Hi Joel!  It sounds like you have a positive attitude, which is critical when you are starting out.  I don't have any miracle marketing answers, but try to appreciate the "little victories" here in the beginning.  Good luck!

Awww.  Scared is a natural response!  You just gave up the cushion of regular paychecks and benefits for the world of huge but scarce paychecks.  It takes cahones to make that decision. 

My first year in business I only did 9 transactions, but people thought that was great for a 1st year.  I wasn't as happy.  I doubled that my second year, and am hoping to triple it this year. 

That first year, 6 of my deals came from buyers off of Open Houses that I held for other agents.  1 was a referral from out of state and 2 were family members. 

So my big thing is Do Open Houses!!  You get buyers, which I found less intimidating than sellers that first year or two.  Open Houses are cheap. 

Work your Sphere of Influence - it might not pay off immediately because they'll consider you too "new" in the field and will take that into account, but eventually they'll forget how new you are at it and hopefully remember that buddy Joel does real estate next time they're thinking about purchasing/selling. 

HTH.  and be careful... it's so easy to get caught up in the spendy realm of socializing and not really working. 

Welcome to the club!  I recently left a corporate sales job to pursue real estate as well and it is a bit scary!  Just remember that the key to success is prospecting.  You have to get out there and make connections.  It will all come together and the reward will be gratifying. I learned that its a whole different world now that I don't have corporate $ behind me.  You will figure out your niche soon enough.  Good Luck and stick with it!

Hi, Joel, I have been an agent since 1996 and I know the feeling....I left a comfortable corporate job with steady income and all the perks...I congratulate you for stepping out and you will be glad you did! Trust me...the market in Northern Virginia in 1996 was rough too, although not like this, but I didn't know any better and just plugged along.  I found the other agents in my first office to be very helpful and spent my time sitting open houses for them!  It gave me the opportunity to see the market and meet the people who were actually searching for something to buy.  Nine times out of ten you will not sell the house you are sitting, but i brought with me other home listings in the general area and set appointments with buyers to view the other properties. (as long as they weren't working with an agent)  This resulted in two sales right away and those buyers are still referring others to me.

Best of luck to you and stay with it!

Suzanne Leedy

suzanneinvirginia at Active Rain

Joel,Welcome to this wonderful community of professionals here at Active Rain. You will find this a great learning experience.

Joel, you're doing the right thing. Networking is a very good way to get business. Since this is your first year, you may want to get into a Mentor's Program. A Mentor's Program will get you off on the right foot and help you so that you don't have to reinvent the wheel. Keep doing what you are doing. Persistence is the key to your success.

Good Post!

Joel, welcome to ActiveRain, I hope that you find this place as rewarding as I do.

Welcome to ActiveRain, Joel! Real estate isn't about selling houses, it's about connecting with people and helping them find solutions to their housing needs. Just in this short post you've shown you have the personality and enthusiasm to meet a lot of people. The key is to maintain those relationships along with a consistent real estate message. Pick up a copy of The Millionaire Real Estate Agent for some great models to follow.

Joel - Welcome to the Rain, make sure that you browse the site and become familiar with everything this site has to offer.  The more you browse the more you will learn.  I have found this site to be really helpful to me.  If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to email me, I will do whatever I can to help.

http://www.doreneshirley.com/