re: How tough is being a real estate agent?

Here.

I'll just say this, Realtors overall tend to have a bad reputation in some areas because it's true there are a lot.of shitty ones.

However, there are plenty of great ones too who will do a lot for you besides just paperwork (although that is important.)

It's like any sales career, you get out if it what you put into it

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You hardly have to do anything here though, the houses sell before they are listed.

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With 15 other offers all above list.

I was in real estate in my early to mid 20's. No wife or kids, I was able to work 6-7 days a week. I made really good money for my age, but I focused on vacant land and multi-family housing. On vacant land, the commission used to be 10%. On a 100k deal, I'd walk away with 6k if I was both listing and selling agent and after the broker's 40%.

My wife's aunt has been a realtor in Dallas for 3 years now. She hadn't sold a thing yet. She's done a few leases, but no sales.

A good agent will do 3 million a year or so, which, after splits and broker fees, would net you about 90k income. That doesn't factor in your advertising expenses though. I used to spend one to two grand a month, but I was on the cheap side.

First and foremost ... it takes a lot more time/work than most people think to bring a sale to closing...and keep in mind....a REALTOR is relying on several other parties to do their job correctly and in a timely manner ... loan company, title company, home inspector, the other agent, the buyer and seller.... etc. etc.

RULE #1 ... it ain't sold until the papers are signed at the closing table.

Typical commission in the GBR area usually runs at 5% (some areas are still 6%).

IF a REALTOR gets "both sides" ... meaning they have the seller and buyer as clients...the agent gets the total commission minus what the brokerage charges (say 10% of what the agent earns ... varies broker to broker).

If the agent brings the seller or has the buyer .. the two agents split the commission.

GBRAR (EBR, WBR, Ascension, Livingston, Iberville, EF, WF, Point Coupee, St. Helena) currently has about 2200 members.

More info here. GBRAR website

Google for homes for sale in the area your client likes.
Drive the client around the area looking at those houses.
Act as middleman to communicate offers when the client finds a house he likes.
Know how to fill out forms correctly.
Show up for the closing (optional).

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It's a real killer job.

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While you do have to pay for your own marketing, some of those expenses are tax deductible. Some companies have automated social media marketing tools that posts your listings to FB, Twitter, etc automatically. Some charge for that, some don't.

You will have fees to pay to the board of Realtors (Greater Baton Rouge Association of Realtors) and you have to take 12 hours of continuing education courses every year to keep your license. You can do these courses online.

Some companies charge additional fees to cover supply expenses whether you use those supplies or not.

I see lots of college dropouts/failures go this route. And they talk about it a lot on Facebook.

You have the have Facebook and constantly talk about how you love your job and how you have the best clients.
It’s the opposite of a nurse

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As a buyer, I was able to do everything the realtor could on Redfin.com and many times received notice of a new house before she notified me.

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This. I get several calls a week on "a possible new deal" from one of the guys. I'm like "bro, I've already seen that property, did my own vetting, & deemed it to not be worth it last week". I've told him unless he finds an off the market deal don't call me, but he doesn't seem to get the message. I swear his damned realty service has me on a list