Why not get a license?

[Richard C.]

Full Disclosure"  I'm one of those awful "anti-wholesalers."

I am honestly curious, though.  I'll read post abouts "how to get started wholesaling with nothing" or "how best to use $1000 to start wholesaling" and every time I think, why not just get a license?  Can anyone answer that?

Note that I am not asking why an experienced person would wholesale rather than be an agent.  Different situation.  I'm talking about newbies.

I've asked a number of times on threads here, and the question is either ignored or answered with something like, "There are lots of different ways to get started in real estate investing."

Well, yes, there are. But what is the appeal of wholesaling over getting an agent license?

We see all of these threads started by people with no money, no knowledge of their local market, and no knowledge of even the basics of real estate law and finance.  Why not spend $500 of that $1000 wholesaling budget on a RE Agent class, get your license, and get a part-time agent gig where you will make some money while learning about the market and the industry?

The only thing I can think of is because so many think that wholesaling will make them rich overnight, and when they look at RE agents, they see being an agent does not make you rich overnight.  But I have been assured that is not it.

So what is it?  Why not just get the license?

[Michael Barbari]

@Richard C. 

I asked myself that same question. So I got my real estate license and happy I did. I have a full time job and I would not have the time for wholesaling.