Political satirist John Oliver recently did a bit on payday loan companies, and while he had a few choice words for those types of lenders, industry players seem to be more accepting of similar groups that target agents.
“There’s nothing wrong with them,” says veteran agent, Barry Lebow, adding he’s benefitted from a commission advance. “If you look carefully at their [lending] models, they’re not overly negative.”
While Lebow acknowledges the slippery slope these types of loans can set agents on, he also points to their outright benefits.
“It’s for circumstance, when you really need it,” he says. “If you have deals closing in June or July and you have to pay income tax in April – you’re paying income tax on the money, but you don’t have the money in your hand to pay it… but [commission advances] should not be a habit.”
Ryan Suchet, the president of Capital Growth, a company that caters to agents looking for commission advances, says companies like his are able to fill the inefficiencies of the real estate industry.
“Sometimes when agents close a deal, their job is done but they’re not getting paid until the closing date,” he tells REP. “They have other expenses – whether that’s to focus on the business or for life expenses. We’re a viable option for people looking for faster access to their cash.”
But that’s a viewpoint not many agents share. David Fleming says he could understand how an agent might need to take advantage of these types of services, but says it could be indicative of a bigger problem in an agent’s business.
“It reeks of people who are [working] month to month,” he says, adding that’s no way to build a sustainable career. “Barring a catastrophe, I think all agents should come into the business with a financial plan and if they have to go to an outside source to get that – at some point you have to get back on track.”
