Is it hard to make money as a real estate agent?
If you sell enough properties, you can earn a very comfortable living. A career as a real estate agent or broker can be both challenging and financially rewarding. But keep in mind that there are many different unique opportunities for anyone who wants to work in the industry.
Wholesaling, and many other beginner-friendly strategies, allow aspiring investors to break into the industry without many resources. That being said, you do need a strong work ethic and time to make money in real estate, especially in the beginning.
According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR) failure is defined as as those who get a real estate license and then leave the industry within the first five years. According to them, 75% of real estate agents fail within the first year, and 87% fail within five years.
One of the most highest paying side hustles is being a real estate agent. You don't have to work on any schedule, and if done right, you can have clients come to you or you don't have to go far to find someone who will hire you.
Though you get to experience the excitement of getting your clients into a new home or property, the process often comes with some stress. Your clients may make a significant financial decision and often feel conflicted. While it's exciting to help your clients, this career comes with its challenging moments.
In summary, while real estate investment in 2024 carries its own set of risks and requires substantial financial commitment, the potential for long-term financial growth and portfolio diversification makes it a worthy consideration for beginner investors.
Key Takeaways. Working as a real estate agent or broker can be fulfilling and financially rewarding, but it's not easy. A career in real estate requires drumming up business, promoting yourself, tracking leads, handling complex paperwork, providing customer service, and much, much more.
So How Many Houses Does a Realtor Really Sell Each Year? Only a small number of realtors sell more than a hundred homes a year, and the majority sell anywhere between 2-10 homes a year. Further, first-year or those just starting as realtors usually sell the least number of homes.
Poor work ethic
A common reason why new real estate agents fail is because of their work ethic. Even though the profession permits flexible hours, the working hours are long. Also, one may have to work many nights, weekends, and holidays. For those starting, there is no substitute for hard work.
Three common mistakes that agents make is inadequate prospecting, failing to market properties in ways that lead to fast sales, and not following up with clients. Real estate agents must be motivated because generating leads and marketing listings takes creativity and hard work.
Can I be a millionaire in real estate?
Sure, we've seen real estate boom-and-bust cycles in recent decades, but over time, owning real estate has made thousands of people rich in every part of the United States. All in all, it took me 51 years to be a real estate millionaire. But it only took me 11 years from the day I bought my first home!
Real estate investment has long been a cornerstone of financial success, with approximately 90% of millionaires attributing their wealth in part to real estate holdings. In this article, we delve into the reasons why real estate is a preferred vehicle for creating millionaires and how you can leverage its potential.
![Is it hard to make money as a real estate agent? (2024)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/nj4ep8A3EIM/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEcCNAFEJQDSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLAnzHVNh313qsXy-KwoQHKJROru9w)
Commercial properties are considered one of the best types of real estate investments because of their potential for higher cash flow. If you decide to invest in a commercial property, you could enjoy these attractive benefits: Higher-income potential.
- Pro #1. Achieving Freedom. ...
- Pro #2. Feeling Responsible. ...
- Pro #3. Being Respected. ...
- Pro #4. Excitement. ...
- Con #1. Having Nothing to Do. ...
- Con #2. Doing the Wrong Things. ...
- Con #3. Weird Working Hours. ...
- Con #4. Irregular Income.
In addition to factors such as family history, personality, and background, real estate practitioners contend with a high level of stress, wide swings in client emotions, and the job's demanding nature.
Real estate represents a huge investment opportunity that welcomes investors with as little as $100,000. This amount will let an investor purchase a single property for rent or resale.
But it's the advantages of being in your 30s and 40s — the ability to secure credit, the professional influence, a work experience that can reduce the small-business learning curve — that makes starting a real estate career at this time an often perfect choice.
Beginner real estate investors usually prefer residential real estate properties over commercial properties. The latter is more complex to manage and often requires large sums to invest in. However, investing in commercial real estate properties as a beginner is possible through REITs.
Some new agents may not do what they need to do to be successful throughout the day. Or they may do too much of what doesn't lead to success. Besides money being a significant challenge in the first year, fear of rejection may also intimidate many new real estate agents.
The area of the exam that is considered the most challenging varies from person to person, but many people find that the Practice of Real Estate and Disclosures section is the most difficult. This section takes up 25% of the exam and has between 37-38 questions to answer.
Is the first year of real estate the hardest?
As many tenured agents can attest, the first year in real estate can be grueling. And while some agents make big money very early, many don't. Truly understanding your financial picture—and being prepared for what's to come—is the most important step to achieving success during your first year in real estate.
While ZipRecruiter is seeing salaries as high as $147,542 and as low as $28,127, the majority of First Year Real Estate Agent salaries currently range between $59,200 (25th percentile) to $98,700 (75th percentile) with top earners (90th percentile) making $126,817 annually in California.
The highest-paying states for real estate brokers
According to GlassDoor, the top five states with the highest real estate broker salaries are New York, California, Nevada, Iowa, and Arizona.
While placing an exact percentage number on failing Realtors is difficult, it's a high number. I've consistently heard that 85% of new agents will not be active in just two years. Some may keep their license, but they will not sell a single home in the next five years.
Depending on the source, the percentage of real estate agents that fail in the business within the first 5 years ranges between 85-90%. When you think about it, nearly 9 of 10 new agents can expect to fail, which is an eye opener.
References
- https://nukeyrealty.com/type-real-estate-profitable-investment/
- https://www.zippia.com/real-estate-agent-jobs/demographics/
- https://www.carealtytraining.com/blogs/side-hustle-real-estate-agent
- http://www.themusiccityrealtor.com/10-reasons-i-love-being-a-realtor.html
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/invest-40-000-7-smart-211750067.html
- https://www.monster.com/career-advice/article/real-estate-interview-questions
- https://www.aceableagent.com/career-center/california/how-much-do-real-estate-agents-make-in-california/
- https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/what-is-70-rule-in-house-flipping
- https://reschool.com/is-california-real-estate-exam-hard/
- https://www.realestateinvestorgoddesses.com/blog/7-reasons-you-should-be-investing-in-real-estate
- https://smartasset.com/retirement/how-long-will-100000-last-in-retirement
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/080714/how-do-real-estate-agents-get-paid.asp
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/g/Highest-Paying-Real-Estate-Agent-Jobs
- https://www.concreit.com/blog/how-to-invest-50k-in-real-estate
- https://www.darinpersinger.com/blog/make-100000-real-estate-agent
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/090815/buying-your-first-investment-property-top-10-tips.asp
- https://www.bostonrealestateclass.com/posts/real-estate-challenges/
- https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/benefits-of-real-estate-investing
- https://www.keyrealestateresources.com/how-to-make-6-figures-in-real-estate/
- https://www.realestateprepguide.com/south-carolina-real-estate-exam-prep/
- https://www.fortunebuilders.com/invest-150k-todays-real-estate-market/
- https://time.com/personal-finance/article/how-to-invest-in-real-estate/
- https://realestatelicensewizard.com/why-the-first-year-of-real-estate-is-the-hardest/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/retire-comfortably-40-1-million-130024366.html
- https://moneywise.com/investing/real-estate/is-it-good-investment
- https://www.homelight.com/blog/agent-real-estate-personality-types/
- https://www.thebalancemoney.com/how-much-do-real-estate-agents-make-1798888
- https://www.theceshop.com/agent-essentials/real-estate-agent-encyclopedia/real-estate-agent-salary
- https://www.nar.realtor/magazine/wellness/is-real-estate-a-depressing-career
- https://www.cnbc.com/2023/10/13/americans-say-this-is-the-best-way-to-build-wealth.html
- https://worldpopulationreview.com/state-rankings/hardest-real-estate-exams-by-state
- https://www.fortunebuilders.com/start-a-real-estate-career/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/which-state-offers-most-challenging-real-estate-licensing-lang
- https://www.libertymutual.com/insurance-resources/auto/what-is-the-80-percent-rule-for-home-insurance
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/50-rule-real-estate-170024306.html
- https://thisismortgage.com/how-much-house-can-i-afford-with-50k-salary/
- https://www.sofi.com/learn/content/is-100000-a-good-salary/
- https://www.rentspree.com/blog/how-long-should-you-study-for-the-real-estate-exam
- https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/10-ways-to-build-wealth-fast
- https://www.rentspree.com/blog/real-estate-questions
- https://www.tomferry.com/blog/87-of-all-agents-fail-in-real-estate/
- https://www.truehold.com/post/challenges-of-being-a-real-estate-agent
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/Real-Estate-Agent-Salary
- https://www.chase.com/personal/mortgage/education/buying-a-home/brrrr-method
- https://www.adhischools.com/blog/math-on-california-real-estate-exam
- https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/pros-and-cons-of-being-a-real-estate-agent
- https://smartasset.com/investing/how-to-invest-100k-in-real-estate
- https://www.continuingedexpress.com/career-licensing-pro-con
- https://www.kubera.com/blog/percentage-net-worth-real-estate
- https://www.vaned.com/blog/real-estate-math/
- https://www.fortunebuilders.com/investing-in-real-estate-for-beginners/
- https://www.shouselaw.com/ca/defense/fraud/real-estate-fraud/property-flipping/
- https://calicomarketing.com/success-tips/7-figure-income-cre-agent/
- https://theclose.com/why-realtors-fail/
- https://www.luxurypresence.com/blogs/how-much-does-a-real-estate-broker-make-in-salary/
- https://www.quickenloans.com/learn/how-much-does-it-cost-to-flip-a-house
- https://realestatelicensewizard.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-become-successful-in-real-estate/
- https://www.adhischools.com/blog/The-Five-Hardest-Things-About-Being-A-Realtor
- https://www.redfin.com/guides/how-much-is-real-estate-agent-commission-buyer-seller
- https://strawpoll.com/most-difficult-professional-examination
- https://www.ppic.org/blog/californias-high-housing-costs-have-created-a-million-house-rich-millionaires/
- https://www.squarefoothomes.com/blog/home-selling/why-do-real-estate-agents-make-so-much-money/
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-real-estate-creates-90-millionaires-ben-lovro
- https://www.rochesterrealestateblog.com/10-reasons-why-real-estate-agents-fail/
- https://www.ramseysolutions.com/real-estate/how-much-money-do-i-need-to-buy-a-house
- https://www.mashvisor.com/blog/how-to-become-a-millionaire-real-estate-investor/
- https://www.azibo.com/blog/one-percent-vs-two-percent-rule-real-estate
- https://www.bfadvisors.com/average-age-become-millionaire/
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/101314/why-do-real-estate-agents-fail.asp
- http://www.dre.ca.gov/examinees/OutOfState.html
- https://www.fortunebuilders.com/how-to-make-money-in-real-estate/
- https://www.kapre.com/resources/real-estate/top-ten-traits-real-estate-agent
- https://www.freedommentor.com/top-3-reasons-people-quit-real-estate/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/average-profit-expect-flipping-houses-130104494.html
- https://www.rocketmortgage.com/learn/types-of-real-estate-investment
- https://www.noradarealestate.com/blog/how-to-make-money-in-real-estate/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/040215/real-estate-broker-career-you.asp
- https://www.poplarhomes.com/real-estate-investment/real-estate-investment-a-wise-choice-for-2023/
- https://www.carealtytraining.com/blogs/fastest-way-to-get-a-real-estate-license
- https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/buying-stocks/articles/i-have-100000-in-retirement-savings-and-im-30-years-old-am-i-all-set/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/invest-100-000-turn-1-124500592.html
- https://www.cnbc.com/select/how-long-should-you-live-in-a-house-before-selling/
- https://www.kylehandy.com/blog/learn/how-to-invest-100k-in-real-estate/
- https://blog.homesandland.com/how-many-houses-can-a-realtor-sell-in-a-year
- https://www.ziprecruiter.com/Salaries/First-Year-Real-Estate-Agent-Salary--in-California
- https://novelmanagement.com/how-long-does-it-take-to-make-a-profit-on-a-rental-investment/
- https://showcaseidx.com/why-do-most-real-estate-agents-fail-in-their-first-2-years-and-how-to-avoid-this/
- https://www.nasdaq.com/articles/kevin-oleary%3A-by-age-33-you-should-have-%24100k-in-savings-how-to-get-started
- https://www.mashvisor.com/blog/types-of-real-estate-investment-best-beginner/
- https://www.kapre.com/resources/real-estate/how-to-become-a-real-estate-agent
- https://newventureescrow.com/7-fastest-ways-to-make-money-in-real-estate/
- https://www.auction.com/blog/my-advice-to-millennials-4-steps-to-becoming-a-real-estate-millionaire/
- https://www.usatoday.com/money/blueprint/investing/how-to-invest-in-real-estate/
- https://www.kapre.com/resources/real-estate/1-million-first-year-selling-real-estate
- https://www.fullfeel.io/why-is-being-a-realtor-stressful/
- https://finance.yahoo.com/news/retire-comfortably-65-1-million-130047104.html
- https://www.fool.com/investing/2023/01/28/want-to-invest-in-the-real-estate-market-with-less/
- https://www.quora.com/Does-the-real-estate-sector-have-the-highest-numbers-of-millionaires-in-the-world-today
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/realtors-math-money-matters-bobby-bryant
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/mortgages-real-estate/11/make-money-in-real-estate.asp
- https://www.businessinsider.com/real-estate-investor-buildilng-wealth-properties-rental-income-new-hampshire-2022-2
- https://www.realtrends.com/articles/20-steps-to-a-1-million-year-in-real-estate/
- https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/122415/why-real-estate-risky-investment.asp
- https://www.colibrirealestate.com/career-hub/grow-your-real-estate-career/successful-first-year-in-real-estate/
- https://jetstreamtech.io/how-to-make-money-quick-as-a-new-real-estate-agent/
- https://blog.homesandland.com/reasons-why-real-estate-agents-fail
- https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/do-millionaires-invest-real-estate-wealth-building-secret-ben-lovro
- https://brokersplaybook.com/news/what-is-the-average-age-of-a-realtor/
- https://www.financialsamurai.com/how-much-should-one-have-in-their-401k-at-different-ages/