Advice on getting started

[Matt Granger]

A little bit about me real quick.

I am currently in the Air Force, and have been given the opportunity to retire early because of budget cuts. My goal is to be a agent, and get more involved into investing into properties. I currently have a rented mobile home, and plan on staying with mobile homes on private land. I am working on my second one now.

I am nervous about starting a new career, I am most worried about making money. But the Pro's of getting out of the military, far outweigh the Con's. So I am jumping in feet first.

I plan on taking a 60 hour course that teaches the South Carolina test and also fulfill's the 60 hours required as well.

I know being a agent is hard job, I can handle stressfull/hard jobs. I do that everyday. I just need some encouragement I guess.

I hear some people say, that I should start out as an agent part time, because it's not going to make me any money at first, but a big part of me disagree's, I feel if I am agressive enough I can make it happen. Thoughts?

[Matt Granger]

somethings to add that I missed. I will be retired by August 1st of this year, so I would stop working in the AF around mid June with my leave I have saved up.

[Elizabeth Colegrove]

Welcome to Bigger Pockets! My husband is active duty military and I am a buy and hold investor. Good Luck on real estate quest.

[Account Closed]

Hi Matt,

The thing is that even if you were to get a client on day 1, and they wanted to pay cash, it would still take a while for the transaction to close and for you to get a commission. Even if they pay cash they will usually want an inspection (the time required for the inspection varies greatly, I have no idea in SCarolina). Then you have to get to closing date and cross your fingers that everything out of your control actually worked out.

If you follow a strict lead generation regimen, and you can afford it, then you can start out full time. But if you hate the idea of cold calling or door knocking, and most agents do, then there is little incentive to start full time.

If you're going to do lead generation using direct mail for example, then you'll spend a lot of time twiddling your thumbs at the office while it's in production and being sent. Same for your website if you choose to focus online - it's going to take several weeks or possibly several months before it starts churning out leads on a regular basis.

I think Michael Quarles was in your position and did really well in his first year cold calling 8 hours a day.

[Dev Horn]

Hey man, just DO IT. The most successful investors I know are also agents or brokers.

"It's hard to beat a person who never gives up." ~ Babe Ruth

[Jamie Cox]

Hi Matt, I'd be glad to help you get started. These guys are right. Real estate, from an agent standpoint, is a 90 day cycle meaning the work you do today typically doesn't show a return for 90 days. Creating a lead generation strategy and sticking with it is key. Feel free to reach out to me. I'm happy to help.

[David Hunter]

The best way to get start as a real estate agent is to work with a top producing agent. You are helping take some of the work load off the agent, you're learning the business, and... you have the potential to get paid by that agent for the work you do.

And, if you decide to go in all by yourself, market Market MARKET! Never stop marketing.

Best of luck!

[Matt Granger]

thank you for all the replies! I will have about 45 days of being on leave in the military, and be able to work somewhere else. So that will help.

[Pat S.]

@Matt Granger

Congrats on the decision to move on to something new! I'm about a year behind you and plan to become and agent/investor as well.

To your question about jumping in full-time, I say do it!

We are in a unique situation that I think gives us advantages over most folks who start.

1. You have a steady income stream from military retirement. It might not be enough to live on, but it does help to know that not all your income is tied to commissions.

2. You have health care covered for little costs. So again, some additional risk mitigation that makes it a little easier to jump right in to full time.

Pat