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Careers in Residential Brokerage -
Helping people buy and sell homes, is one of the most important and basic
services a real estate agent performs. Agents are experts in the process
of buying and selling property, financing and government programs. The real
estate agent's expertise facilitates the transaction, saving clients time,
trouble and money.
Careers in Commercial Brokerage -
Commercial brokers specialize in income-producing properties, such as
apartments, office buildings, retail stores, warehouses, shopping centers
and industrial parks. To understand and explain why the properties are
good investments, commercial brokers need to be aware of the growth
possibilities of the area where the property is located, current income
tax regulations and purchasing arrangements that give the buyer a greater
return on investment. Commercial brokers may also help arrange financing.
The Commercial Investment Real Estate Institute web site is at
www.ccim.com.
Careers in Industrial and Office Brokerage -
Industrial and office brokers specialize in developing, selling or
leasing property used for industry or manufacturing. Brokers need to
understand different types of industries and determine such variables as
transportation, proximity to raw materials, water, power, labor availability
and local building, zoning and tax laws. The Society of Industrial and
Office Realtors web site is at www.sior.com.
Careers in Property Management -
The property manager's primary function is to maintain a property in order
to produce the highest possible financial return over the longest period
of time. More importantly, the property manager is responsible for protecting
the owner's investment. Managed commercial properties are likely to be office
buildings and shopping centers. Residential properties might be apartments,
condominiums and groups of homes. Property managers usually work for real
estate firms. When living onsite, property managers can expect to be on
call for emergencies at all times, beyond maintaining standard working
hours. The web site for The Institute of Real Estate Management is at
www.irem.org.
Careers in Land Development -
Land development is one of the most important and challenging specialties
in real estate today. Developers turn land into profitable, marketable
developments - residential, commercial or industrial. Site selection is
the first decision. Planning and layout is handled only after the developer
determines the need for a project. Before the actual building can begin,
developers must first analyze all costs and arrange the financing. Then,
they contract for the physical structures and supervise construction.
Finally, developers help promote the finished project.
Careers in Farm and Land Brokerage -
Land brokers deal in land for farming, residential, commercial and industrial
expansion. Success depends on how accurately the income potential of the
property can be established. Brokers need a good working knowledge of various
factors which determines the land's capacity to produce, including agricultural
knowledge, market centers and transportation facilities. The Realtors Land
Institute's web site is at www.rliland.com.
Careers in Real Estate Appraising -
Real estate appraisers determine the value of properties. This information
is used for tax, investment, rental and insurance purposes. Successful
appraisers have practical experience, technical education, good judgement
and some knowledge of mathematics, accounting and economics. The appraisal
section of NAR's web site is at
www.narappraisalsource.com.
Careers in Urban Planning -
Urban planners work with local governments and other civic groups to
anticipate their city's future growth. They propose physical changes to
accommodate this growth. Some colleges are now offering degrees in urban
planning. The Urban Land Institute's web site:
www.uli.org.
Careers in Real Estate Counseling -
Real estate counselors are in the business of giving advice about property.
They are the experts others seek when they want answers to real estate
questions. Counselors must know every phase of the real estate business
because they use that knowledge in nearly every consultation. Often they
will be asked about income opportunities and productive uses of different
kinds of properties. There are relatively few brokers specializing in
counseling, but the field will grow as investors and owners realize the
value of expert advice in developing property and improving income. While
accumulating experience in other real estate specialties, people planning
to become real estate counselors also continue to study in continuing
education programs in financial management. The Counselors of Real Estate
web site: www.cre.org.
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