Ever wondered why the real estate industry has such a staggering 87% failure rate for new agents? Sandy McAlpine, a veteran REMAX agent with decades of experience training newcomers, pulls back the curtain on the harsh realities that HGTV doesn't show you.

Sandy's candid conversation with host Maria Cuatrone exposes the dangerous misconceptions luring people into real estate careers. "They think we just show beautiful homes, dress up like on HGTV, and contracts magically appear," Sandy reveals. "What they don't know is how competitive it truly is." This disconnect explains why even when Sandy explicitly warns candidates about the difficulties ahead, they remain shocked months later when facing the actual demands of the profession.

The financial reality is equally sobering. While many outsiders envision agents driving luxury cars and living lavishly, the average agent earns just $40,000 annually—barely enough to qualify for homeownership themselves. For those attempting to transition gradually from another career, Sandy doesn't mince words: "You'll be working your full-time job plus 4-6 hours daily on real estate, including weekends." This punishing schedule explains why so few succeed.

What separates the successful 13%? Sandy identifies innate drive and work ethic as non-negotiable traits. "Real estate skills can be taught, but you can't teach someone to have that internal fire," she explains. Her team's sophisticated approach to online lead conversion—averaging 22-23 contact attempts per lead—demonstrates the persistence required. The conversation offers valuable insights into team management, morning huddles, and adapting to today's market where client loyalty can no longer be taken for granted.

💡 Key Takeaways:

• Only 2 of 10 agents survive the first two years. Why most fail—and how to beat the odds.
• Work ethic wins. Sandy shares what she looks for when hiring new agents: it’s not skills, it’s drive.
• Real estate isn’t HGTV. From open houses to missed weddings, Sandy and Maria dish on the real day-to-day grind.
• The part-time agent myth. Why trying to “ease into” real estate is often a recipe for failure.
• Online lead conversion secrets. Learn Sandy’s high-converting strategy using ALM (Appointment, Location, Motivation) for Zillow Flex and Google PPC.
• The power of post-close follow-up. How staying in touch turns one transaction into many.
• Why teams win. How leveraging support, systems, and accountability sets agents up for long-term success.

🔥 Quotes to Remember:

• “Most people say they’re full-time in real estate—but if they worked a real 9 to 5, they’d be fired.” — Maria Quattrone
• “You can teach real estate. You can’t teach hustle.” — Sandy McAlpine
• “If you can believe it, you can achieve it.” — Maria Quattrone

Whether you're considering a real estate career or already in the trenches, this episode delivers the unvarnished truth about what it takes to succeed in an increasingly competitive industry. Ready

Connect with Maria Quattrone:
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Website: MQrealesate.com
Office number: 215- 607-3535