You’ve probably interacted with an agent at some point or know someone who has. You have definitely seen us around in advertisements or on signs scattered in yards throughout the city. Even though you’re familiar with agents – and may even know what an agent does – you may not be that familiar with the benefits of being a real estate agent and how it can be a fruitful, productive, lucrative, and fun (yes, fun) career option.
Whether you are just out of high school or college or looking to make a career change, we are here to help you decide if you’d want to be a real estate agent and work in a rapidly-growing field.
Be Your Own Boss
In life, you can either work for someone else, or you can be your own boss. “New research shows that 44 million workers—or 28.2%—were self-employed at some point during a given week in 2019. 14% of workers said being an independent contractor was their primary job.”
As a real estate agent, you really can be your own boss — even if you work with an agency like LAH Real Estate. You have control over your time and your schedule. You influence how much you make. You aren’t chained to a desk and you’re free to do what you need to do in order to get the job done.
This can be very liberating. In fact, that’s why many people get into the real estate field. Our agents here at LAH are no different. Being your own boss is incredibly appealing. You, and no one else, is in control of your success. That’s the essence of freedom.
Earn More Money
Another benefit is that being a real estate agent can be a very lucrative career choice. We won’t say that every real estate agent is a success and makes a great living, but the successful agents who work harder and smarter are able to give themselves and their families the lifestyle they’ve always wanted.
In a place like Birmingham, where the metro population is just over 1,151,800 people, the potential to make a good living in real estate is high. The more of an expert you become, and the harder you work, the more you’ll make. If you’re a numbers person, let’s take a home valued at $200,000. As an agent, you’ll typically collect a 3% commission. That results in $6,000 before the split with your agency. That, naturally, goes up with the home’s value.
If you knew you could make thousands for each home you helped someone buy or sell, you’d quickly realize that the more effort you put in, the more you’ll earn. You may be able to earn more than you would at a 9-to-5 job that doesn’t have financial incentives to work harder. That appeals to many who get into the real estate field. If you want to just do real estate as a side hustle, you’ll find you can make far more money than with just about any other part-time job out there.
The earning potential for a real estate agent, even one with just a high school diploma and no college degree, is virtually unlimited and not confined by a salary.
You’re the Expert
Most of us want to be known for being competent in our chosen area. And many of us want to be an expert who is trusted and relied upon by friends, family and all clients. Being a real estate agent means you are the expert for anything associated with real estate. You’ll be able to give advice to anyone when it comes to buying or selling property.
You’ll know the market better than anyone else – you’ll probably even know your community better than anyone else. You’ll get to meet a lot of people and genuinely help them make a life changing transaction they can’t really do on their own.
Should You Become an Agent?
Being a real estate agent isn’t a sure-fire way to riches. It involves hard work and often long hours. At times, it can be a grind and just as stressful as any other career. However, there are enormous benefits to being an agent in the real estate field. Find a successful agent and ask them why they got into the field and what they’ve gotten out of it. They will probably tell you that they earn a great living helping people as an expert and being in control of their own business.
If that appeals to you, becoming a real estate agent may be in the cards for you. Reach out to one of our offices to learn more about moving forward with this exciting opportunity.
Requirements to Become an Agent
We’ve broken down all the requirements and steps you must take to become a licensed agent. Check it out here.
