Career: Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents
Everyone needs a place to live, shop, and work. But who do you call when you need help finding your dream home or the ideal office space? That’s where real estate brokers and agents come in handy.
These professionals spend endless hours scouring cities and towns, studying buildings and neighborhoods, and assessing property values. Why? To find the perfect place for their client.
Real estate brokers and sales agents are paid to sell other people's properties, from farms to condos. They also help buyers find the properties they're looking for.
Did You Know?
- Real estate brokers and sales agents typically work nights and weekends and are often on call.
Are You Ready To...?
- Show houses and other properties to clients
- Estimate property values
- Negotiate for customers
- Communicate with bankers and mortgage officers
- Work long hours and weekends
- Spend a lot of time in your car
It Helps to Be...
A people person who is not afraid to be aggressive. It’s also important to be good at math and have an interest in the economy.
Make High School Count
- Pay close attention in math and consider trying your hand at statistics and accounting.
- Take advantage of English, history, speech, and drama classes to polish your oral and written communication skills. As a real estate broker or agent, you’ll be talking to customers daily.
- Master the computer. Get to know word processing and spreadsheet software.
Did You Know?
- A real estate license is required in every state and the District of Columbia.
Outlook
Government economists expect jobs for real estate brokers and agents to grow as fast as the average for all careers through 2016. Job openings, sales, and pay all follow the ups and downs of the economy.
Real estate is a relatively easy field to start out in. However, it is a hard way to earn a living, even in the best of times, because there are so many brokers and agents competing for clients.
Compensation
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average yearly earnings of real estate brokers in 2008 were $77,240. Real estate agents made an average of $54,410.
Commissions (a percentage of the sale price) are the main source of income for real estate agents and brokers. The rate of commission depends, in part, on the value of the property sold.
