It is in fact possible to become a real estate agent working part time.  As a matter of fact in some cases it is recommended that you only work part time when first starting out.  This is because start up expenses, like getting your real estate agent license and other necessities, can take a while to get in order.  On top of that a lot of people take a while to get acclimated.  It’s not uncommon for an agent’s first sale to take six months or more.  In this case it can be helpful to have a primary stream of income until you get off your feet.

The most important thing to remember when getting started in real estate is that it’s all about networking.  You need to tell anyone who will listen that you’ve become an agent.  On top of that you need to tell them to tell anyone they know.  Getting your name out there is paramount to your success.  Luckily this doesn’t need to take you too far away from your daily routine.  It won’t stop you from completing any of your other responsibilities, but you do need to put in the extra effort.  

Next, you’re going to need to implement some strict boundaries.  A lot of the work required of an agent can be done from home.  However, clients have a tendency to call you out of the blue looking to see a property.  Your answering machine need to clearly state when you are and aren’t available.  People will understand if they know when you can reach you.  But this means you need to make sure that you call people back as soon as possible.  Clients will generally respect your boundaries so long as you let them know up front, and you stick to your commitment.

The last thing to remember is that becoming an agent, even a part time one, comes with it’s fair share of investment.  Just getting your real estate agent license can take anywhere from several months to a year and cost several hundred dollars.  Once you get your license you’ve got roughly a thousand dollars in advertising expenses.  This should cover the basic necessities: business cards, for sale signs, open house signs, a website, etc.  Then there’s membership, board, and association fees, and you can’t forget the price of gas in your car from driving people all over town.  All in all it’s a sizeable investment, so keep this in mind before you quit your previous job.