What You Need to Know About Real Estate Sales Agent
Job Description & Duties 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.
Life As a Real Estate Sales Agent: What Do They Do?
- Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers, generally representing one or the other.
- Arrange for title searches to determine whether clients have clear property titles.
- Evaluate mortgage options to help clients obtain financing at the best prevailing rates and terms.
- Secure construction or purchase financing with own firm or mortgage company.
- Compare a property with similar properties that have recently sold to determine its competitive market price.
- Coordinate appointments to show homes to prospective buyers.
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Real Estate Sales Agent Needed Skills
Real Estate Sales Agents state the following job skills are important in their day-to-day work.
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.
Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others’ actions.
Social Perceptiveness: Being aware of others’ reactions and understanding why they react as they do.
Persuasion: Persuading others to change their minds or behavior.
Other Real Estate Sales Agent Job Titles
- Real Estate Sales Associate
- Apartment Leasing Agent
- Buyers’ Agent
- Land Agent
- Land Sales Agent
Real Estate Sales Agent Employment Estimates
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. The BLS estimates 34,400 yearly job openings in this field.

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.
How Much Does a Real Estate Sales Agent Make?
Real Estate Sales Agents make between $24,650 and $112,610 a year.

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?
Below is a list of the types of tools and technologies that Real Estate Sales Agents may use on a daily basis:
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Email software
- Adobe Systems Adobe Acrobat
- Spreadsheet software
- Microsoft Dynamics
- 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
What education is needed to be a Real Estate Sales Agent?

What work experience do I need to become a Real Estate Sales Agent?

Where Real Estate Sales Agents Are Employed

Real Estate Sales Agents work in the following industries:

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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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