Special offer
Mario Sellick

Spam prevention
Rainmaker
544,014
Dave Halpern
Dave Halpern Real Estate Agent, Inc., Louisville, KY (502) 664-7827 - Louisville, KY
Louisville Short Sale Expert

I couldn't tolerate the corporate world any longer

Dec 30, 2017 03:41 PM
Ambassador
3,169,508
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Multiple reasons:
1.  My wife got her license in 2002 and needed some help by the time 2004 rolled around
2.  I've worked for a Fortune 500 company for almost 27 years.  I've seen more restructuring/rightsizing/downsizing/layoffs (pick the approved term of the day) than I'd ever want to see, so having a "Plan B" for income was key.
3.  My engineering job means there's a steady growth in income, but it's a small steady growth.  Real estate is only limited by what I'm willing to put into it.  With what we've learned and implemented over the years, even with a "bad" year I'm still going to gross at least six figures commission income in an area where average homes cost about $225,000.

Dec 30, 2017 03:33 PM
Ambassador
5,230,119
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

To sell my own flips - which I haven't flipped one since I got my license! I had a friend waiting for me to get my license to sell his family estate and I haven't slowed down enough to do a flip again!

Dec 30, 2017 02:13 PM
Rainmaker
5,583,278
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

I've always been a glutton for punishment and this seemed like a great source for punishment....

Dec 30, 2017 10:32 AM
Rainer
155,337
Anthony Kirlew
Group 46:10 Network @ eXp Realty - Gilbert, AZ
Helping You Make Fiscally Sound Real Estate Deals!

To be honest, I had a roommate (mant years ago) who made a lot of money in real estate ($250k his first year) and he said "if you I can do it, you can do it". I was looking for a career change and I did not make the money he made, but after many years and finding my niche, I did generate a six figure income.

Dec 30, 2017 11:45 AM
Rainmaker
1,466,207
Michael Setunsky
Woodbridge, VA
Your Commercial Real Estate Link to Northern VA

My Wife was in the business so I got my license.

Dec 30, 2017 10:29 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

It lined up nicely with my skills bank and circumstance

Dec 30, 2017 10:25 AM
Rainmaker
679,404
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

I met my husband 25 years ago after he had just started a real estate brokerage.  I married into real estate ... it was not my chosen career ... however, I am so glad it became my profession.

Dec 30, 2017 03:18 PM
Rainmaker
644,125
Greg Large
ERA Real Solutions - Grove City, OH
A Tradition of Trust

Because I love helping people, sounds good doesn't it?

Dec 30, 2017 02:25 PM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

Be your own boss

Dec 30, 2017 02:04 PM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

Let me turn the question around, why do you want to be a real estate agent? My motivations have nothing to do with yours.

Dec 30, 2017 01:20 PM
Ambassador
2,684,109
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

Was investing in rental houses; I wanted access to the MLS.

Dec 30, 2017 12:56 PM
Rainmaker
7,836,425
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

For career and business opportunities.

Dec 30, 2017 12:27 PM
Ambassador
3,383,334
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

I had accumulated sales skills in various jobs, but found myself dissastified in all of them.  Real estate seemed the logical next step.

Dec 30, 2017 11:53 AM
Rainmaker
5,216,740
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

On a bet and never looked back!

Dec 30, 2017 11:27 AM
Rainmaker
1,751,129
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

My original reason was twofold: 1. To help my mother-in-law who was a broker, 2. Because as an investor, I found that too many Realtors did not know how to work with investors. So, I became licensed to help them find a kindred spirit who could make creative deals work.

Dec 30, 2017 10:40 AM
Rainmaker
809,258
Kasey & John Boles
Jon Gosche Real Estate, LLC - BoiseMeridianRealEstate.com - Boise, ID
Boise & Meridian, ID Ada/Canyon/Gem/Boise Counties

Family business and we didn't have anything better to do. True story. 14 years later... -Kasey

Dec 30, 2017 03:05 PM
Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

Because the agents were having a lot more fun than me in the office.  And just a few months after I got my license (August of 1994) I bought the firm, because I didn't want a new job or a new boss and my broker was retiring.  I retained him as the broker until 1997 when I got my broker's license.

Dec 30, 2017 02:24 PM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Because I believed I could run rings around 90% of the agents out there and for 25 years I've done exactly that.

Dec 30, 2017 01:54 PM
Rainmaker
1,231,853
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

To pass GO and collect $$$.

Dec 30, 2017 01:20 PM
Rainmaker
2,220,654
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

This question has been asked many time before, I will see the responses you get here.  Happy New Year to you.

Jan 01, 2018 09:30 AM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

I am with Barbara Todaro on this one. 

Dec 31, 2017 08:03 AM
Rainmaker
2,182,552
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

My Father made me do it

Dec 31, 2017 07:14 AM
Rainmaker
4,800,082
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

It seemed like a good idea at the time.

Dec 31, 2017 06:16 AM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

There are 100's of ways to make money in real estate.

A few of them require a license.

It appeared to be an opportunity with MANY options.

The paid vacation, unlimited time off, paid health insurance, company car, flexible work hours, social respect, high public perception of my professional skill and knowledge and low entrance costs were also attractive. 

You would do well to watch the short video in this blog.

This is what you are signing up for.

Dec 31, 2017 05:38 AM
Rainmaker
3,071,489
Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers
Serving the Greater Phoenix and Scottsdale Metropolitan Area - Scottsdale, AZ
Haven Express @ Keller Williams Arizona Realty

Dave Halpern nailed this one!

Dec 31, 2017 04:35 AM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

Mario Sellick - oh I love people (would be a wrong answer for sure!).

We all need to do something to feed our family, isn't it? 

Dec 30, 2017 11:08 PM
Rainmaker
1,622,432
Inna Ivchenko
Barcode Properties - Encino, CA
Realtor® • GRI • HAFA • PSC Calabasas CA

To have a flexible schedule and make a lot of money. They lied...

Dec 30, 2017 09:04 PM
Rainmaker
1,543,823
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

I wanted to run my own business and it was the family business.

Dec 30, 2017 09:01 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Another question asked several times a week

Dec 30, 2017 08:32 PM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Seemed like a good retirement plan.

Dec 30, 2017 08:15 PM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

I needed to make a living.

Dec 30, 2017 07:43 PM
Ambassador
2,062,075
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

It was court-mandated.  I didn't have any skills, and very little edjumacation, so this is the only thing I was un-qualified to do.

And, you know, the restraining order is still in effect.... so....

Dec 30, 2017 07:26 PM
Rainmaker
1,090,922
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

It was something I should have done years ago but life kept getting in the way. My mother always wanted me to get my real estate license and, after she died, I went to RE school and passed the State exam one year and one day after her death.

Dec 30, 2017 07:25 PM
Rainmaker
1,598,452
Valeria Mola
SIB Realty - Miami, Sunny Isles Beach - Sunny Isles Beach, FL
305-607-0709 SIB Realty Condos for Sale and Rent

A lot of great answers here. 

Agree.

Oct 05, 2018 05:07 PM
Rainmaker
2,071,025
Evelina Tsigelnitskaya
SIB Realty - Sunny Isles Beach, FL

Yes, great answers and I won't be surprised, if it will be asked again.

Oct 05, 2018 05:06 PM
Rainmaker
4,936,716
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

The free time, the big bucks also.  That is if you work 12 hours a day at it.

 

Jan 03, 2018 08:31 AM
Rainmaker
5,868,565
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

My husband and I decided we were going to fix n flip homes.

Jan 02, 2018 10:30 AM
Rainmaker
1,725,996
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

So I could lie, cheat and steal from the public

Jan 01, 2018 05:37 AM
Rainmaker
177,849
Dr. Karen Lewis, Broker 954-2489149
Align Right Realty K1 Group - Fort Lauderdale, FL
No Compromise When it Comes to Our Clients!

I was broke but not disgusted...

Dec 31, 2017 04:13 PM
Rainmaker
900,128
Olga Simoncelli
Veritas Prime, LLC dba Veritas Prime Real Estate - New Fairfield, CT
CONSULTANT, Real Estate Services & Risk Management

Upside potential and somewhat flexible hours (or the illusion thereof).

Dec 31, 2017 01:03 PM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

I second Dave Halpern's response.

Dec 31, 2017 08:59 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

Many reasons 

Dec 31, 2017 04:39 AM