When you see real estate agents, they often have a relaxed image, driving nice cars and saying, "How about this house?~" But in reality, it is a job known to be tough.

In fact, many agents quit within a few years for various reasons, and I will share the reasons I have felt through my experience.

"Just because you sign a contract doesn't mean the money comes in right away"

Real estate is fundamentally performance-based. You need to sell a house or have a lease agreement, whether it's a rental or a sale, to earn a commission. The problem is that it can take weeks or even months for a deal to close. Finding a house that the client likes is difficult, but everything must align perfectly: the homeowner, the tenant, the loan, the appraisal, the final payment... All of this must come together for a deal to happen. Until then, it's all 'unpaid labor.'

"Clients are not gods... they are emotional bombs"
Real estate agents are not just 'people who show houses.' They are essentially psychological counselors, negotiators, and stress cushions. They constantly face situations where clients can become emotionally sensitive—such as moving, divorce, investment failures, or suspicions of rental fraud. Even if you show the same house five times, if the client says, "I'm not sure..." you have to start all over again. If the client starts with 'distrust' instead of 'liking,' the conversation itself becomes difficult.

"24/7 standby... you really can't go home"
Regular jobs have set hours. In real estate, you have to adjust to the client's schedule, so there is no quitting time. Especially when dealing with clients who have jobs, schedules often pile up after 8 PM or on weekends. It's common to get a sudden call saying, "I'm nearby, can I see a room?" and you have to rush out.

"If there are no properties, you can't attract clients, and if there are no clients, you can't sell properties"
This is a kind of chicken-and-egg problem. From the homeowner's perspective, they ask, "Do you have clients?" and the clients ask, "Do you have a house I like?" Both sides need to be secured for a transaction to happen, but initially, there is neither. This stage is particularly challenging for new real estate agents.

"Laws, regulations, taxes... the market can freeze in an instant"
If the government tightens loans? The transaction volume halves. If rental fraud issues arise? Tenants hesitate to sign contracts. If acquisition taxes change? Investors pull out. In short, the market dances according to politics, economics, and news, and agents must align with that flow. If there are no jobs, there are really no jobs.

"Don't believe the saying, 'Trust me'"
The real estate business is all about trust between people, but ironically, betrayal also comes from people. There are cases where clients disappear after showing them good properties, or they sign contracts through other agents after just putting down a deposit, or homeowners find tenants themselves and cut off contact. The discomfort at that moment is indescribable.

"I'm a person too, and the emotional labor is too much"
You show houses, explain, engage, and you know you must never upset the client's feelings, right? But when it repeats all day long, your mental state gets drained. Especially when clients lead you on and say, "I'll contact you later~" and then disappear, your trust in people also wavers.

The real estate business is not just about 'selling houses to make money.'

It is about dealing with people, enduring emotions, and a battle of patience and timing.

So, those who survive in this profession for a long time are not just 'successful agents' but true masters.