How Long Does It Take to Start Making Money as a Real Estate Agent? (2024)

How Long Does It Take to Start Making Money as a Real Estate Agent? (1)

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It can take about six months to start making money as a real estate agent. Everyone is different, but six months is around the time many agents make their first sale. To start making consistent money, you should plan for about a year. To make a profit, you should plan for up to 18 months.

Real estate agents make money by selling marketing, legal, negotiation, and other services to those involved in a real estate transaction. They usually collect a commission for these services as a percentage of the property’s final sales price. Commissions make up virtually all of a real estate agent’s revenue, so when they start making money depends on when they start making sales.

While it does not require lengthy and expensive degrees to become a real estate agent, it can take a while to get established in the industry. New agents generally have few contacts for leads. They may not be seasoned marketers. They also probably have not yet achieved high page rank.

These challenges can prevent agents from developing leads and closing sales immediately upon entering the industry. Once a sale seems likely, it can take several weeks to more than a month to close it. This too delays revenue.

Thankfully, there are some things you can do to help speed the adjustment period. Here are four tips to help you start making money sooner as a new real estate agent.

1. Organic Listings

Organic listings are those that are hosted natively on your site. They are indexed by search engines and appear in the results. By committing to organic listings from day one, your website will generate the maximum SEO output to help you rank highly online and generate new leads.

2. Local Content

Portals dominate online search results. But their content is a mile wide and an inch deep. New real estate agents can out compete portals by leveraging their local expertise. By involving yourself deeply in your community and generating content packed with local knowledge, you can out nypass portals and generate more traffic.

3. Develop a Niche

New agents need to distinguish themselves in the market. They can do this by narrowing their business focus and carving out a niche. You cannot be the best at everything until you are the best at one thing. Choose a niche based on location, clientele or listing type and make it the focus of your marketing.

4. Find a Mentor

Going it alone is difficult in any profession. By finding a mentor, you can get the advice you need to begin your career on the right foot. If you have clear goals and a strong work ethic people will be willing to help you.

So now you know how long it takes to start making money as a real estate agent. If you find yourself slipping from this timeline, don’t worry. Everyone’s path is different. And if you really can’t seem to get the sales you need, you can always join a team.

For more real estate blogs from Realtyna, check out How to Develop Ideas and Generate Traffic for Your Real Estate Blog and Where Do Real Estate Agents Make the Most Money?

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Disclaimer

The opinions or information expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official views, policy, or position of Realtyna. The information on Realtyna’s Website is general, for informational purposes only, and is not to be relied upon or interpreted as real estate, legal, accounting, or other professional advice or a substitute. Please discuss anything related to the certification process, professional advice or legal procedures with your MLS providers.

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Agents, real estate agents, Real Estate Industry, success

How Long Does It Take to Start Making Money as a Real Estate Agent? (2024)

FAQs

How Long Does It Take to Start Making Money as a Real Estate Agent? ›

As a new real estate agent, you can make money in three to six months. Tait Militana, a writer at Realtyna, says you should be making consistent money after your first year and it takes around 18 months to be able to live from real estate alone.

How long does it take to succeed as a real estate agent? ›

Years three to five are typically where most real estate agents start achieving greater levels of success and earning a more lucrative income.

How quickly can you make money in real estate? ›

It can take one to five years to see short-term but still potentially high profits, such as those gained from flipping properties in fast-appreciating markets. For those who purchase rental properties, it can take between five and 15 years to generate substantial income.

Is it hard starting out as a real estate agent? ›

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.

Is making money in real estate easy? ›

That being said, you do need a strong work ethic and time to make money in real estate, especially in the beginning. If you want to wholesale, buy, or flip a property, you need to make sure it has potential. Further, suppose you're going to work with a business partner or other type of private lender.

Can you make money fast as a real estate agent? ›

The fastest way to make money as a real estate agent is to nurture buyer leads. However, getting your first client to buy a property can take three to six months. A good way to make money fast while you wait on your first commission, or right after it, is to manage short-term rentals (STR).

Is it stressful to be a real estate agent? ›

In the demanding and stressful world of real estate, agents often grapple with effects that can ripple through their physical and mental health, personal relationships, and job performance.

How do beginners make money in real estate? ›

How To Make Money In Real Estate: A Guide For Beginners
  1. Leverage Appreciating Value. Most real estate appreciates over time. ...
  2. Buy And Hold Real Estate For Rent. ...
  3. Flip A House. ...
  4. Purchase Turnkey Properties. ...
  5. Invest In Real Estate. ...
  6. Make The Most Of Inflation. ...
  7. Refinance Your Mortgage.
Apr 12, 2024

Can you make $1000000 a year in real estate? ›

Can you make $1 million in your first year selling real estate? It can be done. In fact, it has been done.

Is 100k enough to start in real estate? ›

In affordable housing markets, $100k would be enough to cover a 20% down payment plus closing costs and holding costs until your new renter moves in. In a really affordable market, you might even have enough cash on hand to cover the necessary renovation costs as well.

How hard is it to get started in real estate? ›

Key Takeaways. You can become a real estate agent in less than six months, depending on where you live and how much time you dedicate to the process. The general steps to earning a license include taking the real estate prelicensing course and licensing exam, activating your license, and joining a brokerage.

What is the hardest part of the real estate exam? ›

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.

Is real estate good for beginners? ›

Real estate investing “for beginners” is absolutely achievable, and passive real estate investing may be a great next step beyond a traditional 60/40 portfolio. Real estate investing has long been a favored route to wealth creation, and for good reason.

Is real estate actually a good career? ›

Earning opportunities: While working in real estate provides a reasonable average annual salary, there are opportunities to earn considerably higher with commissions. If obtaining a higher-than-average salary is one of your goals, consider seeking positions with an agency offering 6% or higher in commission.

Can I become a millionaire with 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!

Is it hard to become successful in real estate? ›

Learning how to become successful in this field can take a great deal of practice and experience, and even the most experienced agents can benefit from learning new ideas and methodologies. If you'd like to thrive in this business, reading about strategies for success may help you do so.

What are the chances of becoming a successful real estate agent? ›

Being a successful real estate agent is easier said than done. After all, there's a reason 87% of real estate agents fail. However, knowing the mistakes these realtors make, such as failing to follow up with clients or not having adequate funding, can help you prepare and grow a successful real estate business.

How long does it take to become a millionaire in real estate? ›

By continually flipping or renting the homes you live in, your net worth will probably hit the $1 million dollar mark within another 10–15 years and you can continue to get rich in real estate, while everyone else you knew at age 25 is still plodding along with little to nothing in the bank.

Is real estate agent a good career in Texas? ›

Texas is a gigantic state full of massive opportunities for new real estate agents. According to the most recent census, of the 15 fastest growing cities nationwide, 7 of them are in Texas. Those cities include McKinney, Frisco, Odessa, Pearland, Cedar Park, Georgetown and San Marcos.

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