Rejection and Change Are Constants in Residential Brokerage. Adapt.

When I decided to get my real estate license, it’s safe to say I had no idea what I was in for. 

The perception of real estate agents is not the reality. A lot of people assume it’s about the money, but, for me, it’s really all about building and nurturing relationships. I’ve closed many deals by focusing on what was best for my clients, even when it required extra flexibility and problem-solving on my end.

I realized early on that half the battle was just being available and accessible, and that building trust and transparency from the first call is key. As a young agent in the industry, I didn’t come into real estate with many connections. Most of my circle wasn’t ready to purchase a home or hire an agent for a rental. I had to find my own path, generating leads organically. But, as a young agent, I was extremely motivated to do so, and I was ready to adapt if needed. 

One of my first deals was in the Financial District. My client’s mom found my profile on RentHop and called me out of the blue. We spoke about her search, and she asked if I could show an apartment in an hour. I lived an hour away from the building at this time, so I quickly rushed over. After a day of last-minute tours, I helped them find an apartment they loved. Their daughter was fresh out of school, and they were nervous about her moving to New York City, but, with my guidance and reassurance, they felt confident that the apartment was the right choice. 

I didn’t know this deal would jump-start my entire career, but it did. Not only do I still have an amazing relationship with these clients and have helped them find multiple homes, I was also connected with so many amazing referral clients from them because of the superior level of service that I provided. 

My career began right before the summer market hit. I quickly learned that the rental market is fast-paced, aggressive and competitive. My clients expected me to give them a leg up on the competition, and I had to make sure that was the case by being extremely communicative, organized and savvy. 

Social media also became a big factor for organic outreach. From the rental deal I mentioned previously, I was connected with an influencer who is active on Instagram and YouTube. I helped her find her first apartment in the city and she mentioned my name in one of her videos. I’ve now been her agent for five years and continue to conduct a ton of business from her followers. I even landed my first sales transaction from that video. 

This inspired me to put more effort into my social media presence, where I started posting more frequently on TikTok and Instagram, and now generate around 80 percent of my leads through my online presence.

While being a real estate agent has many benefits, it is tough to navigate a commission-only structure and the business’ unpredictable nature. I didn’t have savings to fall back on if real estate didn’t pan out, so I was driven to make this career path work. 

Being successful in real estate relies heavily on self-motivation, and you must be inspired to find new business and excited about the work you’re doing. There’s no better feeling than a happy client thanking you after a deal, and it’s important to hold on to that, because there is also a ton of rejection in this industry. 

Coming from an acting background, I was no stranger to rejection, so it was easy for me to keep going and not be discouraged. Rejection has come in many forms in this industry — sometimes it’s not even rejection from clients, but from your peers. There have been many times I have been dismissed for being a young agent. 

I have learned that experience alone isn’t always the winning recipe. There have been many homes that I’ve secured for my clients, beating out more experienced agents, either by being efficient, aggressive or just simply hungrier for it. On the other hand, I’ve been fortunate to work with some amazing veteran agents early on who were happy to assist me when I needed it. 

Being part of Platinum Forbes Global Properties for the past five years has been instrumental in my growth. The team provides exceptional support, prioritizes agent development, and equips me with the tools to improve my business at every turn, making me feel valued while helping me deliver the best results for my clients. The brokerage community is massive yet surprisingly small, and moments of kindness are something I remember and pass forward.

Over the years, the industry has changed in many ways, and we agents continue to adapt. If you don’t shift and grow, unfortunately, you will get left behind. There will always be a need for us in New York City, but we can’t forget that we need clients just as much as they need us. I find that people who are well-informed about the role of a real estate agent truly appreciate and value our skill set. 

We need to ensure we are all the voice for agents, and continue to educate buyers, sellers and renters with transparency and care. Especially in New York City, the busiest, boldest and best city in the world.

Mackenzie Kyle is a real estate salesperson at Platinum Forbes Global Properties.