Why Real Estate is the Best Career for New Parents


As a new parent, you’re stuck between a rock and a hard place; you feel the need to be there for your newborn child, but you’re also getting pretty antsy to be back at work. What’s a parent to do?

Luckily, technology has made remote jobs much more common in the past decade alone. And for a new parent, there is no career more baby-friendly than working in real estate. Here are some reasons why you might want to consider moving into real estate, in addition to being a full-time parent:

You can work from anywhere

Did you hate the cubicle life? Or maybe you really couldn’t deal with the open office layout. Whatever the case may be, the good news with real estate is that you get to work from anywhere! You’re not beholden to a desk, cubicle, or the depressing break room. Instead, you can work from home, your garden, or your favorite coffee shop.

You get to set your own schedule

Unlike many other jobs, real estate isn’t a typical nine-to-five job. In fact, most of your appointments will likely be at night or on the weekends, which means that your days are relatively free to spend time with your child.

Additionally, real estate is an industry that has predictable cycles. For example, spring and fall favor buyers, while holidays and winter favor sellers. Summer is usually pretty low-key. Knowing the market cycle will help you plan around important baby stuff without losing any business.

Finally, one of the best parts of working in real estate is that you get to be your own boss. Since you’ll mostly be alone, experts recommend finding a good mentor to help you as you’re starting out; lack of motivation is one of the key reasons why new real estate agents fail.

Parent at a desk

Potential for high earnings

The best part about real estate is that you get paid as much as you are willing to work for. Obviously, that entails several factors, like how many deals you close and the average price of homes you buy or sell. But the good news is that there is no limit to how much you can earn.

Helps you stay connected

Being a new parent comes with many joys, but it can also make you feel isolated from the rest of the world. When you’re a real estate agent, you are forced to socialize and network. It’s part of the job.

Plus, being a parent gives you limitless networking opportunities that you may have not noticed before. For example, even just being part of the PTA or Booster Club could help expand your network for staying updated on who is looking to buy or sell a house.

Finally, being a real estate agent means knowing the ins and outs of your location better than anyone else. Since you’ll be keeping tabs on various neighborhoods, constructions, and policies, you’ll feel a level of connection to the community that you might not otherwise. And as a new parent, nothing is more comforting than knowing that the world is not passing you by while you’re trying to figure out how to take care of a tiny human being.

Krista Doyle

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