Less than a decade ago, people were flocking to the real estate industry. Almost every investor was recommending that you consider “flipping” properties for a profit, and many people were doing just that – some making millions. Real estate agents had nearly too much work to handle, and everyone was loving the lucrative life of selling houses.

That changed. As the real estate market began to nose-dive, investors found that they no long had ten buyers waiting in line to bid on their rehabbed properties. In fact, they had a hard time finding one buyer. Many real estate investors lost a lot of money and, as a result, real estate agents (who work mostly on commission) suffered as well.

Today, the real estate market is starting to turn around a bit in most areas, but there are still risks involved with working in this industry as a house flipper or even a real estate agent. That doesn’t mean you can’t work in real estate at all, though. Check out the following jobs in real estate that are more secure options, even when the market is down.

• Working as a Property Manager

Property managers work n the real estate industry, but on the rental side of things rather than on the buying/selling side of things. Many landlords have multiple properties and they don’t always live in the same state as their properties. So, they hire property managers to handle all the problems that may arise with tenants, such as collecting rent, fixing leaks, taking care of yard maintenance, and issuing eviction notices. Property managers can also work doing these things at large apartment buildings or complexes, working to ensure that units are filled with good tenants as quickly as possible, as well as doing more general property management tasks.

• Working as a Home Stager

Home staging is an important part of selling homes, especially in a market that is unfavorable for sellers. By working as a home stager, you’ll have a supply of home furnishings to essentially decorate the house, which will help potential buyers envision how the home can be functional. Home stagers typically earn a percentage of the house’s sale price, so while this is still a more secure job than flipping, there is still risk involved.

• Working as a Home Appraiser

Home appraisers earn a license to help buyers and seller learn the true market value of a property. Homes are always being bought and sold, no matter what the market is like, so there will always be a need for workers in this industry. In addition, you could work for government organizations or insurance companies, appraising homes to determine tax rates and insurance policy rates. This is a career where over a third of all workers earn a six-figure salary, so it can be quite lucrative for workers.

I love hearing from our readers, and today I got a quick email from a regular reading asking:

Is now a good time to become a real estate agent? I’ve wanted to for a while, and I hear that the housing market is coming back. What do you think?

Thanks for your question!

It’s true that the worst of the housing nosedive seems to be over, thanks in large measure to the record low mortgage rates and Congress’ new home owners tax breaks (which are now expired).

But even with these plusses, houses are still taking a long time to sell. According to Altos Research, the average home takes 150 days to sell, up 43% from 2008. In some areas of the country, this average is as high as 290 days. The longer a house takes to sell, the longer until you get a commission.

Additionally, the economic climate has caused most buyers to be wary of taking the leap into new home ownership. As a result, sales traffic on houses is super slow, which can be exceedingly frustrating to the best of real estate agent. Let alone the newbie ones.

Even still, the field of real estate is seeing a lot of new interest from prospective agents. According to this article from the Wall Street Journal, real estate licensing applications are up in Texas, Michigan (one of the worst housing markets in the U.S.) and New York by around 10% over last year. This alone would indicate that many, like our reader, are thinking that now is the time to make the move into real estate.

Beyond the statistics, however, one must ask himself is he or she is well-suited to the field of real estate. Cathy Sharp, a seasoned real estate agent in a metropolitan Midwestern city was interviewed recently by the JobMonkey (to see the full interview, check out the JobMonkey newsletter on launching a real estate career).  Ms. Sharp says that you really have to be willing to put in the time to get trained and certified, and to keep up that certification:

Most states demand that you take somewhere between 60 and 90 hours of continuing education coursework before you are eligible to take your licensing exam. Then, even after you have passed the exam, you have to keep up with continuing ed classes in order to maintain an active license. In my state, that means 22 hours of courses every two years and then I renew my license biannually.

The schedule of a real estate agent is also intensely demanding. You are never off work. Ultimately, though, Ms. Sharp says the most important thing about being a real estate agent is that you are a people person.

Beyond your training and licensure, the most important thing really is that you enjoy working with people. It’s also helpful if you are entrepreneurial, technologically savvy and very organized. And you must be a self-motivated person, because no one is paying you salary if you don’t sell houses!

So, ask yourself: Does this describe me? Am I willing to do what it takes? If the answer is yes, then I say go for it! Now is as good of a time as any. In fact, there is never a bad time to follow your dreams!

With the federal housing tax credit set to expire at the end of this month, the sale of new homes broke out of their winter slump and hit a two-year high in March.

Sales jumped more than 26% over February’s numbers as home buyers rushed to take advantage of an $8,000 credit for first-time home buyers and a $6,500 credit for anyone else buying a home for the first time in three years or more.

You might be thinking about trying to take advantage of all this activity in the housing market by becoming a real estate agent. Perhaps you are wondering: Is now the right time to make your fortune? Unfortunately, the short answer is: Probably not, unless you are already an established agent. Many people mistakenly think that real estate is a field that requires little training or skills. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Not only is extensive training required to take your real estate licensing exam, you also have to take continuing education courses to keep your license active.

While real estate can be an incredible career path for the right people, myths such as this one abound. Before you take the leap into the real estate business, let’s take a look at three other commonly held myths about selling and buying houses.

1. Real estate agents make a ton of money.

Some do. But many others don’t. In fact, in January 2008, the average annual salary for a real estate agent was just under $35,000 — hardly a six-figure income! The good news is that in real estate, the most important factor in your income is YOU. If you work hard, are good at what you do, and happen to live in an area with relatively high property values, you can easily earn $100,000 per year or more. So while the notion of all real estate agents earning a ton of money is definitely a myth, the potential for a high income definitely does exist in real estate.

2. To do well in real estate, you have to be willing to bend the rules.

Just like used car salesmen, real estate agents often get a bad reputation for being willing to do almost anything to make a sale, including lying about a property. Sure, there are always a few bad apples, but don’t forget: Real estates agents are strictly regulated by state law. Plus, agents get most of their work based on word of mouth advertising, and a disgruntled client can do far more damage than the benefit of any quick sale.

3. Real estate agents set their own schedules.

To an extent this is true, especially if the agent works for himself or herself. Certainly there is no one making you punch a time card or stick it out in your cubicle until 5 p.m. sharp. However, that freedom also demands a great deal of flexibility. Houses need to be shown at all hours of the day — and all days of the week. There is no such thing as “Happy Hour” when you are trying to make a sale or close or deal. Evenings and weekends are part and parcel of the job, and when a deal is in the final stages, work can and often will need to be down around the clock.

Want to learn more about working in real estate? Check out the JobMonkey section on jobs in the real estate industry, where we cover everything from licensing requirements to prospecting for clients and more. And for more on how economic news affects real estate jobs, check out this post on the Foreclosure Crisis & Real Estate Careers.

A new study out by the Mortgage Bankers Association has found that a record-high 14 percent of homeowners are either behind on payments or in foreclosure.

In spite of indicators showing that the economic crisis may be lessening, the foreclosure rate is still rising. Economists explain that it’s the record high unemployment that is to blame, since today’s foreclosure rates are largely affecting people with good credit who had fixed-rate home loans.

The housing market will likely stay under pressure due to home-loan defaults, which may mean bad news for real estate agents. Agents typically only get paid when they make a house sale. The fee (usually 6% of the value of the house) is split by the seller’s agent and the buyer’s agent. With the foreclosure rate still record high, the market is likely to stay saturated with low-cost bank sales, which could mean fewer sales — or sales with lower price tags.

Congress acted last week to keep the housing sales moving, however, by extending the home buyers credit. First time home buyers can receive a $7,500 if they close on their home before April 1st. Before Congress extended the credit, a number of people rushed to buy a home in time for the previous tax credit of $8,000. In fact, housing sales rose in October 10.1%. What remains to be seen is whether the extension of the tax credit will keep sale rates high – or if they have reached their natural peak and will now decline. (Here is an article from the Washington Post examining this issue.)

Are you a real estate agent or do you work in the real estate field? What are you hearing about housing sales and the impact of the home buyers credit vs. the rising foreclosure rate? Thinking about becoming a real estate agent? Does the market’s continued instability affect your decision?

Learn more about real estate careers on JobMonkey.

Welcome to Hot Jobs Wednesday here at JobMonkey. How has your job search been going this week?

If you are in the market for a job in real estate, there might be some good opportunities for you on the horizon. With housing sales finally picking up, agents and other real estate professionals will soon be in demand again. In honor of the housing upturn, I am dedicated this week’s Hot Jobs post to jobs in real estate. If you want to learn more about working in this field, check out the JobMonkey’s section on Real Estate Jobs.

1. Vice President, Planning and Strategy,  Prudential Real Estate , Roseland, NJ

Prudential Real Estate’s Group Insurance organization is seeking a Vice President of Planning and Strategy to be responsible for developing and leading the implementation of yearly and longer-terms business plans.  The VP will also evaluate marketplace trends, and assess product line changes or expansions. The ideal candidate will have senior leadership experience in the financial or real estate services industry, strategic planning experience, M&A experience, and strong negotiating skills. A Bachelor’s Degree is required. Advanced degrees are preferred.

2. Senior Account Manager Corporate Services, NAI Direct , Princeton, NJ

NAI Direct is seeking a Senior Account Manager for its corporate services department. NAI is a leading international network of commercial real estate service providers. The ideal candidate for the job will have at least 5 years of professional experience and be versed in Microsoft Office suite. Applicants must also be highly organized and able to multi-task. A real estate license and experience in the industry are a plus.

3. Sales Team Lead @ GetMyHomesValue.com , Lancaster, PA

The website company, GetMyHomesValue.com, is seeking a sales team lead to be responsible for calling and following up with real estate agents to sell and close on subscriptions. The team lead must be able to identify and attract new subscribers, execute cold calling plans, design customized business solutions to fit customers’ needs, provide team leadership, and maintain a high closing percentage of cold calls and warm leads. The ideal candidate will have past experience working within an ethical cold calling environment and be a competitive, results-oriented person. Exceptional interpersonal skills is a must.

Didn’t see the job of your dreams on our Hot Jobs list today? Don’t worry: These three jobs are just a tiny of fraction of the great leads posted by JobMonkey. For more opportunities, check out the Job Center today. And good luck with your job search this week!

Every Thursday (oops, in this case … Friday), the JobMonkey blog answers reader questions about their job search. From how to write a cover letter or negotiate a salary offer to finding a summer job at Disney World and avoiding work at home scams, we’ve got you covered. If you have a question for the JobMonkey blog, please send me an email or leave a note in the comments section. I love hearing from you, so don’t be shy!

Dear JobMonkey,

Thanks,
Alyse in Kansas City

Dear Alyse,

Thank you so much for your letter. I’m sorry to hear about your layoff.

It sounds like you are doing some really good work to figure out your next step, including assessing your current industry and exploring other options.

Beyond job security, though, you are right to think about other factors, too. A steady paycheck is key, of course, but if you hate your job — or have no skills for it whatsoever — then you probably won’t last there long anyway!

From a skills stand-point, it sounds like real estate could be a good fit for you. Keep in mind that the job likely would require you to be a bit more proactive than in your last career. Rather than clients coming to you, a big part a real estate agent’s job (especially in today’s economy) is to drum up business.

Bear in mind that while the housing slump has hit some areas of the country really hard, other areas are still much more stable. Prices are down across the board, but in Florida, Nevada, Michigan and California people are seeing a 30-60%+ cut in their home values. In places like Kansas City, however, the drop is probably closer to 10%.

Another difference between the travel and real estate industries is salary. As a real estate agent, your earnings will be strictly commission based. Your earning potential as an agent is likely higher than in your previous job, but you also have significantly less earning security.

Finally, keep in mind that some retraining will be required for a career in real estate. In addition to a real estate license, most states require you to complete some pre-licensing courses. A good place to learn about the licensing requirements in your state is the Mortgage News Daily. You might also want to check out their message boards for agents, to get a better sense of the real issues agents are facing right now.

As to whether or not this is the best time to become a real estate agent, I am of two minds. On the one hand, let’s be honest, it’s probably not the ideal time to make a move. In fact, many novice agents are getting out the field. During the housing boom (bubble), the field became rather over-saturated.

On the other hand, top-notch agents are still making money today, because even in this economy, they know how to sell houses. It’s in their blood. But is it in yours? Ultimately that’s the question. You don’t have give up on your dreams because of the recession. You may have to be more purposeful, creative or patient to make those dreams come true — but you don’t have to abandon them altogether.

The thing is, I’m not hearing you say that this is your dream. I’m hearing you say that you think this might be a good way to transfer your skills, talents and abilities. If your attraction to real estate is only that it seems like a logical lateral move, you may want to devote some more time to finding something that really sparks your interest.

In the meantime, if recession-proofed industries are a top priority for you, check out this post from a few weeks ago about some of the hottest, most secure job fields out there these days. Maybe your dream employer is on that list? Good luck!

High earning potential, flexible schedule, and helping people to make the biggest financial purchase of their lives. Do these job attributes sound appealing to you? If so, then you might want to consider a career in the real estate industry. Most people assume that a job in real estate means helping clients to buy or sell homes. While agents do account for many of the five million Americans working in the field, others are employed in construction, mortgage banking, title insurance, property management, appraising, development and leasing. To learn more about this demanding, competitive and dynamic industry, click over to the JobMonkey’s section on careers in real estate.