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Real Estate Sales Agent

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What Do Real Estate Sales Agent Do?

Career Description Rent, buy, or sell property for clients. Perform duties, such as study property listings, interview prospective clients, accompany clients to property site, discuss conditions of sale, and draw up real estate contracts. Includes agents who represent buyer.

List of Real Estate Sales Agent Job Duties

  • Evaluate mortgage options to help clients obtain financing at the best prevailing rates and terms.
  • Develop networks of attorneys, mortgage lenders, and contractors to whom clients may be referred.
  • Display commercial, industrial, agricultural, and residential properties to clients and explain their features.
  • Inspect condition of premises, and arrange for necessary maintenance or notify owners of maintenance needs.
  • Generate lists of properties that are compatible with buyers’ needs and financial resources.
  • Answer clients’ questions regarding construction work, financing, maintenance, repairs, and appraisals.

What a Real Estate Sales Agent Should Know

When polled, Real Estate Sales Agents say the following skills are most frequently used in their jobs:

Active Listening: Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.

Speaking: Talking to others to convey information effectively.

Negotiation: Bringing others together and trying to reconcile differences.

Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.

Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.

Critical Thinking: Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.

Types of Real Estate Sales Agent

  • Right of Way Agent
  • Sales Agent
  • Closing Coordinator
  • Real Estate Consultant
  • Real Estate Agent

Job Opportunities for Real Estate Sales Agents

In 2016, there was an estimated number of 348,800 jobs in the United States for Real Estate Sales Agent. New jobs are being produced at a rate of 5.8% which is above the national average. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts 20,200 new jobs for Real Estate Sales Agent by 2026. Due to new job openings and attrition, there will be an average of 34,400 job openings in this field each year.

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The states with the most job growth for Real Estate Sales Agent are Utah, Idaho, and Colorado. Watch out if you plan on working in West Virginia, Vermont, or Maine. These states have the worst job growth for this type of profession.

Real Estate Sales Agent Average Salary

The typical yearly salary for Real Estate Sales Agents is somewhere between $24,650 and $112,610.

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Real Estate Sales Agents who work in New York, Alaska, or Wyoming, make the highest salaries.

How much do Real Estate Sales Agents make in different U.S. states?

State Annual Mean Salary
Alabama $53,870
Alaska $78,190
Arizona $66,360
Arkansas $41,100
California $73,450
Colorado $67,350
Connecticut $70,380
Delaware $50,100
District of Columbia $56,460
Florida $58,730
Georgia $50,450
Hawaii $65,720
Idaho $57,490
Illinois $52,800
Indiana $47,430
Iowa $54,610
Kansas $48,520
Kentucky $48,680
Louisiana $53,020
Maine $64,690
Maryland $57,450
Massachusetts $67,470
Michigan $51,870
Minnesota $46,620
Mississippi $60,450
Missouri $53,440
Montana $47,290
Nebraska $51,010
Nevada $62,000
New Hampshire $49,810
New Jersey $63,790
New Mexico $52,660
New York $116,460
North Carolina $59,920
North Dakota $61,430
Ohio $45,340
Oklahoma $54,880
Oregon $49,850
Pennsylvania $64,490
Rhode Island $84,280
South Carolina $53,790
South Dakota $62,660
Tennessee $51,100
Texas $70,520
Utah $63,480
Vermont $55,920
Virginia $66,230
Washington $63,860
West Virginia $63,620
Wisconsin $49,360
Wyoming $75,570

What Tools do Real Estate Sales Agents Use?

Although they’re not necessarily needed for all jobs, the following technologies are used by many Real Estate Sales Agents:

  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Word
  • Microsoft Office
  • Microsoft PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Email software
  • Spreadsheet software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
  • Microsoft Dynamics
  • Facebook
  • Microsoft Publisher
  • Google Docs
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Geographic information system GIS software
  • Scheduling software
  • Google Drive
  • Tax software
  • Fund accounting software
  • Social media sites
  • Corel WordPerfect

Becoming a Real Estate Sales Agent

Education needed to be a Real Estate Sales Agent:

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How many years of work experience do I need?

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Where do Real Estate Sales Agents Work?

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The table below shows some of the most common industries where those employed in this career field work.

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You May Also Be Interested In…

Those thinking about becoming a Real Estate Sales Agent might also be interested in the following careers:

References:

Image Credit: Godrej Mamurdi Pune via Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International

More about our data sources and methodologies.

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