having a listing on MLS and with a realtor will probably subtract years to your life. I was in real estate for over 20 years and it was a total love hate relationship. I hated the job..I loved cashing the commissions. But I more than earned a lot of the commissions. It means LONG hours of work. FAR more than a "regular job". You have zero job security. You have no retirement benefits. If you Had a spouse you would have had to have one that really understood the unusual hours you had to work in real estate, and not think you were out having an affair(my husband did this, so I brought him with me for my last writing of an offer. He was bored to death at all the details I had to explain to the buyers, my calls to the listing agent and the fact that I could not just go home after eight hours. I am sure I aged far more than a person who had a regular job with some retirement benefits and security. When interest rates went up to 19% our office rented a snow ski cabin, who in their right minds would purchase a home or investment at 19% ?Your work mates are always out there to stab you in the back because if you make the sale it means they are not making the commission. It is a dog eat dog industry, and we Work for our money. So many times I wished that I had an alternative. It is a very difficult profession and not for the lazy person.