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1st Year Real Estate Agent
Your first year as a real estate agent is all about building momentum, learning fast, and laying the foundation for long-term success. Here's a breakdown of what to focus on, common challenges, and tips to thrive:
? Year One Goals
- Learn the business: Understand contracts, MLS, local market, and legal obligations.
- Build your network: Family, friends, local business owners — everyone's a potential client or referral.
- Close your first deals: Even 3–5 transactions in year one can build confidence and income.
- Create a repeatable system: For lead generation, follow-up, and marketing.
- Mastering paperwork, disclosures, timelines, and negotiation takes time.
- You'll learn by shadowing others, asking questions, and making a few mistakes.
- Income is inconsistent at first. Expect periods with no closings — followed by multiple in a short time.
- Save early commissions and stick to a budget.
- No boss = no one pushing you.
- You need to set your own hours, create goals, and stay accountable.
- Set work hours, create a business plan, and reinvest in yourself.
- Track expenses and income from day one.
- Working under an experienced agent or team leader provides hands-on learning and shared resources.
- You'll close deals faster and gain confidence.
- Use social media, a simple website, and professional headshots.
- Create helpful, local content: "Best Neighborhoods for First-Time Buyers" or "3 Things You Need to Know Before You Sell."
- Cold calling, open houses, sphere outreach, door knocking, and online leads — test what works.
- Aim for daily conversations and track them.
- Know how to answer:
"Why should I hire you?"
"How's the market?"
"What's your commission?"
- Most agents lose business by not following up.
- Use a CRM and calendar to nurture every lead until they're ready.
- Relying only on friends/family for leads.
- Neglecting lead generation.
- Overspending on ads or tools too early.
- Ignoring the paperwork side (missing deadlines, poor compliance).
- Letting rejection discourage you.
- X buyer consultations per month
- Y listing appointments per quarter
- Z closings by year-end
- Grow your contact list to 250+ names
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