Real estate agents (also known as realtors) are licensed to help clients who want to purchase, sell, or rent a building, home, or block of land. They work with both residential and commercial properties, providing market expertise, negotiating deals, and ensuring legal requirements are met.

If you’re a great mediator who gets along easily with people, and you’re looking for a job where you can work both in and out of the office, then this could be the perfect career for you.

What skills do I need as a real estate agent?

Personable and approachable
Honest and reliable
Excellent communicator
Customer-focused
Organised and self-motivated
Resilient and persistent
Strong negotiation abilities
Detail-oriented

What does the job involve?

Understanding clients’ property needs and budgets
Researching local property markets and pricing trends
Advertising properties through online listings and open houses
Showing properties to potential buyers or tenants
Negotiating prices and contract terms
Coordinating property inspections and valuations
Keeping up-to-date with property laws and regulations
Managing paperwork and ensuring legal compliance

What industries do real estate agents typically work in?

Rental, Hiring, and Real Estate Services

What Career Cluster do real estate agents belong to?

Real estate agents thrive on building relationships and facilitating successful transactions, making them excellent Linkers.

What kind of lifestyle can I expect?

Real estate work often involves evening and weekend appointments to accommodate clients’ schedules, as many people view properties outside of standard business hours.

Most real estate agents can expect to earn an average salary throughout their careers. You’ll need to be prepared to deal with the ebb and flow of the housing market; sometimes it will be booming, and sometimes it will be slow.

You will be doing work in a variety of environments, including from your office, travelling to meet clients, and showing houses and land. Virtual property tours are also becoming more popular.

How to become a real estate agent

Because real estate agents deal with valuable assets on behalf of other people, the industry needs to be regulated to keep it fair and above board for everyone involved. This means there are a few steps you’ll need to complete in order to work as a real estate agent. Note that the specific details may vary depending on the state or territory you live in.

First, you’ll need to complete an accredited or approved course, typically a Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice.

You then must complete at least 12 months of full-time work experience under the supervision of a licensed real estate agent.

Finally, you must obtain a license or registration to practise through the relevant body in your state or territory.

To maintain your license or registration, you must also engage in continuing professional development (CPD) throughout your career.

What can I do right now to work towards this career?

If you’re in high school and you’d like to find out if a career as a real estate agent is right for you, here are a few things you could do:

Develop your communication and sales skills through part-time work in retail, hospitality, or customer service roles.
Study your local property market by attending open houses and following property trends online.
Research the licensing requirements in your area and start planning your educational pathway.

Where can I find more information?

Real Estate Institute of Australia

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