The most important things to look for in a brokerage are (1) training and (2) support. Big companies like Coldwell Banker, Prudential, etc are a good place to start looking.

From there, see if you can partner up with another agent. That could be an experienced agent, in which case s/he would take the larger part of the commission, but you gain experience. Or, you could hire yourself out as an assisntant to a high-producing agent and get paid hourly. Alternantely, you could partner up with another beginner and agree to split 50/50, but you have to deal with lack of experience.

Starting your career in RE right now will pose a challenge. It can be done, but you have to be willing to work many hours a day every day without expecting much in return for the first few months... or even years. If you have a family to support, this might not be such a good choice for you. Networking skills are crucial. You have to be good at making friends and maintaining acquaintanceships. From my observations, it's the outgoing carismatic types that are usually the most successful.

If you can survive todays market, you will do well in any market.

~Predslava

I got my license 2 years ago and believe it or not, I've on my FOURTH broker. I did NOT plan it this way, but I didn't know what my niche was going to be when I first started and when I had a good idea of where I was headed, I felt like my first broker and I weren't 100% aligned in the direction I wanted to go so I moved my license.

My 2nd broker told me she was going out of business after about 6 weeks of moving my license to her brokerage. I'd already sent my announcements out and felt incredibly stupid moving my license so soon so I asked her if I could just keep my license with her for the rest of the year. I really should have moved my license right then... oh well.

A year later, and after MUCH research and interviewing I moved my license to a 3rd broker. About 3 weeks later he told me he was going out of business. Glad I hadn't already sent my announcements out! Heh! Jeez. So I immediately started making phone calls to find a new broker.

I'm on my 4th broker now and I could NOT be happier. I wish I knew 2 years ago what I know now because I would've gone with my new broker from the start, Coldwell Banker Residential / Coldwell Banker The Condo Store - Atlanta. But of course, there's absolutely no way I could've known what my niche was going to be until I got my feet wet and figured out what I really liked and which direction I really excelled in. And of course, there's no way I could've known the market was going to get so sticky or about the troubles the other brokers were going to have, etc...

Anyway - I think you can do a ton of research, cross all your T's and dot all your I's and you can STILL have the carpet pulled out from underneath you. Best bet is to go with a well known brand name with excellent recognition. In a way, it gives you instant credibility.

Good support and education are H U G E. A broker you really communicate well with is a bonus.

Finding someone you can get real hands-on learning beside or study under would be the best way to go if at all possible. In my opinion, all the classes in the world really don't teach you jack crap unless you've experienced the transaction or scenario first hand. In fact, I've taken many of the same classes TWICE. Once *before* I went through a certain type of transaction and then again AFTERWARDS - I get more out of the class after I have a "real world" understanding of what the instructor is talking about.


Also - I think this is an EXCELLENT article:

“How to get your New Agents Productive in Under 30 days”
By Judy LaDeur

www.recruitingwithjudyladeur.com/a...ml


If you can find a broker or power-agent to help you follow these steps... DAMN SKIPPY you'll be productive in under 30 days!!! Heh!

Best of luck to you - please come back and post an update for us!



Janet D. Patrick, REALTOR®
Atlanta Area Specialist

Coldwell Banker Residential
Coldwell Banker / THE CONDO STORE
900 Peachtree Street
Atlanta, GA 30309

(770) 314-2918 Direct
(404) 292-5411 FAX
(404) 292-6636 Office

MyRealtor@JanetPatrick.com
www.JanetPatrick.com