No I was new to the area and didn't know many people yet and had no relatives here. I worked with people I didn't know and that is how I built my business.

My first two sales were friends who know I was a total rookie. I had been a part owner of a successful company where I was the head of sales and they knew this.

No, i did not have any family or close friends since I was new in the town and even in the country. 

No, it was 2 years before anyone like that was in my picture

Most of our early clients were not related, my relatives were a much tougher sell, they wanted to see a winning track record before signing up

No, not at all.  I proved myself with strangers first and I think that's a good thing. 

I started part-time and a women who worked in my office was my first client.  

No.  My first client was a buyer referred to me by a friend.

Two of my first three transactions were sphere-of-influence, not close friends but acquaintances.

no, all of my intial business came from my "bird dogs" who were taking very good care of keeping my plate full....I knew after working a few buyers that I was going to focus only on listings....and they continued to feed me.... 

no

A very good friend gave me my first listing.  She had a brother and sister in law in the business; however she wanted to help me out.

My first buyer client was my stepson. My first listing was my own place. 

No I did not! Just went for it!

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, Broker, Tacoma Washington my gut feeling is - like me - most of us started with a friend as a buyer. (I know a few who had a first listing - I was not so lucky, though...)

My first listing was a close friend.  My first buyer was a floor call.

not sure that is the way to go

random stranger was my first client.  Must have been an okay experience, I sold that house for him when he moved out of state a few years later.

My first client was one a freind recommended to me. he was a lawyer and got a personal injury award for her and made her promise to pay cash for a home.

The mother of a girl I had gone to high school with.

I didn't. At least 3 in our office have started with family members properties. 

No sir, started cold turkey, no sphere of influence nada....

That didn't happen to me. I was actually in the business for about two years, before I worked with my first friend that wanted to buy a house. 

No, I did have some friends as clients the first year though.

No.  I haven't ever represented a relative or a really close friend.

No. I have had friends/family as clients, though. I rarely prefer it.

Brother in law was 3rd or 4th I think.

No, my first clients were parents of a former student.  I had been teacher before real estate.

No, a complete stranger who came in on floor time wanting to list his 2-family home. I don't think I had any friends or relatives for buyers for years!

No my first client was a co-worker from my previous job.

Paul - Nope, my relatives and close friends had nothing to do with my start.

Paul,
I was a mortgage lender at the time so my first customers were mortgage clients whose agents had given up on them.

No, and still have not done a transaction with a relative.   My first was an emaployee where I previously worked.

I moved to a new area and knew no one, so no friends or family deals

Sure didn't!

Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, Broker, Tacoma Washington No, my first real estate transaction was a listing. I worked for a broker who promoted, "If you list you last".

No - a referral from a vendor in a different industry

In New York City, my first buyer was the daughter of very close friends, who had grown up with our girls. In Charlotte, my first buyer was a referral from a former business colleague and my second was an internet lead who found me on realtor.com back in 1999.

 Good morning Paul S. Henderson, REALTOR®, Broker, Tacoma Washington . Once I get my license, I'm not sure where I will start.

Good morning Paul. I started the real estate business, because I was constantly taking land in trade for cattle.