Careers 101: Realtor Jobs

Published on 2008-06-30

Tools:

Real estate industry surveys have found that the vast majority of real estate agent jobs are held by professionals who have made a career change from another industry. Real estate brokers and sales agents consequently come from a wide variety of career and educational backgrounds. Many universities offer undergraduate and graduate programs in real estate, though a degree in finance, business administration, law, etc. would also provide useful training for realtor jobs.

Licensure is required of all realtors, real estate brokers and sales agents. A written exam must be passed after receiving the requisite hours of classroom instruction (anywhere from 30 to 90, depending on the state and title). The term realtor is actually a registered trademark of the National Association of Realtors and is applied only to brokers and sales agents who are NAR members. In some states, real estate broker and real estate sales jobs are synonymous, while in others, additional training is required for real estate agents to qualify as brokers who can own or operate their own brokerage.

A broker, sales agent or realtor job requires excellent communication and marketing skills and a solid grounding in business and finance. Knowledge of property and tax laws, an eye for architecture and design, and an instinct for market trends are also important tools.

Tasks:

Realtors assist clients with the buying and selling of houses, land, and various types of residential, commercial and investment property. As evidenced by the recent collapse of housing prices and the ensuing rise in unemployment in the real estate and construction sectors, real estate employment tends to be cyclical and heavily dependent on other economic factors. Real estate offers a relatively large number of part-time and self-employment opportunities in comparison to other professional industries.