It was about 4 months before I started adding to my savings and not dipping out of it.

My first year full time.  I have an investor client with a handful of guaranteed listings, etc.  Plus I have passive income.

My first month in real estate I had two contracts and since then there have only been a few months that I didn't get a commission check. Other months were plentiful. My best month in real estate had over 20 closings. Of course you have to put some back for slim times.

I worked a second night job the whole first year, I was a single mom and it was rough.  Actually took my 4 year old daughter with me alot, whenever I could.  My office was right outside of Travis AFB, and floor time was very lucrative.  I worked all weekends, no one else wanted to.  I had a little desk set up next to mine, my daughtet did "her work" there.

I would say at 3 years I was steady at that point. Too many ups & downs in the beginning but then no one told me I was running my own business. I wish I had hired a coach right off the bat but that wasn't in vogue at the time.

Hella,

Ron started out first, and he did well his first year in.  I took over the management consulting company we had that was generating a good income for both of us.  Two years later, I was tired of the work, and took my test and joined Ron.  He needed help--trustworthy help, and I qualified.  A

I estimate 1 year. That said, I had made many investments in marketing that would take years to pay. 

I was lucky enough to make a living from my first year on.  Taking the advice of many of the long time Active Rainers was key!

I have to say the third year made me rely on my income. I had sytems in place by this time.

I guess I was luck, it was sink or swin for me.  But 20098, had to get a part time job for 4 months because of the market.

I never had a second income while in real estate. Took about 2 years to really start making a profit.

I did not have a second income when I opened my first real estate office.

Hella M. Rothwell, Broker/Realtor® - well, that was from the very first year!

I left my IT job - to make sure I make sufficient income to survive....

being full time turned the corner - the second income wasn't necessary when it wasn't there any more

I learned feast or famine and acted appropriately

When I went into real estate, I had no other income, and limited financial assets.  There was only one course of action... make money right away!

Three years, Larry's employer eliminated his position.

I started making a good income from year 1. I had a great mentor and learned in the field, there was no online training but on the road training

Robbing banks and purse-snatching got too dangerous with so many guns out there!

Actually, we lived off proceeds right out-of-the-box.

6 months for me - my website made the difference - it was many years ago and agents didn't have websites at the time  I was the first in the area to generate leads with mine - 11 years with the same site and still going

It depends on how much time I put in but it was when I left aoto sales and got tired of peanut butter!

It depends on what, 'make a living means'. I am sure I could rent a small place and buy groceries in 2 years.

3 months

I had several settlements 5 months after beginning my career and never looked back.  It has been consistent since the beginning - harder at some times than others, but consistent.  I am lucky to be in a relatively robust market, have many years' experience in marketing, have bought and sold houses, was well capitalized so I could hit the ground running and happen to be pretty daggone good at this. I never considered I wouldn't make it. 

6 months, but I kept my second income anyway. It helped during the recession!

It has been a roller coaster over the past 30 years, some wildly profitable, others ate up profits.

I think that we were in it about 3 years when felt confident in our earning potential and I talked my wife into quitting her job and working for me for a while while getting her masters before looking for a better job.

The first year. I sold 46 HUD repos.

I have no idea.  I always had a second income and never had to support myself.  I was able to put money into the business, unlike many agents who are under capitalized.  That's why the majority go out of business before they get off the ground.  

7 days.  First week I started in real estate I sold an open house.  2nd week I did and open house and sold it as well.  3rd week I also sold the home I was open house sitting.  I went 3 for 3 on my first 3 weekends in this business, that was 23 years ago.  I havent been able to quit yet.

It took two and a half years.  I think the moment I really dug in to make it work for me was when my husband asked when I was going to go get a real job and hang up real estate.  Since I loved real estate, I had no choice but to show him.  I have never stopped proving myself to him, though now he is my  voice of reason and cheerleader when I think things are getting too slow. 

People have different ans to fit their life style. High profile-those with one income and lots of overhead often go get a real corporate sales job.

The ones do well use the opportunity to augument their investment. The 7 figures income from commission year to year is not guaranteed.

Most is through aggressive marketing.

I believe we will hear different answers. But I believe what we will all agree on is what made us all turn the corner is when we realized that persistence and consistent hard work equates to successful transactions. 

The Learning Curve is 18 - 24 months

About 3 years, but my health was bad until 3 years passed.

Began part time and quickly had a few deals. Once they closed and I had a nest egg, I was off and running!

From the time I started real estate was my only job.  Fortunately I was married but we were two income family.  We had some savings, our only bills were mortgage & utilities We cut out all frills from our budget until my career was more reliable.  I remember dinner at Bob Evans was a real treat for the family after my first closing.