8 Types of Real Estate Jobs To Consider After University

Real estate is a fascinating industry that includes jobs that range from investors to appraisers.

Graduating university students may want to try their luck as real estate agents. While becoming an agent is easy, selling a home is quite tricky. That doesn't mean that the real estate sector isn't for you; it just means you should consider other opportunities that involve the home market.

Whether you're looking for something with structure or a position that features more flexibility, you're going to be able to find a career opportunity that fits your needs within real estate.

1. Real Estate Transactions Coordinator

A real estate transaction coordinator handles the administrative work involved in a home purchase. Typical duties include submitting purchase documentation, gathering information for said documents, and communicating with other agents to facilitate transactions.

Transaction coordinators typically work inside a brokerage or in a remote position. You may even start your own real estate transaction coordinator business. Freelance transaction coordinators often make more money than their employee counterparts.

2. Real Estate Managing Broker

Real estate brokers often start as agents to gain experience in the field. Although the terms "agent" and "broker" are often used interchangeably, they aren't the same thing. Brokers are like upgraded agents who undergo a separate test after getting their real estate license.

A real estate broker will either open their brokerage and hire agents for their business or be hired on by a retiring broker who needs a helping hand. If you're 18 and in the process of becoming an agent, you can likely become a broker immediately after your graduation.

3. Real Estate Investor

There are two types of real estate investors: active and passive. An active investor flips houses, while a passive investor buys a real estate project and gets someone else to flip the house for them. You may not have enough income to be a passive investor right out of school.

However, if you can get a loan for a flipping project, you could probably DIY the flip if you have enough experience with construction. The process of flipping a home is a lot of fun, and it's something you can do casually for passive income while you apply for other work.

4. Commercial Real Estate Agent

A commercial real estate agent is similar to a regular agent, except they only sell commercial property. Since you'll primarily have business owners as customers, you have to use a different marketing toolbox than you otherwise would have when selling a personal home.

You're required to do more research than a residential agent because businesses want to choose a location to help their bottom line. Therefore, a large office space isn't enough to pull business owners in; you also must consider the surrounding area and the commute.

5. Residential/Commercial Appraiser

An appraiser collects information on a property to determine its worth. You can either train to be a residential or commercial appraiser, but it helps to be a real estate agent first to gain selling experience. Appraisers work privately to avoid brokerage bias.

While residential appraisers will assert a property's worth based on what they learned in a course, commercial appraisers lean on established appraisers for guidance. Whether you're a residential or commercial appraiser, you need to be licensed to give legal appraisals.

6. Property Manager

With a real estate license, you can become a property manager/leasing agent, which is a person who looks after residential or commercial property. They're tasked with ensuring a property runs smoothly (as a repairman) and are making money for the person who owns it.

If the property is quite large, a property manager may hire a co-manager to run certain aspects of management. Most property managers outsource repairs to third-party companies, like electricians or HVAC journeypersons, especially if they're in charge of a commercial property.

7. Real Estate Attorney

While you will need to go to law school, you can get a real estate attorney's license once you pass the bar. A real estate attorney may have to get a real estate license before practicing real estate law, but you can work on getting your agent license while in university.

There are 8 states that require attorneys to supervise real estate transactions, and there are 11 more that may need attorney supervision in some cases. Even in states that don't require an attorney, some buyers may seek your help if they need to navigate a complex process.

8. Leasing Consultant/Manager

Leasing consultants are in charge of keeping tenants in a building, while a leasing manager negotiates deals and transactions for businesses. Most leasing consultants will also play the role of leasing manager if they want more flexibility in their work schedule.

A leasing consultant handles the marketing aspect of the deal. They draw people in, whether to buy a property or attract tenants. Leasing consultants can use their leasing management training to find opportunities for other business owners who wish to sell.