I got my Realtor training in January 2006. After the training, I started farming in a particular subdivision where custom homes were being built. I got an inquiry from an out-of-state investor in early May. We exchanged a few phone calls and emails. One day he asked me to send the information on several custom home builders.

I sent him the contact information for several selected builders and have not heard back from him for two months. One thing that I learned during the training is a follow-up. When I called him two months later, he told me that he was coming to Orlando during the following week to have a meeting with a particular builder. I hang up wiithout asking him too many questions.

After I hang up, another word that I learned from my training came into my mind - "persistence" which I interpreted as "not easily to give up." I called him several minutes later and asked him whether he would mind if I attended his meeting with the builder. It turned out that he and the builder already finished all the discussion and were ready to sign a contract. I was there and the builder did not mind paying a commission to me. The builder already prepared a contract and I did not have to do much for this deal.

The construction price was $560,000 and I made a pretty good commission for my first sale. "Follow up" and "Persistence" are very important in this business and a little bit of luck does not hurt.