Have a look at these top real estate careers. Ready for a fresh start? Discover opportunities with autonomy, growth, and significant earning potential.
Everyone knows this– you’re stuck in a corporate job, pushing through the same routine day after day, feeling increasingly unfulfilled. You crave more freedom, a chance to shape your financial future, and perhaps a little excitement.
This longing is precisely what makes a real estate career appealing to many. With its many roles and a flexible structure, real estate can offer both autonomy and significant earning potential.
But where do you start? Today, we’re taking you through the roadmap to navigating the top traditional, emerging, and investment-related real estate careers. Look out! One just might have your name and skills on it!
Traditional Real Estate Roles
1. Real Estate Agent/Broker
- Role Description: Helps clients buy, sell, or rent properties, guiding them through market conditions, property evaluations, and negotiations.
- Required Qualifications/Licenses: Minimum of a high school/ secondary school certificate; a business, estate management, or law degree is advantageous. Completion of real estate training courses and passing the Professional Qualifying Examination (PQE) by the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV).
- Average Salary Range: $85,793 annually, with commissions significantly impacting earnings.
- Growth Potential: High for driven agents; income largely depends on sales.
- Day-to-day Responsibilities: Meeting clients, researching property values, managing listings, coordinating viewings, negotiating offers, and managing paperwork.
- How to Get Started: Enroll in a real estate pre-licensing course, pass the exam, and join a brokerage to start building your network.
- Success Tips from Industry Veterans: Consistently engage with your community and clients to build a strong network. Also, stay updated on market trends.
Resources:
- NIESV for licensing information.
- MyJobMag – Real Estate Jobs for job vacancies.
- ZipRecruiter – Real Estate Jobs
2. Property Manager
- Role Description: Oversees rental properties, handling tenant relations, maintenance, and financial operations.
- Required Qualifications/Licenses: No specific license is required, though property management or business administration certifications/degrees add credibility.
- Average Salary Range: $58,335 a year.
- Growth Potential: High, as demand for rental property management continues to grow. Opportunities to manage larger properties or move into regional management roles.
- Day-to-day Responsibilities: Managing tenant issues, coordinating repairs, collecting rent, and ensuring property upkeep.
- How to Get Started: Gain experience by working under a seasoned property manager and then obtain a property management certification. Or start as an assistant manager.
- Success Tips from Industry Veterans: Develop strong communication skills and learn about local property laws.
Resources:
- MyJobMag – Property Manager Jobs for job vacancies.
- ZipRecruiter – Property Manager Jobs
3. Real Estate Appraiser
- Role Description: Assesses property values for sales, tax assessments, and loan qualifications.
- Required Qualifications/Licenses: Requires state licensing and an appraisal education program.
- Average Salary Range: $91,772 a year, depending on experience and location.
- Growth Potential: Steady; appraisers are in demand for various transactions, and you can specialize in commercial or residential appraisals for higher earnings.
- Day-to-day Responsibilities: Inspecting properties, researching comparables, and preparing detailed valuation reports.
- How to Get Started: Complete an appraiser training program, then work under a certified appraiser to gain experience.
- Success Tips from Industry Veterans: Stay updated on market trends; accurate valuations rely on understanding evolving property markets.
Resources:
- ZipRecruiter – Real Estate Appraiser Jobs – for job vacancies.
4. Commercial Real Estate Agent
- Role Description: Specializes in leasing, selling, or managing commercial properties like offices, retail spaces, and industrial buildings.
- Required Qualifications/Licenses: Similar requirements as residential agents but may require specialized training in commercial real estate.
- Average Salary Range: $101,309 a year, commission-based.
- Growth Potential: High; commercial real estate can yield high earnings with large transactions. There are also opportunities to move into development or investment roles.
- Day-to-day Responsibilities: Meeting business clients, analyzing commercial spaces, handling lease negotiations, and marketing properties.
- How to Get Started: Build knowledge in finance and real estate law; consider a commercial brokerage for training.
- Success Tip: Developing expertise in a specific commercial niche can position you as a go-to expert.
Resources:
5. Luxury Real Estate Specialist
- Role Description: Works with high-end properties, offering top-tier services to high-net-worth clients.
- Required Qualifications/Licenses: A real estate license and luxury-specific certifications, as well as experience in luxury markets, can be beneficial.
- Average Salary Range: $85,793 a year, plus commission-based.
- Growth Potential: High, with demand for upscale properties remaining strong. Significant income through commissions on luxury properties.
- Day-to-day Responsibilities: Conducting high-profile showings, coordinating with luxury service providers, and managing confidentiality.
- How to Get Started: First, build a track record with standard properties, then transition to luxury by networking in upscale circles.
- Success Tip: Discretion and impeccable client service are paramount when working with luxury clients.
Resources:
Emerging/Modern Real Estate Careers
1. Real Estate Social Media Manager
- Role Description: Manages a real estate brand’s online presence, creating content and engaging with prospective clients.
- Required Qualifications/Licenses: No license is required for social media and marketing knowledge. However, a background in marketing or communications and familiarity with social media tools can be essential.
- Average Salary Range: $54,455 per year.
- Growth Potential: High, as digital marketing becomes essential in real estate.
- Day-to-day Responsibilities: Content creation, managing social platforms, interacting with followers, and tracking engagement metrics.
- How to Get Started: Gain experience in social media management and familiarize yourself with real estate content. Be sure to build a portfolio of your social media work and apply for positions at a real estate firm.
- Success Tip: Focus on authentic, value-driven content that builds trust with the audience.
2. Virtual Property Tour Specialist
- Role Description: Creates and manages virtual property tours, allowing remote clients to explore properties.
- Required Qualifications/Licenses: Experience in photography or videography; knowledge of virtual tour software is beneficial
- Average Salary Range: N/A.
- Growth Potential: Increasing demand as more buyers prefer online viewing options before visiting properties physically and other remote buying trends.
- Day-to-day Responsibilities: Filming properties, editing tours, and liaising with real estate agents.
- How to Get Started: Build a portfolio of virtual tours and offer services to local agents.
- Success Tip: Focus on high-quality visuals and user-friendly navigation.
Behind-the-Scenes Roles
1. Real Estate Photographer
- Role Description: Captures high-quality images of properties for marketing.
- Required Qualifications/Licenses: Photography skills and knowledge of real estate marketing are helpful.
- Average Salary Range: $62,338 a year.
- Growth Potential: Moderate; demand depends on market activity.
- Day-to-day Responsibilities: Photographing interiors/exteriors, editing photos, delivering digital files.
- How to Get Started: Develop a strong portfolio; network with agents and property managers.
- Success Tip: Showcase creative shots and understand lighting.
2. Real Estate Data Analyst
- Role Description: Analyzes market data to help investors make informed decisions about property investments or purchases.
- Required Qualifications/Licenses: A degree in statistics, economics, or data science is required, as is proficiency in data analysis software.
- Average Salary Range: $82,640 a year.
- Growth Potential: High demand for data-driven insights leads to opportunities across various sectors within real estate.
- Day-to-day Responsibilities: Collecting data, analyzing trends, and preparing reports for stakeholders or clients.
Investment-Related Real Estate Careers
1. Real Estate Investor
- Role Description: Invests in properties to generate income through flipping, rentals, or REITs.
- Required Qualifications/Licenses: No formal license, though knowledge of real estate and finance is key.
- Average Salary Range: Highly variable; depends on investment returns.
- Growth Potential: High, with strategic investments.
- Day-to-day Responsibilities: Researching markets, securing financing, managing investments.
- How to Get Started: Start small; consider REITs or small properties.
- Success Tip: Diversify investments to balance risk and reward.
2. REIT Analyst
- Role Description: Analyzes real estate investment trusts for investment decisions.
- Required Qualifications/Licenses: A degree in finance or economics is preferred.
- Average Salary Range: $93,027 to $121,628.
- Growth Potential: High, as real estate investing gains popularity.
- Day-to-day Responsibilities: Analyzing market trends, preparing financial models, and presenting recommendations.
- How to Get Started: Gain experience in finance or investment analysis.
- Success Tip: Develop a deep understanding of market cycles and risk analysis.
Other Real Estate-Related Careers
- Home Stager
- Role Description: Prepares homes for sale by arranging furniture and decor attractively.
- Required Qualifications/Licenses: An interior design background is beneficial but optional.
- Real Estate Marketing Specialist
- Role Description: Focuses on promoting properties through various marketing strategies.
- Required Qualifications/Licenses: Degree in marketing or communications; familiarity with digital marketing tools is essential.
- Transaction Coordinator
- Role Description: Manages all administrative tasks involved in closing real estate transactions.
- Required Qualifications/Licenses: Organizational skills are key; and while this role doesn’t require specific licenses, familiarity with transaction processes is helpful.
- Real Estate Legal Assistant
Role Description: Supports lawyers specializing in real estate law by handling documents related transactions & litigation cases related property disputes etc..
Required Qualifications/Licenses : Paralegal certification can be beneficial but optional; knowledge about local laws is essential!
- Property Flipper
- Role Description: Buys undervalued homes and makes improvements by reselling them profitably after that!
- Required Qualifications/Licenses: This role does not require formal education; however, knowledge of renovation techniques is essential!
- Real Estate Crowdfunding Manager
- Role Description: Manages platforms allowing multiple investors to pool funds together, financing specific projects collectively!!
- Required Qualifications/Licenses: Background finance/business preferred, along with an understanding of crowdfunding regulations necessary!!
In A Nutshell…
In real estate, a wide variety of careers await those willing to put in the effort to learn, network, and stay informed. From traditional roles to cutting-edge, tech-driven positions, the industry offers lucrative opportunities for those who seek them out.
Which of these real estate career roles do you think will be worth your while?
