What to study to work in a real estate agency

What you need to work in real estate

In our country, for some years now, it has not been necessary to have any specific qualifications, nor to be a member of any professional association, nor to pass any exams. However, there is still the possibility of becoming a member of the Official Association of Real Estate Agents, for which it is necessary to hold a university degree of any kind and pass the qualifying exam that the Ministry of Development organises every year to obtain the title of Real Estate Agent. Therefore, it is important to be clear about what to study in order to work in a real estate agency and whether it is compulsory or not.

Having this qualification offers a series of advantages that should not be overlooked. The main one, without a doubt, is the recognition and prestige that this qualification offers when it comes to working as an estate agent. In addition, of course, there is the ability to advise clients on legal, technical and fiscal matters. Nor should it be overlooked that being a member of a professional association also gives the professional access to the stock exchanges to carry out judicial appraisals, which provides a substantial extra income. Of course, a qualified and experienced professional can also offer training courses to people interested in expanding their knowledge in this area. Not to mention the possibility of accessing all kinds of notifications, circulars and publications specialising in the real estate field, including new regulations and legislation. Last but not least, it should be borne in mind that all members of the association have civil liability insurance to cover them when carrying out their professional activity.

In any case, it should not be forgotten that in certain autonomous communities, such as Catalonia, it is compulsory to be registered in the Register of Real Estate Agents of Catalonia (Aicat), in order to work as a real estate agent in the whole region. It is therefore advisable to be familiar with the specific legislation of the autonomous community in which you are going to work as an estate agent.

What it is like to work in a real estate agency

Working in a real estate agency is dynamic, fun, enjoyable and, above all, multifunctional. Except in the case of large real estate agencies that have specialised staff for each of the tasks, the work in a real estate agency is usually very varied. In fact, among the daily tasks that the staff of a real estate agency is in charge of, we can mention the following:

- Property acquisition. To a large extent, the viability of a real estate agency will depend on the stock of properties available for sale or rent.

- Advertising of properties and premises. Of course, once you have a good stock of properties for sale or rent, it is essential to advertise them properly so that potential clients are aware of the offers.

- Various formalities. We must not forget the administrative procedures to be carried out in a real estate agency. These range from obtaining an energy efficiency certificate for a property, to arranging an appointment at the notary's office for the signing of a sale or purchase.

Therefore, when we talk about what it takes to work in a real estate agency, we are referring to a series of skills that these professionals must have. Some examples of these could be negotiation skills, a minimum of financial and banking knowledge, maintaining an empathetic and friendly attitude with clients, being a person with good communication and marketing skills.

Why work in real estate

There are many compelling reasons why working in real estate is one of the best careers available today. The main reasons can be developed in five sections that we are going to detail below:

1. High income. The activity of a real estate agency can be frenetic depending on the stock of properties it has, which brings in an enormous volume of profits.

2. The help of specialised software. Anyone who carries out this activity has the support of software that gives access to the entire market of properties for sale, which greatly facilitates the work of advising clients. In addition, there is access to specialised web portals.

3. I work with a great deal of independence. Being a real estate agent is a job with a lot of flexibility and a great deal of independence.

4. Efficient and effective management. The management method of this type of business is usually very efficient and produces results very quickly.

5. Access to referral system. The best real estate agents have access to an extensive database that interconnects the main agencies and allows the exchange of information and properties between them.

Benefits of working in a real estate agency

Working in a real estate agency brings many and varied benefits. This job offers constant training, as you learn something new every day thanks to the wide field of business in which you work. In addition, social skills and relationships are enhanced, which increases the number and quality of personal relationships by being in direct contact with many people every day. In addition, there is also the life experience that you gain and that you can use to your advantage when buying a first home or even a holiday home. Nor should we forget the enormous cultural exchange that real estate workers experience, as more and more people, mainly from European or Middle Eastern countries, are becoming interested in buying property in Spain. Finally, it is also worth mentioning the fantastic quality of life that real estate agents experience due to the flexibility they enjoy in this job.

Real estate agent salary

Many people who are considering whether to start their professional activity as an estate agent wonder what salary is charged for this job. In this way, we are going to reveal the real estate agent salary and for this we have to be rigorous and go to official sources. In this sense, we can consult the data produced and published by the consultancy firm Macdonald & Company, which some years ago compiled the figures of the average salaries received by professionals in the real estate sector throughout Europe. Based on this data, we can state that the average salary of a real estate agent in southern European countries, including Spain, is around 75,000 euros per year. Furthermore, it is worth noting that this figure can be increased by up to 15% if the real estate agent has a university education. Without a doubt, this is a unique job opportunity.

If you are interested in the real estate sector, we encourage you to join our team of freelance collaborators in Madrid.