I am a part time inspector and investor but there is some good money to make and you c an use your expertise towards buying properties because you will see the inside of a property, and there is a lot of crazy things out there.tell you friend to start looking in to InterNASHI.org or ASHI this are the biggest national associations and have tons of training.

If your wife's friend is with a national or super regional bank, like Chase, Wells Fargo, US Bank, etc, even that relationship may not help since these banks have very strict underwriting rules, and anything outside of that box gets denied. 

as a new agent you need to decide where you will hang your license,(broker), you dont work on your own, part of the idea is than an experienced agent will over see you and help you work,there are many companies out there, interview with a few, let them talk, most would rather hear themselves anyway, steer clear of more independents that boast letting you keep more, not for newbees, i started out with national chains till going to remax after many years, the chains will will have additional training for you, I also mentored two other agents after hitting elite status on nationals, be ready to give some of commission for mentoring, dont volunteer it up front, you will have many fees to pay starting out, sometimes you can also be an assistant to a major agent too, you will list thru a multiple listing service that other agents used to find houses, public too, they cost also for membership, on your own you cant list on craigs and do open houses, there are some who only list and some who only sell, and some inbetween, if you are lucky enough to get both sides, suggest you get someone else to take buyers side for transaction if you have iron clad relationship, or stay neutral, some list only to take buyers elsewhere, one house one sale, one house many buyers, what ever you do stay intouch with listings, plus with national agency lots of experience, lots of ads, national website, referrals,traing avail if you got in this to work from home and make a large commission right away you got sold, fees will eat you up, sales take time, money and experience, some get in it to buy their own, that is an option too, do lots of phone time, stay friendly with all in office, avoid politics of all kinds, do rentals to pay the fees, they can  turn into buyers, expect to make first listing within 3-6 months, sale 6 months, till up to speed, my standard was 2 of each a month, some more some less depend on season, can tell you stories.... doing floor time once had buyer walk in, said wanted to spend no more than 2, turns out was million, no one wanted to do floor time, also my first listing was a real frank loyd wright home, other agents would me give their rental lookers, be willing for all, I worked in area of NJ where a famous golf course is, was one of few that belonged to all 3 mls, so had advantage, a $1500 corp rental relocation will some day buy, get to know the relo person, we used to give nice gifts to clients, make it something they will see everyday not flowers or candy

There are some smaller boutique managers who charge less utilize the proper channels, as well as the big national STR managers.

My clients are buying STNL NNN properties that are national investment grade necessity based businesses in retail.

HI and congrats on your decision, learn a lot from here join some of the local meetups (now Zoom) get yourself a good group of trades men like plumber, HVAC, electrician that will be the most important, mortgage broker ( don't depend 100% on banks) and like Carlos said a good home inspector, you can find some well train at Internachi.org or ASHI, this are national associations and have a very good requirements to be one.

@Dana Weick Even if the wording may not be 100% correct, it still serves as a dangerous precedent to what can happen to the rest of the nation.

Before covid, I was in my cushy corporate job head down, after covid, I want almost nothing to do with a corporate job.

The Starbucks is willing to pay more money per FT which increases NOI and the sale value is a lower cap rate now changing tenant mix for the center weighted to a national credit junior anchor.  

I saw a post where an HOA did the same thing in their Condo Association.I understand both sides.Many businesses are forced to temporarily close their doors during this national emergency.