Need help with my next steps!!

[Zachary Cummings]

Good Afternoon BP!

I am stuck between a rock and a hard place. My career path is what got me interested in real estate investing to begin with but I am no longer accomplishing what my mind is seeking through my Job. I have been a Mortgage Banker since I graduated college in 2017 and I have been investing in real estate for the last few years. I have come to a point in my career where there is no longer any growth unless I take on a management position in which I am not interested in doing. As the years have gone on I have become more and more fascinated with every part of the real estate transaction from analyzing properties, to underwriting, to acquisitions, to development, to management, etc. In all of my spare time I find myself reading books, blogs, articles and watching webinars, etc.

The problem is, my professional resume doesn't have any real estate background other than mortgage sales. Commission based income has opened my eyes to financial freedom. I have done a lot of research lately and noticed from what it seems, that a good introduction to the industry seems to be in commercial real estate brokerage. This way I get the knowledge, exposure, and experience to be able to accomplish my goals financially and mentally. I like the flexibility in sales and I like the uncapped potential it can provide.

With that being said, I have a personal goal of being financially independent in the next 8 years (I will be 35), but I am gun shy to make the jump to CRE brokerage knowing that I will be taking a step back to take a step forward. Having to learn a new industry and knowing this will slow down my real estate growth in the short term makes me nervous but with the hopes it will be accelerated once I have built the relationships necessary to succeed and accomplish my goal of being financially free in 8 years.

I know this isn't directly related to real estate per say but I would really appreciate any advice anyone can provide as I am trying to figure out the next steps in my career.

Thank you so much!