Rewarding Careers in Real Estate
A career in real estate provides flexibility and the freedom to set your own pace, with income directly reflecting your efforts. Obtaining a required real estate license involves taking classes in: real estate practice and principles, legal aspects of real estate, property management, real estate finance and escrow. Real estate employers look for candidates with a combination of strong deal-making and interpersonal skills. To find success in a real estate career, you must have excellent people, sales, and communication skills. You must also have a strong work initiative and personal drive.
Career Paths in Real Estate
There are a number of career paths within real estate that you can pursue after acquiring a real estate license, including:
- Real estate agent
- Real estate broker
- Property inspector
- Appraisal expert
Practicing real estate professionals often spend between 20 and 70 hours per week working. Nearly all real estate professionals work out of an office but spend a considerable amount of their workday meeting with building engineers, showing homes or apartments, checking on projects, investigating problems, meeting with property renters or owners, or finalizing deals at other locations. Real estate agents must be licensed by the state in which they practice. Previous employment as a real estate sales agent can be a valuable asset, with many professionals beginning their careers as assistants.
Real Estate Career Outlook
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts average employment growth for real estate professionals increasing by 8 percent between 2008 and 2018. The median annual salary for a real estate manager in May 2008 was $46,130.