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Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® CRS,ABR,PSA,RCS-D, CFSP, Coastal San Diego, Veteran's & Retirees Services (Big Block Team @ LPT Realty 858.232.8722)

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Rainmaker
502,420
Adam Feinberg
Howard Hanna Elegran - Manhattan, NY
NYC Condo, Co-op, and Townhouse Advisor

Be careful about selecting a niche - it could hurt you more than you realize. I know this is contrary to what others reading or posting here may understand simply because my market works so differently. I became an expert on HDFC co-op's very early in my career. These are a form of income restricted buildings. What I didn't know then that I know now is that the problem wasn't with the buyers, the sellers, or even the price points- but how incredibly unreasonable too many of this group of co-op boards are. Working with many HDFC's is actually about triple the amount of work for an agent than working with a similarly priced market rate co-op in many cases.

Aug 15, 2026 10:11 AM
Ambassador
2,732,333
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I enjoy sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Author, Golfer, Traveler, Retired, Wenatchee, WA

Pick a niche and become THE market expert. 

Aug 15, 2026 09:58 AM
Rainmaker
6,622,422
Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner
Denver, CO
Enjoying Every Day to Its Fullest!

Get that CRM together and work it daily.  Don't let past client slip through the cracks.  Past clients are your bread and butter for the rest of your career.

Aug 16, 2026 12:43 AM
Rainmaker
3,065,978
Richie & You
pearlsforthesoul.com - Cedar City, UT
Author & Consultant

Congrats on the license

Now, we got work to do

1. Know what you are talking about...

2. It's about people first, then business

Aug 15, 2026 10:37 AM
Ambassador
3,653,163
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Real Estate Svcs.
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Focus on my niche.

Aug 15, 2026 10:32 AM
Ambassador
5,715,207
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

Hmm, I am not even sure because so much depends on things that we can't really control.  I guess I would tell the rookie me to get out more and make more connections, haha.  Or maybe start up a solid farming area.

Aug 15, 2026 10:16 AM
Rainmaker
1,837,028
Jeff Masich-Scottsdale AZ Associate Broker,MBA,GRI
HomeSmart Real Estate - Scottsdale, AZ
Arizona Homes and Land Group/ Buy or Sell

Don't wear a suit jacket while sitting in your home office computer as in the picture unless you are on a Zoom call! Jeff 😊

Aug 15, 2026 10:43 AM
Rainmaker
8,929,762
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Be ready to modify your actions as the market changes.

Aug 15, 2026 09:42 AM
Rainmaker
6,032,222
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

What Joan Cox, Retired Broker/Owner said. That is precisely what I tell every new agent that asks me what they should invest in first.

Aug 16, 2026 05:30 AM
Rainmaker
1,166,235
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

Hang on, it's going to be a bumpy ride!

 

Aug 15, 2026 08:28 PM
Ambassador
6,758,768
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Retired Home Stager/Redesign

I was an agent for one year about 40 years ago. I loved what I was learning but an opportunity to return to what I had been doing in office staffing. I took it and soon after that, we moved to FL. My advice to my real estate agent self would have been "keep pursuing real estate."

Aug 15, 2026 03:01 PM
Rainmaker
5,778,402
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Get a great mentor first or a great coach.  Do not depend on your broker.

Aug 15, 2026 11:47 AM
Rainmaker
2,891,660
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Do not be confrontational with other agents unless you know  their antics are immoral. Team up with the good ones.

Aug 15, 2026 11:37 AM
Rainmaker
684,444
Katina Hargrove 352-551-0308
Stake Your Land Realty, Inc. - Eustis, FL
Broker/Owner

Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® CRS,ABR,PSA,RCS-D, CFSP Keep plugging in and keep up with technology. Don't be afraid to ask questions when others laugh at you. If I can do it, you can too😊

Aug 15, 2026 10:47 AM
Rainmaker
6,192,264
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

find a mentor!

Aug 16, 2026 04:21 AM
Rainmaker
1,720,333
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

Start working on your friends, family and acquintancec...SOI...people who know you and trust you. Make sure they know that there is a new REALTOR in town.

Aug 16, 2026 07:54 AM
Rainmaker
1,613,324
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Join active rain sooner!

Aug 16, 2026 08:46 AM
Ambassador
2,604,294
Hannah Williams
HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA
Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® CRS,ABR,PSA,RCS-D, CFSP  Stick with your original niche; don't let your broker disenchant you just because they are looking for new agents!

Aug 17, 2026 09:50 AM
Ambassador
7,444,445
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Take better care of myself.

Aug 16, 2026 05:15 PM
Rainer
17,208
Carmen Brooks
PropTech AI - Casper, WY
Slashing outbound marketing overhead for wholesale

I would tell my rookie self that time is your most valuable asset. Don't waste years manually scrubbing data and chasing people who don't want to be found. Focus on automation and clean tech early on so you can spend your time having actual conversations with real human beings.

Aug 18, 2026 09:27 AM
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