I've gained too much weight since I quit dancing and none of my clothes (especially my bras, Ugh!) fit. I didn't quit dancing on purpose, it just kind of happened. You know, when burnout strikes it usually has some warning signs, but I chose to ignore the warning signs.
I've been working so hard at building my real estate business while dancing that self care kind of flew out the window. Then I got sick. I had the flu that just would not go away. It took me 6 weeks before I started feeling human again. When I got the flu I didn't go into the club, of course, but I kept on with real estate anyway. Which just made things worse, of course.
Before I was well enough to even consider a return to the club, I ran out of money, and then the bills started piling up. Being a real estate agent is a business, not a job, and it costs money to stay in business. In my region, basic overhead is around $2,000.00 a month. That's before you ever meet a client, that's just for professional memberships, costs like office supplies, marketing, bond and insurance, and software to conduct transactions. There are more expenses once I take on a client. Once I do get a customer, it costs me an additional $1000 for each listing before a buyer ever sees the house. Some of that cost is for reusable items like lock boxes, open house signs, yard signs etc, but a lot is for advertising the house for sale, professional photography, professional videography, flyers, internet marketing, social media marketing, catering for open houses, professional staging, and on and on and on.
Did I mention that I have to hand over 50% of my commission to my brokerage just for the privilege of working there? It's called desk fees. And by law, I have to work for a brokerage for at least my 1st 3 years as a real estate agent in my state.
And no, home owners don't cover these expenses. That's why they hire a real estate agent. It's just that real estate agents don't get paid until AFTER the house is sold and the deed is recorded. That is when I have to decided if I turned a profit on the sale or not. Usually, I do turn a profit, albeit a small one. That is, if the home owner doesn't change their mind about selling their house. I had 3 sellers back out on me in 2015 after we had their house on the market for up to a month. I've got no way to recoup my expenses, either. That money is just gone.
A customer who only wants to buy a house and doesn't need to sell a house is generally less expensive on the outset. However, in the Portland housing market in 2015-16, it takes a long, long time to win at a bidding war to secure a house. I have to sell houses multiple times over to customers who wish to buy. I sell them the perfect place. They hand me an earnest money check for the house, I submit the offer and then we wait. Most buyers who aren't in the luxury market (defined as $1 million + homes) will lose out to all cash buyers pretty quickly. That means a loss in time, primarily. What is my time worth? I'd like to earn $20-30 an hour as a Realtor, ideally, to turn a profit. I've worked hundreds of uncompensated hours in the last year, so yeah...
Many of the buyer clients I've been working with have been priced out of the market. When the clients and I started the house hunt, it seemed like there was plenty of houses that matched their needs, but when the list price is really $50-200,000 more due to all cash buyers, there was really nothing available to them in their price range after all.
Anyway, I was spending a ton of money and not making any money and nearly went bankrupt in the process. So in late February, I quit my brokerage.
Since I've got a nice car, I started driving for Lyft (Uber-like ride share service). There was no way I was dragging my fat, old ass back to the club, so I had to figure out something. I went on a few job interviews and kind of hated the idea of working for an employer. I actually accepted a job at Home Depot working in the design center...for $10 an hour. Part time. No bennies. Although I love the idea of helping people with their remodeling projects, I can't work for so little and still pay my bills. I had to tell Home Depot, thanks but no thanks.
My rent is $1400/mo and I have to pay 100% of utilities and maintenance. That's the housing reality for Portland. My house is pretty terrible, lots of stuff doesn't work and my landlord sends her handyman to duct tape up whatever is broken. In other words, if I need something fixed, I have to do it myself. I had a major ant infestation this spring, and the handyman came by with some ant traps that did exactly nothing. After throwing away all the non-canned foods in my cupboards for the 3rd time due to being swarmed with ants, I just broke down and called an exterminator myself. Anyway, Now I drive for Lyft and average around $20 an hour before taxes and after fuel and maintenance expenses.
I'm still looking for a path forward in real estate. I'll have enough money to renew my professional memberships by the end of this week, if things continue the way they have been going w/ Lyft.
I've since switched brokerages. I can't practice real estate right now because I let my memberships expire (you have to join so many "clubs" just sell a damn house!). I was supposed to go to my agent coaching at my new brokerage this morning, but I couldn't squeeze my boobs in my bra any more. Fuck. I'm sure as hell not going to show up to a professional meeting without wearing a bra, ferchristsake. And when you wear a 36 DDD-E/F it isn't a matter of popping into the mall to pick up a new one. Usually the words "special order" and "3 day shipping" come up when bra shopping. Most stores only stock up to DD at the smaller band sizes. Sure, I could go into the plus sized section and find 42 DDD all week long, but that size does me no good, either.
Well, long story longer, my clothes don't fit anymore, so I didn't go into the real estate office this morning for work.
I must be either stupid or stubborn or both, as I am still pursuing a career in real estate. I really, really want to make this career work.
Dancing taught me that working at the wrong club will kill a dancer's career. I was at the wrong brokerage when I launched my real estate career. I'm really hoping my new brokerage is going to be a better fit. They recruited me, and as skeptical as I was going in, I'm feeling hopeful that this brokerage will be a better fit.
If only I could say the same thing about my bras...



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. I was wondering if you could some real estate related jobs? I do not know if they do this in Oregon but have you thought about becoming a real estate scout or apartment leasing agent? Or home stager? These are all jobs that bring in steady income for people who have their real estate license 



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