Most Realtors don't sell homes...

By Travis Anderson

In 2011, Travis started his career over and began building his own team; a team that has a different look and feel than most teams in the industry; one built SOLELY for the betterment of the client.

How many homes should a competitive agent sell in a year? Another article from The Bee News got my attention. According to a new report by the Consumer Federation of America (CFA), 49% of real estate agents sold one home or less in the past 12 months. Almost half of agents haven’t sold two houses in a year. But is this true? Let’s talk about it.

I couldn’t help but notice that the article mentioned this as a “trend” in the real estate market, but I wouldn’t call it a trend. I’ve been selling real estate since 2004, and I can say for sure that 50% of agents consistently sell fewer than two homes yearly. If you’re not in the industry, this might sound surprising, but this has been the norm for a long time.

The article also mentioned that 70% of agents sell five homes or fewer each year, implying that most agents lack the experience and track record to assist you with one of the most important transactions of your life.

Why are so many agents selling so few homes? There are a couple of reasons for this.

First, many are part-time agents or just trying their luck in real estate. A lot of agents have other jobs or responsibilities and don’t do real estate as a full-time career. You’re lucky if you find an agent like me or others here in the Twin Cities who sell three homes a month or more. When you work with someone like that, you’re getting someone with experience negotiating contracts, both for buyers and sellers.

Second, getting a real estate license is easy. In 26 states, including Washington D.C., you don’t need a high school diploma to enter the field, and for only $600, you can already get a license. You don’t need a four-year degree, just some basic coursework and a passing grade on the licensure test.

Lastly, real estate agents are self-employed. After passing the test and getting your license, you’re essentially starting your own business. This is one of the beauties of our country—anyone can start their own company if they’re willing to put in the work. In real estate, many agents get their licenses, sell a house or two, and then stop.

The bad thing about it is it breeds a group of agents who are just not good at selling real estate. They’re not good at negotiating contracts. They are not going to do the marketing. They are not going to present homes. They don’t know enough about inspections, earnest money, and similar topics. It’s problematic. They don’t have the skills or experience to make a career out of it.

This is true.

Be careful about who you hire. You’ve got a 50/50 chance of getting an agent who sells almost no homes and only about a 30% chance of finding someone who sells at least one home per month.

If you’re in the Twin Cities area, I’d love to help you with your real estate needs. Call or text me at (651) 485-6383 or email travis.travisandersonteam@gmail.com. Whether buying, selling, or investing, having an experienced agent on your side can make all the difference.