Life as a Realtor

One of the reasons I became a Realtor was because it looked so easy, and the commissions were so attractive.  A friend of the family helped me buy my first condo, and it seemed like there was nothing to it.  “Jeez, I could do that,” I thought.  They seemed to make a lot of money for doing very little work.  Around 2002 after I’d sold the condo very quickly and for a good price I met a Realtor out at Indian Valley Golf Course in Novato.  He told me how easy it was to make a living as a Realtor, and the seed was planted.  Two years later I too was finally ready play golf and sell real estate. 

Years later, after I’d already been selling property for a while and knew better another family friend became a Realtor.  I tried to talk him out of it, but he wouldn’t listen.  He was under similar illusions to mine.  He was ready to surf and sell real estate.  My friend has now had his license for several years and I don’t know of any properties that he’s sold.  After being in the business for about a year he told me, “If I had known being a Realtor was a fast track to poverty I’d never had gotten my license.”  I can’t say I didn’t try to warn him.

My friend wasn’t far from the truth.  I do research on foreclosures and it’s amazing and sad how many ‘successful’ Realtors have lost their homes in this market cycle.  So much for living the dream, for those who don’t make sales being a Realtor can be a nightmare.  Commissions are still pretty decent when properties sell but the business has changed since I got my license in 2004: there is less volume and price levels are lower, often much lower.  Realtors now say we work twice as hard for half as much money.

I’m not complaining, I’m just writing it as I see it.  I love selling real estate and I’m very good at it.  This year as of May 13, out of the 318 Bradley Real Estate agents in Marin County I’ve sold more properties than any Realtor except my broker Melissa.   So I’m qualified to write about selling real estate.

What is my point?  I’m making a living, but it’s not easy.  So it’s a good thing I love what I do.  In the end selling real estate is about changing people’s lives for the better, something I didn’t realize when I got my license.  As a Realtor we are there for our clients during a time of fundamental transition, often assisting in what amounts to the largest transaction our clients will ever make.  There is a lot riding on our ability to negotiate a deal and keep it together, fates and financial futures (for all parties) hang in the balance.  It’s a time of great stress for sellers and buyers.  Realtors aren’t immune to stress either.  If we don’t sell a house, we Realtors don’t get paid.  Its high risk for us personally, and personally highly rewarding.

What’s the best part of my job?  I get paid when I make a difference in people’s lives.