Think the only way to build a career in real estate is to become a real estate agent?  Think again! There are more options than you think when it comes to building a career in real estate—some you may have never even considered.   

This article breaks down 14 different real estate career paths. As you read through the list, consider which real estate career paths might be the best fit for your personality and skill sets. 

What are the different real estate career paths?

1. Real Estate Agent

A real estate agent helps people buy and sell properties. Some real estate agents choose to specialize in either commercial or residential or work only with buyers or sellers.

This might be a good fit for you if … you love making connections with people and aren’t afraid to invest in learning how to generate leads and close deals.

2. Real Estate Broker

A real estate broker is a licensed real estate agent who also has a professional real estate license, allowing them to manage their own real estate business with a team of agents. 

This might be a good fit for you if … you’ve always wanted to work with a team and have your own business.

3. Real Estate Assistant

Real estate assistants provide admin support for agents and brokers. They play an important role in the business by keeping things running behind the scenes filing documents, answering calls, and posting listings. This can be a great gateway position to becoming a real estate agent.

This might be a good fit for you if … you love organization and are good with attention to detail. This is also a great way to work alongside agents to see if a real estate license is something you want to pursue. 

4. Real Estate Investor

A real estate investor buys homes and properties with the intention of selling them at a profit. Many times this involves renovations or repairs in order to increase the value of the property. 

This might be a good fit for you if … you have an eye for marketable properties and want to see a good return on your investment.

5. Real Estate Developer

Real estate developers buy land and build property on it. They do everything from planning the construction to managing the team that helps the project to completion, which often includes architects, engineers, contractors, construction teams, leasing agents, and lawyers.

This might be a good fit for you if … you love managing projects, have a specialized skill set as an engineer, architect, or urban planner, and overseeing an entire build from start to finish sounds like a dream come true.

6. Real Estate Wholesaler

Real estate wholesalers find motivated sellers who will sign a contract to sell with them, then hand the contract over to an end buyer, who pays more than the seller’s price. The wholesaler keeps the profit.

This might be a good fit for you if … you’re great at negotiating between parties and you want to profit from real estate investing without putting up the capital yourself.

7. Real Estate Attorney

Real estate attorneys are professionals who handle property disputes and help clients with the legalities of the sales transaction. 

This might be a good fit for you if … you are already a licensed, experienced lawyer who doesn’t mind tension or helping settle legal issues. Becoming a real estate attorney requires extensive education and experience. 

8. Real Estate Appraiser

Real estate appraisers determine the value of commercial and residential property. They’re skilled in considering the characteristics and location of a property in comparison with other similar properties. 

This might be a good fit for you if … you enjoy economics and finance or have a background in either of these fields. This career path also allows for flexibility, as appraisers can work through an agency or independently.

9. Real Estate Marketing Specialist

Real estate marketing specialists work alongside agents and brokers by managing their marketing duties and growing visibility for the brand. Duties may include social media management, digital content creation, email marketing, advertising, and more. 

This might be a good fit for you if … Do you love social media and enjoy marketing? Is lead generation in your skill set? Then this could be your sweet spot in the real estate industry! 

10. Real Estate Consultant

Real estate consultants help real estate investors and other companies achieve their real estate goals by advising them on smart investments, real estate trends, and the future of the markets. This position requires passing a real estate consultant licensing exam. 

This might be a good fit for you if … you’ve paid your dues as an agent, developer or wholesaler and have a lot of expertise in real estate to offer other real estate professionals.

11. Mortgage Banker

Mortgage bankers are the loan matchmakers of the real estate industry. They work with lenders and borrowers to help buyers find the mortgage loan products they qualify for that meet the terms and rates the buyer wants. Special licensing and training is required.

This might be a good real estate career path for you if … you love people, networking, and numbers and find it fulfilling to help people get the financing they need in order to close on the home of their dreams.

12. Property Manager

Property managers oversee rental properties owned by investors by taking care of the property and the tenants’ needs while making sure rent gets paid and the property remains in good condition. 

This might be a good real estate career path for you if … you have a broker license and good problem-solving and customer service skills in order to deal with both the renters and the property owner. Bonus points if you have a solid understanding of marketing and finances plus some handyman skills. 

13. Home Inspector

Home inspectors play an important role in the real estate industry by making sure any issues or faults that could cause trouble for the sale of a property are identified and recorded. 

This might be a good real estate career path for you if … you have a good eye and know what to look for when it comes to problems with roofing, plumbing, electrical systems, and more. Good documentation is a must as well. 

14. Leasing Agent

Good tenants can be hard to find, and that’s why the real estate industry needs leasing agents. Leasing agents help property owners find ideal tenants to lease their rental properties. 

This might be a good real estate career path for you if … you have great communication and negotiation skills. You’ll be spending a lot of time with property owners and tenants.

Ready to take the next step?

If you’re ready to take the next step and start down one of these real estate career paths, we can help! The best way to begin a career in real estate is by arming yourself with all the tools and strategies you need to be able to sell like a real estate professional, and you can find them all inside our core online course, Sell It Like Serhant. 

Inside Sell it Like Serhant, you’ll learn how to land clients, make money, close deals, build a team, structure your day for SUCCESS, and more. Click here to learn more. 

More from Sell It Like Serhant

For more real estate tips and tricks from Ryan Serhant and the Sell It Like Serhant team, follow us on Instagram or subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/user/OfficialRyanSerhant.

 

Additional content

• How to Get Started in Real Estate
• 6 Proven Methods for Generating Real Estate Leads
• How to Define Your Personal Brand Statement