Develop relationships (lots of them!) and begin building skills necessary for a career in real estate sales. Spend time with members of organizations where you belong. Hang out at Starbucks with friends. Call your family, neighbors, veterinarian, and hair stylist. After you talk about the price of gasoline, Fluffy’s allergies, and the latest hair trends, the topic of real estate will probably come up. Everyone loves to discuss the current real estate market!

When you’re not in the process of developing relationships, try the following seven skill-building tips:

1.) Attend all training sessions offered by your brokerage firm and local REALTOR® association. Not only will you learn something new at each event, but you also will be developing relationships with other new agents.

2.) Spend time in your office. You will learn by simply listening to conversations, and you will be establishing relationships with other practitioners in your office. Become familiar with the phone system and other office policies and procedures.

3.) Hold open houses. Offer to hold listings open for experienced agents.

4.) Tour, tour, tour! This is critical to understanding your inventory and pricing within local markets. Sign in at each home and leave your business card, which allows agents to

Continue reading "You Have Your Real Estate License … Now What?" »

Posted on April 30 at 10:07 AM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (0)

When I began researching real estate schools for my pre-licensing classes, I was looking for an outstanding school that prepared me for both the state exam and a career in the real estate industry. I am happy to report that I found one that not only met but also exceeded my expectations. For me, the perfect match was Career Growth Real Estate Academy.

How did I locate such a gem? Below are the five steps that I followed.

1. Understand licensing requirements in your state. Pre-licensing requirements vary by state, but all include an educational component. All regulatory agency Web sites can be found on the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials Web site by clicking on the “Regulatory Agencies” link. Visit your state’s Web site for detailed information.

2. Find approved schools in your local area. State Real Estate Commissions approve education providers, and most include a list of approved providers on their Web site. Real estate educators may include community colleges, colleges and universities, or private real estate schools.

3. Online vs. traditional classroom? Some approved providers offer distance learning courses. Of course, this is a personal decision. However, I believe an instructor-led classroom

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Posted on February 25 at 10:50 AM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (1)

I wouldn’t have believed it, but it became truth as golden as a ticket around the world: My decision to quit my fruitful job as an English teacher to work as a writer/real estate practitioner just one year ago resulted in a newfound freedom with full-time benefits.

In the six months I have been working as a part-time real estate agent in Honolulu, I discovered the key to happiness and Timothy Ferriss’s “4-Hour Workweek (Crown Publishers, 2007).

Initially, changing professions to pursue a part-time career in real estate didn’t appear to be the best alternative for me, but my life as a teacher had reached an all-time low, and I was in desperate need of a lift — and a drastic one at that.

As I bid farewell to my teacherly lifestyle, and embarked on constructing the real estate practitioner part of me, the following three important and necessary benchmarks planted me firmly onto a path of success.

1. Get a grip.

Undergoing a professional transformation takes time and my success as a real estate practitioner did not happen overnight. After quitting my job as a teacher, I took two months to get a grip on life and to prepare myself for the changes that would certainly come.

It’s really important to be in the right mindset when you change professions. I realized that I needed to take some time to gain perspective on life and what was important to me. I did it by traveling abroad, but whatever you do during this time off should involve some form of clearing your head.

2. Balance work and play.

I sought part-time work in real estate because I wanted “me-time” back. As a teacher who frequently burnt out from overworking, I wasn’t able to read and write for fun.

Now I’m able to balance work and play much more effectively. Working in real estate can entail

Continue reading "Embarking on a New Career" »

Posted on February 19 at 02:35 PM | Permanent Link | Add a Comment (4)