How I Got Into The Real Estate Field And What Was The Conclusion

When I received my Green Card, I worked in community relations for an Israeli-American organization, and later became the manager of a restaurant owned by an Israeli chef in Manhattan.

That meant long hours commuting by train—early mornings and late nights. After getting divorced, I realized I needed to be more present at home—especially to be there when my kids got out of school. I had to rethink my source of income.

An older real estate agent I knew convinced me to consider becoming a real estate salesperson. I signed up for the NY State real estate course, got licensed, and joined Douglas Elliman.

🎓 What Most People Don’t Know About Real Estate

Did you know that most new real estate agents quit within their first two years?

Honestly, it’s not surprising. Like any independent business, it takes time, patience, and relentless effort to build your name—and your name is your brand.

When you’re just starting out, no one is handing you leads. You are 100% responsible for generating business and closing deals. (A good broker will support and guide you legally and ethically—but the hustle is all on you.)

And in the beginning? It’s nearly impossible to rely solely on commission income. That’s why many agents work a second job. But here’s the truth—you can’t master this industry with one foot in, one foot out.

💡 I Got Lucky – And I Worked Hard

Fortunately, I didn’t have to rely solely on my income at first, which allowed me to invest 100% of my time into learning, exploring, and mastering the local market.

I took courses in home staging, design, and visited open houses on my own time. I learned about construction, renovations, and building materials—and today, I can walk into a house and immediately tell whether the renovation was just for show or actually done with quality.

🧭 Thinking of Becoming an Agent in the U.S.?

Here’s what you need to know:

✅ You must get licensed in the state where you want to work. That involves completing a course and passing an exam.
✅ You’ll need continuing education to renew your license every few years (requirements vary by state).
✅ You must work under a licensed broker—you cannot operate independently at first. After a certain number of transactions or years of experience, you can apply for a broker license yourself.

📌 In New York (and some other states): Agents cannot give legal advice during transactions. If they do, they risk lawsuits and license revocation.
📌 Attorneys can be involved in real estate deals—and can even hold a license themselves in most states.

💸 How You Get Paid

Real estate agents in the U.S. are considered independent contractors—not employees.
You do not receive a salary, only commission.
Each agent splits their commission with their broker, and the percentage is negotiated.

📉 Why Most Agents Don’t Make It

Most agents leave the business within two years.
On average, it takes 5 years to build a steady pipeline and a real client base.
The top producers in most markets? They’ve been doing this for at least 10 years, and they all started like everyone else—hustling on foot.

This isn’t “Selling Sunset” or “Million Dollar Listing.”
For example, Ryan Serhant earned just $9,000 in his first year and spent over a decade building his brand before launching his own brokerage.

📌 Important Reminders

• Not all deals close. Until it’s signed, sealed, and funded, nothing is guaranteed. Don’t go shopping on future commissions 😉

• Real estate is one of the most regulated industries in the U.S. Agents are subject to fines or license suspension if they fail to comply with evolving laws.

• Many agents invest time and energy helping clients with no guarantee of payment. (For example, I once spent 2 years helping a couple view 20+ homes—only for them to move to a different region. I earned nothing from that.)

💬 Final Thoughts

Loyalty matters—both from agent to client, and vice versa.

As an agent, your job is to protect the client’s interest, not your commission. When you genuinely focus on that, you’ll become a top-tier agent.

To succeed in real estate, you must run a marathon, not a sprint.
Take a deep breath, prepare to work hard, and find what makes you stand out in a competitive field.

Because anyone can get licensed.
But not everyone can build a career.

– Eri Afik