Is now a good time to become a real estate agent? (standard, value)

[Den Mathias]

I am researching becoming a real estate agent/salesperson in California.

Any words of wisdom from the real estate professionals?

Can study and licensing be completed online?

[tomocox]

I will share that I think NOW is the perfect time for a business person to enter the real estate industry. Now is NOT the time to get a hobby license. If a person will enter real estate with the same standards and business planning/financing/market research that a merchant would, then they can make huge returns on their investment.

[Kevin1975]

Its a good time because its a good time to learn the business while things are slow. Might be easier to have someone mentor you and managers have more time to spend training. However, its a tough market to make money in right now.

Not aware of any online courses to take the real estate salesperson license. Might vary from state to state.

[lindy112]

In VA, you can take the real estate courses online through Moseley. I'm sure they must have something similar in CA.

[Silverfall]

I think ProSchools covers most of the West Coast states online.

[Brandon Hoffman]

It depends on your motivation. Why are you considering real estate?

[MikeJaquish]

Originally Posted by Brandon Hoffman

It depends on your motivation. Why are you considering real estate?

What he said.
"The answer is within you, Grasshopper."

The market is just the market and not a reason to be or not be a real estate agent.

[Den Mathias]

Originally Posted by MikeJaquish

What he said.
"The answer is within you, Grasshopper."

The market is just the market and not a reason to be or not be a real estate agent.

You speak with much wisdom! Snatch the property from my hand!

[MikeJaquish]

Originally Posted by Den Mathias

You speak with much wisdom! Snatch the property from my hand!

Good response!

Properties will always be conveyed.
Truly it is more of a gut check than a market check.

You have to be honest with yourself:
If you are willing to work very hard to develop the contacts and clientele it takes to succeed in the business, and willing to put in the time needed to develop the skills to bring value to your clientele, and you have the financial ability to survive while your business takes root...
You are in the right place at the right time.

[tomocox]

A wise old sage of the real estate business once told me that I should plan on working five years to achieve real estate success. I have seen that a better way to put that is this way. Work full or part time for 10,000 hours (5 yrs x 40hrs/wk x 50 weeks) or (10 yrs x 20 hrs/wk x 50 weeks), etc to achieve some success in this business.

The longer I am in the business, the more I see the wisdom of my mentor's thoughts. I also will share that just like a wise entrepreneur would not enter the restaurant, retail, or contracting business without investing a certain amount of savings (capital), holding adequate operating cash, and a solid reserve, a wise real estate entrepreneur will similarly open and operate their enterprise with sound business principles.