Are you tired of seeing real estate agents on Instagram and TikTok flaunting six-figure incomes, luxury cars, and dream lifestyles? The truth is, most of it is fake—or at best, misleading.
The Real Estate Income Reality
The average real estate agent makes $49,000 a year. Yet if you scroll through Instagram, it looks like every agent is pulling off six figures, driving exotic cars, and living the dream. Somebody is lying.
The Real Numbers
According to the National Association of Realtors:
- Median agent income: $49,040/year
- 22% of agents make under $25,000
- 21% make between $25,000 and $50,000
- 43% of agents make less than $50,000
- Only 23% crack six figures
- Only 8% make more than $200,000
- Top 1%: Where the real money is—but it takes a decade to get there
The Social Media Hype
Most of what you see online is either fake, misleading, or only tells part of the story:
- A $47,000 month? Probably their one good month all year.
- Six-figure quarter? Usually gross commissions before splits, expenses, and taxes.
- Seven-figure year? That’s sales volume, not income.
What they don’t post:
- $3,000–$10,000 spent on marketing with zero results
- Months with no closings
- Picking up part-time jobs to pay the bills
- Thinking about quitting
The Real Grind
If you want to net $100,000, you’ll need to earn around $150,000 in gross commissions. At a 3% average commission and $400,000 average sales price, that’s about 12–13 deals a year—one deal every month.
That means:
- Generating 2–3 solid leads every month
- Prospecting every single day
- 2–3 hours every morning making calls, following up, door knocking, talking to people
- Tracking your numbers religiously
- Treating your business like a business, not a hobby
The Timeline to Real Success
- Year 1: $20,000–$40,000 (if you’re lucky, working 60 hours/week)
- Years 2–3: $50,000–$75,000 (if you’re doing things right)
- Years 4–5: You either quit or push through and finally break six figures
- Years 6–7: $100,000–$200,000 if you stay consistent
- Year 10+: $200,000–$500,000+ becomes possible with systems, referrals, and repeat clients
Why Most Agents Quit
87% of agents quit within five years. Why? Because they came in expecting an easy six-figure business thanks to social media hype, and reality hit them in the face.
The Blueprint for Real, Sustainable Success
- Build a business on fundamentals, not fantasies
- Focus on daily prospecting and lead generation
- Relentless follow-up and client management
- Survive the first five years and build systems for referrals and repeat clients
- Be honest with yourself and others about the work it actually takes
The Takeaway
The real success isn’t about showing off commission checks on Instagram. It’s about building a sustainable business that produces consistent income year after year.
If you want to build a real business on fundamentals instead of fantasies, keep following my content.
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