It's been a mantra that's been repeated for a long time but there are those who continually prove it wrong.

No! Like Nina said, it's a cliche.

You last in this industry by specializing, finding a niche that fits you, and all the rest of the stuff that we all know you have to do.

Some people love working with buyers and they don't need to list.

Some people are fantastic at marketing and they don't want to work with buyers, and some are just great with both.

I prefer landlords and sellers, but at this time of year I'm slammed with commercial tenants
I'm down with it!

Sellers are coming in a month, and then later on this year there will be buyers.

🎶I've Got Rhythm and I used to be a Catholic!🎶 LOL

I've never believed that... I've seen plenty of agents make a great living just representing buyers. Just another one of those gross generalizations and catch phrases that sound like the truth but are simply a a long-standing truism.

No but it's a lot easier if you do IMHO.

List to last, sell to survive...or a little of each!

It's all in what works for YOU as an individual, Peter.

No, I know buyers agents who have a lot of clients & do really well. You just have to be busy with fruitful clients. 

I was going to say what Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA said. Typically, there are two deals with a listing, whereas there is no guarantee on the listing with a buyer. I know there are transfers and relos, but hopefully, if you do that properly you will a referral on that listing, which is pretty sweet to get paid for a phone call. 

So as he & Barbara Todaro stated, it makes life a bit easier. Around here there are not many that have survived as buyers agents, but there are lots of agents that have lasted the test of time by listing while farming out the now buyer clients to their team. I've seen team members come and go, but the team leader keeps bringing buyers agents onboard. 

if you don't list, you'll earn every penny of your money....listing agents have it easier, if they do the proper networking.... remember, this is a business of "who you know".... and networking will show those results...the true results....

You can Live without listing, but I prefer to focus on listings.

Not necessarily Peter, I know some agents that work strictly with buyers and they do very well.

List to live or sell to survive. 

There are agents who work with buyers only and they are doing fine.  There are many investors with real estate license here and all they do is find cheap houses to flip to sell or rent. Everyone is different.

It is easier. As a listing agent, one could sit on their butt and do literally nothing.  Very hard to do that as a buyers agent.

Listing has inherent reoccurring business.

Listing is easily leverages to generate more business.

It will prove more profitable to be a buyers agent when the real estate industry escapes 100 years of tradition.

Like so many things in real estate,  it depends on the maturity of the agents real estate business. Newbies trend to be buyers agent while winter agents, because of referral transition, become listing agents. If inside their cloud of reality, both would say "yes/no."

The truth is. "The horse you commit to ride well will take you where you need to go."

My business is tilted more towards buyers than sellers, but that's the outcome of not having a huge personal sphere and being more reliant on blogging, web pages, etc. to attract clients.  In a short inventory market, it's certainly nice to have those listings, but not necessary to make a decent living.  Bill

You need to List SALABLE Listings to make Big Money !!!

I'm primarily a Listing Agent.  Buyers take too much time & energy for me and I don't find that to be an efficient way of running my business.  I found it to be far more stressful working with buyers (like herding cats)  I don't like indecisive people at the best of times but especially when my livelihood is at stake.  To each their own!

I would have to say YES!!!!

Close enough from either side and you'll live.  ;0

It was a good philosophy for me to live by Peter Mohylsky, Luxury Focused 

No - lots of agents making a great living working with buyers.

Peter,

I depends on what you mean by "Live"  A

No.

There seem to be plenty of agents who are working strictly with buyers only. 

It helps, unless you make the decision to work just with buyers.

To live - no! But if you want to stay in the business and do business do whatever works best for you!!

There are plenty around who disprove this statement

There are people who do fine with only buyers or as a referal business.  Personally, if you list a traditional seller they have to buy another house, so that's two deals.  Plus, you have a lot of marketing you can do plus you have the sign in their yard.  Lots more potential for name recognition and branding and (of course) getting more clients that way.

I don't think so.

The opporutnities found in Real Estate are no myth....

Not if you work for a builder in new construction or prefer to work with buyers. If you want to maximze income you better list to last! Buyers consume time and not all purchase.

Listings are king, inventory is everything in small rural markets especially. The price point is lower and you list what you sell. When real estate prices are low to the ground the layers of players getting a piece of the pie is smaller too. Every market is so different and absolutes across the board don''t work just like one weather forecast or article of clothing won't fit the entire country.

I know agents that do only one or the other but most do both in Minnesota

It depends on the market.  Some thrive working only with buyers. 

There are agents whose business model is to work exclusively with buyers. I guess that works for them. I prefer a balance and love listings.

My volume is large and I list nothing. 

No.

Yes and no. 

I am with Michael.

Peter,

Listings are valuable, however, being a great buyers agent creates your listings in the future when the buyers decide to sell. An agent who knows the inventory will make sales, regardless of listings. Staying accessible and active in community events is a great way to find buyers, AND sellers. Having buyers agent experience makes for a great listing agent. 

You don't need to but life is easier when you do!  With that said, the buyers of today, with proper follow up, are your sellers in a few years   Always stay in touch!

I had more listings last year, and this year I have lots more buyers, and some larger ones too.    As long as you have transactions, you will survive this industry.