The life of a real estate agents can be stressful but no, real estate is not a high stress job. Whenever you are counting on other people and have very little control it is only natural to feel like you have a stressful job. The real estate industry keeps churning no matter the market swings and this is not a stressful career.
Real estate agents need new clients like a fireplace needs new logs. Usually you will help buyers with new home purchase and then poof, they are gone and no new leads result for some time. When you focus on sellers and hopefully sellers staying in the same area and just upgrading then between holding open houses and helping the sellers relocate you are fine.
It should be the goal of every real estate agent to diversify their real estate skills. Your stress levels will diminish if you have income coming in from rentals, buyers and sellers alike. Big paychecks are few and far between but small amounts of money constantly paid to you can make your finances less stressful.
It isn't work if you live it and love it. Lead generation will come to you naturally if you do. Be proud of what you do and share that you are a real estate agent with reckless abandon. Speak with everyone in the general public that you meet about the housing market. Then get around to buying and selling homes then announce your career. If they are a looking to buy or sell homes you just got a lead.
If properties are all around you then so are business opportunities and the opportunity to deal. Realtors drive by and walk by business opportunities every day. Do what other realtors will not do and get what other agents will not get. It is not work hours, it is the real estate lifestyle. You don't work long hours, you live a long life.
Do it now. Stop worrying what comes next by already having it done. Deadlines in a real estate transaction are actually very few. I usually spend less than an hour to make sure they are met. All the rest of the time you should spend making a difference in your real estate business by becoming a successful prospector.
Handle everything you can yourself. If you represent a seller who is under contract then stay in touch with the loan officer of the buyers. Just be cordial and professional. Handling this will make your life less stressful and lead to fewer surprises.
The housing market has fluctuated greatly. Have no fear. When and if the market goes up or down people still buy and sell homes. We maintain foreclosure sites as a backup. Be prepared and diversify. Its like having the cupboard full just in case of a famine. Professional real estate agents prosper regardless of the housing market. When things slow the number of realtors goes down and opportunities go up.
Is there something else you can do in the real estate industry to prosper? Can you train others? Maybe work on becoming a loan officer as well? A home inspector? Why not be more than a real estate agent? My wife is a mortgage loan officer and a real estate agent. That alone sets her apart and gets her more business. Stay ahead of the competition.
Many agents will fail because of pride, unrealistic expectations of the median income realtors make, stress from not following the tips above and not putting time into prospecting. The truth is money will come if you constantly live real estate and prospect for new clients. Hard work pays off, smart work pays off with less stress levels.