I have had the privilege of witnessing the evolution of the Dominican real estate sector and observing how hundreds of people have entered this profession. Some have built extraordinary careers; others have left disappointed because the results didn't come as quickly as they expected.
That journey has taught me a lesson: entering the real estate business is relatively easy; staying in, growing, and building a reputation is what's truly difficult.
To those starting out, I'd like to share a thought: don't enter this profession thinking only about commissions. If that's your main motivation, you'll probably get tired of them long before you start receiving them.
From the outside, a commission may seem high. What is rarely appreciated is all the work, investment, and sacrifices that made it possible to obtain it.
Behind every transaction there are unanswered calls, unproductive visits, indecisive customers, advertising, fuel, technology, training, and negotiations that often fall apart when they seemed to be finalized.
The commission doesn't just reward a sale. It's the result of everything we did to deserve it.
This is a business: treat it as such
One of the most frequent mistakes is entering the sector expecting to receive before investing.
A real estate agent is also an entrepreneur. And no sustainable business is built without preparation, investment, discipline, and time.
We need to invest in knowledge, tools, promotion, mobility, and lead generation. Not necessarily large sums, but with an entrepreneurial mindset.
We cannot expect to reap where we were never willing to sow.
We must also understand that income is variable. There will be excellent months and difficult ones. The commission should compensate not only for the work performed, but also for the risks, costs, and uncertainty assumed.
Learn to listen to "no"
This profession requires developing emotional resilience.
Not every consultation ends in a visit, nor does every visit lead to a booking. Similarly, not every booking becomes a contract, nor does every transaction result in payment.
Rejection is part of the business. The important thing is to learn from each experience without turning it into a personal defeat.
A good advisor is not defined solely by the number of times they receive a "yes," but also by their ability to continue working after hearing a "no.".
Perseverance does not mean insisting without criteria, but learning to identify opportunities, respecting customer decisions, and maintaining the discipline to keep moving forward.
Don't confuse movement with productivity
Another piece of advice that I consider fundamental: don't try to sell everything.
In an increasingly competitive market, having a superficial knowledge of one hundred projects can be less valuable than truly mastering ten.
Specialization generates knowledge; knowledge builds judgment, and judgment produces confidence.
Learn about the projects, their developers, prices, competition, contractual conditions, advantages and weaknesses.
Today, customers can find information in seconds. They don't just need someone to hand them a price list. They need a professional who can interpret that information, identify opportunities, and help them make sound decisions.
That's where our true value begins.
First, build the professional
One of the greatest satisfactions this profession has given me is understanding that its lessons go far beyond the economic aspect.
The real estate business forces us to listen, negotiate, manage time, control our ego, handle frustrations, and take responsibility for our decisions.
Before generating a good income, this profession can help us become better professionals and better people.
Therefore, I advise those who are starting out not to give up too early, but also not to confuse patience with passivity.
Prepare, invest, prospect, follow up, build relationships, and protect your credibility.
Having lived through different stages of transformation in our sector and actively participated in its development and professionalization, I maintain something that I consider essential: we must never lose the mindset of a learner.
Because experience is not simply about accumulating years, but about turning lived experience into knowledge, knowledge into judgment, and judgment into better decisions.
The commission is a consequence, not the starting point
Selling a property can generate a commission. Building a real estate career requires preparation, investment, discipline, ethics, consistency, and character.
Don't just chase the next commission. Build the professional who will be capable of deserving many more.
Because, in the end, the commission is a consequence, not a starting point.
Good commissions don't happen by chance. They are built.
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