For the past few years, it's been tough to recruit new agents in our market, and around the country as well. Although there were lots of people who were newly (or not so newly) unemployed, but, since there was so much publicity about the dearth of real estate sales, few investigated real estate as a career.
That has changed in the past few weeks. Since Labor Day, we've seen a much larger number of prospective agents coming through our doors to interview, both in residential and in commercial. Even though it is a commission-based business (meaning that you only get paid when you sell or lease property), it has become increasingly attractive in a market that is perceived as having bottomed out and is most likely already on the way up. If you study past business cycles, those who enter real estate before the boom periods begin are the ones who get up and running in time to take advantage of the best times in the economy. Also, it is still hard to find other jobs, as companies are very wary about adding to payroll, even as things improve. Going into real estate is an attractive option therefore, both from a timing point of view and because it has few barriers to entry. You need to take a course, an exam, and pay for a license, and then you are good to go.
So, if you are in the market for a new career, it's high time that you considered real estate!
