CRE Broker Starting Salary Question
I am looking to become a CRE broker, and a common answer to questions about starting out I've read on here has been the first two years are either: 

Get hired at small firm, $0 income, build your brand and book of business, eventually make enough connections to possibly close some deals in year 2.

Get hired at a large firm, buried in research and cold calls for two years, eventually work your way up. 

Obviously going a year or two without any income is stressful, when you mean "$0 first year," is there ANY way to make some money other than commission on a deal? I dont know how I would possibly live for a year or two with zero coming in. Are more experienced  agents going to be looking for some help on the side putting together marketing packets, or anything like that for some scratch? Will larger firms start you on any sort of low salary? Or do I just need to save up a lot and live off that first couple years?

Thanks for your help! 
[{"id": "dbfoogx", "text": "depending what you do, you can put some lease deals together.  Those don't take that long and many agents are glad to refer them to you or there may be some office leads.  The guy doing multi million dollar deals isn't going to have a lot of interest doing a 50-100k retail lease.  This all depends on the brokerage though, they may have teams already to turn those small deals or if you are at a higher end investment firm they may not even have exposure to them.  *shrug*  this is a good question to ask brokers when you interview.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "dbfr7uf", "text": "I would check out Wall Street Oasis' Real Estate Forum for questions such as these. I find that answers to these pointed questions are more readily searchable there", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "dbftqg8", "text": "I know some medium firms will start you on a very small salary for the first year or two while you learn and build your book of business. Some will even allow you to take a draw after that so you have money coming in and you pay it back when you close a deal. (Essentially an interest free loan) The best way to find out is to start talking to local firms of all sizes. ", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "dbfus2n", "text": "I got a $1,500/month stipend for the first 12 months.  I did a few lease deals my first year, which totaled around $4,000 after splits.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "dbfyg6w", "text": "Sadly, the only young brokers that I have seen make it work have had the following:\n\n1) Parents gave them a savings nest egg while they were a child/in college\n\n2) Parents fully paid for college  - no student debt\n\n3) Parents still supporting them post-college\n\n4) mix of the above\n\n5) started in different career and saved enough money\n\n\nIt's a shame that these brokerage firms limit their talent pool due to the $0 base comp. But since the older folks started that way, they tend to wag their finger (the old \"Back in my day...\") at the preposterous idea of paying someone a salary who is making dozens of cold calls a day only to see 5-10% of the deal.", "replies": [{"id": "dbgd57a", "text": "Yeah we have no draw with 100% commission. I came out with no debt and have spent the first 8 months on the job living with the parents. At my firm, the expectation is that you won't have a paycheck for the first 6-12 months on average after training. It could take longer but many people can get listings within the first few months. ", "replies": [], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "dbggl4e", "text": "im currently about to finish my first year. im doing multifamily real estate. ive sold one place so far. had an expired listing and hopefully about to close my second property by the end of this year. i worked a little bit for my broker some time during the week so i wasn't full commission based. we are a smaller firm. just me and him there in the whole office. honestly you really do have to work your ass off with the calling and follow up. hopefully next year i have a better year, but it can be really frustrating some times. especially when all your roommates have salary jobs and making more and your just barely hanging in. i have a year left for my broker license too so i shall see how this year goes. i do have some things lined up but everything can change so quickly...\n\ni would suggest looking for real estate assistant jobs where your helping a broker who has too much work, learn the industry, same time study for your license and start practicing after that. i help call for him sometimes too and get a small cut off the deals that close. ", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "dbgohg1", "text": "contrary to what you are saying, the smaller firms in my market are the ones that have offered a base pay. Usually very low - $25-30k, but enough to survive - in addition to small cuts of deals. They are typically more flexible with their hiring, and if they like you, they will try to make it work.\n\n\nThe larger corporate giants are the ones who are more strict on their compensation policies.", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "dbgup65", "text": "Unfortunately, this is part of the deal. I have a list of literally 100+ guys I know that have quit since I started in 2012. Cut your non business expenses to the bone, and if you can find a flexible side gig (I refereed about 1500 hockey and lacrosse games my first 18 months in the business) that's a good way to make it work. ", "replies": [], "depth": 1}, {"id": "dbh46dz", "text": "Start as an analyst with salary plus commission plus bonus structure. Work on a team and gain deal experience. Transition to brokerage when there is an opportunity and you are ready. ", "replies": [{"id": "dbkamj1", "text": "if one does not want to transition to brokerage, what are the exit opps/career path for an analyst? \n", "replies": [{"id": "dbkaxz9", "text": "If you work for a reputable brokerage firm for a few years then you can easily transition to the principal side working on acquisitions or dispositions. Private investors, REIT's, developers, life insurance companies, equity funds, banks, etc ", "replies": [], "depth": 3}], "depth": 2}], "depth": 1}, {"id": "dbxwmql", "text": "Depends on what type of deals your chasing. I'm primarily an office tenant rep guy and closed enough transactions in first 18 months to produce a livable wage. Some shops will give you a runway and support you while you build your book. \n\nLarge shops will work you long hours as an analyst and maybe eventually as a transaction manager. It's a young man's game and harder to run your own deals, but you get exposure to some impressive volume.  You'll have your own client relationships between years 5-10. ", "replies": [], "depth": 1}]