Have you been thinking about getting yourself qualified as a real estate agent and wondered if it would be a worthwhile career for you in the long term? The industry has been on a growth trajectory for some time and will continue to be so because of both internal and external migration. Cities are becoming bigger and suburbs are expanding with real estate projects to cater to people leaving the villages to work and live in the city or suburbs. There are an increasing number of migrant workers and students who also flock to cities and the suburbs in search of accommodation. There has never been a better time to arm yourself with a real estate qualification.
To become a real estate agent is not the only reason to consider a real estate qualification or to get yourself licensed. There are several other careers you can consider within the industry where your real estate qualification can help you gain entry.
Here are some careers you can consider if you want to look outside the realm of being a real estate agent.
Property manager: property managers are tasked with taking care of investment properties by looking into the various aspects of managing the property, such as maintenance and screening tenant credentials before taking them in. Real estate agent skills such as a good eye for detail is a useful skill when working as a property manager as well.
Mortgage broker: the key task of a mortgage broker is to help the loan applicant negotiate and secure the best terms when applying for a mortgage loan. Real estate agent abilities such as good negotiating skills will come in handy with this career as well. You can work as a mortgage broker from the comfort of your home if you wish to, much like a real estate agent.
Real estate investor: as areal estate investor you will be analysing market dynamics and research data to figure out which properties have the highest potential for high returns. This is another real estate-related career you could consider if you have a knack for business and finance.
Commercial real estate agent: it’s tougher to operate in the commercial real estate space compared to the residential buying and selling space.As a commercial real estate agent, you will need to have the resilience and patience to see a deal through because typically, negotiations and decisions take much longer to finalise with commercial properties, unlike with residential properties.
Commercial or residential appraiser:an appraisal is part and parcel of the process when the buyer needs to obtain a mortgage loan. The appraisal is required by the lender. An appraiser’s job is to assess a property’s value based on an analysis of multiple factors that impact the value of the property. For residential properties, the appraisal will consider factors such as location, size of the property and access to amenities. In the case of a commercial property, however, factors such as income and rental forecasts will be considered.