Is a Real Estate Career Right for You?

Are you looking for a rewarding career that will provide you with a flexible schedule and an opportunity to help other people accomplish their dreams? If so, real estate might be a great career choice for you. Realtors have the opportunities to help individuals and families find the homes of their dreams. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to become a successful Realtor, but the personal and professional rewards can be great.

Getting Started

Realtors must be licensed by the state in which they wish to work. Requirements vary from one state to another. Typically, individuals seeking a license to sell real estate must complete an approved program of study and pass one or more written examinations. Some realtors choose to become licensed to work in more than one state, particularly those who live near state lines or work with clients who live in one state and commute to another.

What Do Realtors Need to Know

Real estate professionals must become knowledgeable about all aspects of buying and selling real estate. Everyone who wants to work in real estate must demonstrate a solid understanding of the laws governing the purchase and sale of real estate. Realtors also have to understand contract law, mortgage regulations, property appraisal procedures, real estate math, and a great deal of additional important information.

What Do Realtors Do?

People who are not familiar with jobs in real estate often have misconceptions about exactly what it is that real estate agents do for a living. The general public thinks that Realtors just drive around all day showing people houses. While showing properties is an important part of the job for many Realtors, it's only a small component of a complex and important profession.

Some real estate agents specialize in working with buyers, and others specialize in helping sellers. When working with home buyers, Realtors help people looking for homes find properties that meet their needs. When working with sellers, they focus on marketing activities. Most new Realtors work with both buyers and sellers, to get valuable experience in both aspects of the business and figure out which niche suits them best.

Working as a Realtor

It's important to understand that real estate agents work as self employed independent contractors. They can earn excellent incomes, but their incomes are based solely on commission. The most successful Realtors work long hours, often as many as seven days per week.

Real Estate agents must be available when their clients need them, so it's virtually impossible to limit working hours to a set schedule. While Realtors do enjoy a great deal of scheduling flexibility, their incomes are directly tied to how effectively they work and how available they make themselves to clients and prospective customers.

You are the only person who can decide if a career in real estate is right for you. If you enjoy the challenge of building a successful career in a commission only sales profession that involves helping people buy and sell real estate, you're likely to be very satisfied with a career in this industry.