Contact Information
Like all the Guides at About.com, I'm a real person. You can email me at realestate.guide@about.com. Please check these Frequently Asked Questions first, as you may find the answer you need here.
F.A.Q.
- Q. How likely am I to be successful as a real estate agent?
- A. The fact that you're here at this site is a good indicator that you're doing the research necessary to a successful career in real estate. As in any business, learn as much as possible before you jump in. There is a wealth of information here that draws on the experience of successful real estate professionals.
- Q. What are the requirements to become an agent?
- A. As real estate is an activity regulated by the states, each state has it's own requirements and testing for an agent or broker license. Go here for fast access to complete information and links to state licensing sites.
- Q. Is there a particular real estate specialization that is best?
- A. If you look at the different types of real estate that you can work with, residential, commercial, industrial, investment and institutional, residential by far encompasses the greatest number of transactions and a huge chunk of the market. For that reason alone, most new agents work with residential homes and vacant land primarily. After they've built a successful business and can get through a transition, some will choose to move to other specialization niches.
- Q. I've had my license for a while and wonder if I should go it alone.
- A. The decision to get a real estate broker license and open your own brokerage office is a big one. Consider factors such as your desire to be independent, satisfaction with your current status and income, support you currently need and use from your broker and your skills related to managing a business with other agents and employees.
Read here about what you'll need to open your office. You might just decide to negotiate a better deal with your broker, or take the leap.
- Q. How do I choose a broker to work with?
- A. The right agent/broker team is not just a financial dynamic. You have to have some common business goals, be able to get along and work well together. Base your decision on economics, the amount of support you need and what the broker provides, training that the broker will provide and prospect lead systems in which you'll be able to participate.
Read about choosing a broker in our section on planning for new agents.
- Q. What are the best marketing strategies for a new agent?
- A. Great question, but the answer really needs to begin with money. First you should determine what you have to spend on marketing and plan strategies within that budget. There are methods to fit every budget.
Here's a Step-by-Step plan for setting your budget and choosing marketing strategies that fit.
- Q. What's the difference between an agent and a broker?
- A. Generally, a broker is licensed at a higher level with stricter requirements and agents work under a broker's supervision. In most states there is a requirement for a certain amount of time as an agent before you can test for a broker license. This should allow you the time to learn the business and take on the greater responsibilities and liabilities of a broker.