Understanding the Real Estate Career Path in Georgia and Beyond
Exploring Real Estate as a Career: Pros, Cons, and Growth Opportunities
Real Estate Overview: A Dynamic Path
Since the last few years, there has been a plethora of job opportunities in the world of real estate.
With more than a 60 percent increase in the number of people applying for a real estate job in the last five years alone.
Anyone who is working to live a life of financial success and material comforts can achieve their goal with a real estate career.
In fact, for most people, working in real estate is a dynamic career choice that gives them an escape from mundane jobs and limited earning opportunities.
Did you know that the average salary of a real estate agent in the U.S. is around $60K annually and the top 25 percent of professionals can make as high as $120K per year?
If you are a Georgia resident and are looking for one of the best careers in Georgia, then working as a real estate agent or broker can be both financially rewarding and emotionally satisfying.
The point then is how to get a Georgia real estate license and launch a successful career? Simply put, you must complete the Georgia real estate license course and pass the real estate licensing exam.
Apart from a classroom setting, you can select an online real estate course in Georgia to avail of flexible study options.
Apart from being a real estate agent or broker, you can work as a real estate appraiser, mortgage loan officer, attorney, home inspector, and more.
If you are wondering whether the career is worth pursuing, then this article will answer all your queries and doubts.
We have put together this article to give you a detailed understanding of working in Georgia’s real estate industry.
From evaluating the pros and cons to sharing the skills you need to build a thriving career, we will cover it all in this comprehensive guide.
Advantages of Pursuing a Career in Real Estate
Despite the charm and allure of working in a fast-paced, high-paying dynamic industry like real estate, starting a new career can be overwhelming for many.
If you are interested in exploring the possibilities of working in real estate but are not entirely convinced of the possibilities?
Is real estate a good career path? Let’s discuss in detail some of the key advantages of pursuing a career in GA real estate.
1. Numerous career paths to choose from:
Most people think of themselves as working as real estate agents and brokers when they think of a real estate job.
However, real estate is a broad field with numerous career paths to choose from and there is never a dull day at work.
Among the many top-paying real estate jobs in Georgia available, you can pick from a wide array of options.
Some of the most promising real estate careers include - realtors, asset managers, appraisers, attorneys, investment consultants, real estate developers, home inspectors, and mortgage loan officers.
Considering all the multiple career paths and their specialized job profiles, you can easily find something worth pursuing. Most of these job roles come with exciting prospects like a high salary, flexible work hours, and opportunities for earning commissions.
2. High income potential:
One of the most popular reasons why real estate is a sought-after career is the high potential for earnings and commissions.
Being a financially rewarding and lucrative profession, working in real estate can help you earn a six-figure salary while earning a handsome commission on top of it.
The best part is your income will be directly related to the efforts and hours you put in.
This means that you can work as hard as you practically can and stay in charge to grow your income and earnings.
Depending on whether you are a real estate agent or a broker, you can easily earn a 5 to 6 percent commission on the selling price of a property.
Imagine you help sell a Georgia home with a median price of $1M or above and you can easily fetch $25-$30K for yourself.
3. Flexible working hours:
Having the flexibility to set your working hours and be a master of your own schedule is one of the most important advantages of working in real estate.
As a Georgia agent or broker, you can choose to define your working hours and escape the nine-to-five grind.
This does not mean that you work less, but it simply indicates that you have the flexibility to set your own schedule.
If you are someone who strives to achieve a work-life balance, working in real estate might be a good way to achieve your goal.
Whether you work for a brokerage or open your own real estate agency, you can gain the autonomy to put in the required hours and meet your professional goals.
Flexibility in working hours is one of the most valuable and underappreciated benefits for real estate professionals, especially if you have a family or plan to start one in the future.
4. Opportunities for networking:
Real estate is a people’s business and it’s all about finding and building connections with fellow professionals and clients.
Whether you are working as an agent, broker, appraiser, or a mortgage loan office, working in Georgia real estate can open up avenues for network building.
If you are someone who likes to meet new people and forge connections, real estate can give you many opportunities to meet people from all walks of life.
Having a wide, strong network will help you expand income opportunities, venture into new markets, and make long-term professional connections worth cherishing,
5. Lower barrier to entry:
If you want to work in the real estate industry and are wondering if real estate agent is a good career, then there’s good news for you.
Unlike many professions that require applicants to study for years and acquire a graduate or postgraduate education, working in real estate takes a lot less to start with.
As long as you have a high school education or GED equivalent, you are eligible to apply for a real estate salesperson license in Georgia.
Once you complete 75 hours of mandatory pre-licensing education in Georgia, you can take the Georgia licensing exam and obtain your real estate license.
This means you can start working as a real estate agent in Georgia within a span of a few months and the licensing process will not require multiple years of investment.
Challenges in Real Estate career
Even though real estate is one of the best careers in Georgia, there are always two sides to a coin, the pros and the cons.
1. Income can be irregular:
Despite the dreamy potential of earning a six-figure income, working in real estate can mean that your financial situation might not be amazing from day one.
As a young, newly licensed agent in Georgia, you might have to live paycheck to paycheck initially as you find your feet.
In the early days of your career, you should prepare yourself for periods when your income might not be regular or stable. Some months might have lesser monetary value depending on the industry’s demand and supply among other factors.
Another important aspect to be aware of is the fact that different brokerages have different payment benefits and salary structures.
This will help you set your expectations and plan your finances better as you navigate through your real estate career.
2. The competition is high
Georgia is home to a diverse real estate landscape with numerous opportunities for buyers and sellers.
However, this opportunity attracts thousands of agents and brokers competing for a limited share of the proverbial pie. Many agents are vying for opportunities, listings, and potential clients.
Real estate is a lucrative and highly competitive industry. You will always be facing competition from fellow agents and brokerage companies to win clients.
Working in real estate means you will have to learn how to face and overcome your competitors while keeping yourself a step ahead of the curve.
3. Continuous upskilling is required:
Given the highly volatile nature of the real estate industry, there are always new laws, regulations, and guidelines emerging for real estate professionals.
This means you will have to continuously maintain your licensure in lieu of the current state and federal level requirements and keep yourself updated with the latest in the industry.
As per state law, all active real estate professionals must complete 36 hours of continuing education every two years to renew their license.
Completing additional education and certification requires investments of money and time and it might be challenging for some professionals.
However, it is a mandatory step and a reality of working in the real estate industry.
Is Real Estate a Good Career in Georgia?
Framing Georgia’s Real Estate Market
Now that we have discussed the pros and cons of working in real estate, we hope you have got a clear answer to your question - is real estate a good career in Georgia or not?
To give you another perspective on the opportunities, let us discuss the real estate landscape of Georgia in detail.
Thanks to its scenic landscapes, culturally rich historic landmarks, diverse community, and booming economic outlook, it is enjoying homebuyers and migrant workers from across the country.
The Peach State has emerged as one of the most popular and favorable destinations for short and long-term property investment.
This is especially due to its highly favorable economic and business policies along with the relatively affordable cost of living.
Property listings data shows strong demand for housing in Georgia and in many popular cities, the supply of real estate has been exceeded by the demand.
Home prices have been increasing by almost 5 percent year-on-year, signifying an active interest from buyers and real estate investors.
As per employment data and job listings, you can make an average of $104K annually as a real estate broker in Georgia.
This means now is a good time to enter Georgia’s booming real estate market and make the most of the promising prospects.
The Universality of Real Estate as a Career Path
Why Consider a Career in Real Estate?
If you are a self-driven, motivated, and sincere individual seeking a highly lucrative, exciting, and challenging career path, real estate might just be the right field for you.
One of the best careers in Georgia, working as a real estate agent, broker, or developer can be a life-changing professional experience.
The thrill of working with new clients and the satisfaction of helping them achieve their home ownership dreams is well worth it.