Do you love the world of real estate so much that you understand the property market better than anyone you know? Have your peers told you that you're a natural-born marketer? Are you a people person-capable of starting a conversation even with the most jaded introverts?
If that's you, you might want to consider a career in real estate.
The real estate industry has dramatically evolved over time to become what it is today. What was once an "agents' world" has turned into an employment powerhouse-offering a plethora of jobs to many aspiring professionals.
Whether you're looking for a job with more flexibility, higher stakes, or just a side-hustle with incredible passive income streams, you're probably going to find the career opportunity you want in the real estate industry. Here are the top 5 jobs in the real estate industry.
1. Real Estate Agent
A career as a real estate agent is both challenging and financially rewarding. According to BLS, real estate agents net an average salary of $48,930.
Real estate agents help people buy or sell properties. Meaning you can either be a buyer's agent or a seller's agent. With that in mind, anyone who assists a client in purchasing property or sells property on behalf of the owner is a real estate agent.
So what does it take to become an agent?
First, you'll need to get licensed. Requirements for getting a real estate license vary by state but in general, all states require aspiring agents to have a high school diploma or equivalent of a high school degree (GED), complete a pre-licensing course, and pass the real estate exam.
2. Real Estate Investor
A real estate investor is perhaps the highest-earning professional in real estate. According to industry sources, real estate investor salary sits between $70,000 and 124,000.
So, what do investors do?
Just as the name implies, real estate investors capitalize on investing. They buy property from sellers, try to maximize profits, then sell their investment. To succeed in this role, you need to have extensive knowledge of the market and know the different real estate investment strategies.
3. Property Manager
If you're looking for a role that does not involve a lot of negotiations or marketing, you might want to consider becoming a property manager.
Property managers manage properties belonging to investors. They are tasked with ensuring a property-residential or commercial, is running smoothly and its value and income are maintained. According to Payscale, property managers earn a median annual salary of $50,133.
4. Real Estate Appraiser
Since most home purchases involve a mortgage, lenders have processes for determining whether to issue loans to homebuyers. The home buying process begins with an appraisal-a professional evaluation of the market value of the property.
A real estate appraiser is a professional who estimates the value of a property before it's sold, mortgaged, taxed, insured, or developed. Appraisers must be certified or licensed before they can take on any project. According to Glassdoor, appraisers net a median salary of $51,140.
5. Home Inspector
A home inspector's job is somewhat related to that of an appraiser, only than an inspector works for the homebuyer.
When buying a home, an inspector is hired to inspect the home for any structural defects and ensure the building is up to code. To that end, their job requires a deep understanding of wall structure, roofing, plumbing, and electricity. According to Glassdoor, the average base salary for a real estate inspector is $38,000.
Other jobs in the real estate industry worth mentioning include a leasing agent, real estate wholesaler, and transaction coordinator.
