Choosing a Brokerage

Once you've passed the real estate exam. You will need to choose a broker to "hang" your license. The first year will be a year filled with learning all the details of selling homes. You will learn lots of new technology, new terminology (you learned a lot in real estate school, but you're not done), different property styles, mortgages, contracts, how to navigate inspections and much much more.

Choosing a broker that will help you navigate all this learning is crucial to kicking off a successful career.

When choosing a broker, ask them how they will help you become successful, how accessible they are and what training they provide.

Solo or Join a Team?

When you are first starting out, you have a choice to begin on your own - as a solo agent (your brokerage will likely pair you with a mentor) or you may decide to join a team. Working solo means, you will be responsible for all aspects of your business, generating leads, client servicing, business operations and marketing. Expect that getting all these systems up and running, while learning the business can take time.

Alyssia, What's a team?

A team is a group of agents who work together, often there are built in lead generation, administrative and marketing systems already built out so you don't have to invent all of yours as a new agent.

Joining a team may give you more support, training, and accountability than being a solo agent. You will plug right into their already built systems.

Careers

A career in real estate can be very rewarding! Selling real estate is more like a lifestyle. Requires an entrepreneurial spirit and a dedication to the pursuit. You will never have the same day twice. You get to wear many different hats; tour guide, financial advisor, therapist, motivational speaker, analyst, interior designer, construction.... and more.

There is no income limit and you set your own hours.

When you pass the Maryland State test you have a few options:

Two smart dressed men work in an open space

Rookies

The National Association of REALTORS® defines a Rookie as someone who's been in the business for 4 years or less. Yep, you read that right, 4 years!

There IS that much to learn.

Consider this: the average agent sells 2-4 homes per year.

You will learn a great amount with each of your sales.

In fact, I personally have sold over 500 homes, and I still learn something new with each sale!