I worked as an Independent Contractor, which means I technically owned my own company, just worked under a broker. I am no longer in business, as I did not renew my license after 23 years in business. Real Estate is a broad field with many different opportunities. I preferred the mortgage end of the field because it was a faster process, I didn't have to hold open houses, and a lot of other things one has to do as a sales agent. I suggest persons interested in real estate get as much information and education as they can about real estate and the different types of jobs available; that if they specialize in sales, that they complete the Graduate in Real Estate course; I think it's called GRU, and, that in all they do, be fair and honest.

Working low-end properties. Low-end properties are properties in ordinary working-class neighborhoods that do not sell for the highest prices. I should have been working high-end properties because people who own low-end properties are nit-picky about every little thing. Example, one guy who I was selling his home had installed a carport in his driveway without getting a permit for the work. He didn't tell me this when I took his listing. It came up. When I told him he would either have to tear it down or go get a permit, he started hem hawing around. I took one look at him and went and paid the permit fee myself. I didn't charge the cost back to him in escrow. On the other hand, owners of high-end properties don't play these games. They are more businesslike. All they want is the property sold in the fastest amount of time and to get their money and move in. They alert the agent to problems, if any, out front because they realize to not do so will create a delay.

I was working with a broker selling Reverse Mortgages. I preferred going door-to-door to get clients because I could sign them up on the spot. I was consistently bringing in clients to the business. Then I learned the broker, realizing I was bringing in consistent deals from that one zip code, decided to drop a bunch of mailers to all my prospective customers in the same zip code I was working. I knew then that I would have to leave the company. In real estate, if you want to get paid, you have to remain with the company until all your deals are closed and you have been paid by the broker. Otherwise, they will close the deal and they will get paid. I won't. So that's what I did. I waited until they gave me payment for the last deal I submitted and left. Having brokers competing against agents is very uncomfortable. If they see you having success, some will directly compete against you. In this case, there were thousands of zip codes this broker could have advertised in but he chose the zip code where I was having success. No point in staying with that broker. He will only do the same thing again. As I was leaving, I realized why all the agents he had hired at the same time he hired me had left the company.

That never happened.

I love real estate. Any day and any duty is a good time. I love helping people. I love viewing homes. I love closing a transaction and seeing the joy my clients' eyes at their success in selecting the right agent to get the job done.