Not at all.  The perception is that we show houses all day and it's super fun.  Add the reality of buyers' wants vs budget, involved family members, unrealistic seller expectations, negotiations, inspection issues, appraisal issues, attorneys, other agents, personalities of all involved along w/ the  complete absence of instant gratification in this biz and the exit corridor is full.   

Not at all... this has been so for as long as I've been in real estate, which is 25 years. And I don't expect it to change. The statistics I've always seen say that 9 out of 10 do not renew their license after the first year.

Nope, dreams of easy $$ then the wake up call

Not at all. They choose poorly when it comes to who to work for. They learn fast how many fees they are charged. Most dont have a savings to get through the start of a career in real estate. Some dont want to work hard, others are poorly trained if at all

No, sorry for the short answer.

We had a new person start the last few weeks & I truly feel sorry for her. It's like watching a fish out of water.

Not at all.  Between the ones who think we open doors all day (what fun!), the ones who don't understand they are expected to run their own business and those whose only concern is "what's my commission split" when they have no clue what they are doing, I am not remotely surprised. 

No surprise at all, it's an unfortunate fact of each state's low standards of entry; the churn and burn lack of business training and real industry prep. Most of that 90% will be gone in 12 months. 

Nope we were told that in real estate school and we have watched the revolving door ever since. -Kasey

Not shocking.  Again.  And not something where I have much concern.     

No I am not.  The lack accountability.

No, surprised it will take that long! Seems one cycle of Board and MLS dues should be enough with no income!

Yes - I thought it would be 12 months or less!! 

Not surprising. I've seen some leave in 2-3 months.

No, I used to own retail stores and it is about the same.

Nope. Thanks for the interesting information.

We have a national surplus of several hundred thousand real estate agents.

No sir, not a surprise to me

Nope! Many think it is easy peesy and it's not.They will be gone.

Not at all Michael. 

And there aren't even nearly as many even going for their license nowadays. Just the test defeats them. Back in 2006 when I got my license, there were 1,000 would-be agents taking it in a huge hall, and there were morning and afternoon ones, 5 days a week in only one of several cities in California giving them. Wonder how many are still with us? Wonder how many take the test these days? And how many fees are raked in during just that first year if they passed? This is not a business for the faint of heart.

I think I heard that statistic in my pre-license classes 30+ years ago and it hasn't changed.

Not in the least.   Perspective agents think it is so easy to earn a living in this business... They are rudely awakend to learn they have to actually go and find the business!  

That seems a bit high in our area - our numbers keep growing. But, for those who leave, I think they realize that it's simply not the glamorous job they believe it to be!

I'm surprised they last that long.

I heard last week 87% are out in 5 years at least.

Not at all, they think this is an easy business, don't have to work much and make lots of money.

nope, also we see even a 30% decline in seasoned agents anytime we have a market downturn that lasts more than 90 days.

Unfortunately, no it is not a surprise. 

No, not shocked at all.

No I think that some people have a perception that being a real estate agent is easy and you make millions of dollars right away.

Michael J. Perry - I think this number is less than 90%.

I was told more than half leaving in first 12 months.... and another 25% in one more year.

It is to be expected, and I need to find one of these folks and hire them as an assistant.  One who is good with the paperwork, but may not have the other things going for them.

No.

Can we speed it up?

Nope. I think this has been pretty consistently reported

Not at all.

No, not at all. They don't know what they're getting into and how hard it is.

Absolutely not, based on the quality of buyer agents who have been showing my listings.  Hoping our buyer's market will weed some out.

      No.  I've been in this business for 30+ years, it's always been that way.   

Nothing new about it. To get a license is too easy, when they get it and realize you actually have to work, they do not see any value of it. 

let's open real estate school

Relieved!

No surprise there.  Many folks have a hard time managing themselves.  They get caught up in the free schedule and fun things they can do beacuse they aren't punching a clock.

It has been that way since they started licensing.

Nope...because most people don't think about it like a business.

Nope.  Most have no clue what they're getting into and schools like Agent Professor do little to teach them.

Not at all - has been happening for years.

Sound pretty accurate from what I have seen over the years. Not surprising to me.

No. That seems historically accurate.  The cycle of easy money ... and all those big bucks is just not true.  Most especially not for new agents. 

There has always been the perception of easy money in this business. Once the truth is seen many leave. No shock to me, I've watched it for decades. 

Not at all - they think our job is easy, we make millions of dollars a month and do nothing to earn a living

Nope not suprised at all

No, and very little shocks me these days.

the first 18 monhts are the absolute hardest. It is difficult to get that first client when you have no credibility and haven't closed a deal yet. So this does not surprose me at all.

I think part of the licensing process should be working with another agent through 3 transactions- start to finish.  Not only would newbies learn a lot, they couls say they worked on those transactions.

Not shocked, just hoping and praying they do it faster....

Eve

No. People think real estate is easy money but they don't realize it takes hard work, diligence, and a lot of money to get started.

No. People watch too much TV and think...show three homes and get a paycheck....We all know how much hard work is involved in being successful in this business!

I'm shocked that it's that long!!!  I'd give it less than a year....

Seems like that was about the same as I heard in 2001 when I took my initial licensing class.  No surprise as people are under the perception that this is easy money!

It has been that way since I got in the business in 1980. Many have unrealistic expectations and others just find out they don't like it. It is a surprise to many that it takes hard work and lots of it and it doesn't happen overnight.

Michael J. Perry This has been standing statistic. I believe the number is higher. The number is a lot higher at the end of two years.

In the many chosen fields of endeavor there are a weeding out dynamics