'Be Courageous': Former Counselor Shares Hard Truth About Career Switch to Real Estate

Written by:

Steve Marcinuk

Date:

28 Aug 2025

Share

Share via Facebook

Share via Linkedin

Share via X

Copy to clipboard

The path to success in real estate requires more than just getting licensed and hanging a shingle, according to a Pennsylvania agent who made his own dramatic career pivot after decades in counseling and education.

“Be courageous and don’t get disheartened when it doesn’t happen immediately,” advises Alan Moose, now a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Homesale Realty. “It takes a while to build the business and to build your reputation.”

The Financial Reality

Moose, who spent 20 years working in counseling and educational administration before entering real estate, says aspiring agents need to face some hard financial truths. ‘Make sure you have the ability financially to carry yourself until you’re established, because it takes a while to get there, and you’ll need the reserves in order to get to that place where you can feel like you have a steady flow of income.’

This candid assessment comes from Moose’s own experience transitioning from a stable career in public education, where he developed and created an online cyber school program called Lincoln Edge, to the commission-based world of real estate.

Building a Network

Beyond financial preparation, Moose emphasizes the critical importance of relationship building. ‘This is not an industry you can work by yourself, and you have to have a team to work with. So build good coworker, co-agent relationships.’

The relationship focus draws on Moose’s background in counseling, which he says provides valuable perspective in real estate. “Relationship building is the key to real estate,” he notes, highlighting how past professional experience can translate into the field.

Developing Market Knowledge

Moose stresses the importance of embracing the learning curve that comes with entering real estate. “Just love looking at houses, because you’re going to see a lot of them, and you’re going to see a lot of conditions, some favorable, some not.”

His own path included time working in the Kitchen and Bath Industry after retirement, along with personal experience renovating homes, background that helps inform his current work with clients across York and Harrisburg.

Finding Your Niche

While building a broad foundation is important, Moose suggests identifying specialized interests within real estate. His own passion lies in historical restoration, though he notes establishing such specialties takes time.

“I see so many historic properties being torn down, I’d love to flip houses, really the idea I’d like to be able to purchase and renovate and restore and then resell. That would be the goal,” he says, while acknowledging, “It’s a special niche. Takes a while to get established.”

The Path Forward

For those considering a similar career change, Moose recommends maintaining enthusiasm while building your business. “Don’t be afraid to build the relationships, meet people, talk about what you’re doing, be excited about it, because people love to know.”

This approach has helped him develop a diverse practice spanning from urban properties to rural farms, demonstrating how career changers can successfully establish themselves in real estate with proper preparation and perspective.