Why many recent college grads are going into real estate on Long Island

When real estate agent Jonathan Schuman was 21 years old, he had 13 houses under contract — all at the same time.

"That was the moment I knew this was gonna work," said Schuman, now 26.

It's unusual for a real estate agent to juggle that many contracts at once, and for Schuman, it hasn't happened since then. Out of the 13 contracts, 11 of them closed.  

Many young people on Long Island — and nationwide — have been similarly driven to this field of work: LinkedIn recently ranked real estate as the second-fastest-growing sector for new college graduates over the last three years.

On Long Island, where home prices have hit record highs, the job can present lucrative opportunities.

Brokerages on Long Island have seen increased entry-level interest in recent years, with their owners citing the job's connection to social media marketing, entrepreneurial spirit and ability to work outside of an office as other factors driving interest. But the commission-based earnings (as opposed to a steady salary), overhead costs and competition among agents across the Island are challenges, experts say.

These self-starters must remain motivated and focused to succeed in this realm: "It's definitely hard work," said Mark Stempel, owner of Blue Island Homes. "It's not all glamorous."

Not quite 'Selling Sunset'

The glamorization of real estate, thanks to television shows like "Selling Sunset" and the "Million Dollar Listing" franchise, has played a part in young people pursuing this career path, Stempel said.

The reality shows do not necessarily reflect what the job is really like, he added. But it gets young people in the door, putting resumes on his desk.

Blue Island Homes, which has offices in Bellmore and Greenvale, has a wide age range in their agents, from 20 to 60, Stempel said. The newer agents often team up with the more experienced ones to learn the ropes.

I think that they can see success very early on, whereas when you start at the bottom … in corporate life, it may take many years for you to find those types of successes.

— Mark Stempel, Blue Island Homes owner

"I think that they can see success very early on, whereas when you start at the bottom … in corporate life, it may take many years for you to find those types of successes," Stempel said.

Data shows that real estate professionals early into their careers skew younger. In the National Association of Realtors (NAR), members with two years or less of experience are a median age of 45, compared to the overall median age in the organization, which is 57, according to its 2026 Member Profile.

Among those with two years of less of experience, 12% are under 30 years old, which indicates early career entrants into the real estate field, Jessica Lautz, the NAR's deputy chief economist, told Newsday via email.

Stempel started seeing an increase in interest from 20-somethings in the early 2020s, coming into the profession out of college or, sometimes, right after high school. A lot of younger agents are still living at home with their families, saving up before entering Long Island's pricey market themselves.

In the meantime, "working for a local real estate company becomes not only convenient, but also gives them the feeling they're doing something important," Stempel said.

Social media assets

Real estate has been "heavily influenced" by social media, Stempel said, which is one reason young people are drawn to the career. This generation's ease and familiarity with social media is a great skillset to bring to a real estate sales position, added David Cohen, co-owner of Corcoran SRG Residential in Syosset.

"Younger agents have grown up with these different social media avenues," he said. "They use it to their advantage to get business."

Cohen has recently hired and interviewed several job candidates who were either fresh out of college or about to graduate.

"I would just say from our point of view, we're really trying to go after younger, aggressive agents or people that are aspiring to be agents," he said.

The flexibility of the job seems to be especially intriguing to the younger crowd: "It's very entrepreneurial," Cohen said. "You're out and about and it's more exciting than your typical desk job."

As the buyer pool gets younger, there is a "huge need" for real estate agents within that age group to help those clients, Cohen added: There is a "changing of the guard" approaching as more newcomers come onto the scene.

But until then, there is stiff competition throughout Long Island, Lupinacci noted.

"When you look at the Long Island region, there are thousands of licensed agents," he said.

Competition is one challenge young agents might face right away. But just to get started, there are several costs new real estate agents can expect, said Shaan Khan, president of the Long Island Board of Realtors (LIBOR).

That includes payments toward obtaining a real estate salesperson license: $65 for the initial application and $15 for the written exam, according to the New York State requirements listed online. The cost of the qualifying course varies widely: LIBOR offers it online for $335, while Molloy University holds the class in person for $595.

Once an agent passes the exam, they must get sponsored by a brokerage, which could come with a cost as well, Khan said. LIBOR fees include a one-time $600 initiation fee, then $596 annually, which covers local, state and national dues. It also costs $650 to initially join OneKey MLS, a statewide multiple listing service, with a $190 payment per month.

And the various professional startup costs abound: Business cards, marketing, whatever it takes "to get your name out there" will come at a price, Khan added.

"Right off the bat, you're probably looking at over $1,000," he said.

Real estate agents generally earn between 2% and 3% commission per sale, and as Long Island home prices remain high, it signals the possibility of significant earnings for agents, said Chad Lupinacci, former Town of Huntington supervisor and current lecturer of business law at Farmingdale State College.

Plus, buyers in need of representation are continuing to enter this competitive market all the time: "Even though there is limited inventory, there is still a huge buyer demand in the area," Lupinacci said.

Agents with 

2 years experience or less

typically had an

$8,000 gross median income

Agents

across all experience levels

made a

$59,200 gross median income

in 2025.

It all comes with downsides: Working in a commission-based role without a steady salary can bring income instability, especially in New York State, which can be prone to lengthy closing processes.

"It could be multiple months before closing on a property, either on the buyer's side or the seller's side," Lupinacci said.

And making that first sale can also take time, but it depends — no two entry points into real estate are the same, Khan said.

"Some agents just hit the ground running: Things line up for them right away, maybe they have a hot lead and they know someone who's looking to sell or buy," he said. "Other folks have to work their sphere of influence, do some marketing or maybe start working under another agent."

Real estate agents with two years of experience or less reported a gross median income of $8,000 in 2025, according to the NAR Member Profile, which surveys real estate agents nationwide. For agents of all experience levels, the gross median income was $59,200.

It is common for real estate professionals with two years of experience or less to have another job, Lautz said, via email. Per NAR's findings, 52% of those who have two years or less experience cite that real estate is not their only occupation.

Agents with 

2 years experience or less

typically had a median of

2 transactions a year

Agents with

16 + years of experience

closed a median of

10 transactions

For NAR members of that experience level, they typically had a median of two transactions in the year, while real estate agents with 16 years of experience or more closed a median of 10 transactions, the report shows.

There are other realms of this industry to explore, for more earnings on the side, Lupinacci said.

For example, "you're in sales, but maybe you want to work on title work in your spare time when sales aren't going that well," he said. "Or learn the mortgage business a little bit more. They all coincide, so if one area slows down, you can always concentrate on the other area."

Earning the rewards

I love seeing everybody happy in the end.

— Jonathan Schuman

According to the NAR Member Profile, 74% of real estate agents with two years of experience or less are very certain they will remain active in the real estate profession for the next two years.

Schuman, an agent for Blue Island Homes, knew he wanted to work in real estate from an early age. His interest was sparked with renovation, and he started going to open houses to familiarize himself with Long Island's architectural landscape.

"I wanted to learn all the styles of the houses in the neighborhood," said Schuman, who grew up in Merrick.

74% of real estate agents

with two years of experience or less are very certain they will remain active in the real estate profession for the next two years.

Meghan Mikalsen, who was raised in Suffolk County and now lives in Pennsylvania, worked as a real estate agent for Signature Premier Properties and The Real Brokerage after graduating from Stony Brook University. The 24-year-old was inspired by the influx of real estate-based reality shows, like "Selling Sunset."

Once she started working, she quickly saw how competitive it is, and that it's not possible to have "overnight success," she said.

You just have to be hungry for it. Young people need to be ambitious, and not fearful of rejection.

— Meghan Mikalsen, former Long Island agent

Mikalsen kept going and now, as an asset manager for a property management company, she works in investments.

"I would encourage young people to stick it out, if it's really a passion for them," Mikalsen said. "You just have to be hungry for it. Young people need to be ambitious, and not fearful of rejection."

For Schuman, closings are "very uneventful." The agents mostly "show up there for moral support," he said. But what happens after all the paperwork is signed — that's his favorite part of the job.

"At the end when they're handing over the keys to the new owner, and you see everyone really happy, either moving on or starting a new chapter; I love that," he said. "I love seeing everybody happy in the end."