How to hire a real estate internship

How to hire a real estate internship, step by step

Here's a step-by-step real estate internship hiring guide:

• Step 1: Identify your hiring needs
• Step 2: Create an ideal candidate profile
• Step 3: Make a budget
• Step 4: Write a real estate internship job description
• Step 5: Post your job
• Step 6: Interview candidates
• Step 7: Send a job offer and onboard your new real estate internship
• Step 8: Go through the hiring process checklist

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1. Identify your hiring needs

   The real estate internship hiring process starts by determining what type of worker you actually need. Certain roles might require a full-time employee, whereas part-time workers or contractors can do others.

   Determine employee vs contractor status

   Is the person you're thinking of hiring a US citizen or green card holder?

   Yes

   No

   Hiring the perfect real estate internship also involves considering the ideal background you'd like them to have. Depending on what industry or field they have experience in, they'll bring different skills to the job. It's also important to consider what levels of seniority and education the job requires and what kind of salary such a candidate would likely demand.

   This list shows salaries for various types of real estate interns.

   Type of Real Estate Internship	Description	Hourly rate
   Real Estate Internship	Real estate brokers and sales agents help clients buy, sell, and rent properties. Although brokers and agents do similar work, brokers are licensed to manage their own real estate businesses... Show more	$12-19
   Management Trainee	A management trainee's responsibilities will vary in the assigned industry or department. Most of the time, they function as administrative support where the tasks include processing documents and keeping records, preparing presentations, and analyzing reports... Show more	$18-29
   Home Agent	Home Agents are responsible for negotiating the letting and sales of residential home properties through liaising with clients, property professionals, and solicitors. Their duties include gathering property information, reaching out to sellers about the property, estimating property value, and marketing properties for sale... Show more	$7-17

   Show more

2. Create an ideal candidate profile

   Common skills:

   • Real Estate Market
   • PowerPoint
   • Financial Analysis
   • Data Entry
   • Market Research
   • Discounted Cash Flow
   • Asset Management
   • Due Diligence
   • Property Management
   • Argus
   • Financial Models
   • Financial Statements
   • Property Tours
   • Cash Flow Analysis

   Check all skills

   Responsibilities:

   • Manage several business bank accounts in Quickbooks.
   • Manage social networking sites: LinkedIn, Facebook.
   • Manage errands by showing listings and rentals, dropping off lockboxes and handling EDDM for settle listings.
   • Manage reporting requirements to senior management on status of real estate portfolio.
   • Used Argus and assist the appraisers in preparing forward property cash flow projections.
   • Input real estate development and building expenses using QuickBooks.

3. Make a budget

   Including a salary range in your real estate internship job description is a great way to entice the best and brightest candidates. A real estate internship salary can vary based on several factors:

   • Location. For example, real estate interns' average salary in north carolina is 50% less than in alaska.
   • Seniority. Entry-level real estate interns earn 39% less than senior-level real estate interns.
   • Certifications. A real estate internship with a few certifications under their belt will likely demand a higher salary.
   • Company. Working for a prestigious company or an exciting start-up can make a huge difference in a real estate internship's salary.

   Average real estate internship salary

   $15.70hourly

   $32,662 yearly

   ---

   Entry-level real estate internship salary

   $25,000 yearly salary

   Updated December 17, 2025

4. Writing a real estate internship job description

   A real estate internship job description should include a summary of the role, required skills, and a list of responsibilities. It's also good to include a salary range and the first name of the hiring manager. To help get you started, here's an example of a real estate internship job description:

   Real estate internship job description example

   Commercial Real Estate InternTime Frame: Summer 2023Location: Madison, WI local highly preferred but will consider remote
   Background Information:
   MEMBERS Capital Advisors Inc. is the wholly-owned investment affiliate of CUNA Mutual Group, managing $36.6 billion of assets as of December 31, 2021. Commercial Mortgage Loans are an integral part of our overall investment strategy with a principal balance exceeding $3.7 billion. The commercial mortgage portfolio includes over 700 loans secured by retail, industrial, apartment, and office buildings in every major US market. We work with a national network of mortgage banking correspondents to originate approximately $800 million of high-quality commercial mortgage loans in 2021, with individual loan sizes ranging from $5 to $35 million
   Job Responsibilities:
   Review financial statements, rent rolls, and inspections for each loan in the portfolio to monitor and track upcoming loan events Analyze market data including vacancy rates, rental rates, comparable sales, cap rates Prepare valuations using Argus software and direct capitalization analysis Job shadows the origination process and underwrites new loans Assist in reporting, closing & servicing, and portfolio management processes Filing, data entry, and Excel project work
   Job Requirements:
   Pursuing a bachelor's degree with a major(s) in Real Estate or Finance.General understanding of real estate fundamentals; has taken an introductory real estate course.Ability to work 40 hours per week during the summer.Excellent communication skills; verbal, written, and interpersonal.Analytical and critical thinking skills.Attention to detail and continuous improvement.Ability to work independently, as well as cooperatively as part of a team.Intellectual curiosity and the desire to learn.
   
   Compensation may vary based on level of relevant experience, year in school, and number of previous internships.
   
   Base Salary Range:
   $16.00 - $25.00
   
   CUNA Mutual Group's insurance, retirement and investment products provide financial security and protection to credit unions and their members worldwide. As a dynamic and growing company, we strive to create a culture of performance, high standards and defined values. In return for your skills and contributions, we offer highly competitive compensation and benefit packages, significant professional growth, and the opportunity to win and be rewarded.
   
   Please provide your Work Experience and Education or attach a copy of your resume. Applications received without this information may be removed from consideration.

   Copy this example

   

5. Post your job

   To find the right real estate internship for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

   • Consider internal talent. One of the most important sources of talent for any company is its existing workforce.
   • Ask for referrals. Reach out to friends, family members, and current employees and ask if they know or have worked with real estate interns they would recommend.
   • Recruit at local colleges. Attend job fairs at local colleges to recruit real estate interns who meet your education requirements.
   • Social media platforms. LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter now have more than 3.5 billion users, and you can use social media to reach potential job candidates.

   Post your job online:

   • Post your real estate internship job on Zippia to find and recruit real estate internship candidates who meet your exact specifications.
   • Use field-specific websites.
   • Post a job on free websites.

6. Interview candidates

   To successfully recruit real estate interns, your first interview needs to engage with candidates to learn about their interest in the role and experience in the field. You can go into more detail about the company, the role, and the responsibilities during follow-up interviews.

   It's also good to ask about candidates' unique skills and talents to see if they match your ideal candidate profile. If you think a candidate is good enough for the next step, you can move on to the technical interview.

   The right interview questions can help you assess a candidate's hard skills, behavioral intelligence, and soft skills.

7. Send a job offer and onboard your new real estate internship

   Once you've selected the best real estate internship candidate for the job, it's time to write an offer letter. In addition to salary, this letter should include details about the benefits and perks you offer the candidate. Ensuring that your offer is competitive is essential, as qualified candidates may be considering other job opportunities. The candidate may wish to negotiate the terms of the offer, and you should be open to discussion. After you reach an agreement, the final step is formalizing the agreement with a contract.

   It's also good etiquette to follow up with applicants who don't get the job by sending them an email letting them know that the position has been filled.

   After that, you can create an onboarding schedule for a new real estate internship. Human Resources and the hiring manager should complete Employee Action Forms. Human Resources should also ensure that onboarding paperwork is completed, including I-9s, benefits enrollment, federal and state tax forms, etc., and that new employee files are created.

8. Go through the hiring process checklist

   • Determine employee type (full-time, part-time, contractor, etc.)
   • Submit a job requisition form to the HR department
   • Define job responsibilities and requirements
   • Establish budget and timeline
   • Determine hiring decision makers for the role
   • Write job description
   • Post job on job boards, company website, etc.
   • Promote the job internally
   • Process applications through applicant tracking system
   • Review resumes and cover letters
   • Shortlist candidates for screening
   • Hold phone/virtual interview screening with first round of candidates
   • Conduct in-person interviews with top candidates from first round
   • Score candidates based on weighted criteria (e.g., experience, education, background, cultural fit, skill set, etc.)
   • Conduct background checks on top candidates
   • Check references of top candidates
   • Consult with HR and hiring decision makers on job offer specifics
   • Extend offer to top candidate(s)
   • Receive formal job offer acceptance and signed employment contract
   • Inform other candidates that the position has been filled
   • Set and communicate onboarding schedule to new hire(s)
   • Complete new hire paperwork (i9, benefits enrollment, tax forms, etc.)

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