Any realtors/former realtors on DU? (career advice)

[LTR]

Due to recent events, I am looking to make a career change.

In the past few weeks, I have started looking into Real Estate sales (residential) as a career.

Is there anyone here working in the field? Or in the past? Or has a friend/relative involved in it?

I am going to a few career seminars this week (run by some of the bigger real estate agencies in town) to get information about it, and I would like to hear some stories of the business.

Tell me about it.

[Nite Owl]

1. I had my license in NYS and it just expired.

I really love houses and thought it would be nice but I hated it. It sometimes involves not telling buyers things that they should know or pushing mortgages on people that they may not be able to afford. I'm just not into sales so maybe it's just me. Your fiduciary duty is to the seller unless you are the buyer's broker. You also don't make that 6% commission. It gets divided up between the company (like Century 21 or Coldwell Banker), the broker that you are working for and if it it isn't your listing then the listing agent gets some of it too. I know many that like it and are successful. The real estate market may not do to well if rates start to rise too. Every state has different rules so it might be somewhat different where you are.

[LTR]

2. kick

Anybody else?

[LTR]

3. Thought I'd give it another kick

Anothe question: How was it starting out? How long did it take to start making money? Is it as difficult as it seems?