MAKE THE SWITCH

Did you know that Real Estate is one of the highest-paid professions? There are many reasons why an increasing number of Americans continue to set their sights on a career in real estate. From unlimited earning potential to the flexibility and freedom that the industry offers, to the ability to make a difference in the lives of others, the benefits of a career in real estate are seemingly endless.

Perhaps that’s why the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the overall employment of agents and brokers to grow by four percent between 2020 and 2030.

Agent | Broker | REALTOR®  - What's the Difference?

A REALTOR® is a real estate professional (agent or broker) who belongs to the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). This involves joining a local NAR real estate association. In most cases, a real estate professional is only able to join if the principles at their brokerage or firm are members. NAR's Code of Ethics, adopted in 1913, was one of the first codifications of ethical duties adopted by any business group. The Code ensures that consumers are served by requiring REALTORS® to cooperate with each other in furthering clients' best interests.

In some states, the licenses are classified as Brokers and Agents. In others, there are only Brokers. 

In North Carolina, we only have Brokers, so Agent / Broker is synonymous. Some Brokers are  REALTORS®, some are not. You cannot gain MLS access without being a REALTOR®  and despite what other websites say, that is critical to being successful in your career (depending on what you do with your license). 

Benefits of a Real Estate Broker Career

For the purposes of this information, the terms Broker and Agent are synonymous, because, in the state of North Carolina, we only have Real Estate Brokers. Real Estate Brokers that are newly licensed are called “Provisional Brokers” (PB) until they complete post-licensing education requirements. Once completed, they are recognized as full brokers. Provisional Brokers have only a few limitations with their license, and they are heavily supervised until they gain transactional experience. For more information about licensure in the state of North Carolina, click the  button below to read the NC Licensing Guide. 

People decide to start a real estate career because of these 10 reasons: (1) No limits to your paychecks; (2) Flexible schedules; (3) Work from anywhere you want; (4) You're in charge of your business;  (5 )Work with people you want to work with; (6) Change the lives of people you help; (7) You can start a real estate career easily; (8) Every day is different; (9) You can choose which sector you work; and (10) Your network is always growing.

Let's dive a little deeper and explore why these are such great benefits to launching a new career.

No Limits to Your Paycheck

According to Indeed, a real estate agent’s average yearly salary is $94,721, but there is the potential for an agent to earn much more than that.  A Real Estate Professional is paid a commission that they collect for each property sale in which they are involved. The commission is based on a percentage of the final sale price. While the average commission varies, it can be as high as 7% depending on the services rendered. Typically, the sale commission is split between the Listing (Seller’s) Agent and the Buyer’s Agent. As a real estate agent, your yearly income will depend on many factors, including the number of transactions you complete, the commission you make on those sales, and the percentage you are obliged to pay your sponsoring broker. However, your earning potential is unlimited. The more property transactions you are involved in as an agent, the higher your salary.

Flexible Schedule

Real estate brokers can work as much or as little as they want. Because real estate agents are paid on commission, you can choose to work full-time, part-time, or in your spare time. Remember that your income will likely be higher the more hours you dedicate to the job.

Work From Anywhere You Want

A real estate broker can work from anywhere. Most agents work from home or on-site at the brokerage firm that sponsors them. However, the industry affords agents the flexibility to work from wherever they choose.

You’re in Charge of Your Business

Although a licensed real estate broker cannot operate without having a sponsoring brokerage behind them until they have a certain amount of experience (and qualification), the relationship is not like that of a typical employee/employer. As a real estate agent, you will completely control every aspect of your career, well beyond where and when you work. Only you can make the executive decisions that will ultimately impact their real estate career.

Work with People You Want to Work With

The beauty of the freedom that comes from being a real estate agent is that you can enter into professional relationships on your terms. If a client approaches you and asks you to be their agent, you have a right to turn them down. It is entirely up to you to decide who you are willing to work with and who you are not. 

Change the Lives of People You Help

As a real estate agent, you have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of your clients. For most people, buying a home is the most critical decision they will make in their lifetime. As a real estate agent, you may introduce a young couple to the house where they will raise their family, or you may connect a pair of empty nesters to the retirement home of their dreams, and so on.

You Can Start a Real Estate Career Fairly Easily

Gaining your real estate license and launching your career is more accessible and more affordable than you think. While it won’t happen overnight, it certainly doesn’t take as long as it does to obtain other professional licenses. Although the time frame will vary by state, the average time to complete real estate school and pass the real estate licensing exam is approximately five to six months. Best of all, no college degree is required.

Every Day is Different

Real estate agents wear so many hats that each day can be like a new adventure, from searching properties for your buyers and staging houses for your sellers to coordinating with other parties and filing paperwork. No new day in real estate will be exactly like the day before.

You Can Choose the Sector You Work

Another flexible aspect of a real estate career is choosing your specialty area. Real estate markets include Commercial, Residential, Luxury Markets,  and Planned Developments. 

What can I do with a Real Estate License besides selling? 

There are quite a few things you can do and a Real Estate license would either be required or greatly assist you in this endeavor. Some professions may require additional licenses in other areas or additional experience to unlock that career path. They include Leasing Consultants; Professional Measurement Specialists; Real Estate Assistants; Title Examiner; Home Staging; Real Estate Paralegals; Apartment Managers; Property Managers; Real Estate Marking Specialist; Pricing Analyst (Broker Price Opinions); Instructors and Home Inspectors.  

Are you ready to get started?