Rental Property How much

Selling Your Rental Property Intuit Home Intuit Products Support | Order Status | Shopping Cart Home Online Products Desktop Products Business Tips & Resources Sign In Automatic Renewal My Downloads Tax Tips & Topics Business Taxes Education & Taxes Employment Taxes Family & Taxes Homeowners & Taxes Investments & Taxes Retirement & Estate Taxes Tax Law & the IRS Tax Planning & Savings Tax Prep & Filing E-mail this Print this Selling Your Rental Property How much money am I going to make, after taxes, when I sell my rental property? Are you finally selling your rental property? Was dealing with that last tenant just more than you can stand to go through again? Did you just hear that the vacant land next to your property will be developed into a state college causing your rental property to realize a 10-fold increase in value? Are you approaching retirement and eager to liquidate your investment in order to travel the world, or just relax and take it easy? After finding a buyer and discussing a price, you may wonder what the sale will cost you in taxes and what your after-tax cash flow will be. Before you close the sale, then, you should figure out how much of your proceeds will go to Uncle Sam and how much you will be able to keep. You want to know how much cash you can expect to flow through your hands, after paying fees, costs, and taxes. How can I figure my gain ? Is my gain taxed as ordinary income or capital gain ? How do I report the sale ? What is my after-tax cash flow ? How Can I Figure My Gain? The amount you get for your rental property is the gross sales price. The first step in calculating your taxable gain is to figure out your net sales price. 1. Subtract All Your Selling Costs from the Gross Sales Price. You'll need a copy of your closing or settlement statement at hand to help you identify the costs involved in selling the property. But don't just assume that all costs on your closing statement can be considered selling costs . Pull out any rental expenses. Your closing statement may include items that were prepaid by you, such as property taxes, insurance, or homeowner's association fees. It may also include items that remain unpaid by you as of the sale date, such as rental deposits or property management fees. These items are ordinary and necessary rental expenses that you should report as part of your rental income or loss on Schedule E rather than as part of your property sale. After filtering out the rental items, add up all the selling costs; such as: Commissions on the sale Document recording costs Legal fees related to the sale Survey fees Title fees or costs Transfer fees Now, subtract your total selling costs from your gross sales price. The result is your net sales price. For example, if you have a total selling cost of $25,400, and your gross sales price is $550,000, your net sales price is $524,600. But how much of the net sales price is your profit, or taxable gain? 2. Subtract the Cost of the Property from the Net Sales Price. To figure your profit, or taxable gain on the sale, you need to subtract the cost of the property from the net sales price. But, naturally, adding up all your costs can take a little work. You need to know how much the property has cost you, starting way back when you bought it, and proceeding through the years as you made improvements (costing your more money), or took deductions for depreciation over the years (reducing your cost). The result is called your adjusted basis, because it has been heavily adjusted over the years, and it forms the basis of any calculation of profit or loss. (For more details, see The Tax Aspects of Selling Your Home . Subtract your adjusted basis in the property from the net sales price, to get your taxable gain. Example: Sally owns a rental property that she originally purchased for $320,000 (of which the portion allocable to land is $100,000), and over the years she has taken depreciation deductions of $115,667 for this property. She is considering an offer to sell the property for $450,000. She estimates that the selling costs will include real estate commissions of 6 percent and other costs of 1 percent of the sales price. Sally's net gain on the sale would be $214,167, calculated as follows: Gross sales price $450,000 Less selling costs at 7 percent 31,500 Net sales price $418,500 Less adjusted basis: Cost basis $320,000 Less depreciation allowed 115,667 Adjusted Basis 204,333 Net gain $214,167 Is My Gain Taxed as Ordinary Income or as a Capital Gain? When you sell a property you've owned for more than a year, the gain (the selling price less your selling costs and your adjusted basis in the property) is taxed at capital gains rates, which are lower than the regular income tax rates. The particular capital gains rate that's used depends on several factors. Most capital gains on sales of rental property are taxed at 15 percent but any gains due to depreciation you have already taken are taxed at 25 percent. Ordinary income, on the other hand, can be taxed with rates as high as 35 percent in 2004. Therefore, it's important to understand how much of your gain will be taxed at ordinary income tax rates and how much will be taxed at capital gains rates. Note: The tax rates addressed here are federal taxes rates only. Any state taxes that may also be due are in addition to the federal taxes. For Property Purchased in 1987 or Later If your property was purchased in 1987 or later: all of your gain will be considered capital gain, but there's a catch: while most long-term capital gains are taxed at a maximum rate of 15 percent, any portion of your gain that's attributed to any depreciation taken on your property is taxed at a special maximum rate of 25 percent. This applies to all depreciation taken on the property. (Note: Beginning in 1987, the only kind of depreciation you could take on the property was the straight-line method). Example: Continuing our example in the last section, Sally placed her rental property into service as a rental in 1988. She decided to depreciate her property on the straight-line basis over 27.5 years, so her total depreciation deductions from 1988 through 2003 amounted to $115,667. Of her $214,167 gain, $115,667 would be taxed up to the special 25 percent capital gains rate for depreciation and $98,500 would be taxed at the 15% capital gains tax rate. For Property Purchased Before 1987 If you acquired the property before 1987, the ordinary income portion of a gain on the sale of Section 1250 property consists of any additional depreciation taken on the property. Additional depreciation is accelerated depreciation that goes beyond what the depreciation would have been if it had been calculated using the straight line method. If your property was purchased before 1987 for residential rentals, additional depreciation on property acquired before 1987 is calculated for all years after 1975. For nonresidential rentals, additional depreciation is calculated for all years after 1969. The total additional depreciation (which is taxed at ordinary income tax rates) is deducted from the net gain in order to determine the amount of the gain subject to capital gains rates. This process is what's known as depreciation recapture. Essentially, because you were able to deduct depreciation expenses from ordinary income while you owned your rental property, you now pay the price at the time of sale: part of the gain on your property is taxed at ordinary income tax rates, in this case, your additional depreciation. Example: Joe purchased his rental property in 1985 for $320,000. He depreciated his property on an accelerated basis over 18 years, resulting in total depreciation deductions of $235,000. Had he used the straight-line method to calculate depreciation, his depreciation deduction would have been $229,000. Under the rules applicable to property purchased before 1987, his additional depreciation is $6,000. Assuming he sold his property for $418,500, of his $333,500 gain, $6,000 would be taxed at his ordinary tax rates and $327,500 would be taxed as capital gain. For more information see, FAQ on Capital Gains . Giving a Nod to Section 1231 Rental real estate, held for more than one year, falls under the definition of Internal Revenue Code Section 1231 and is therefore called Section 1231 property . A gain from the sale of section 1231 property can be either ordinary income to you (as a result of additional depreciation recapture if the property was purchased before 1987) or capital gain, or both. Section 1231 gains that are not subject to depreciation recapture (which is ordinary income) are long-term capital gains. Good news: If you have a loss on the sale of Section 1231 property, the loss is an ordinary loss, meaning that it reduces your ordinary income, not your capital gains income. Section 1231 gives you the best of both worlds, because gains are long-term capital gains (after depreciation recapture) and losses are non-capital, or ordinary, losses. How do I Report the Sale? You report the sale of a rental property on IRS form 4797: Sales of Business Property. The gross sales price, cost or other basis plus expenses of sale, depreciation allowed or allowable, adjusted basis, and total gain are all reported on Page 2, Part III, lines 20 through 24. If the property is Section 1250 property (which is just about any rental property), any ordinary income recapture is calculated on line 26. The capital gains portion of your gain is determined by subtracting the additional depreciation from the total gain. These amounts are carried to page 1 of Form 4797, where this capital portion is netted with other Section 1231 transactions. Transfer the net of Section 1231 transactions from page 1 of Form 4797 to Form 1040, Schedule D, Capital Gains and Losses. Put the ordinary income portion of your gain on line 14 of Form 1040, while your net capital gains from Schedule D are carried to line 13a of Form 1040. If your sale results in a loss, the entire loss is carried to line 14 on Form 1040 and is available to offset income from other sources. What is My After-Tax Cash Flow? Now that you have calculated your tax, you can calculate your net cash proceeds from the sale of the property. Enter your net sales price. Subtract any outstanding loan, to get a subtotal. Multiply the net gain (calculated in the previous example) by the capital gain rate of 25 percent on the part of the gain that represents depreciation and 15 percent on the rest of the gain. Subtract that figure from the subtotal, to see your net cash flow. Example: In our example, assume that Sally had decided she would not sell the rental property unless she could wind up with at least $200,000 cash after taxes and loan repayment. Assume she had an outstanding loan of $125,000 and other taxable income in her return. Her capital gains rates are affected by her other income. She calculates her after-tax cash flow as follows: Net sales price $418,500 Less repayment of the outstanding loan 125,000 Subtotal $293,500 Capital gains taxes at up to 25% & 15% $43,692 Net cash flow (before state taxes) $249,808 Based upon the above calculation, Sally would prefer to sell the rental property because her after-tax cash flow meets her requirements. Caution: Different states have different rules for taxing capital gains. Here, we have not considered the state tax impact. But, before making the sale, you should familiarize yourself with the state tax rules. If the property is located in a state other than your state of residence, it may be wise to study the rules of both the state in which the property is located and your state of residence, because both states may be very interested in your gain. For more on capital gains, see FAQ on Capital Gains . 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Real Estate Listings |

Weichert Realtors: Homes for Sale & Real Estate Listings in NJ,NY,FL,VA,MD,DC,CT,PA,MA,SC,NC,TX,GA,DE,OH,TN,WV En Espanol City & State, or Zip: MLS #: Price Range: $ ,000 To: $ ,000 Rentals Careers at Weichert Luxury Homes Historic Homes New Homes and Land Corporate Housing Commercial & Investments Insurance Gold Services Relocation Real Estate Schools Referral Associates Franchise Opportunities Start your Home search here, or click on the map. Please Select Alabama Arkansas Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Illinois Maryland Massachusetts Missouri New Jersey New York North Carolina Ohio Pennsylvania South Carolina Tennesee Texas Virginia Washington, DC West Virginia Weichert, Realtors proudly donated $1.3 million to the American Red Cross for the victims of Hurricane Katrina Also Search For: Selling · Open Houses · Mortgages · Associates · Offices Browse By State: Alabama Real Estate Properties New York Real Estate Properties Arkansas Real Estate Properties North Carolina Real Estate Properties Connecticut Real Estate Properties Ohio Real Estate Properties Delaware Real Estate Properties Pennsylvania Real Estate Properties Florida Real Estate Properties South Carolina Real Estate Properties Georgia Real Estate Properties Tennesee Real Estate Properties Illinois Real Estate Properties Texas Real Estate Properties Maryland Real Estate Properties Virginia Real Estate Properties Massachusetts Real Estate Properties Washington, DC Real Estate Properties Missouri Real Estate Properties West Virginia Real Estate Properties New Jersey Real Estate Properties Call 1-800-USA-SOLD (1-800-872-7653) Buying a House | Selling a Home | Open Houses | Real Estate Agents | Realtor Offices Find a Mortgage | My Real Estate Listings | About Weichert | Home | Contact Us Real Estate Franchise Opportunities | Weichert Careers © 2005 Weichert Realtors. All rights reserved. Terms of Use | Privacy Statement REALTOR® -- A Registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS ® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Inquiries regarding the Code of Ethics should be directed to the board in which a REALTOR® holds membership. © 2005 Weichert Realtors. All Rights Reserved.

Home For Sale

Real estate listings and homes for sale - RELO National Home Search Real estate listings and homes for sale - RELO National Home Search Search 2 million mls listings from The Leading Real Estate Companies of the World U.S. State Search U.S. Map --- Quick Search -- select state -- Alaska Alabama Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Iowa Idaho Illinois Indiana Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Massachusetts Maryland Maine Michigan Minnesota Missouri Mississippi Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico Nevada New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Virginia Vermont Washington Wisconsin West Virginia Wyoming Renters Becoming Increasingly Larger Percentage of Relocating Employees n recent years, the need for rental assistance in the relocation industry has been gaining on the home buyer market. Mobility Magazine’s October 2003 issue reports that 66% of new hires and 60% of current employees are renters, which is a 7% increase over 2001… >> Click to continue Zip Code Home Search: County Search: Jump to State: Alabama Alaska Arkansas Arizona California Colorado Connecticut D.C. Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana North Carolina North Dakota Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Search by Metro Area: New York Chicago San Francisco Los Angeles Washington DC Boston Save 15% on your FICO credit score. Enter promo code "RELO" to redeem your discount. RELO National Home Search helps consumers find real estate listings, homes for sale or real estate agents. The tool enables consumers to search 2 million local real estate listings and homes for sale. Before buying a home, search mls listings and homes for sale to find a real estate agent through RELO National Home Search. According to the National Association of Realtors, 72 percent of consumers look for a residential property online. RELO National Home Search provides moving assistance to relocating consumers and second-home buyers. RELO Home Search links over 600 RELO members' websites together, the majority offer local mls listings in their area. Further, RELO provides relocation assistance services and international relocation through the RELO network. Whether you are buying a home, considering moving to a new city, considering a second home or selling a home, use RELO National Home Search to tap into the country's largest network of leading independent residential real estate firms across the nation and around the world. All RELO real estate companies focus on relocation and home buying help. © 2002 – 2003 RELO ® All Rights Reserved. | Terms and Conditions | Bookmark Page | Read Real Estate Articles

Purchase Property

display-points -- This page uses JavaScript. Please enable it or upgrade your browser. UK Property Web - Home Buying and Selling Your browser does not support the script needed to run elements on this website. Please upgrade your browser or enable javascript in your browser's properties. Houses for sale. Dedicated to helping you buy and sell property throughout the UK. Houses For Sale UK Home :: Buy :: Sell :: Letting :: Services :: About us Property and Houses For Sale Privately in the UK We would like to welcome you to UK Property Web on your first visit! If your selling or buying you've come to the right place, we have 100's of houses for sale from all over the UK. Please be sure to contact us if you think we can help you purchase or sell a property. Advertise with us. Houses For Sale with UK Property Web Enter the name of a 'Town', 'County' or 'Region' and hit GO. e.g. 'Southampton' or 'Hampshire' or England. You can also search by Ref number enter all the numbers after Ref UKPW:00 UK Property Web is associated with the following websites: Search for houses from the comfort of your own home: advertise with us, you advertise with them... Houses for sale, flats, apartments, bungalows, cottages... advertisment You won't find another website that offers the same for less! Total Control of Enquiries No Commission Massive Savings Coverage Over 5 Websites Quality Photographs and Descriptions Wide Range of Properties Simple Property Search Total Coverage Over the UK UK PROPERTY WEB NEWS & UPDATES ~ Concerned about the housing market? Click here to find out more ~ ~ Will there be a repeat of the 1990 housing crash? ~ ~ Property Secrets ~ back to top @ UK Property Web we accept credit cards, debit cards and cheques. UK Property Web, 1 Pipit Close, Weymouth, Dorset, DT3 5RT. Email: contact us There are 22 active visitors. web design by

Real Estate Brokers and

Real estate brokers and sales agents Skip Navigation Links Latest Numbers U.S. Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook www.bls.gov Search the Handbook BLS Home | OOH Home | Frequently Asked Questions | A-Z Index | Contact Us Printer-friendly version ( HTML ) -- PDF ) -- Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents Nature of the Work Working Conditions Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement Employment Job Outlook Earnings Related Occupations Sources of Additional Information Significant Points Real estate brokers and sales agents often work evenings and weekends and usually are on call to suit the needs of clients. A license is required in every State and the District of Columbia. Although gaining a job may be relatively easy, beginning workers may face competition fromwell-established, more experienced agents and brokers in obtaining listings and in closing an adequate number of sales. Employment is sensitive to swings in the economy, especially interest rates; during periodsof declining economic activity and increasing interest rates, the volume of sales and the resultingdemand for sales workers fall. Nature of the Work [ About this section ] Back to Top One of the most complex and significant financial events in peoples lives is the purchase or sale of a home or investment property. Because of this complexity and significance, people typically seek the help of real estate brokers and sales agents when buying or selling real estate. Real estate brokers and sales agents have a thorough knowledge of the real estate market in their communities. They know which neighborhoods will best fit clients needs and budgets. They are familiar with local zoning and tax laws and know where to obtain financing. Agents and brokers also act as intermediaries in price negotiations between buyers and sellers. Real estate agents usually are independent sales workers who provide their services to a licensed real estate broker on a contract basis. In return, the broker pays the agent a portion of the commission earned from the agents sale of the property. Brokers are independent businesspeople who sell real estate owned by others; they also may rent or manage properties for a fee. When selling real estate, brokers arrange for title searches and for meetings between buyers and sellers during which the details of the transactions are agreed upon and the new owners take possession of the property. A broker may help to arrange favorable financing from a lender for the prospective buyer; often, this makes the difference between success and failure in closing a sale. In some cases, brokers and agents assume primary responsibility for closing sales; in others, lawyers or lenders do. Brokers supervise agents who may have many of the same job duties. Brokers also supervise their own offices, advertise properties, and handle other business matters. Some combine other types of work, such as selling insurance or practicing law, with their real estate business. Besides making sales, agents and brokers must have properties to sell. Consequently, they spend a significant amount of time obtaining listings—agreements by owners to place properties for sale with the firm. When listing a property for sale, agents and brokers compare the listed property with similar properties that recently sold, in order to determine a competitive market price for the property. Once the property is sold, both the agent who sold it and the agent who obtained the listing receive a portion of the commission. Thus, agents who sell a property that they themselves have listed can increase their commission. Most real estate brokers and sales agents sell residential property. A small number—usually employed in large or specialized firms—sell commercial, industrial, agricultural, or other types of real estate. Every specialty requires knowledge of that particular type of property and clientele. Selling or leasing business property requires an understanding of leasing practices, business trends, and the location of the property. Agents who sell or lease industrial properties must know about the regions transportation, utilities, and labor supply. Whatever the type of property, the agent or broker must know how to meet the clients particular requirements. Before showing residential properties to potential buyers, agents meet with them to get a feeling for the type of home the buyers would like. In this prequalifying phase, the agent determines how much the buyers can afford to spend. In addition, the agent and the buyer usually sign a loyalty contract which states that the agent will be the only one to show houses to buyers. An agent or broker then generates lists of properties for sale, their location and description, and available sources of financing. In some cases, agents and brokers use computers to give buyers a virtual tour of properties in which they are interested. With a computer, buyers can view interior and exterior images or floor plans without leaving the real estate office. Agents may meet several times with prospective buyers to discuss and visit available properties. Agents identify and emphasize the most pertinent selling points. To a young family looking for a house, they may emphasize the convenient floor plan, the areas low crime rate, and the proximity to schools and shopping centers. To a potential investor, they may point out the tax advantages of owning a rental property and the ease of finding a renter. If bargaining over price becomes necessary, agents must follow their clients instructions carefully and may have to present counteroffers in order to get the best possible price. Once both parties have signed the contract, the real estate broker or agent must make sure that all special terms of the contract are met before the closing date. For example, the agent must make sure that the mandated and agreed-upon inspections, including that of the home and termite and radon inspections, take place. Also, if the seller agrees to any repairs, the broker or agent must see that they are made. Increasingly, brokers and agents are handling environmental problems as well, by making sure that the properties they sell meet environmental regulations. For example, they may be responsible for dealing with lead paint on the walls. While loan officers, attorneys, or other persons handle many details, the agent must ensure that they are carried out. Working Conditions [ About this section ] Back to Top Advances in telecommunications and the ability to retrieve data about properties over the Internet allow many real estate brokers and sales agents to work out of their homes instead of real estate offices. Even with this convenience, much of the time of these workers is spent away from their desks—showing properties to customers, analyzing properties for sale, meeting with prospective clients, or researching the state of the market. Agents and brokers often work more than a standard 40-hour week. They usually work evenings and weekends and are always on call to suit the needs of clients. Although the hours are long and frequently irregular, most agents and brokers have the freedom to determine their own schedule. Consequently, they can arrange their work so that they can have time off when they want it. Business usually is slower during the winter season. Training, Other Qualifications, and Advancement [ About this section ] Back to Top In every State and the District of Columbia, real estate brokers and sales agents must be licensed. Prospective agents must be high school graduates, be at least 18 years old, and pass a written test. The examination—more comprehensive for brokers than for agents—includes questions on basic real estate transactions and laws affecting the sale of property. Most States require candidates for the general sales license to complete between 30 and 90 hours of classroom instruction. Those seeking a brokers license need between 60 and 90 hours of formal training and a specific amount of experience selling real estate, usually 1 to 3 years. Some States waive the experience requirements for the brokers license for applicants who have a bachelors degree in real estate. State licenses typically must be renewed every 1 or 2 years; usually, no examination needs to be taken. However, many States require continuing education for license renewals. Prospective agents and brokers should contact the real estate licensing commission of the State in which they wish to work in order to verify the exact licensing requirements. As real estate transactions have become more legally complex, many firms have turned to college graduates to fill positions. A large number of agents and brokers have some college training. College courses in real estate, finance, business administration, statistics, economics, law, and English are helpful. For those who intend to start their own company, business courses such as marketing and accounting are as significant as courses in real estate or finance. Personality traits are equally as important as ones academic background. Brokers look for applicants who possess a pleasant personality, are honest, and present a neat appearance. Maturity, good judgment, trustworthiness, and enthusiasm for the job are required in order to encourage prospective customers in this highly competitive field. Agents should be well organized, be detail oriented, and have a good memory for names, faces, and business particulars. Those interested in jobs as real estate agents often begin in their own communities. Their knowledge of local neighborhoods is a clear advantage. Under the direction of an experienced agent, beginners learn the practical aspects of the job, including the use of computers to locate or list available properties and identify sources of financing. Many firms offer formal training programs for both beginners and experienced agents. Larger firms usually offer more extensive programs than smaller firms. More than a thousand universities, colleges, and junior colleges offer courses in real estate. At some, a student can earn an associates or bachelors degree with a major in real estate; several offer advanced degrees. Many local real estate associations that are members of the National Association of Realtors sponsor courses covering the fundamentals and legal aspects of the field. Advanced courses in mortgage financing, property development and management, and other subjects also are available. Advancement opportunities for agents may take the form of higher rates of commission. As agents gain knowledge and expertise, they become more efficient in closing a greater number of transactions and increase their earnings. In many large firms, experienced agents can advance to sales manager or general manager. Persons who have received their brokers license may open their own offices. Others with experience and training in estimating property value may become real estate appraisers, and people familiar with operating and maintaining rental properties may become property managers. (See the Handbook statements on property, real estate, and community association managers ; and appraisers and assessors of real estate . ) Experienced agents and brokers with a thorough knowledge of business conditions and property values in their localities may enter mortgage financing or real estate investment counseling. Employment [ About this section ] Back to Top In 2004, real estate brokers and sales agents held about 460,000 jobs; real estate sales agents held approximately 24 percent of these jobs. Many worked part time, combining their real estate activities with other careers. About 6 out of 10 real estate agents and brokers were self-employed. Real estate is sold in all areas, but employment is concentrated in large urban areas and in rapidly growing communities. Most real estate firms are relatively small; indeed, some are one-person businesses. By contrast, some large real estate firms have several hundred agents operating out of numerous branch offices. Many brokers have franchise agreements with national or regional real estate organizations. Under this type of arrangement, the broker pays a fee in exchange for the privilege of using the more widely known name of the parent organization. Although franchised brokers often receive help in training sales staff and running their offices, they bear the ultimate responsibility for the success or failure of their firms. Real estate brokers and sales agents are older, on average, than most other workers. Historically, many homemakers and retired persons were attracted to real estate sales by the flexible and part-time work schedules characteristic of the field. These individuals could enter, leave, and later return to the occupation, depending on the strength of the real estate market, their family responsibilities, or other personal circumstances. Recently, however, the attractiveness of part-time real estate work has declined, as increasingly complex legal and technological requirements are raising startup costs associated with becoming an agent. Job Outlook [ About this section ] Back to Top Employment of real estate brokers and sales agents is expected to grow about as fast as average for all occupations through the year 2014, because of the increasing housing needs of a growing population, as well as the perception that real estate is a good investment. Relatively low interest rates should continue to stimulate sales of real estate, resulting in the need for more agents and brokers. In addition, a large number of job openings will arise each year from the need to replace workers who transfer to other occupations or leave the labor force. However, job growth will be somewhat limited by the increasing use of technology, which is improving the productivity of agents and brokers. For example, prospective customers often can perform their own searches for properties that meet their criteria by accessing real estate information on the Internet. The increasing use of technology is likely to be more detrimental to part-time or temporary real estate agents than to full-time agents, because part-time agents generally are not able to compete with full-time agents who have invested in new technology. Changing legal requirements, such as disclosure laws, also may dissuade some who are not serious about practicing full time from continuing to work part time. This occupation is relatively easy to enter and is attractive because of its flexible working conditions; the high interest in, and familiarity with, local real estate markets that entrants often have; and the potential for high earnings. Therefore, although gaining a job as a real estate agent or broker may be relatively easy, beginning agents and brokers may face competition from their well-established, more experienced counterparts in obtaining listings and in closing an adequate number of sales. Well-trained, ambitious people who enjoy selling—particularly those with extensive social and business connections in their communities—should have the best chance for success. Employment of real estate brokers and sales agents often is sensitive to swings in the economy, especially interest rates. During periods of declining economic activity and increasing interest rates, the volume of sales and the resulting demand for sales workers falls. As a result, the earnings of agents and brokers decline, and many work fewer hours or leave the occupation altogether. Earnings [ About this section ] Back to Top The median annual earnings of salaried real estate sales agents, including commissions, were $35,670 in May 2004.The middle 50 percent earned between $23,500 and $58,110 a year.The lowest 10 percent earned less than $17,600, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $92,770.Median hourly earnings in the industries employing the largest number of real estate sales agents in May 2004 were as follows: Residential building construction $54,770 Offices of real estate agents and brokers 37,970 Activities related to real estate 32,460 Lessors of real estate 25,840 Median annual earnings of salaried real estate brokers, including commission, were $58,720in May 2004. The middle 50 percent earned between $33,480 and $99,820 a year.Median annual earning of real estate brokers were $61,550 in offices of real estateagents and brokers and $44,920 in activities related to real estate. Commissions on sales are the main source of earnings of real estate agents and brokers.The rate of commission varies according to whatever the agent and broker agree on, the typeof property, and its value. The percentage paid on the sale of farm and commercialproperties or unimproved land is typically higher than the percentage paid for selling a home. Commissions may be divided among several agents and brokers. When the property issold, the broker or agent who obtained the listing usually shares the commission with thebroker or agent who made the sale and with the firm that employs each of them. Although anagents share varies greatly from one firm to another, often it is about half of the totalamount received by the firm. Agents who both list and sell a property maximize their commission. Income usually increases as an agent gains experience, but individual motivation,economic conditions, and the type and location of the property also affect earnings.Sales workers who are active in community organizations and in local real estate associationscan broaden their contacts and increase their earnings. A beginners earnings often areirregular, because a few weeks or even months may go by without a sale. Although some brokersallow an agent to draw against future earnings from a special account, the practice is notcommon with new employees. The beginner, therefore, should have enough money to live forabout 6 months or until commissions increase. Related Occupations [ About this section ] Back to Top Selling expensive items such as homes requires maturity, tact, and a sense of responsibility.Other sales workers who find these character traits important in their workinclude insurance sales agents ; retail salespersons ; sales representatives, wholesale and manufacturing ; and securities, commodities, and financial services sales agents .Although not involving sales, the work of property, real estate, and community association managers ,as well as appraisers and assessors of real estate, requires an understanding of real estate. Sources of Additional Information [ About this section ] Back to Top Disclaimer: Links to non-BLS Internet sites are provided for your convenience and do not constitute an endorsement. Information on licensing requirements for real estate brokers and sales agents is available from most local real estate organizations or from the State real estate commission or board. More information about opportunities in real estate is available on the Internet site of the following organization: National Association of Realtors. Internet: http://www.realtor.org OOH ONET Codes [ About this section ] Back to Top 41-9021.00, 41-9022.00 Suggested citation: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Outlook Handbook , 2006-07 Edition , Real Estate Brokers and Sales Agents , on the Internet at http://www.bls.gov/oco/ ocos120.htm (visited December 29, 2005 ). 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Technical (web) questions: webmaster@bls.gov Other comments: feedback@bls.gov Occupations: Management Professional Service Sales Administrative Farming Construction Installation Production Transportation Armed Forces Related Links: Tomorrow's Jobs OOH Reprints Important Info How to Order a Copy Teacher's Guide to OOH Additional Links: Career Guide to Industries Career articles from the OOQ Employment Projections Publications Home BLS Home