As more and more people choose real estate careers, it’s estimated that employment within real estate is expected to grow 7 percent between 2018 and 2028, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. What makes real estate an attractive profession for some? Here are seven things real estate agents love about their job.
1. You get to be your own boss
Most real estate agents work as independent contractors. They get to set their own hours and decide for themselves how to manage their time and priorities. You can work from home, set your own goals, and reap the rewards of your successes. “You are your own boss, which is a big factor in why people get into it,” said Marcel Tessier, a real estate agent with more than 30 years of experience in residential real estate.
“The hours are a big factor,” he said. “Of course you have to put in long hours, but as you get repeat clients they’re very flexible. After you’re established.”
2. Choosing real estate careers can be a quick process compared to other careers
If you’re looking to switch careers, becoming a real estate agent is a less time-consuming process than, for example, becoming a surgeon. This doesn’t mean that it’s an easy choice, but simply that there are accessible educational opportunities people of varied backgrounds can use to their advantage. For many people, becoming a real estate professional can be a reality while still demanding and rewarding goal.
“There’s a ton of part-timers,” Tessier said. “People do it because it’s easy to get in.”
Free Guide: Learn how to increase your earning potential in real estate with our free Real Estate Income Guide.
3. Real estate earning potential
You’re not limited to how much you can earn hourly, or even to a particular salary group. Since your career is essentially your business, your main limitations are how well you can start and grow your business. “It can be very lucrative,” said Tessier. “I think that’s why a lot of people get into it. They think they’ll make all this money overnight and then they realize it’s a lot of hard work.”
Even though it’s hard work, Tessier emphasized that those willing to put in the work and put clients first can see success in the business. “If you get into it for the money, you’re getting into it for the wrong reason,” said Tessier. “Don’t worry about the money you’re going to make; worry about the client. If you care about your clients’ needs, you’ll always make a sale. Help people get what they want and what they dream. Then you’ll be successful.”
4. Real estate professionals help people during major milestones
Many real estate agents gain great satisfaction in knowing they helped people through major times in their lives. From a new couple buying their first house to families buying a vacation home or a bachelor getting his ultimate bachelor pad, real estate agents get to help people through each stage in their lives and truly be part of a community. When you’re a real estate agent you sometimes become part counselor, part life coach, and part mentor. That can be very rewarding for real estate professionals who have a passion for giving back.
“When you’re dealing with residential,” said Tessier, “there’s a different emotion.” He said that some real estate agents thrive in residential over commercial because of this emotion. “Some people love it is because you’re finding someone their dream home.”
5. Real estate is always changing
People who get bored in an office doing the same thing every day will not have that problem in real estate. If you like change, new trends, and adapting to different markets, real estate will offer the versatility in a work environment that you crave. You also get to deal with many different personality types. For some people, this can be an incredibly exciting part of the job.
“Some people love to socialize,” said Tessier. “You meet a lot of people and you meet a ton of different personalities.”
6. You’re an expert
After you spend time learning how to become a real estate agent and then honing your skills, you’ll find that you genuinely become knowledgeable and good at what you do. Clients look to you for advice on the market and you’ll know what to tell them. Real estate agents take great pride in being experts, and subsequently, teachers.
7. Real estate gives you an incentive for working hard
“People who want to make a living have to work super hard,” said Tessier. But it’s a rewarding kind of hard work. “You can work as hard as you want,” he said. “It does allow you to work as hard as you want. If you’re working for someone else, you’re not going to get the gratification because you’re doing it for someone else.”
