Real Estate

REAL ESTATE DEGREE
Individuals who have earned a real estate degree typically go to work helping clients buy and/or sell houses, either helping others find new homes or aiding them in closing one chapter of their lives and opening another. Real estate classes help aspiring professionals earn their realtor license, learn the housing market in their communities, understand the various building and zoning laws in their base area, and handle the paperwork required for the job.

Real Estate Degree Description
Due to the competitive nature of the business, the 2010-11 Occupational Outlook Handbook states that more and more employers are turning to those possessing both a real estate degree and a realtor license to fill vacancies. There are a variety of programs available at most colleges and universities, both traditional and online. Bachelor's and Master's degree programs are the most viable options, and students can choose to focus on a number of different concentrations while taking real estate classes, including real estate investment, development, sustainable building, property management, consulting, real estate finance, marketing analysis, and more.

When pursuing a real estate degree at a postsecondary institution, there is typically a core curriculum that students must complete, regardless of focus or concentration. Among these mandatory real estate classes are courses on topics such as the development process, real estate law, residential development, deal structuring, management, and real estate marketing. Furthermore, the Occupational Outlook Handbook notes that each of the 50 states in the U.S. and the District of Columbia also require real estate professionals to earn a realtor license. These programs vary by location, but typically require 30-90 hours of certified training and a written examination on real estate regulations and practices.

Real Estate Careers
According to Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than three quarters of those who earn their realtor license and enter the industry become sales agents. Furthermore, many brokers and agents are self-employed and worked part-time while holding down second jobs. Their duties typically include completing title searches to verify ownership, arranging for buyer and seller to meet face-to-face, seek out owners who want to put their property on the market, and hold open-houses to show the property to would-be buyers. On average, brokers and agents work 40-plus hour weeks and earn between $27,000 and $64,000 annually, thanks largely to the commission they earn on property transactions.

Real estate classes can also help prepare future professionals for other, related jobs in this industry. Among the career options open to individuals entering the realty field are real estate broker residential and commercial, real estate appraisal, property manager, real estate advisor, investment banker, construction and development, real estate entrepreneur, and even sustainable development expert. Regardless of whether you earn a real estate degree to work as a sales agent, consult or advise others, or even just to promote responsible building practices, real estate is an industry that provides a service that will always be required and should enjoy considerable job growth over the next decade.