If you are seriously considering a career in Real Estate, now is the time to consider what kind of time and financial investment you want to make.  Is this going to be a full time endeavor?  Part time?  Spare time?

I hope you didn't say spare time.  If so, history shows you will leave the field after a substantial investment and little or no profit.

Part time?  That is a more viable way to begin, so read on.  Perhaps you already have a career or other interests that occupy a great deal of your time such as a young family.  Take the first step by signing up for a Real Estate Salespersons course and visit several Real Estate agencies to whet your appetite.

The way to derive the most satisfaction from a Real Estate career, at the least cost, and still remain very available and flexible to your other interests, would be to become a licensed Realtor® and work as a part time assistant to a well-established Realtor while you are getting started.  This would be somewhat similar to a clerical or secretarial position, but the duties would vary more and you would work both in and out of the office.  With effort, this could easily become a full time position.

In Illinois, you must have your Realtor's® license for one year before you can take the Broker's course and its state test.  I always recommend obtaining a Broker's license as soon as you can, even if you are working as an assistant.  You would be a more valuable asset to clients and customers as a Broker by having a more broad understanding of the Real Estate business and its markets.

As you start to think seriously about becoming more active in listing and selling with clients of your own, you will be backed by considerable experience and increased confidence.  Setting your own hours is fine until you begin to work with clients with less flexible schedules.  While you are trying to establish a solid reputation as a Realtor®, you may not see much business if you turn down weekend and dinner hour prospects.  When you gain a reputation as an excellent agent, you may be able to draw clients who feel your attention is worth working with your schedule.  That is when you will be closest to actualizing true success.

It is possible with a generous budget, however, to sidestep work as an assistant and dive right into sales.  Your budget must cover any family needs, the cost of Real Estate seminars and courses, personal advertising and other forms of self promotion, as well as all the routine realty related fees and expenses, before you begin to realize closed sales - and that first paycheck!  If you can afford that investment (as well as a considerable amount of your time), you can achieve great satisfaction and success much earlier in your career.

You might have noticed that I have not provided any time schedules or even a rough summary of expenses in all of this.  This will depend primarily on your local Real Estate market and on your own personality, motivation and perseverance.

The best place to get information about where to take Real Estate classes to become licensed and the typical up front and first year costs is, idealy, your local RE/MAX office.  You may have one right in your town, or I can help you find one.

RE/MAX is the industry franchise leader in continuing education and Real Estate marketing tools for Realtors® who want to achieve success through maximum closed sales.  This is why the four RE/MAX Preferred offices in Southern Illinois have chosen to be affiliated with the RE/MAX name.