Have you thought about getting into real estate after you graduate from college? Many people do, and they often find it to be a great first stop on their professional journey. Here are the top five reasons you might want to consider starting a real estate career immediately after graduating college:
1. Skills You Learn in Real Estate will be Useful in Future Endeavors
Starting your real estate career right after college will allow you to log work experience and develop skills that are also applicable in most other careers. You’ll learn to problem solve as you help clients find a home that meets all of their needs within a budget. You’ll develop interpersonal skills as you market yourself, network, and negotiate deals. You’ll get first-hand experience in managing a budget, navigating a contract process, and developing your expertise in sales and marketing. If someday you decide to pursue a career in a different field, the skills you learn in your real estate career will look great on your resume.
2. Start Work Immediately After Graduation
New college graduates often struggle trying to find employment in their chosen field. Most employers want someone with experience, which puts the applicant in a difficult position. You don’t have experience, and it’s hard to get an opportunity to earn the experience. But as a real estate agent, you don’t need to wait for someone to give you an opportunity. You can hang your license with a broker and begin working immediately after you graduate (or before you graduate). There is a licensing education requirement in every state. But in most states, you can take the education and complete the state licensing exam as long as you are a high school graduate and at least 18 years old. So you can actually complete the education and take the exam before you graduate, and be ready to hit the ground running by the time you cross the stage with your diploma.
3. Social Media Skills
All that time you spent on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram can actually pay off in a real estate career. Twenty years ago, real estate agents had limited (and costly) options for getting the word out about their business. Social media and email marketing have opened up new, more affordable opportunities for real estate agents to market their business and their listings. You have a leg up on new agents who aren’t internet-savvy. Put your inherent skills and knowledge to good use as a real estate professional.
4. You Have the Free Time
When working professionals decide to change careers and become real estate agents, they often struggle with the fact that it isn’t a typical 9-to-5 job. They have family and personal commitments that make it difficult for them to be available on the weekends or evenings when clients need them. If you don’t yet have the responsibilities that come with raising a family, you’re uniquely positioned to provide exceptional client service at a time when other agents might not be able to.
5. Education and Start Up Costs are Relatively Low
In order to earn your real estate license, you will need to meet your state’s prelicensing education requirements and take the state’s licensing exams. There is a cost associated with the education and the exam, but it’s relatively affordable and can be completed in as little as a month. The low barriers to entry make a real estate career particularly attractive to recent college graduates.
There are some challenges unique to young real estate agents. Your sphere of influence is likely not full of people who are currently looking to buy or sell a home. So you will need to refine your networking skills and learn to set yourself apart from the other agents in your market. But if the idea of applying to countless jobs and going to dozens of interviews after graduating has you feeling a little underwhelmed, a real estate career might be the path for you to hit the ground running in your professional life. You can begin building your resume with the kind of skills and real life experience that will always be in demand, no matter what profession you ultimately choose.