Can you be a part-time real estate agent?
Yes. A real estate license does not require full-time work in any state. What matters is that you can answer clients fast and that your costs make sense for a few deals a year. Here is how to make part time work.
What part time really means
- Clients do not work part time. Buyers want showings on evenings and weekends, and offers move fast. Have a plan for who covers you when you are at your other job.
- Your license needs a brokerage. A salesperson license must be held by a licensed broker to do real estate work, part time or full time.
- Some brokerages do not take part-time agents. Ask before you apply.
- Continuing education and renewals still apply. Your state sets the hours, not your schedule.
The fees that hurt part-time agents most
With two or three deals a year, fixed costs are what eat your income: monthly brokerage fees, desk fees, MLS dues and association dues. You pay them in months when you close nothing.
Per-deal fees and splits only cost you when you get paid. For a part-time agent, a brokerage with a low monthly fee and no desk fee is usually easier to carry. Run your own year in the fee calculator.
How to make part time work
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Pick your hours and tell clients. Evenings and weekends are when most buyers look anyway.
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Get a backup. Partner with another agent or use your brokerage's transaction coordinator for paperwork during your day job.
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Start with people you know. Friends, family and co-workers are where most part-time agents find their first deals.
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Keep your fixed costs low. Skip the desk fee and the big marketing spend until deals are coming in.
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Track every dollar. Know what one closing is worth to you after fees before you spend on leads.
Is part time allowed at AXEN?
Yes. AXEN's fee is per closing, so a slow month does not cost you a split. The $50 a month platform fee is the one fixed cost. A transaction coordinator is included on every file, which helps when your day job keeps you busy.
How AXEN does it
No commission split. You keep 100% and pay a flat fee per closing.
AXEN charges a flat fee per closing ($500 on the Pro plan; less on smaller deals) that caps at $6,000 a year, or $12,000 on the Elite plan, plus a $295 per-file admin fee and a $50 a month platform fee. There is no commission split, and a transaction coordinator is included on every file.
AXEN is not the cheapest on fees alone for every agent. See the math against other brokerages, or look inside the AXEN portal for free.
Costs only, not an earnings claim. Your income depends on your own sales. Fees as published September 2026; confirm every fee in writing before you sign.
Questions
Can I be a real estate agent part time?
Yes. No state requires a real estate license holder to work full time, but your license must be held by a brokerage, and some brokerages only take full-time agents.
How much does a part-time real estate agent make?
It depends entirely on how many deals you close and your commission on each. Subtract your fixed costs, such as monthly fees and dues, before you count on any income.
What is the hardest part of being a part-time agent?
Being available when clients need you. Offers and showings do not wait for your day job, so have a backup agent or coordinator.
Which brokerage is best for part-time agents?
One with low monthly fees, no desk fee and help with paperwork. Fixed costs matter most when you close only a few deals a year.
Can I work part time at AXEN?
Yes. AXEN charges per closing, not a split, and includes a transaction coordinator on every file.