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Ambassador
3,164,294
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

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

Jun 19, 2016 06:03 AM
Rainmaker
1,502,998
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

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

Jun 19, 2016 05:55 AM
Rainmaker
3,988,007
Debbie Reynolds, C21 Platinum Properties
Platinum Properties- (931)771-9070 - Clarksville, TN
The Dedicated Clarksville TN Realtor-(931)320-6730

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.

Jun 19, 2016 11:15 AM
Rainmaker
568,722
Virginia Hepp - Mesquite NV REALTOR
Desert Gold Realty - Mesquite NV Homes For Sale - Mesquite, NV
Mesquite NV Homes and Neighborhoods - Search MLS

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.

Jun 19, 2016 07:35 AM
Rainmaker
1,844,301
Lyn Sims
Schaumburg, IL
Real Estate Broker Retired

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.

Jun 19, 2016 07:00 AM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

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

Jun 19, 2016 07:00 AM
Ambassador
3,345,091
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

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

Jun 19, 2016 06:57 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

I think it was in my third year in real estate.  I'm not sure what made it turn the corner other than experience.

Jun 19, 2016 05:14 AM
Rainmaker
389,928
Laura S. Baker
First Weber Inc - Lake Mills, WI
Realtor (920) 728-4118, First Weber Inc

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!

Jun 19, 2016 04:53 AM
Rainmaker
1,617,916
Harry F. D'Elia III
WEDO Real Estate and Beyond, LLC - Phoenix, AZ
Investor , Mentor, GRI, Radio, CIPS, REOs, ABR

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

Jun 19, 2016 04:46 AM
Rainmaker
4,936,716
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

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.

Jun 20, 2016 12:51 AM
Rainmaker
5,104,931
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

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

Jun 19, 2016 09:20 PM
Rainmaker
7,836,431
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

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

Jun 19, 2016 08:43 PM
Rainmaker
4,319,419
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Andover, MA
Andover, MA: Andover Luxury Homes For Sale

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....

Jun 19, 2016 04:15 PM
Rainmaker
2,362,977
Lise Howe
Keller Williams Capital Properties - Washington, DC
Assoc. Broker in DC, MD, VA and attorney in DC

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

Jun 19, 2016 11:41 AM
Rainmaker
2,781,173
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

I learned feast or famine and acted appropriately

Jun 19, 2016 11:27 AM
Ambassador
2,684,109
Fred Griffin Florida Real Estate
Fred Griffin Real Estate - Tallahassee, FL
Licensed Florida Real Estate Broker

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!

Jun 19, 2016 07:29 AM
Rainmaker
2,443,250
Evelyn Johnston
Friends & Neighbors Real Estate - Elkhart, IN
The People You Know, Like and Trust!

Three years, Larry's employer eliminated his position.

Jun 20, 2016 01:31 AM
Rainmaker
3,416,038
Scott Godzyk
Godzyk Real Estate Services - Manchester, NH
One of the Manchester NH's area Leading Agents

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

Jun 19, 2016 11:50 PM
Rainmaker
1,726,096
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

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

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

Jun 19, 2016 11:17 PM
Rainmaker
989,652
Jennifer Mackay
Counts Real Estate Group, Inc. - Panama City, FL
Your Bay County Florida Realtor 850.774.6582

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

Jun 19, 2016 11:05 PM
Rainmaker
1,513,143
Raymond E. Camp
Ontario, NY

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

Jun 19, 2016 09:58 PM
Rainmaker
4,434,127
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

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

Jun 19, 2016 09:22 PM
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

3 months

Jun 19, 2016 09:19 PM
Rainmaker
1,027,602
Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

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. 

Jun 19, 2016 09:07 PM
Rainmaker
634,482
Kathleen Luiten
Resort and Second-Home Specialist - Princeville, HI
Kauai Luxury Ocean Home Sales

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

Jun 19, 2016 06:40 PM
Ambassador
6,393,609
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

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.

 

Jun 19, 2016 02:30 PM
Rainmaker
1,712,676
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

The first year. I sold 46 HUD repos.

Jun 19, 2016 12:35 PM
Ambassador
2,178,703
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

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.  

Jun 19, 2016 11:21 AM
Rainmaker
533,993
Robert Havana
Park and Protect- Alberta Real Estate License Parking - Calgary, AB
Alberta Real Estate License Parking

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.

Jun 19, 2016 10:37 AM
Ambassador
3,383,334
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

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. 

Jun 19, 2016 09:40 AM
Rainmaker
1,239,901
Sam Shueh
(408) 425-1601 - San Jose, CA
mba, cdpe, reopro, pe

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.

Jun 19, 2016 08:37 AM
Rainmaker
864,658
Les & Sarah Oswald
Realty One Group - Eastvale, CA
Broker, Realtor and Investor

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. 

Jun 19, 2016 07:54 AM
Rainmaker
2,182,552
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

The Learning Curve is 18 - 24 months

Jun 19, 2016 07:35 AM
Rainmaker
3,986,258
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

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

Jun 19, 2016 07:32 AM
Rainmaker
5,217,017
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

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

Jun 19, 2016 07:31 AM
Rainmaker
1,231,853
Mary Yonkers
Alan Kells School of Real Estate/Howard Hanna Real Estate - Erie, PA
Erie/PA Real Estate Instructor

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.

Jun 19, 2016 04:20 AM