Considering becoming a beachfront real estate agent? Why not become an agent selling homes on and near the beach? This type of career comes with perks. Wear casual clothing, and enjoy the beach and out-of-doors. This is the best career. Of course, you can become a real estate agent selling property anywhere but selling around the beach, you earn while you enjoy. Having fun is what life is all about.
Those of us who are real estate agents and brokers love our careers. When the selling environment is beautiful e.g. beach, clear skies, warm days, and low cost of living, what more can you ask for?
Being around people is a perk of its own in our society where everyone is on the internet and in Zoom calls. Making personal contact with clients is a delight. You must be a people person. When I can drive them along the beach and they see what I see, that’s a perk.
You may need to do more than take a client for a beach ride
Of course, not every potential prospect will buy a property from you just because you take them for a beach drive but at least they enjoyed it. And, not every home is located on the beach although there are always some on the market.
It’s also enjoyable to meet potential buyers and explain that being close to or even on the beach has its benefits. Frankly, this is a dream job for many. I say job, but in case you don’t know, beachfront real estate professionals are business owners. A real estate sales agent is considered an independent contractor. You work with a brokerage firm licensed by the state. You are responsible to the real estate brokerage for your actions.
The broker will pay a licensed agent registered with the brokerage a portion of the commission earned on a sale. It’s your own business so you will be responsible for paying Social Security and income taxes.
Hours of coursework
As you consider joining this great profession, you will be required to obtain a real estate license. This includes taking hours of coursework and passing a state real estate exam. New agents must hang their licenses on the wall with a local real estate broker. As you embark on your new career, brokers usually ask an experienced agent to help you understand the business.
Financial success comes through learning and hard work. I say hard work but what I mean is diligent work. The real estate school is just a start and you will have much to earn before you are earning good money.
Before going down the path of becoming a beachfront real estate agent, you should decide if this will be a full-time career and that on a regular basis, you will be prospecting and learning. As a licensed real estate agent, you will be required to take additional coursework on a periodic basis to keep up with the changes in rules and regulations.
Many agents form teams
If you decide to be a part-time agent, make sure that you are able to respond to your client’s demands. Some agents form a real estate team within a brokerage to share the work. This can permit two part-time agents to work together and share commissions from the joint work they do.
Team members work out schedules to that phone calls can be returned on time and prospective buyers understand they are being taken care of. There are some great benefits of a career not the least of which are:
- Tax deductions for many items including an office in the home
- Earn as much income as you want, there are no limits
- Educational requirements are minimal e.g. High School diploma, no college required
- Pre-entry experience is not required
- You are your own boss (except for the client)
- Set your own hours
- Implement your own marketing efforts
- Specialize, be a buyer’s agent, a property manager, commercial real estate agents get their start as residential agents.
- Become a broker, open your own office
What does it cost to become a real estate agent?
One of the most asked questions is “How much does it cost to become an agent?” Start-up costs are minimal considering what it would cost to start many other businesses. The following is just a rough estimate of costs and they will vary depending on your state and which direction you take to obtain your license:
- Licensing course – Mississippi course is 60 hours with a cost of about $400.
- Background check – Mississippi charge is
- Fingerprint card – Mississippi charge is about $45 depending on where have it done.
- Testing fee – This is the third-party fee to take your test
- Join your local multiple listing service – gain access to MLS and all of the software needed to create contracts, etc. – Monthly fee
- Annual membership in MLS and National Association of Realtors –
- Errors and Omissions insurance – $125 per year
- Lockbox charge – For electronic lock boxes – a monthly fee
- Business cards – $25
- Email – Internet – depending upon your own situation
- Mobile phone – You already have one but it will now become part of your business, get used to text messages
- Wardrobe – Unless you work by the beach, shorts are less expensive than a suit or dress.
Mississippi Gulf Coast closed sales % of all dwellings sold
| Year | Closed Residential Sales | Residential Dwellings | % of Dwellings Sold |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 14,500 | 175,000 | 8.3% |
| 2019 | 15,000 | 177,000 | 8.5% |
| 2020 | 14,000 | 179,000 | 7.8% |
| 2021 | 15,974 | 181,000 | 8.8% |
| 2022 | 17,623 | 183,000 | 9.6% |
| 2023 (forecast) | 18,500 | 185,000 | 10.0% |
Orange County, CA closed sales % of all dwellings sold
| Year | Closed Residential Sales | Residential Dwellings | % of Dwellings Sold |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 118,000 | 1,450,000 | 8.1% |
| 2019 | 122,000 | 1,470,000 | 8.3% |
| 2020 | 108,000 | 1,490,000 | 7.3% |
| 2021 | 128,000 | 1,510,000 | 8.5% |
| 2022 | 140,000 | 1,530,000 | 9.2% |
| 2023 (forecast) | 145,000 | 1,550,000 | 9.4% |
Compare the two charts above. The Mississippi Gulf Coast slightly outperformed the much, much larger high-cost metro area of Orange County, CA. This indicates a slightly larger opportunity in the potential number of sales that will be available to a beachfront real estate agent
Word of mouth is number one
The above will get you started. Marketing is another thing that is required. How will you obtain leads? of course, word of mouth is the number one way that all agents obtain leads. Even more than buying them from the Internet. Lead generation can become a monthly cost depending on what you want to do.
A successful beachfront real estate agent will become well-known around the area. Meet as many people as you can and hand out bundles of business cards.
One of the biggest challenges for new agents is working to obtain contacts. If you sit around at the computer all day, you may contact some but you will not be meeting your neighbors, people at your church, exercise club, etc. I love going to the many events that happen on the Mississippi Gulf Coast on a weekly basis. Most of the events are outdoor and it’s enjoyable to meet people from all over the country.
A week ago, I was meeting the cable guy for one of my out-of-town clients. When he was ready to leave, I asked if he was in the market for a house. He said yes, he was just going to the bank the next day to see what he could afford.
A career with lots of outside time
Back to selling by the beach, after all, that was the real reason for writing this article. If you love the out-of-doors and the beach, you may want to consider becoming a beachfront real estate agent. When I was living in California and Nevada, most of the agents dressed in business suits and dresses. I think fondly of those days because the beach was a few miles away yet people who live there never think of the beach as part of their lives.
On the Mississippi Gulf Coast, almost all agents are casual. I only occasionally wear a sport coat and that’s in the winter when our 62-degree weather is really cold (funny). During most of the year, women wear shorts and a blouse. As it happens so do the clients. This is one of the perks.
Agents who work in cities or Beverly Hills, spend some big dollars on their wardrobe. That’s another perk, there are no specific requirements for dress nor is there a real dress code on the beach.
There is room for new real estate agents
​Some agents may like selling lakefront homes or homes in the mountains or desert. There are perks to all of those jobs but I prefer being near the beach. The Mississippi Gulf Coast is a great place to live and work. Our local laws are easy on buyers and sellers while protecting both sides of the transaction. The real estate industry has been going through another of its hiccups.
The number of real estate agents in the United States in 2023 is less than in 2022 and falling with the reduction in home prices and higher interest rates. There are many real estate agents across the country. When things get tough, many part-timers and those with a lesser commitment to their careers tend to fall off the rolls. Because real estate agents must keep up with their education and that has a cost, agents with few or no sales usually give up their licenses.
None of what I just stated should have an impact on anyone who wants to be a professional real estate agent. The best agents always have sales, not as many as before the current hiccup but perhaps enough to pay the bills until a correction creeps up. Some real estate agents work in property management to supplement their income in slow times. Yes, there are slow times but that only means that while fewer people are buying or selling, you need to work harder to get a share of those who are.
It’s all about staying power and budgeting
You need to create a budget for yourself and another for our business. You need to know how much money you will require to pay the bills and to continue to market your business. The best agents make it work. It’s all about staying power. The longer you are an agent, the bigger your business will become.
Remember those word-of-mouth clients, they can come back and buy or sell again. After you complete a real estate transaction, it’s time to keep that client on your tickler file and keep in touch.
If you are interested in a beachfront real estate career selling property on or near the beach, and earning substantial commissions, make the move. An important question to ask yourself is: Do I like people and am I self-motivated? It’s hard to believe but those are the two most important criteria for becoming an excellent real estate agent.
Self-motivation is critical, getting out of bed
The most difficult thing for a new agent entering the real estate field is discipline and keeping that motivation going. You set your own schedule and get out of bed at 6:00 or 9:00 as long as you can meet your own goals.
There are lots of beaches in the United States but the ones that attract the most real estate activity are those with houses nearby and in warm areas. Let me tell you a bit about the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Over 40 miles of white sand beaches. U.S. Highway 90 runs along these 40 miles of beach. Much of the real estate on the North side of the highway is residential.
There are occasional commercial properties including casinos. Many empty lots are available for sale and people are building lots with a beach view. Many other homes are within a short walking distance from the beach.
Home prices are among the lowest in the country
Home prices are among the lowest in the nation for houses near the sea. A large number of buyers come from other states scooping up the bargains. Builders are busy with new developments on or near the beach. All of the new builders pay commissions for sales. Residential properties are located inland as well but nothing is very far from the beach.
There are four counties with multiple small cities and the entire area is within the larger Mississippi MLS. This permits agents to sell almost anywhere in the state and all along the coast.
This local market has seen a fast rise in real estate prices from 2020 through 2022 and then a fall during the last five months. Prior to that, prices were fairly constant with a 3-4% annual increase. No major ups or downs like Arizona, Nevada, California, and Florida. lots of investors and real estate agents who want to learn the investment side can do that as well.
The Mississippi Gulf Coast – Beachfront Real Estate Agent
You can become a real estate agent anywhere. Living and working on the Mississippi Gulf Coast has many perks including the beautiful setting. No traffic (except for events), no smog, low taxes, low cost of living, property on the beach that is affordable, and much more.
Agents living in high-cost states earn large commissions but pay high costs to live there. Home prices on the Mississippi Gulf Coast can be 1/3 less expensive meaning that commissions are lower. That said, the prices are low enough that a married couple working for a restaurant can afford to buy a house. This means lots of houses being sold which translates to commission income.
If you live in a $1m house in California paying more than $15,000 per year in property taxes, you need to sell more houses than living on the Mississippi Gulf Coast in a $300,000 house. This is a less stressful environment as well. When you set an appointment at for example 1:00 PM, you will get there. Do that in California and “traffic” will spoil your on-time performance. Just a few things to consider, lifestyle. Check out these articles about the area: The Best Places Now to Live on the Gulf Coast. Why I decided to move to Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Read this article about how we celebrate July 4th on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
Not everyone should become a real estate agent
I am not suggesting that everyone who wants to be a beachfront real estate agent move to the Mississippi Gulf Coast, there are plenty of other coastal areas that will work also. If you think the Mississippi Gulf Coast can be the right place for you to start a new career as a beachfront real estate agent, contact us using the button below. Our small brokerage is open for a very few highly motivated and talented individuals who would like to learn and earn.
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