It’s crazy to think about how much can happen in just a year. I officially earned my license on December 20, 2023. If I had to describe my first year in one word, it would be gritty.
Why? Let’s be real for a second and forget about Selling Sunset. Getting into real estate is a huge risk—no guaranteed income, significant upfront costs, and breaking into high-end markets is incredibly challenging. Your work ethic determines your success, and you’re 100% betting on yourself to win. Don’t believe me? According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), 87% of real estate agents fail to stay in the industry within the first five years.
This might sound crazy after everything I just said, but becoming a realtor has been one of the better decisions I’ve made in my life (I’m sure that statement will come back to bite me at some point). I dove headfirst into this business with the mindset that I was entitled to nothing and would probably earn nothing for the first two years. Warren Buffett, our very own chief and commander, once said something along the lines of: People don’t have the patience to dedicate a few years to building their own business, but they have the patience to work for someone else for 40 years.
In my first year, I’ve gained a tremendous amount of life experience—good and bad. But learning is learning, and there’s no growth without challenges. In fact, I learned the most when I fell the hardest.
This industry may look glamorous from your social media feed, reality TV shows, and everything else you see online. But don’t forget—every transaction means guiding people through one of the biggest investments of their lives. Families, newly married couples, investors, first-time homebuyers, multi-generational households, relocating professionals, second-home buyers… the list goes on. You carry that responsibility with every single transaction. It’s incredibly stressful, but it also means this work is some of the most impactful you can do.
One of the biggest things I learned in my first year is that this industry is so much bigger than me. It’s about making a real difference—guiding clients to make smart decisions and helping them realize their dreams. Sounds cheesy? It’s not. It’s the real deal.
If you want to talk about being on the front lines of life, real estate is it.
Year one has been difficult, transformative, humbling, impactful, stressful, gritty, and real. I’m incredibly fortunate to be in a business where people and relationships are everything.
If you’re thinking about getting into the industry as a young professional, let’s talk! If you're ready to buy or sell but don’t know where to start, Ceseña Real Estate is here to help.
