Is a Real Estate Career the Right Fit For You?

If you are interested in working in real estate, you will want to know what to expect from this career path. A real estate agent is a person involved in buying, selling, managing, and leasing properties on behalf of their clients. Along with this main focus, real estate agents will also provide their professional advice so that they can guide their clients through the process of selling, buying, renting, or owning a property. With that being said, continue reading to discover everything you need to know about this sort of career path.

How do I start a career in real estate?

The real estate industry in the United States is a complex, fluid, and dynamic environment. A range of external factors characterizes the industry. This includes unemployment rates, demographics, interest rates, and fluctuations in the economy. All of these factors have an influence on consumer confidence as well as supply and demand. If you work in real estate, you will need to understand the industry and its nuances. You must traverse the multi-aspect and continually shifting landscape with authority and confidence on behalf of your clients. But first, you’ll need to take some real estate training lessons to fulfill the education class hours required by your state. Once you finish these classes you can apply for a real estate license exam. After the application is approved, you have two years to pass your license exam. However, to make the most of everything you learned in your classes, you should take the exam as soon as you feel ready.

You also need to stay up to date with the latest trends and everything that is going on in the real estate industry. After all, buying and selling properties ten years ago is very different from doing so today. You only need to look at modern real estate websites to see that this is the case. Of course, rules and regulations are also changing all of the time, and so you need to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to this as well. You need to make sure that you are giving quality advice and marketing properties in the most effective manner. And to do this, you must never stop learning. 

Different types of careers in real estate

There are a number of different real estate careers available. A successful agent is someone who is people-oriented, autonomous, committed, performance-driven, and goal-focused. A qualified agent will operate across a number of different specialty areas and roles. The different types of careers in real estate and areas you can specialize in include the following:

• Business broking
• Vendor or buyer advocacy
• Property management – commercial or residential
• Auctioneering
• Commercial sales
• Residential sales 

The average pay in this industry will typically depend on your level of experience. As a senior property manager, the average wage is $58,326. As a property manager, you can expect to make $49,422 on average. For a real estate agent, the typical pay is in the region of $47,500. Finally, for a real estate assistant, the average pay is $39,095. 

Of course, it is important to note that these are very loose averages, as there are a lot of different factors that can influence how much you earn. This includes where you are based, your level of experience, and your working hours. Estate agents will often earn a commission whenever they make a sale, so this is something else you need to keep in mind as well. Ultimately, you may decide that you want to set up your own business in the end, and this is something that a lot of those working in the real estate market decide to do.

What can you expect to do on a daily basis?

There are a number of different sorts of tasks you are going to be expected to complete on a day-to-day basis. These can include the following:

• Arranging the terms of a settlement
• The creation and execution of business plans, practices, and budgets for the real estate group
• Liaising with tenants
• Instruction vendors of sales and marketing options, such as open house inspections and sale by auction
• Offering advice and valuations
• Preparing listings for businesses and properties for lease and sale
• Conducting inspections
• Evaluating the needs of the buyer and locating businesses and properties for them to consider

Skills and knowledge areas

There has been a lot of research conducted regarding the most important skills and knowledge areas for real estate agents. In terms of skills, some of the most important skills to boost include being an effective speaker, active listener, knowing how to coordinate effectively, having exceptional reading comprehension, and boosting effective negotiation skills. In terms of knowledge areas, you need to be proficient in administration and management, personal and customer service, accounting and economics, English language, and clerical. 

You need to have a comprehensive and solid understanding of property for every sector of real estate, as well as knowing the legislations and laws that are in place in the industry. You are going to be acting on behalf of your clients in a legal manner. This is a role that has a large amount of legal responsibility. A big part of your job as a real estate agent is going to be drawing up contracts, as well as overseeing big financial transactions and informing clients of their legal rights and obligations. Agents will trade on assets that are worth millions of dollars on behalf of other people. Because of this, there are a number of different Acts that stipulate the fiduciary duties of agents, setting out appropriate agent codes regarding best practices and conduct. It is imperative that you carry out your duties with care and diligence so that you maintain client approval and a high ethical standard. 

The potential when working as a real estate professional

Virtually every person who owns a property is going to need to use the services of a real estate agent or property manager at some point. Because of this, the real estate sector is one that is highly competitive and very lucrative. Per property, there is going to be uncapped income potential, and so a real estate agent must capture the attention of clients by setting themselves apart from other real estate professionals and businesses. Since commission rates have been deregulated, real estate agents are now working in an open market. This enables you to set your worth based on the services you provide, as well as your experience and expertise. Trading on your greatest asset – yourself – is the best way to set yourself apart. Customer service is at the heart of this industry, as experience, knowledge, service, and gees, are neatly packaged within your ability to influence, communicate, and engage with people.

Part of being a real estate agent, therefore, is having charisma, charm, and personality. You should make sure you prioritize making clients feel comfortable with you and gaining their trust, as this is going to be critical in terms of securing their listing. Being able to connect effectively and easily with people is of huge importance because agents are going to be spending most of their workday talking with others. Engaging and impressing people is a constant activity, from negotiating with sellers and buyers, to conducting open houses and meeting with potential clients. 

All in all, there is no denying that this is an industry that is very much thriving at the moment and it is an exciting sector to get involved in. We hope the information above has helped you to understand what a career in real estate will actually entail. This is certainly a career that is always going to be in demand. It is exciting and there is a great opportunity to earn bonuses and commission whenever you make sales. However, it is not a career that is going to be right for everyone, so you need to consider whether or not this is the perfect fit for you.