Real Estate Job Key Terms

Learn about the many opportunities for employment within the real estate field

By Susan Davis

Most people associate real estate with the buying and selling of property, but there are many other employment opportunities within this field. It's important to be aware of various job titles and what each title requires in terms of job performance and expectations in order to pursue an opportunity that matches well with your skills, talents and career goals. It will also serve you well to know all the terms as once your are working within the field. You will need to know what type of real estate professional to contact as you complete the transactions for your own job.

Land developer

Land developers basically buy a piece of land and turn it into something, such as a shopping center, strip mall, housing development, etc. Developers can work for themselves or for a land development company.
Try: A good overview of this component of real estate can be found at StateUniversity.com.

Licensing

Most real estate professionals are required to hold a license for their particular area. Each state has different qualifications and testing procedures in order to obtain a license.
Try: You can find out the specific requirements for your state on various types of licenses by visiting Allied Real Estate School.

Appraiser

An appraiser is a licensed professional who determines the value of real estate. Companies that loan money for real estate require appraisals during the qualification process to ensure that the property is worth the amount being borrowed.
Try: More information on training to become an appraiser can be obtained through American Investment Training.

Broker

A broker is a licensed person who handles real estate transactions for a client. A broker has earned a higher level license than a real estate agent. Typically, a real estate broker supervises real estate agents.
Try: The Bureau of Labor and Statistics posts qualifications, job outlooks and other current information regarding the job of real estate broker and agent.

Inspector

Inspectors are licensed professionals who investigate various property types to check for damage, repair issues, etc., that a buyer would need to be aware of prior to completing a transaction to purchase the property.
Try: For a description of what inspectors do in a typical day, see state-by-state standards of practice and a code of ethics for inspectors, visit the American Society of Home Inspectors.

Home stager

The demand for home stagers continues to grow. Home stagers are responsible for marketing and preparing properties for sale.
Try: For more details on what home stagers do and on how to become one, spend some time on Home Staging.com.