Advice for a new real estate agent/investor

[Johno Bottomley]

Hello everyone, my name is Johno. I'm currently in the Marine Corps and will be getting out late October after 4 years. I'm moving back home to Traverse City, MI and plan on becoming a real estate agent/investor. I've just started the online course through Real Estate Express and plan on completing it before I make the trip home.

I do have some money saved up to keep me afloat for a few months while I get into the business but I'm just looking for any advice or tips towards being a successful agent and making a salary as soon as possible once I start. 

My investment aspirations that I'm interested in are multifamily rentals. I'm currently reading "The Book on Rental Property Investing" and have a goal to start my investing career by purchasing a small multifamily to house hack by the end of 2019.

Any advice on either topic is greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[John Warren]

@Johno Bottomley congratulations man. It sounds like you are working hard to prepare yourself. I would, personally, think long and hard about going in full time as an agent right away if you don't have another income stream. Even the best sales people will take 6 months to get begin getting paid due to the natural cycle of real estate, and many people don't close a sale for longer than that. 

More importantly, lenders do not like to lend to real estate agents! Lenders really, really like W2 income, so if there is any way for you to have a W2, you should consider it. This also would include if your spouse has W2 though, so maybe you have this angle covered but didn't post about it