Training as a real estate management professional – this awaits you!

Real estate management professionals mainly work for these employers

• Estate agents or property management companies

• Residential construction companies and corporations

• Companies from the facility management sector

• In the real estate departments of insurance companies and banks

Important distinction between real estate management professionals and estate agents

Before we take a closer look at training as a real estate management professional, it is worth making a brief distinction. To work as a real estate management professional requires three years of training. A specific estate agent training programme does not exist. As an agent, the focus lies primarily on brokering properties. The tasks of a real estate management professional, however, also include the management of properties. You can find out more in our detailed comparison of both professions.

How long does the training for real estate management professionals take?

Training for real estate management professionals is a state‑recognised dual training in the industrial and commercial sector. Subjects taught at vocational school include, among others, property management, accounting, business administration and politics. At the end of the vocational training as a real estate management professional, the knowledge acquired is tested in a final examination.

The training usually lasts 3 years. In the case of particularly good performance, the training period can be reduced by half a year upon application.

Training takes place alternately at the property company and at a vocational school. Towards the end of the training, the trainee can choose a specialism in the property sector and deepen their knowledge in this area. The training concludes with the examination for “Immobilienkaufmann/-frau (IHK)” (real estate management professional certified by the Chamber of Industry and Commerce).

These skills distinguish you as a real estate management professional

Training calls for a skilful way of dealing with people. A friendly, confident manner and a well‑groomed appearance are just as important for the training as organisational skills and perseverance. Very good powers of expression are required both in direct conversations and when communicating with clients by telephone or email. At the same time, negotiation skills and a commercial mindset are indispensable for the property sector. Mathematics and economics are the main aspects of training as a real estate management professional. Since real estate management professionals also have to be familiar with construction regulations, a basic understanding of the legal situation is essential.

In summary, this means that for training as a real estate management professional, ideally you:

• are communicative and friendly

• demonstrate a commercial way of thinking

• have organisational talent and foresight

• possess negotiation skills

• can express yourself very well orally and in writing

• have interest in and understanding of property, mathematics, economics and legal principles

• work carefully and conscientiously

What makes training as a real estate management professional so exciting?

The variety of tasks and the different possible areas of deployment make training for real estate management professionals very popular. Through the combination of office work with on‑site appointments in properties and contact with different people, you will constantly face new challenges during your training as a real estate management professional, all of which need to be mastered. At the same time, the training offers many perspectives: a subsequent degree in property management (provided you have a higher education entrance qualification) or specialisation in a subject‑specific field in the property sector. After one year of professional experience, there is also the possibility of further training to become a property specialist (Immobilienfachwirt).

Have we sparked your interest? Then apply now for training as a real estate management professional  for the next training year at Engel & Völkers!

What do the contents of the training for real estate management professionals look like?

The contents of the training follow the official framework curriculum. You can find more detailed information on this, among other places, on the website of the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in your city or region. As a rule, the following topics are included: property management (rental management, condominium associations, commercial property), purchase, sale and brokering of properties, construction project development and support, financing and investment calculation, legal principles (tenancy law, condominium law, contract law), digitalisation as well as ESG and energy efficiency.

What you are taught by the property company as a trainee depends partly on whether you want to focus on a specific area within the property sector and partly on which values and priorities are of particular importance to the company. With training at Engel & Völkers, you cover the most important basic subjects in the property sector and have every opportunity to make your preferred specialism your foundation for success later on.

How high is the salary during training?

The training salary depends on the company and any applicable collective agreements. In the first year of training, between 1,100 and 1,300 euros per month is common. After that, the training salary increases with each new year of training. Starting salaries after completing training are around 2,400 to 3,200 euros gross per month.

What happens after training?

After training at Engel & Völkers, you have various options for starting out in the property business. During your training, you will in any case acquire sufficient property knowledge to be able to operate successfully on the property market. We are happy to support you in your decision‑making and are also available to answer your questions at any time beyond that.

Career opportunities for real estate management professionals

With your qualification in the bag, various paths are open to you. Those who wish to continue their training can aim to become a property specialist (Immobilienfachwirt) or property business administrator (Immobilienbetriebswirt) alongside their job. For an even deeper entry, a degree course in property management is an option. With some professional experience, becoming self‑employed is also an attractive option.

Looking for professionals?

Here you will find not only the right estate agent in Berlin, but also a list of all estate agents in Hamburg.

Engel & Völkers stands out with competent estate agency offices across Germany and beyond.