicative and letting people know you care about them and their situation!
It's also about being adaptable - it's not a cut and dried business. A lot of different scenarios can and do pop up!
But overall, it's a fun career. I get to see all types of houses and meet a lot of different people, and while it can be very busy, it's also flexible in that I can set my own appointments/hours (which is great with a young son).
Definitely feel free to FM me if you have other questions about the career transition! Good luck - the market on LI is very active right now, so it's a good time to make the move, I think!
Thank you so much for the advice! I will def FM you if I have any questions pop up along the way which I am sure they will!
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| Posted 8/5/13 1:21 PM |
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familyoffive
LIF Toddler
Member since 6/10 483 total posts
Name:
Candice
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Re: Changing Careers/Real Estate Agent
Posted by sam102012
Posted by familyoffive
I am I am a certified teacher but with no job prospects I am working currently as a retail manager. I hate it. I love real estate so I decided to take a leap of faith. I have already passed the state exam and completed 95% of the coursework. I just have a few things to finish up and pass the school final. Can't wait to start the next chapter of my career. Good luck to you.
Awesome!! I didn't know you could take the state exam before finishing the coursework. I'm excited I have somebody to sponsor me and take me in at exit realty! I'm hoping to finish the school by the end of August which is a tight stress but Im going to try! It's nice to be able to start the same thing with somebody!
Your a step ahead of me. I have yet to look for a sponsor. I have heard great things about Exit. They are on my list of possibilities. Maybe we will work together! ;) Good luck to you.
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| Posted 8/5/13 2:02 PM |
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Beth
The Key to your new home....
Member since 2/06 24849 total posts
Name:
Beth
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Re: Changing Careers/Real Estate Agent
I work for Exit- it is hands down the best company
I am the top agent in suffolk, #8 in downstate NY and #89 in north america
I achieved this in less then 3 years with the company
Exit has been nothing but supportive of me and my goals- you wont find that every where
people ask me all the time why I have done so well - it b/c it's 100% not a sales job to me
I do what's best for my clients- not myself - and that makes a huge difference
you can't "sell" a house- it's not a shirt at the gap that you can return tomorrow
if you have any questions let me know- this is my second career as well
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| Posted 8/14/13 3:56 PM |
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sam102012
LIF Zygote
Member since 1/13 14 total posts
Name:
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Re: Changing Careers/Real Estate Agent
Posted by Beth
I work for Exit- it is hands down the best company
I am the top agent in suffolk, #8 in downstate NY and #89 in north america
I achieved this in less then 3 years with the company
Exit has been nothing but supportive of me and my goals- you wont find that every where
people ask me all the time why I have done so well - it b/c it's 100% not a sales job to me
I do what's best for my clients- not myself - and that makes a huge difference
you can't "sell" a house- it's not a shirt at the gap that you can return tomorrow
if you have any questions let me know- this is my second career as well
Wow that's amazing! How did you achieve that in such a short amount of time? Any pointers?
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| Posted 8/14/13 7:04 PM |
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Heather
LIF Adolescent
Member since 7/06 647 total posts
Name:
Heather
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Changing Careers/Real Estate Agent
so how does one go about getting into the RE business?
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| Posted 8/18/13 2:09 PM |
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