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What is a real estate agent and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted experts
Dave Bunton,
Daniel Wright
introduction image

A real estate agent helps clients buy, sell, or rent properties. They act as a mediator between the buyer and seller, providing guidance and support. Real estate agents use their knowledge of market trends to provide valuable insights. They also handle negotiations, contracts, and paperwork to ensure a successful transaction. They also network with other industry professionals and maintain an online presence to market themselves and their listings.

What general advice would you give to a real estate agent?

Dave BuntonDave Bunton LinkedIn profile

President, The Appraisal Foundation

During the pandemic, we've seen an increase in the number of people hoping to join the appraisal profession. This makes sense because appraisal work allows you to work out of your home independently, has flexible hours, and takes advantage of the latest technology. While many industries have had to make these shifts after the pandemic started, appraisers have been working this way for years, and we're pleased that folks looking to start or shift their careers are discovering these benefits in the appraisal profession.
ScoreReal Estate AgentUS Average
Salary
7.2

Avg. Salary $91,788

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability level
6.4

Growth rate 5%

Growth rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.3
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.32%

Asian 6.80%

Black or African American 5.24%

Hispanic or Latino 13.02%

Unknown 4.30%

White 70.32%

Gender

female 56.59%

male 43.41%

Age - 50
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 50
Stress level
6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity level
7.0

Complexity level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work life balance
2.5

Work life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

What are the pros and cons of being a real estate agent?

Pros

  • Opportunity to help clients find their dream home

  • Variety of tasks (marketing, networking, negotiating, etc.)

  • Constant learning and professional development

  • Access to exclusive real estate information and resources

  • Chance to work in a dynamic and exciting industry

Cons

  • High competition in the industry

  • Long hours, including evenings and weekends

  • Real estate market fluctuations can affect business

  • High risk of legal disputes if not knowledgeable in laws and regulations

  • Possibility of dealing with unethical or dishonest individuals

Real estate agent career paths

Key steps to become a real estate agent

  1. Explore real estate agent education requirements

    Most common real estate agent degrees

    Bachelor's

    59.4 %

    Associate

    19.9 %

    Master's

    7.4 %
  2. Start to develop specific real estate agent skills

    SkillsPercentages
    Customer Service14.65%
    Real Estate License10.86%
    Excellent Interpersonal10.01%
    Real Estate Market9.97%
    Open Houses7.14%
  3. Complete relevant real estate agent training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New real estate agents learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a real estate agent based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real real estate agent resumes.
  4. Obtain the necessary licensing

    Becoming a licensed real estate agent usually doesn't require a college degree. However, you need to pass an exam to become a licensed real estate agent in most of states. 34 states require real estate agents to have license for their work. You can see the list of states below.
    StateEducationExamLicense url
    MarylandDegree requiredState exam requiredREAL ESTATE SALESPERSON
    ArkansasSpecific course requiredState exam requiredReal Estate Salesperson
    CaliforniaDegree requiredState exam requiredReal Estate Salesperson
    ConnecticutSpecific course requiredState exam requiredReal Estate Salesperson
    DelawareDegree requiredState exam requiredReal Estate Sales Agent
  5. Gain additional real estate agent certifications

    Real estate agent certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific real estate agent certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for real estate agents include Certified Real Estate Inspector (CRI) and Certified Sales Professional (CSP).

    More About Certifications
  6. Research real estate agent duties and responsibilities

    • Manage all accounting, cash management, budgeting and financing for individual LLC's and for corporate entity.
    • Manage extremely complex REO and short sale transactions, coordinating sellers, buyers, and lenders in order to complete them.
    • Create ad campaigns via Google ad-words and Facebook.
    • Determine whether title transfers are assessable for taxation.
  7. Prepare your real estate agent resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your real estate agent resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a real estate agent resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose from 10+ customizable real estate agent resume templates

    Build a professional real estate agent resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your real estate agent resume.
    Real Estate Agent Resume
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  8. Apply for real estate agent jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a real estate agent job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How did you land your first real estate agent job

Zippi

Are you a real estate agent?

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Average real estate agent salary

The average real estate agent salary in the United States is $91,788 per year or $44 per hour. Real estate agent salaries range between $66,000 and $126,000 per year.

Average real estate agent salary
$91,788 Yearly
$44.13 hourly

What am I worth?

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How do real estate agents rate their job?

4/5

Based on 2 ratings

5 stars

4 stars

3 stars

2 stars

1 star

Real estate agent reviews

profile
4.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2023
Pros

My own schedule and meeting great people.

Cons

No guarantee on income or relevance


profile
A zippia user wrote a review on Jan 2021
Pros

Flexible Schedule. Accompanying New Agents with business operation skills, critical communication skills, contract negotiation, problem solving, proactive approach to obtaining purchase agreement, assisting brokers with avenues to increase network for sales agent, conducting feasibility study for outmoded business models, providing ongoing business operation training, training programs for leadership/business development, building trust for agent sustainability.

Cons

Continuous solicitation of businesses to sustain. Louisiana has small window for Real Estate Consultants.


profile
4.0
A zippia user wrote a review on Oct 2019
Pros

Flexibility and potential for making great money.

Cons

Not knowing where my next paycheck is coming from. Being unemployed in between clients.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.