Become a Realtor or Real Estate Broker

The world of real estate is exciting, but also volatile. Both agents and brokers must be prepared to weather the vagaries of the market, as sales may take many months of work to complete when the market is soft. During a seller's market when demand is high, on the other hand, there may quickly be multiple offers on a property as soon as it's listed. In both up and down markets, you'll often work well beyond the 40-hour work week, including evenings and weekends to show properties at times that are convenient to buyers and sellers.

Beyond researching the market, meeting with potential clients, open houses, marketing properties and appraisals, you'll need to know how to close a deal. You must know how to advise their clients about what may or may not be reasonable and acceptable offers and counteroffers, and must be able to work with other agents and brokers to shepherd the buyers and sellers through the purchase and sale agreement once both parties have agreed to a negotiated sale price. In addition, you must help their clients work with escrow companies to fulfill the different legal, financial and bureaucratic requirements needed to complete the transaction.

Although only a high school diploma is required to take the real estate license exam required in all fifty states and the District of Columbia, a bachelor's degree is becoming more common, and will prepare you for a general career in real estate. There are also graduate programs and certification courses that will help you rise to the next level of this exciting and ever-changing field.