Moolah Blog!

So, I write this entry with hopes that some of you out there may seriously consider broadening my financial literacy understanding of Real Estate. I’ve currently started looking at some possibilities after college. I’m currently interested in Stocks, Bonds, Investments and all that jazz in general. I read a ton of valuable books on portfolios, saving, spending, investing and real estate. Honestly, I believe real estate is the only tangible asset out there these days, regardless of the state of the economy.

Now, before I begin my spiel, let me tell you that I’ve loved knowing about the real estate business, amongst other things, for as long as I could remember being able to read about it. I know many agents and a few brokers here in Texas.

What I’m trying to find out is whether my Economics degree could be put to better use elsewhere? I mean, knowing about how the economy works is an asset to anyone. Financial Literacy and an understanding of the both the social and political economy are almost entirely essential in understand how the world goes round as well for planning investments. With that said, it is also important to expand your knowledge because everything you learn could be used to make a buck! I’m no all-out capitalist here but its definitely a good business to get into folks!

It was a bit discouraging when I went online to see what the Salary.com and Payscal.com websites stated as the salaries for such professionals. However, from personal experience, I know that there a lot of hard working individuals out there that make a whoooole lot more!

It seems, however, that after finishing school I would have to be an agent for 24 months after getting my license(one semester due classes already taken for my degree) before considering the Broker license. This does have some logic behind it as it might be a good idea to start from ground up to get a full understand of how the business works and where you can go next.

School is relatively inexpensive and the time commitment that bad at all. I could potentially be getting my license while working at some firm. However, here is where it gets tougher:

I also had the motivation (having shadowed a neurosurgeon for 8 weeks) to return to school and go into nursing and then later into Anesthetics as a nurse. Tada!!! See where everything I just said makes deciding what path to take a lot harder? Oh yeah!

Well, here I listed the pros of both professions:

REAL ESTATE BROKER/AGENT:

• Be your own boss. Most real estate agents are independent contractors.
• Your business growth is all up to you. There are no limits for growth of your real estate business.
• Excellent client service will yield future rewards. In the “2005 National Association of Realtors® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers”, we see that 66% of home buyers said they would definitely use their real estate agent again or recommend the agent to others.
• Your time is yours, so take that vacation! – When you want a vacation you can!
• Your business can be as large as you like.
• Develop a plan to provide the “good life” later.Emphasis on the Later!
• If you can make it all work for you, the reward monetary can be extremely great! ESPECIALLY CAUSE YOU ARE HELPING FOLKS on the single most important part of their lives! Getting a new Home!

RN/CRNA(Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist):

• RN’s make about 4- 60 Grand! as a CRNA you make…read bullet point 3.
  
• Benefits and Health Insurance
• As a CRNA you make 140-200 Grand a year depending on location
  • a con would be that it takes a lot longer to be a CRNA than a Broker or Agent

• And Job Security!

I’m sure I missed a few but there they are! So Could any of you out there spare some time and give you inputs to this matter? Your comments would be greatly appreciated and taken for consideration. Should I continue the long education road to riches and fun at work, or should i take a risky and potential rewarding stab at real estate? Both help people, both have potential to a great life style and BOTH very well on my mind right now :\ Please Advice world!

Some Links I looked at that where helpful:
Daily Responsibilities of Real Estate Agents

Benefits of a Real Estate Career!
What Type of Person Succeeds in a Real Estate Career?

Before You You Choose a Real Estate Career - Know Why People Fail

All About a Real Estate Career from the Bureau of Labor Statistics

The Big Picture: A Bull Market in Real Estate Agents

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