Are you ready for a career change? Maybe you’ve gone as far as you can in your present job. Or maybe your current work isn’t satisfying or fulfilling.
Real estate offers an impressive career change opportunity, for people of all backgrounds throughout the U.S. But there are special perks for Floridian career-changers! The Florida real estate market has grown substantially in recent years as more people relocate to the Sunshine State, creating new possibilities for local real estate professionals.
Could real estate be the right fit for you?
Check out these five reasons why real estate is the best career change in Florida, and decide for yourself!
1. Multiple Career Path Options
Many of us immediately think real estate agent when discussing real estate careers. And real estate agent is an excellent career path in the industry! But this isn’t the only career path available to you.
With a Florida real estate license, you can choose from several Florida real estate professions, including:
Real estate broker. This is ideal for those with management experience who enjoy leading a team as much as (or even more than) working with buyers and sellers.
Leasing agent or property manager. Leasing agents help property owners find qualified renters for vacant units. Property managers also perform this task, as well as day-to-day management (like collecting rent and handling maintenance requests). If you live in one of the major metro areas like Miami, Jacksonville, or Tampa, you might just work in a single large apartment community, which is nice for those who don’t want to spend too much time traveling between homes for showings.
Real estate investor or developer. If you have experience in construction, real estate development could be a natural career progression. Or, if you prefer analyzing numbers over working with people, investing in Florida real estate can be lucrative!
2. Strong Income Potential
Real estate professionals are typically paid on commission. That means you earn a percentage of the sale price (or rental rate if working with renters) when you close a deal. So, the higher the sales price or rental rates, the more money you can make on a transaction. And, with the recent spike in Florida property values, the income potential is up for Florida real estate agents!
Data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows real estate agents in Florida making a mean wage of $56,460, with agents in the top 90th percentile averaging $96,580. Keep in mind that these figures reflect the averages for all agents, which includes part-time agents.
3. Flexible Work Schedules
Real estate agents and brokers generally have the freedom to choose their working hours. Naturally, the more you can work around your clients’ schedules, the more money you can make. But deciding when to work allows you to have a real estate career that fits your lifestyle.
Perhaps you have kids at home, or you’re taking care of an aging parent. That makes a strict 9-5 job difficult. But with real estate, you can do your administrative work from home and show properties around your schedule. Plus, with the rise of virtual tours, more buyers are comfortable getting their information from pre-recorded video walk-throughs, which you can create at any time that’s convenient for you.
4. The Opportunity to Be Your Own Boss
How many times have you had to follow orders from a boss who simply did not understand what was going on? How many times have you thought "if I were in charge, I would do things so differently?"
Real estate careers give you agency over your work. Within legal boundaries (and maybe a few brokerage rules), you get to choose how you want to work. If you want to ensure buyers qualify for a home loan before you spend hours showing them property, you can require a pre-approval letter from a lender. If you'd rather invest in content marketing than traditional advertising, do it!
You get to decide what’s best for your real estate business.
5. Getting Licensed is Quick and Affordable
One of the biggest reasons why real estate is the best career change in Florida is that you can earn your real estate license quickly and easily. And it doesn’t cost much money.
With a self-paced online real estate course, you can earn your real estate license in as little as a few weeks (or as long as a few months if you want to take your time). And you can do it from the comfort of your home or even on the go from your phone. Between your real estate license course, real estate exam fees, and license fees, the whole thing will only cost a few hundred dollars.
Compare this with the time and expense required to go back to school to earn a college degree in a new field. Real estate is the clear winner!
Are you ready to take the leap and make your career change? Enroll in your Florida real estate course today and get ready to launch your new Florida real estate career!