From Classroom to Closing Table: How I Transitioned from Teacher to Real Estate Agent

Hey there! Are you a teacher thinking about becoming a real estate agent? You’re in luck — because I did just that! Today, I’m excited to share my journey of transitioning from educator to real estate agent and what I’ve learned along the way.

My Roots in Education

I come from a long line of teachers — both my parents were elementary educators, my mother-in-law is an educator, my sister-in-law, my aunt… it was only natural that when I went to college, I didn’t think too hard about what I wanted to do. Teaching felt like my path. I became an elementary school teacher, earned my master’s degree in education, and stacked up credentials over the years — PE authorization, adaptive PE, an autism certificate — you name it.

I loved teaching. But after my husband and I purchased our first home, something clicked. I looked at him and said, “You know, maybe I should get my real estate license. Maybe I could sell homes on the side during summers or school breaks.” Sound familiar?

Getting My Real Estate License

At that point, I was about three or four years into teaching — earning a steady (if small) paycheck — when I realized the commission on our home sale was about three months of my salary. That lit a fire under me!

Back then (I’m dating myself here — this was over 16 years ago!), there weren’t many online licensing options, so I took my 135 pre-licensing hours sitting in a classroom in California. Fast forward several years, when my family moved to Utah, I went through the process again — this time, doing the 120 hours online from home. I loved that I could knock out classes after putting the kids to bed, at my own pace.

Can You Teach and Sell Real Estate at the Same Time?

I get asked this all the time: Can you juggle being a teacher and a real estate agent at the same time?

Here’s the truth: you are building your own business as a real estate agent, which means you control the schedule. You can schedule showings and client appointments after school, on weekends, during holidays — whatever works for you.

When I was teaching third grade full-time, I didn’t dive deep into real estate right away, especially once I started having kids. But after I gave birth to twins, I scaled back to part-time teaching and kept my real estate license active. At that point, I might have had one, two, or three properties under contract at any given time. Eventually, I realized my part-time teaching salary wasn’t adding up compared to what I was earning in real estate.

That realization was scary — going from a predictable paycheck with benefits to the uncertainty of commission-based income. But after a few years, I decided to bet on myself and go all-in on real estate.

Why Teachers Make Fantastic Agents

Teachers, hear me out: you already have the skills to thrive in real estate.
✅ You’re flexible and great at managing schedules.
✅ You’re a natural communicator.
✅ You’re a people person.
✅ You’re already an educator — and in real estate, you’re constantly educating your clients.

Instead of teaching science, math, or reading, you’ll be teaching people about the homebuying or selling process, guiding them through one of the most important financial decisions of their lives.

Still on the Fence?

If you’re a teacher thinking about making the leap, I totally understand the doubts and questions. I’ve been there. But I’m here to tell you: it’s possible. Whether you want to supplement your teaching income or eventually transition into real estate full time, you can do this on your own timeline.

If you’re curious, want to brainstorm, or just need some encouragement, feel free to call, text, or email me. I love helping others build their real estate business — especially fellow educators who are ready to explore what’s next.

Thanks for reading, and remember: you have nothing to lose by investing in yourself.