Okay, let’s be real—who wouldn’t want to make six figures in their first year on the job? That’s the kind of success story that makes you sit up and go, Wait, what? How?!
So, meet Anna, a now 26-year-old real estate agent and mortgage loan originator, who’s sharing the ups, downs, and bank account-changing experiences of her first year in the real estate world. And let me tell you, it’s not as simple as just slapping a For Sale sign on a mansion and collecting a bag of cash.
The Journey from College Student to Six-Figure Realtor
Anna got her real estate license at the end of 2017 and officially entered the big leagues in 2018. But instead of starting from scratch, she smartly positioned herself with a top-producing luxury real estate team in Orange County. That move alone gave her early exposure, experience, and—most importantly—leads.
Like many fresh-faced agents, she transitioned off a paid internship into a commission-based role, where her first major sale—an $800,000 condo—landed her a check for $10,120. Not bad for a first deal, right? But before you start writing your resignation letter to become a real estate mogul overnight, let’s break down where the rest of that commission went.
See, in real estate, it’s not just you cashing in that big payday. Brokers, teams, and splits take their cuts, meaning Anna was only pocketing half of what the total commission for that deal actually was. And that’s just a small taste of Reality Check #1 in this profession: You don’t keep everything you earn.
The Harsh Lessons of Being a Real Estate Newbie
After the high of that first deal, Anna hit a dry spell—a struggle that many first-year agents face. Finding clients was rough, and she even had a $1.9 million sale completely vanish when the buyer went behind her back and worked directly with the listing agent. Talk about betrayal! Lesson learned: If you don’t lock in a client agreement, you’re leaving a lot up to chance.
At this point, her one big check from earlier wasn’t going to pay the bills indefinitely (even though, props to her, she stretched that $10K like a budgeting queen). That’s when she decided to pivot.
Switching Gears: Salary + Commission = Stability
Realizing that feast-or-famine income wasn’t for her, Anna discovered a real estate startup that offered a $5,000 monthly salary—yes, steady money—plus commissions on any closings she landed. This gave her the best of both worlds: guaranteed money hitting the bank account each month while still racking up real estate deals.
By structuring her income this way, Anna was closing four to five homes a month for the remainder of 2018. While her commissions weren’t as high as traditional real estate gigs, her new model brought consistent income without the stress of dealing-to-dealing survival. By the end of the year, she had pulled in a grand total of $103,000.
Not bad for year one!
What We Can Learn from Anna’s Real Estate Grind
Anna’s story is not just about making a lot of money—it’s about how she made it. And more importantly, what lessons aspiring realtors (or anyone, really) can take from her journey:
Don’t rely on just one client. That $1.9M sale that went poof taught Anna a valuable lesson: Diversify your leads and always have multiple deals in motion.
Look for alternative ways to earn money in real estate. It’s not just about million-dollar home sales—rental deals, team splits, and different payment models like salary-based real estate roles can all stack up to a serious paycheck.
Your first paycheck might be big, but it won’t last forever. Anna stretched her first $10K commission like a pro, but she quickly realized that consistent income beats sporadic windfall commissions.
Getting burned is part of the industry. Losing deals, backstabbing clients, and navigating brokerage splits are all part of the game—what matters is how you adapt.
Is Real Estate Worth It?
Honestly, Anna’s first-year earnings are way above the norm for new real estate agents. Most struggle to hit just half of what she made. A ton of realtors don’t even close a deal in their first year. But Anna put herself in the right position—starting under an experienced team, finding alternate income sources, and recognizing when a steady paycheck was the smarter move.
So, is jumping into real estate a guaranteed golden ticket? Nope. But with the right strategy and relentless drive (seriously, this girl hustled), you can make it work.
What do you think—would you take the risk to chase commissions, or do you prefer the stability of a monthly paycheck? Let’s talk about it. Drop your thoughts in the comments! 🚀
“`
More Articles
Getting licensed or staying ahead in your career can be a journey—but it doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Grab your favorite coffee or tea, take a moment to relax, and browse through our articles. Whether you’re just starting out or renewing your expertise, we’ve got tips, insights, and advice to keep you moving forward. Here’s to your success—one sip and one step at a time!
In a landmark decision, the court has preliminarily approved settlement agreements in the commission lawsuits involving real estate companies RE/MAX and Anywhere Real Estate. The agreements require RE/MAX to pay $55 million and Anywhere Real Estate to pay $83.5 million. As part of the settlements, both companies will implement significant policy and practice changes, including the elimination of the requirement for agents to be members of the National Association of Realtors. This change will provide agents with more flexibility and independence in their business practices. The settlements have far-reaching implications for the real estate industry, fostering a more dynamic and customer-centric real estate market.
The housing market saw a remarkable increase in housing starts and permits in October, pointing to a positive industry trend. This surge suggests a growing demand among Americans for homeownership, prompting builders to respond by ramping up their construction efforts. However, builder confidence has been somewhat dampened by elevated mortgage rates. The housing market's performance varied across different regions in the United States, highlighting the diverse nature of the housing market and the various factors influencing construction trends.
CUSO Home Lending has implemented Dark Matter Technologies' advanced Empower loan origination system, revolutionizing the credit union lending process. The Empower system streamlines loan applications, automates document collection and verification, and facilitates seamless communication between borrowers, loan officers, and underwriters. With robust security measures and full compliance with industry regulations, the system ensures the protection of sensitive information. This move highlights the importance of embracing digital transformation in the lending industry.
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM), a leading wholesale lender in the mortgage industry, has launched a new initiative offering no-cost appraisals on 1-0 temporary rate buydowns. This strategic move aims to attract more brokers by covering up to $600 of the appraisal cost on all conventional and government-backed home loans. Temporary rate buydowns allow borrowers to pay a lower mortgage rate during the initial period of their loans, making homeownership more affordable. This limited-time opportunity until March 31 provides brokers with a unique value proposition for their clients. Ready to explore the benefits of UWM's temporary rate buydowns and no-cost appraisals? Connect with UWM today.
Mark Willis has made a significant leadership change by returning as the CEO of Keller Williams, a leading player in the real estate industry. This news marks a triumphant comeback for Willis, who previously served as the CEO of Keller Williams from 2005 to 2014. Armed with extensive experience and a proven track record, Willis aims to steer Keller Williams towards continued success and navigate the challenges facing the real estate industry. This article will delve into Willis' career history, the growth of Keller Williams under his leadership, and the current landscape of the real estate market.
A recent lawsuit in Texas has sent shockwaves through the real estate industry, shedding light on alleged collusion among individual brokers, real estate teams, and large corporate brokerages. The lawsuit, filed by the QJ Team and other plaintiffs, accuses these entities of artificially inflating real estate agent commissions. The real estate industry has been rocked by a series of commission lawsuits in recent years, but the QJ Team lawsuit stands out due to its comprehensive list of defendants. The QJ Team lawsuit alleges that the defendants engaged in collusion to artificially inflate real estate agent commissions, thereby restricting competition and harming consumers. The plaintiffs claim that these entities conspired to set and maintain high commission rates, limiting the ability of homebuyers and sellers to negotiate fair prices. If proven true, these allegations could have far-reaching consequences for the real estate industry in Texas.
