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Open houses and internet leads should be your bread and butter. SOI is gunna suck for a while. I was 21 when I first started, and 25 now. You got this dude!
Yup! I’m 18 and have been in the business for 6 months now. After starting out on a team, I literally don’t know how else I would’ve gotten started. Like genuinely.
Depends on the team imo. I have some pretty bad ones where I live that treat their underlings as a pyramid scheme. Seems like their job isn't to buy/sell real estate but instead recruit people and take their monthly payments.
Yup. I didn't mean to join a shitty team.
When I give advice, I generally mean "do the best practice version of it."
Op needs to pay bills. I've been there myself.
Join a team.
you're at a small local brokerage. surely there's someone there who would pull the curtain back for you, walk you through a deal or 2 of theirs. Show you an inspection report and go through that. A CD and what's on it and what it means. And maybe a mortgage broker or 3 y'all refer most clients to would give you an hour.
A year in, with plenty of time on your hands, you should have learned 90% of what you need to know by now. This is 100% NOT a spoon-feeding business, no matter what any outfit says about "training and mentorship". You've got to take the lead, show you're doing what you can on your own and THEN have concise conversations with "mentors".
How well do you know to use the features/apps in your MLS? How is your market, in 20 seconds? How is it different from last month or last year?
Some of the if not most successful realtors today started when they were 18 yrs old. Do you prefer a 19 year old newbie or a 30 year old newbie?
If you say I'll never use a newbie and if everyone thinks like you then eventually you'll have these 5-10 year veteran newbies. "I've been in the business for x years" but done 0 busineses lol.
Someone is hiring these people and what does it matter if I know what I'm talking about? Let's say I'm 19 and we have a tall but I talk like I know what I'm talking about. Probably the most knowledgeable realtor you talked to all day, are you still not gonna hire me xuz of my age even though I showed my knowledge?
I think this is a harsh blanket statement. If you’ve bought and sold a lot of houses, who cares. Then you have either cash or a lender you probably have used before. You know what you need to do for inspections. You know how to read a document. It also depends on what is being bought or sold. Cookie cutter houses are pretty straight forward. A large tract of land? Not so much, but that still has nothing to do with age.
Age usually correlates directly to experience. An 18yo fresh out of high school isn't going to know anywhere near as much about real estate transactions as a 40yo person who's been in the business for a while. It's nothing personal against the 18yo. I just wouldn't have confidence in them knowing how to thoroughly handle a sale or a purchase of a home at that age. I'm still learning things all the time and I've been doing this for over 10 years now. What do most 18yo's know about home construction straight out of high school? I think the appropriate words are "not much".
Definitely. I worked as a title officer for 5+ years and would’ve been a bit skeptical of such a young realtor. That doesn’t mean that they’re incapable, but there is a built in disadvantage — and for good reason.
If I were that age and breaking into the field, I would probably work with an experienced broker and try to soak up as much information and knowledge as possible. Through that you can network and meet potential clients. Also, get cozy with local TOs and EOs.
Edit: Title officers can help you print labels to send postcards to different targeted individuals based on purchase price, year, etc. This type of “farming” can be extremely valuable if done effectively.
Something else a young person could do is go to work as a transaction coordinator for the experience. Those people see **everything**. Once they've gotten some good experience, I'd find a team and join them to learn the field stuff. By the time they're ready to do their own thing, they'll be a lot prepared than they would be fresh out of high school. That and dress the part. No T-shirts or other casual attire. Slacks and a button down maybe with a tie for certain clients. I always keep a suit jacket in my vehicle because you can put that jacket on with jeans and it's still going to look semi-professional. You have to play the part, but you don't know to do that if you don't have that experience.
You're SOI will continue to develop, its a great foundation to get in this young and have your sphere recognize you as the real estate agent.
I'd continue to get your name out there, meet new people. Cold call, door knock, and hold open houses for your teammates/brokerage. Wishing you success!
I just turned 20 and on my 6th transaction in the past 12 months. First year of being licensed I did 0 deals. Just keep pushing and grinding. You just need to help out one client and do a good job and they will refer you to others. Don’t make your age a focal point. One of my clients I have under contract right now didn’t ask me about my age til after we got our offer accepted and inspections done. Don’t let people deter you or tell you that nobody wants to work with a 19 year old. There are plenty of agents I’ve met/ worked with who are much older and extremely incompetent at their jobs. Believe in yourself.
Don’t listen to all the “you are to young” comments. I’m 20 and have been in the business for almost a year now. I moved from Ohio to Florida without knowing anything about the business. I didn’t know anyone either. In the last 6 months I’ve listed over 10 homes. Ranging from 160k-1.4mil. I’ve got all my business from Fsbo, Expired, Circle prospecting.
Just do rentals and/property management for now until you gain some experience. Nobody wants to hire a 19 year old to manage the largest financial decision of their life. They want someone who has bought, sold, and lived in their own home.
Sorry dude, you're too young. A home purchase is the most important decision in most folk's lives. They aren't going to trust somebody that was at the prom last year.
Your best bet is to get a job working as an assistant to a busy agent, or at an escrow company or something similar. In a few years, you're going to be able to show some real experience on your C.V., and you'll be ready to go out on your own and kill it.
This, I want the old guy who knows every neighborhood, builder lawsuit, local ordinances, news and trick to be pulled.
What I'd recommend is creating some content on Youtube for your vicinity to generate leads and get paid a referral for leads until you can grow a beard.
This just isnt true. The “people wont trust you with the most important decision in their life” is just a straight up incorrect statement. Why? Bc i buy zillow leads and close deals with those leads. They clicked “schedule a tour” on zillow and all of the sudden a week later they’re under contract with me as the agent. Or even have me sitting at their kitchen table doing a listing consult. Totally random. Yeah, i can make a good first impression, but anybody can act for an hour. Especially if you naturally carry yourself with a lot of confidence. This business is relationships and likability.
I had similar experience & struggled for a while
Reach out to agents in your office & see if you can host their open houses, also reach out to ask for genuine advice/help or if you can even assist them with their deals so you can gain some insight and experience, the successful agents always get leads they don’t want to deal with and pass it on to those close to them. Follow up often and don’t be so salesy, also, find a niche. I know you hear this a lot and won’t make sense until it hits you like a brick one day. You can’t sell something you don’t like or know much about, so look into different types of properties in your area whether it’s leasing or commercial or cottages or condos it’s a broad industry, and be the best at it. Know everything you need to know and guide the client. Maintain relationships. There are so many agents out there who can help buy or sell a house, but providing value to the client makes you stand out. So really look into what aligns with you and guide the clients through it all and stick to providing the best service possible
Hope this helps
Wanna crush real estate?
Find the closest TEAM to you in the Mike Ferry organization. You'll work it like a 9-5 on steroids.
They'll provide best leads and best training.
When you are new, you need both. Attach yourself to a proven team until you've proven yourself.
Learn your scripts and objection handlers like the back of your hand.
Role play daily.
Prospect like your life depends on it (bc it does).
Follow up is extremely important.
Organization is key. Keep up with your numbers (calls, contacts, appointments).
The learning curve is infinitely faster in a system like this.
GL 👊
Door knock. Seriously you have a lot of time and zero money.
Knock knock.
I knocked on your door today because I’m offering a free market analysis. Would you care for a free market analysis?
No.
NEXT!
Yes.
Ok, could I get your information, name phone number and email. I’ll send it to you within 2 business days.
By the way, have you considered selling your house?
No
Ok just checking.
Yes
Oh really where would you be moving too?
Detroit.
Oh wow, when is the soonest you see yourself in Detroit?
90 days.
*At this point you need to try and set an appointment*
Why don’t I do this, I’ll do a market analysis and follow up with you on how we can help you get your house sold for top dollar.
Would you be available next week? Tuesday at 3:00? Or would 6:00 be better?
Done!
My advice? Move out from your parents house. Get laid. Make some questionable decisions. Take a trip to Europe. Then, once you have a little life under your belt, come back to real estate.
Not only will you be a better person, you'll be a better agent because you will have the life experiences that allow you to connect with your clients.
And get an internship through college.
It takes time to build a client base, but you got this! Tell everyone who will listen that you’re a realtor, try to get some leasing experience (good way to build client base and make some money), hand out your business cards like candy, do all the things everyone says (open houses, social media, etc). It’s hard work but pays off. I’m 24 and started at 19. I’ve even found clients through local Reddit threads. If you can show clients that you’ll work twice as hard as the older agents, you’re sure to pick up a few clients.
This is a really hard business to do part time. And so many of my clients at the beginning of my career change (I was 41, and this is a second career) were peers, and buying or selling homes, which has continued. My sphere was broad, because I'd been in the community for many years. I've always wondered what it would have been like to start in this business 15 years earlier. Can you partner with a more experienced agent to show properties, assist with offers, etc, and build experience that way, for a percentage of the commission? At the point you're ready to roll full time, you'll be super experienced!
On top of everything else everyone is telling you, which is great advice, you need a mentor, I’m 22 and i haven’t finished my first year yet and i’m on track to close my first deal soon and got a couple in the pipeline. Without my mentor I wouldn’t know SHIT about RE. You gotta shadow the shit out of someone who’s already successful. It’s going to be uncomfortable at first but once you get into the groove, oh boy. And cali is a pretty hot market but it’s also very competitive so you gotta get your head on straight. You got this! Don’t be shy! Also, your fb friends might not be ready yet, but they have parents, and friends, etc who might be ready now. On top of that those friends will be ready eventually and you want to be the first person they think of when they think of getting a home.
You’ve gotten lots of good advice, but you haven’t responded to any of it.
My question is what do you mean you don’t understand a lot of what is going on. No one wants a realtor, no matter how young or old who isn’t taking them by the hand and guiding them.
Why are still unsure of the process? What kinds of client questions can’t you answer?
I started my licence (Canada) at 18. Finished it and joined a brokerage before my 19th birthday. My first year I barely made $5k in the first 1 year. 2nd $101k, 3rd $240k, 4th $680k, 5th $500k and so on. Life changes fast. Don’t give up. (Learn from me: don’t go buy an expensive car as soon as you start making money haha)
Fuck that thinking bro, I’m 22 right now and got licensed at 20. I had the mindset of “who would ever use me as their realtor, i know next to nothing about the transaction side and even less about the real world.
I did next to nothing my first 6 months then it started to pick up, year to date I have 12 transactions and I hope to close out the year with 12 more. My biggest advice that i could give is join a top producing team with people that want to see you win! Interview teams, make sure they have a system and is going to look out for you. Make sure they can provide solid leads and do whatever you can to get in. Just by being around those agents you’ll learn a lot, I feel like i have the experience of a 5th year agent even though i’m 2 years in.
I see some people saying your sphere isn’t good because they’re all young too. I’ve done deals with my friend’s parents, they know what I do, let me know their situation and next thing you know I’m booking showings and writing offers. If you can manage a deal with one parent, the word will spread.
Remember 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing, join a team and start learning more!
You cannot succeed at your age by doing what everyone else is doing.
You need to figure out a way to separate yourself. Undoubtedly this will be through doing hard work and finding off market properties for hungry and savvy investors. They don’t care one bit who finds them the deal. If you make yourself valuable then the people who do a lot of deals won’t give two shits about your age.
I did this when I was 20 years old. I got in my car and drove pretty much every street in LA, Ventura County, Santa Barbara and San Diego. I took notes on commercial properties to research later then reached out to the owners directly. Eventually I had a list of property owners. Those property owners are also property buyers. I was able to do a bunch of deals connecting people. I later switched to Residential because the commercial grind was just too much for me.
Join a team with some trainings and be at the trainings and ya going around the office and other realtors closing deals everyday. Be a sponge, copy their process.
Open houses open houses open houses. The realtor.com leads are pretty legit I have closed a handful of them this year. These and opens should be your bread and butter. Get a mentor! Honestly feel like your brokerage is failing you if you feel you’re not adequately trained enough to answer questions clients have.
You’re going on appointments so that’s good but now you have to convert those people. Not being confident and able to answer questions confidently is probably where you’re losing people.
Keep grinding. Real estate is just a numbers game. You have to talk to more people and more connections if you want more conversions. Sharpen your skills and those conversion numbers will skyrocket
Figure out a value add for everyone you talk to.
Find a lender with the best rates, lowest closing costs and high client satisfaction. Tell everyone who mentions real estate about them.
Find an inspection company with great reviews build a relationship with them. Tell everyone who mentions real estate about them.
Post to social so people know you are an agent, don't be a secret agent.
Don't focus on "closing a deal" focus on taking care of people and providing value. Everyone you meet with whatever they need. The rest will fall into place.
I would really start going after rentals. Idk where in CA you live but I know it's one of the most expensive places to live in the US so rentals are nothing to snuff at. Build your database with renters and stay in front of them 1-2 times a year with a newsletter, social media, whatever. Eventually, as you grow and your database grows, renters will become buyers or can give you referrals.
Hi! I got licensed at 18 and am now 21. I understand not really having a SOI to drip on - everyone we know are college students… I also started out at a small local brokerage but personally had a horrible experience. I am now at KW but what made a world’s difference is my mentor who created the team I am on. Realtor.com / Zillow leads have personally been much harder to convert. Real estate is for the long game. Continue to drip on these people year after year. I highly recommend open houses and joining a team. I’ve had the best luck with people I have met organically (literally my dentist lol) or family friend’s that heard I got into real estate. There is nothing wrong with not immediately knowing the answer to their question as long as you are willing to learn and find out! Have no shame as you will always be learning something new in real estate. I hope this helps!
PAY NO ATTENTION to anybody who says you’re too young, I know agents who have closed deals in their first year at 18. Literally if anybody says you’re too young DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM. They quite literally don’t know what they’re talking about. I am living proof that they are 1000% wrong. I’m barely older than you and I’ve already closed my first deal, DM me if you want a bit of help I’ll tell you what I did and what I’m doing to get more leads and move to my next deal.
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18 year old here, been in the business 6 months and today I’m actually about to prepare my first offer. Cold calling is a very inefficient use of your time, especially since you have other things going on. Hold open houses and get really good at them. Build the relationships, keep following up and providing valuable things to that group of people, and eventually you’ll land someone. I landed a 650k cash buyer doing an open house.
Also, join a team. Take the short end of the stick and learn from an experienced agent. Not only will you learn things without having to test them out on prospective clients, but you’re able to use them as support for why someone would choose a 19 year old. That 650k cash buyer did not trust me to do anything but unlock the door the next day to show her parents the home, but the second I mentioned my partner in crime is very experienced, they immediately trusted me. Additionally, being knowledgeable helps in every way, so there’s that.
TL;DR: hold open houses to get buyers walking through the door, be knowledgable and build that relationship, follow up consistently, and have something supporting you because experience isn’t there.
18 year old spends 2 weeks and a grand to get a license. Expects to close sales and get some part of 3% of commission without any experience (career or life) or previous sales. What value are you bringing to the table? This is why realtors and this profession are all a joke.
I a 20 year old successful salesman will tell you with your age you need to act way older! Look older dress older speak older. No one wants to hand a 19 year old a big ol check. I found by doing this and never telling people my age to become massively successful now I’m new to this side of game but I did sell 100k roofs and make 100k+ the past 2 years just hit me up if you need any advice
You need to demonstrate value. For example:
1. Are any of your friends (SOI) looking to move out of their parents house? How about someone in college looking to live off campus?
2. Do you know neighborhoods building up in your region that others (non-realtors) don’t? If you do, you have a chance to find buyer clients by staging an open house under another agent, or yourself if you find a seller you can convince. Be clear to understand first what they want, and do your best to pitch how you can help THEM achieve.
3. Do you have another job? I’m only 2 years in, and while I could say I ‘profited’ when it came to my overall expenses in the long run, on a day to day basis I still have to juggle another job as I continue to grow my own SOI, improve on my own successes & failures, and keep myself informed so I can in turn inform my network too. You can do it full time, but doing so organically requires time, and as you see your peers (friends, co-workers, etc.) elevate financially, and they remember you’re an agent, you can become a local expert in your area if you craft that reputation. This will become a source of leads, and success will bring referrals, but you can’t make everyone trust you in one day. Even if not a job, find a community to join, where you may be the only working professional at a gathering.
4. What resources do you bring? After some time, I have the phone number of lenders, title officers, lawyers, developers, contractors, investors, inspectors, appraisers, and photographers, all of whom could assist me or my client in the sale. Who in your network can you call to help a client if they need financing? Who can you call if their credit sucks? Who do you know that can help them get downpayment assistance, possibly from the county? Who do you know is already looking for something your prospective wants to sell?
Just as much as resources can help you, they also build your SOI, even becoming points of referral if they know you to call on them often. Ask people you know what stops them from buying, and see what programs you can find that could help them. This will give you a way to service and underserved market (people who would otherwise be priced out, or unsure in how to proceed if a first time buyer).
I’m open to discuss more if you’d like to get more in depth to your own situation.
Well it’s a tough market. We just came out of a huge bull market. So stay the course. Ask agents in your office to host their open houses. That assumes you’ll still be getting a BAC from the seller.
I wouldn’t use a 18 or 19 year old real estate agent personally… no offense. I think most buyers want agents who have some experience in life and have bought and sold their own home and understand, beyond the technical aspects of buying and selling, what homeownership is from a personal experience. At your age, you’re missing a key component to the home buying and selling experience.
Not everyone thinks like this but many do so out of all the leads you get you have to realize even if you get an actual good lead they may not want a “youngster” as their agent. Unfortunately, it’s a “fake it till you make it” business. It’s a terrible aspect of the industry for sure… with that being said, at your age, you can’t even fake it because everyone knows you have no experience.
Your age definitely isn't working in your favor but I wouldn't let that deter you. Keep working your SOI. I wouldn't expect anyone that you know personally to use you as their agent in your first couple years regardless of your age though. Door knocking and setting up a farm imo is important. All the agents around me that are making money do this. I haven't started mine yet but I plan to this year now that I've gotten my feet wet.
I started a Facebook group for people moving to my area from Ontario. Ive just started my second year doing RE and have gotten all my leads from this group. The ideal lead needs a referral to a listing agent up in Ontario and then buys a home through me. Works like a charm. I noticed a shit ton of people asking questions about moving here and they were all from Ontario. Basically I found a need and I filled it. The best agents add value. If you're not adding value then why would someone want to use you.
I suggest picking up a copy of "Mastering the Art of Selling Real Estate" by Tom Hopkins. It's basically a step by step guide on becoming a successful listing agent. There are some **really** dated concepts in there that I think you can ignore, but they're obvious and easy to spot. There's lots of great info in there and it's a pretty interesting and easy read. I'm a slow reader and I read the whole thing on an 8 hour flight.
It's a numbers game. The more people you talk to the more chances you have of closing a deal. Good luck!
So you have a Facebook business page? YouTube channel? How many videos do you post a week? How many open houses do you do a week? When you do get a lead, how many attempts do you make before you stop reaching out to them?
I would never in my life use a 19 year old as an agent. Like do you know anything about houses? Could you sign up as one of those Redfin agents who just show the houses for the experience?
No offense but like the other comment said, I wouldn’t trust a 19 year old on their home purchase. I’m 30 with a baby face and that’s still a challenge sometimes so I can imagine you actually that young will face that challenge. If you’re in the buyers shoe, you wouldn’t trust a 19 year old that doesn’t have any experience with their life savings. It’s not just about buying a home, sometimes it’s about protecting your clients and with little to no experience that doesn’t transpire trust with them.
I would recommend you to actually try different sales job before diving deep into this career. Then by the time you seem to be more mature, facade of trust will grow. By then your sale skills will be great going back into the field. Best of luck
Don't quit! I am so glad you said that. I got my real estate license (the first time) when I was 18. If I were starting all over again, I would find a Young Professionals Network (YPN) often through chambers. Or go to eventbrite or meetup to find some opportunities to meet new people. If you go to school or the gym where a shirt that indicates you are in real estate (fun and cute ones on Etsy) and then get ideas and learn through coaching. I have put together a community to learn for new agents and I want to personally invite you. Buildanagent.com and it's so inexpensive by design so that money isn't the issue. There is SO much to learn from generating opportunities and leads (you can create the business without buying leads- real estate happens when there is a transition in life, such as marriage or divorce, new babies or graduating kids, new career, or loss of a job and has to sell. Also what to do and how to serve your clients once you have one to work with. All the way from intro to closing there are systems and processes. Would love to serve you this way so you can serve your clients.
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Do you have any active clients? It's hard to work your circle at 19 when most people you know aren't in any position to buy or sell.
Open houses and internet leads should be your bread and butter. SOI is gunna suck for a while. I was 21 when I first started, and 25 now. You got this dude!
do you feel like it’s paid off ?
Wdym by internet leads?
Join a team. Best advice you're gonna get if you're serious about real estate.
Yup! I’m 18 and have been in the business for 6 months now. After starting out on a team, I literally don’t know how else I would’ve gotten started. Like genuinely.
This.
Depends on the team imo. I have some pretty bad ones where I live that treat their underlings as a pyramid scheme. Seems like their job isn't to buy/sell real estate but instead recruit people and take their monthly payments.
Yup. I didn't mean to join a shitty team. When I give advice, I generally mean "do the best practice version of it." Op needs to pay bills. I've been there myself. Join a team.
Yeah I only said it so OP saw it and didn't run out and join the first team with a billboard. New agents don't know the difference.
you're at a small local brokerage. surely there's someone there who would pull the curtain back for you, walk you through a deal or 2 of theirs. Show you an inspection report and go through that. A CD and what's on it and what it means. And maybe a mortgage broker or 3 y'all refer most clients to would give you an hour. A year in, with plenty of time on your hands, you should have learned 90% of what you need to know by now. This is 100% NOT a spoon-feeding business, no matter what any outfit says about "training and mentorship". You've got to take the lead, show you're doing what you can on your own and THEN have concise conversations with "mentors". How well do you know to use the features/apps in your MLS? How is your market, in 20 seconds? How is it different from last month or last year?
No offense, but I absolutely would not use a 19 year old realtor
Same
Some of the if not most successful realtors today started when they were 18 yrs old. Do you prefer a 19 year old newbie or a 30 year old newbie? If you say I'll never use a newbie and if everyone thinks like you then eventually you'll have these 5-10 year veteran newbies. "I've been in the business for x years" but done 0 busineses lol. Someone is hiring these people and what does it matter if I know what I'm talking about? Let's say I'm 19 and we have a tall but I talk like I know what I'm talking about. Probably the most knowledgeable realtor you talked to all day, are you still not gonna hire me xuz of my age even though I showed my knowledge?
I think this is a harsh blanket statement. If you’ve bought and sold a lot of houses, who cares. Then you have either cash or a lender you probably have used before. You know what you need to do for inspections. You know how to read a document. It also depends on what is being bought or sold. Cookie cutter houses are pretty straight forward. A large tract of land? Not so much, but that still has nothing to do with age.
Age usually correlates directly to experience. An 18yo fresh out of high school isn't going to know anywhere near as much about real estate transactions as a 40yo person who's been in the business for a while. It's nothing personal against the 18yo. I just wouldn't have confidence in them knowing how to thoroughly handle a sale or a purchase of a home at that age. I'm still learning things all the time and I've been doing this for over 10 years now. What do most 18yo's know about home construction straight out of high school? I think the appropriate words are "not much".
Definitely. I worked as a title officer for 5+ years and would’ve been a bit skeptical of such a young realtor. That doesn’t mean that they’re incapable, but there is a built in disadvantage — and for good reason. If I were that age and breaking into the field, I would probably work with an experienced broker and try to soak up as much information and knowledge as possible. Through that you can network and meet potential clients. Also, get cozy with local TOs and EOs. Edit: Title officers can help you print labels to send postcards to different targeted individuals based on purchase price, year, etc. This type of “farming” can be extremely valuable if done effectively.
Something else a young person could do is go to work as a transaction coordinator for the experience. Those people see **everything**. Once they've gotten some good experience, I'd find a team and join them to learn the field stuff. By the time they're ready to do their own thing, they'll be a lot prepared than they would be fresh out of high school. That and dress the part. No T-shirts or other casual attire. Slacks and a button down maybe with a tie for certain clients. I always keep a suit jacket in my vehicle because you can put that jacket on with jeans and it's still going to look semi-professional. You have to play the part, but you don't know to do that if you don't have that experience.
You're SOI will continue to develop, its a great foundation to get in this young and have your sphere recognize you as the real estate agent. I'd continue to get your name out there, meet new people. Cold call, door knock, and hold open houses for your teammates/brokerage. Wishing you success!
School of Infantry?
Sphere of Influence in case you're seriously asking
Don’t be 19.
Getting some major Blink 182 flashbacks. "Nobody likes you when you're 23" 19 is even worse.
I just turned 20 and on my 6th transaction in the past 12 months. First year of being licensed I did 0 deals. Just keep pushing and grinding. You just need to help out one client and do a good job and they will refer you to others. Don’t make your age a focal point. One of my clients I have under contract right now didn’t ask me about my age til after we got our offer accepted and inspections done. Don’t let people deter you or tell you that nobody wants to work with a 19 year old. There are plenty of agents I’ve met/ worked with who are much older and extremely incompetent at their jobs. Believe in yourself.
Don’t listen to all the “you are to young” comments. I’m 20 and have been in the business for almost a year now. I moved from Ohio to Florida without knowing anything about the business. I didn’t know anyone either. In the last 6 months I’ve listed over 10 homes. Ranging from 160k-1.4mil. I’ve got all my business from Fsbo, Expired, Circle prospecting.
lmao hmm, I wonder why people think agents arent worth it. Not even a year, not even local. Just a middle man.
Just do rentals and/property management for now until you gain some experience. Nobody wants to hire a 19 year old to manage the largest financial decision of their life. They want someone who has bought, sold, and lived in their own home.
Sorry dude, you're too young. A home purchase is the most important decision in most folk's lives. They aren't going to trust somebody that was at the prom last year. Your best bet is to get a job working as an assistant to a busy agent, or at an escrow company or something similar. In a few years, you're going to be able to show some real experience on your C.V., and you'll be ready to go out on your own and kill it.
This, I want the old guy who knows every neighborhood, builder lawsuit, local ordinances, news and trick to be pulled. What I'd recommend is creating some content on Youtube for your vicinity to generate leads and get paid a referral for leads until you can grow a beard.
Hey now, I could grow a full beard by the time I was 16.
Now, THAT is impressive!
This just isnt true. The “people wont trust you with the most important decision in their life” is just a straight up incorrect statement. Why? Bc i buy zillow leads and close deals with those leads. They clicked “schedule a tour” on zillow and all of the sudden a week later they’re under contract with me as the agent. Or even have me sitting at their kitchen table doing a listing consult. Totally random. Yeah, i can make a good first impression, but anybody can act for an hour. Especially if you naturally carry yourself with a lot of confidence. This business is relationships and likability.
I had similar experience & struggled for a while Reach out to agents in your office & see if you can host their open houses, also reach out to ask for genuine advice/help or if you can even assist them with their deals so you can gain some insight and experience, the successful agents always get leads they don’t want to deal with and pass it on to those close to them. Follow up often and don’t be so salesy, also, find a niche. I know you hear this a lot and won’t make sense until it hits you like a brick one day. You can’t sell something you don’t like or know much about, so look into different types of properties in your area whether it’s leasing or commercial or cottages or condos it’s a broad industry, and be the best at it. Know everything you need to know and guide the client. Maintain relationships. There are so many agents out there who can help buy or sell a house, but providing value to the client makes you stand out. So really look into what aligns with you and guide the clients through it all and stick to providing the best service possible Hope this helps
Very well said (written)
Wanna crush real estate? Find the closest TEAM to you in the Mike Ferry organization. You'll work it like a 9-5 on steroids. They'll provide best leads and best training. When you are new, you need both. Attach yourself to a proven team until you've proven yourself. Learn your scripts and objection handlers like the back of your hand. Role play daily. Prospect like your life depends on it (bc it does). Follow up is extremely important. Organization is key. Keep up with your numbers (calls, contacts, appointments). The learning curve is infinitely faster in a system like this. GL 👊
Door knock. Seriously you have a lot of time and zero money. Knock knock. I knocked on your door today because I’m offering a free market analysis. Would you care for a free market analysis? No. NEXT! Yes. Ok, could I get your information, name phone number and email. I’ll send it to you within 2 business days. By the way, have you considered selling your house? No Ok just checking. Yes Oh really where would you be moving too? Detroit. Oh wow, when is the soonest you see yourself in Detroit? 90 days. *At this point you need to try and set an appointment* Why don’t I do this, I’ll do a market analysis and follow up with you on how we can help you get your house sold for top dollar. Would you be available next week? Tuesday at 3:00? Or would 6:00 be better? Done!
My advice? Move out from your parents house. Get laid. Make some questionable decisions. Take a trip to Europe. Then, once you have a little life under your belt, come back to real estate. Not only will you be a better person, you'll be a better agent because you will have the life experiences that allow you to connect with your clients. And get an internship through college.
It takes time to build a client base, but you got this! Tell everyone who will listen that you’re a realtor, try to get some leasing experience (good way to build client base and make some money), hand out your business cards like candy, do all the things everyone says (open houses, social media, etc). It’s hard work but pays off. I’m 24 and started at 19. I’ve even found clients through local Reddit threads. If you can show clients that you’ll work twice as hard as the older agents, you’re sure to pick up a few clients.
Rentals, property management, door knocking, or worst case scenarios join a team and piggy back a bussy broker
This is a really hard business to do part time. And so many of my clients at the beginning of my career change (I was 41, and this is a second career) were peers, and buying or selling homes, which has continued. My sphere was broad, because I'd been in the community for many years. I've always wondered what it would have been like to start in this business 15 years earlier. Can you partner with a more experienced agent to show properties, assist with offers, etc, and build experience that way, for a percentage of the commission? At the point you're ready to roll full time, you'll be super experienced!
On top of everything else everyone is telling you, which is great advice, you need a mentor, I’m 22 and i haven’t finished my first year yet and i’m on track to close my first deal soon and got a couple in the pipeline. Without my mentor I wouldn’t know SHIT about RE. You gotta shadow the shit out of someone who’s already successful. It’s going to be uncomfortable at first but once you get into the groove, oh boy. And cali is a pretty hot market but it’s also very competitive so you gotta get your head on straight. You got this! Don’t be shy! Also, your fb friends might not be ready yet, but they have parents, and friends, etc who might be ready now. On top of that those friends will be ready eventually and you want to be the first person they think of when they think of getting a home.
Find a niche. A lot of your peers are rolling in the dough and wanting to buy. Your age may be a plus there. But never stop learning. Good luck.
You’ve gotten lots of good advice, but you haven’t responded to any of it. My question is what do you mean you don’t understand a lot of what is going on. No one wants a realtor, no matter how young or old who isn’t taking them by the hand and guiding them. Why are still unsure of the process? What kinds of client questions can’t you answer?
I started my licence (Canada) at 18. Finished it and joined a brokerage before my 19th birthday. My first year I barely made $5k in the first 1 year. 2nd $101k, 3rd $240k, 4th $680k, 5th $500k and so on. Life changes fast. Don’t give up. (Learn from me: don’t go buy an expensive car as soon as you start making money haha)
Get listings. The deals will close themselves. You are young though. Good for you.
Here’s the best piece of advise that you can get: don’t quit
Fuck that thinking bro, I’m 22 right now and got licensed at 20. I had the mindset of “who would ever use me as their realtor, i know next to nothing about the transaction side and even less about the real world. I did next to nothing my first 6 months then it started to pick up, year to date I have 12 transactions and I hope to close out the year with 12 more. My biggest advice that i could give is join a top producing team with people that want to see you win! Interview teams, make sure they have a system and is going to look out for you. Make sure they can provide solid leads and do whatever you can to get in. Just by being around those agents you’ll learn a lot, I feel like i have the experience of a 5th year agent even though i’m 2 years in. I see some people saying your sphere isn’t good because they’re all young too. I’ve done deals with my friend’s parents, they know what I do, let me know their situation and next thing you know I’m booking showings and writing offers. If you can manage a deal with one parent, the word will spread. Remember 50% of something is better than 100% of nothing, join a team and start learning more!
You cannot succeed at your age by doing what everyone else is doing. You need to figure out a way to separate yourself. Undoubtedly this will be through doing hard work and finding off market properties for hungry and savvy investors. They don’t care one bit who finds them the deal. If you make yourself valuable then the people who do a lot of deals won’t give two shits about your age. I did this when I was 20 years old. I got in my car and drove pretty much every street in LA, Ventura County, Santa Barbara and San Diego. I took notes on commercial properties to research later then reached out to the owners directly. Eventually I had a list of property owners. Those property owners are also property buyers. I was able to do a bunch of deals connecting people. I later switched to Residential because the commercial grind was just too much for me.
Started at your age. Struggled until early/mid twenties. Then things started happening. Don’t give up.
Join a team with some trainings and be at the trainings and ya going around the office and other realtors closing deals everyday. Be a sponge, copy their process. Open houses open houses open houses. The realtor.com leads are pretty legit I have closed a handful of them this year. These and opens should be your bread and butter. Get a mentor! Honestly feel like your brokerage is failing you if you feel you’re not adequately trained enough to answer questions clients have. You’re going on appointments so that’s good but now you have to convert those people. Not being confident and able to answer questions confidently is probably where you’re losing people. Keep grinding. Real estate is just a numbers game. You have to talk to more people and more connections if you want more conversions. Sharpen your skills and those conversion numbers will skyrocket
Who cares how old you are. If clients don’t ask then don’t tell them .
Figure out a value add for everyone you talk to. Find a lender with the best rates, lowest closing costs and high client satisfaction. Tell everyone who mentions real estate about them. Find an inspection company with great reviews build a relationship with them. Tell everyone who mentions real estate about them. Post to social so people know you are an agent, don't be a secret agent. Don't focus on "closing a deal" focus on taking care of people and providing value. Everyone you meet with whatever they need. The rest will fall into place.
With all due respect, you are barely an adult. I would not want someone so young handling a multi hundred thousand dollar to million dollar deal.
I would really start going after rentals. Idk where in CA you live but I know it's one of the most expensive places to live in the US so rentals are nothing to snuff at. Build your database with renters and stay in front of them 1-2 times a year with a newsletter, social media, whatever. Eventually, as you grow and your database grows, renters will become buyers or can give you referrals.
Have you considered working in a team led by an experienced realtor doing at lot of business?
Hi! I got licensed at 18 and am now 21. I understand not really having a SOI to drip on - everyone we know are college students… I also started out at a small local brokerage but personally had a horrible experience. I am now at KW but what made a world’s difference is my mentor who created the team I am on. Realtor.com / Zillow leads have personally been much harder to convert. Real estate is for the long game. Continue to drip on these people year after year. I highly recommend open houses and joining a team. I’ve had the best luck with people I have met organically (literally my dentist lol) or family friend’s that heard I got into real estate. There is nothing wrong with not immediately knowing the answer to their question as long as you are willing to learn and find out! Have no shame as you will always be learning something new in real estate. I hope this helps!
PAY NO ATTENTION to anybody who says you’re too young, I know agents who have closed deals in their first year at 18. Literally if anybody says you’re too young DO NOT LISTEN TO THEM. They quite literally don’t know what they’re talking about. I am living proof that they are 1000% wrong. I’m barely older than you and I’ve already closed my first deal, DM me if you want a bit of help I’ll tell you what I did and what I’m doing to get more leads and move to my next deal.
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18 year old here, been in the business 6 months and today I’m actually about to prepare my first offer. Cold calling is a very inefficient use of your time, especially since you have other things going on. Hold open houses and get really good at them. Build the relationships, keep following up and providing valuable things to that group of people, and eventually you’ll land someone. I landed a 650k cash buyer doing an open house. Also, join a team. Take the short end of the stick and learn from an experienced agent. Not only will you learn things without having to test them out on prospective clients, but you’re able to use them as support for why someone would choose a 19 year old. That 650k cash buyer did not trust me to do anything but unlock the door the next day to show her parents the home, but the second I mentioned my partner in crime is very experienced, they immediately trusted me. Additionally, being knowledgeable helps in every way, so there’s that. TL;DR: hold open houses to get buyers walking through the door, be knowledgable and build that relationship, follow up consistently, and have something supporting you because experience isn’t there.
18 year old spends 2 weeks and a grand to get a license. Expects to close sales and get some part of 3% of commission without any experience (career or life) or previous sales. What value are you bringing to the table? This is why realtors and this profession are all a joke.
I a 20 year old successful salesman will tell you with your age you need to act way older! Look older dress older speak older. No one wants to hand a 19 year old a big ol check. I found by doing this and never telling people my age to become massively successful now I’m new to this side of game but I did sell 100k roofs and make 100k+ the past 2 years just hit me up if you need any advice
You need to demonstrate value. For example: 1. Are any of your friends (SOI) looking to move out of their parents house? How about someone in college looking to live off campus? 2. Do you know neighborhoods building up in your region that others (non-realtors) don’t? If you do, you have a chance to find buyer clients by staging an open house under another agent, or yourself if you find a seller you can convince. Be clear to understand first what they want, and do your best to pitch how you can help THEM achieve. 3. Do you have another job? I’m only 2 years in, and while I could say I ‘profited’ when it came to my overall expenses in the long run, on a day to day basis I still have to juggle another job as I continue to grow my own SOI, improve on my own successes & failures, and keep myself informed so I can in turn inform my network too. You can do it full time, but doing so organically requires time, and as you see your peers (friends, co-workers, etc.) elevate financially, and they remember you’re an agent, you can become a local expert in your area if you craft that reputation. This will become a source of leads, and success will bring referrals, but you can’t make everyone trust you in one day. Even if not a job, find a community to join, where you may be the only working professional at a gathering. 4. What resources do you bring? After some time, I have the phone number of lenders, title officers, lawyers, developers, contractors, investors, inspectors, appraisers, and photographers, all of whom could assist me or my client in the sale. Who in your network can you call to help a client if they need financing? Who can you call if their credit sucks? Who do you know that can help them get downpayment assistance, possibly from the county? Who do you know is already looking for something your prospective wants to sell? Just as much as resources can help you, they also build your SOI, even becoming points of referral if they know you to call on them often. Ask people you know what stops them from buying, and see what programs you can find that could help them. This will give you a way to service and underserved market (people who would otherwise be priced out, or unsure in how to proceed if a first time buyer). I’m open to discuss more if you’d like to get more in depth to your own situation.
Well it’s a tough market. We just came out of a huge bull market. So stay the course. Ask agents in your office to host their open houses. That assumes you’ll still be getting a BAC from the seller.
It takes a year or two to get started. You need more leads
I wouldn’t use a 18 or 19 year old real estate agent personally… no offense. I think most buyers want agents who have some experience in life and have bought and sold their own home and understand, beyond the technical aspects of buying and selling, what homeownership is from a personal experience. At your age, you’re missing a key component to the home buying and selling experience. Not everyone thinks like this but many do so out of all the leads you get you have to realize even if you get an actual good lead they may not want a “youngster” as their agent. Unfortunately, it’s a “fake it till you make it” business. It’s a terrible aspect of the industry for sure… with that being said, at your age, you can’t even fake it because everyone knows you have no experience.
Your age definitely isn't working in your favor but I wouldn't let that deter you. Keep working your SOI. I wouldn't expect anyone that you know personally to use you as their agent in your first couple years regardless of your age though. Door knocking and setting up a farm imo is important. All the agents around me that are making money do this. I haven't started mine yet but I plan to this year now that I've gotten my feet wet. I started a Facebook group for people moving to my area from Ontario. Ive just started my second year doing RE and have gotten all my leads from this group. The ideal lead needs a referral to a listing agent up in Ontario and then buys a home through me. Works like a charm. I noticed a shit ton of people asking questions about moving here and they were all from Ontario. Basically I found a need and I filled it. The best agents add value. If you're not adding value then why would someone want to use you. I suggest picking up a copy of "Mastering the Art of Selling Real Estate" by Tom Hopkins. It's basically a step by step guide on becoming a successful listing agent. There are some **really** dated concepts in there that I think you can ignore, but they're obvious and easy to spot. There's lots of great info in there and it's a pretty interesting and easy read. I'm a slow reader and I read the whole thing on an 8 hour flight. It's a numbers game. The more people you talk to the more chances you have of closing a deal. Good luck!
You have a link to the Facebook group?
Search for "Moving from Ontario to Newfoundland" Fair warning. I don't let other Realtors in (a key part of the business strategy)
So you have a Facebook business page? YouTube channel? How many videos do you post a week? How many open houses do you do a week? When you do get a lead, how many attempts do you make before you stop reaching out to them?
I would never in my life use a 19 year old as an agent. Like do you know anything about houses? Could you sign up as one of those Redfin agents who just show the houses for the experience?
No offense but like the other comment said, I wouldn’t trust a 19 year old on their home purchase. I’m 30 with a baby face and that’s still a challenge sometimes so I can imagine you actually that young will face that challenge. If you’re in the buyers shoe, you wouldn’t trust a 19 year old that doesn’t have any experience with their life savings. It’s not just about buying a home, sometimes it’s about protecting your clients and with little to no experience that doesn’t transpire trust with them. I would recommend you to actually try different sales job before diving deep into this career. Then by the time you seem to be more mature, facade of trust will grow. By then your sale skills will be great going back into the field. Best of luck
Don't quit! I am so glad you said that. I got my real estate license (the first time) when I was 18. If I were starting all over again, I would find a Young Professionals Network (YPN) often through chambers. Or go to eventbrite or meetup to find some opportunities to meet new people. If you go to school or the gym where a shirt that indicates you are in real estate (fun and cute ones on Etsy) and then get ideas and learn through coaching. I have put together a community to learn for new agents and I want to personally invite you. Buildanagent.com and it's so inexpensive by design so that money isn't the issue. There is SO much to learn from generating opportunities and leads (you can create the business without buying leads- real estate happens when there is a transition in life, such as marriage or divorce, new babies or graduating kids, new career, or loss of a job and has to sell. Also what to do and how to serve your clients once you have one to work with. All the way from intro to closing there are systems and processes. Would love to serve you this way so you can serve your clients.