So, You Think You Want to be a Realtor on the Florida Suncoast?
I didn’t grow up wanting to be a real estate agent. I wanted to be a TV newscaster—and that’s what I did for 30+ years. But along the way, a good friend who was a broker randomly sent me a Realtor aptitude test that he said revealed I scored higher than anyone he had working for him. That stuck in my mind when it was time for a career change in 2019.
From Newsroom to Pre-Licensing Class
Going to the pre-licensing course was humbling. From an award-winning career to a student in a classroom full of people half my age. We spent 63 hours together over the next two weeks. Passing the state exam was one of the most challenging things I’ve done in my adult life.
Many aspiring Realtors have families that worked in real estate, or they come from related fields—banking, construction, etc. Having a background as a reporter wasn’t helpful passing the test—but it sure has come in handy since. Readers who remember Ray’s earlier career shift may also enjoy Ray Collins Interview – TV Newscaster to Real Estate and TV Anchor to Realtor? How did that happen?.
Choosing the Right Brokerage
When I began telling people about my new career, I got one of two extreme reactions: Some said, “That’s a great idea, I can see you doing well in that,” while others chuckled and said dismissively, “Oh good, we need more Realtors.” After all, there are nearly 10,000 agents in the Real Estate Association of Sarasota and Manatee—but some say “20% of the Realtors are doing 80% of the business.” Plus, most agents aren’t doing it full-time.
When someone gets a real estate license, the phone begins to ring. Not with prospective buyers and sellers, but with brokers hoping you’ll affiliate with them. The more agents they can sign, the more money they can make. I wound up signing with a larger agency because I liked the amount of education it offered for rookies. Smaller boutique brokerages don’t offer as much formalized training but also don’t take as much commissions.
Real Estate as a Lifestyle
Being a Realtor is less of a job and more of a lifestyle. I don’t ever consider myself “off duty.” I work seven days a week and even keep up with my texts and emails when traveling internationally. Lucky for me, most Realtors don’t have that sort of tenacity I learned in the newsroom. The joke is—“I didn’t want to work 9-5, so I got into real estate, and now I work 9-9.”
There’s also a lot of heartbreak. Friends ask a million questions and then use someone else as an agent…clients run you around and then never buy anything…other agents respond at a snail’s pace. Choose carefully, it’s not for everybody—but it’s certainly for me. For a broader look at current local conditions, see the Sarasota Real Estate Market Update 2026.
Ray Collins has closed $80 million in his first six years in real estate and won annual awards each year for productivity. More information is available at Ray Collins Real Estate.
