Retired or Sick and Tired: A Career in Real Estate May be Just What the Doctor Ordered
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According to the National Association of Realtors, the average licensed agent is 53-years-old. And with a median salary of more than $40,000 per year and relatively few barriers to entry, a career in real estate is the perfect alternative – and the perfect fit – for many older workers. Here’s why:
Low-cost education
Obtaining the academic credentials required to become a licensed realtor is considerably less expensive than other professional positions. In California, for instance, it costs around $600 for a state-approved real estate education program. Licensing fees range from $200-$300.
No fancy office is required
Most people already have virtually everything they need to launch this new career. Emerging agents need a clean and reliable vehicle, phone, computer, and access to a fax machine.
Real estate offers schedule flexibility
Real estate is not a 40-hour-per-week 9-to-5 job. Agents can choose when and where they work, which allows time to enjoy personal pursuits such as golf or simply spending time with grandchildren.
Seniors likely already have extensive knowledge of their area
Realtors need to be familiar with their hometown and seniors usually fit this bill perfectly. Someone who’s been in an area for 15 or 20 years knows which neighborhoods are best for commute times,
crime rates, and access to parks and recreational amenities
New social connections keep the brain on track
As an agent, seniors can engage in the community while helping neighbors solve their housing conundrums. For many older Realtors, the process of putting a family in the right home and neighborhood is a huge boost to their mood, too! And, since showing homes require lots of walking, agents get plenty of
exercise.
Obtain
a real estate license
Most states require per-licensing courses that consist of between 40 and 160 hours of instruction and a real estate exam
Join a brokerage
All agents must have their license attached to a brokerage firm to practice real estate.
Introductory:
The traditional workforce isn’t particularly welcoming of new employees whose age and experience demand a higher salary than their Millennial counterparts. Job postings are ripe with coded terminology and intangible benefits that attract a younger crowd. CNN Money notes that many large companies have even done away with traditional employee performance review programs, which may threaten the egos of young workers. If you enjoyed this article share it on Instagram or another social media.
With the scales in their favor, the 20- to 30-somethings of the world must be on top in all industries, right? Wrong. According to the National Association of Realtors, the average licensed agent is 53-years-old. And with a median salary of more than $40,000 per year and relatively few barriers to entry, a career in real estate is the perfect alternative – and the perfect fit – for many older workers. Here’s why:
Low-cost education
No fancy office is required
Real estate offers schedule flexibility
Seniors likely already have extensive knowledge of their area
New social connections keep the brain on track
exercise. Harvard University lists physical activity and personal connections with other people as two out of the six most important things everyone should do to enjoy a sharp mind, regardless of age.
How to get started
Redfin, a national brokerage with more than 76,000 clients to date, offers this advice on how to launch a career in real estate:
Obtain a real estate license
Join a brokerage
With easy entry, self-controlled income, a mature group of peers, and a flexible schedule, it’s no wonder US News calls real estate the “Ultimate Second Career for Seniors.” Leave your comments below what your second career would be?
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