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Costa Rica Real Estate for Sale Quick Finder Exclusive Properties Gated Communities Luxury Rentals Beachfront Properties Ocean View Properties ------------- Beach Properties Farms and Mountain Homes for Sale Investment Opportunities Condos for Sale Vacation Rentals Long Term Rentals ------------- Hotels for Sale Land Development Bars & Restaurants Other Investments ------------- Conversion Table Contact Us Call us 1-888-607-6772 Costa Rica Real Estate Contact Us Christmas and new year rental in Costa Rica available call now 1-888-607-6772 or in Costa Rica 844-54-31 click here! Welcome to Costa Rica...a country of exuberant tropical splendor. A nation of peace and great democratic tradition. Come and experience the best of life! Properties in Costa Rica Real Estate Company is located in San Jose, the capital city of this beautiful country. We are a group of professionals whose main goal is to provide you with clear insight into the meaning of investment and purchasing real estate in Costa Rica. We are a proven resource for Real Estate in Costa Rica. Our expertise covers a wide real estate collection in ideal locations for living, retiring or investing in Costa Rica. Our real estate inventory features a special assortment of: Costa Rica beach properties , upscale residential homes for sale , condos , investment real estate, farms, mountain properties and vacation rentals. We understand that relocating or purchasing a vacation property is not an easy job. Moving to Costa Rica and doing business abroad requires a lot of research and reliance upon the company you may be using. We provide you with trustworthy Costa Rica real estate assistance on every step of this process. Properties in Costa Rica main goal lies in leading you to a successful real estate transaction. We can help you get the Costa Rica real estate property or investment of your dreams. Our real estate listing in the Central Valley combine desirable locations in West and East San Jose such as Escazu, Santa Ana, Rohrmoser , Sabana, Sabanilla, Montes de Oca and Moravia among others. You will also find attractive real estate properties in the Central Valley provinces of Heredia and Alajuela, where locations such as la Garita and la Guacima are very appealing because of their wonderful weather, nearby facilities, very nice neighborhoods, farms and homes. Additionally, we provide you with real estate services in both, the Pacific and Caribbean beaches and coastal regions of Costa Rica. Find your vacation home in the beach and smart investment oportunities close to the ocean. We offer quality real estate for sale in Guanacaste, Puntarenas, Manuel Antonio, Dominical and other special locations outside the Central Valley. Costa Rica is a wonderful, peaceful and stable country, experience life at it's best! We invite you to take a tour of our multiple listing service, browse our up-to-the-minute quality real estate listings, and request any information you may require. Send us an e-mail for a fast response, or just fill out our information request form Find: Gated Communities Luxury Rentals Beachfront Properties Only Ocean View Properties Golf Residences Top Exclusive Properties - - - - - - - - - Vacation Rentals Long Term Rentals - - - - - - - - - Beach Properties Farms and Mountain Home for Sale Investment Opportunities Condos for Sale Conversion Table Contact Us Beach Properties | Mountain Properties | Homes for Sale Investment Opportunities | Condos for Sale | Vacation Rentals | Rentals Top Exclusive Properties | Gated Communities | Luxury Rentals | Beachfront Properties Only Ocean View Properties | Golf Residences | Costa Rica Office Space Our Company | Listings | Info Request | Links | Articles | San Jose Attractions | Photo Gallery | Contact Us List your properties with us | Costa Rica Real Estate | Costa Rica Vacation Rentals CONTACT: Properties in Costa Rica www.propertiesincostarica.com info@propertiesincostarica.com Toll free USA and CANADA: 1-888-607-6772 USA: 1 (516) 869-4565 Costa Rica: + (506) 844-5431 * Fax: + (506) 289-0969 * * from the US & Canada dial 011 first Escazu, Centro Comercial El Cruce, 2nd floor, Suite 25 Across the street from ScotiaBank and next to Pops Postal Address: #SJO 72013, 1601 NW 97th Ave. Doral, Fl 33172-2853 Member of Costa Rica Real Estate Brokers Board Member of Fiabci Member of Costa Rica Chamber of Tourism Member of National Association of Realtors All photographs and texts in this site property of PCR Propiedades de Costa Rica SA (PCR) unless otherwise noted. Copying, reproduction or sending to third parties is allowed only with written consent of PCR Request travel information about Costa Rica Design, marketing and hosting by Amerisol Top Exclusive Properties Gated Communities Luxury Rentals Beachfront Properties Only Ocean View Properties Golf Residences Residential Lots Escazu and West Valley Real Estate Buying property in Costa Rica

Selling Home

Century 21 Real Estate: home buying, home selling, financing and property listings. español Put My Century 21 to work for you, simply register your email address and create a password. Once you're registered, you'll be able to • save property descriptions • store your search criteria • file agent information • build a custom library Find out more or register now! Already registered? Sign in . -- Welcome to Century 21 Real Estate Century 21 Real Estate is your online resource for home buying, home selling, financing and property listings. Whether it's a house, condo, or any other type of property, we can assist you with your real estate needs. Search for Properties Looking to buy a new home, condo or any other property? Search thousands of properties in our real estate listings. Search Property Listings » First Time Homebuyers Guide » View Our Buyer Service Pledge » International Century 21 Real Estate LLC is part of the largest real estate referral network in the world - with over 110,000 brokers and sales associates in over 30 countries and territories. Access our world offices today» Sell a Property Let our real estate agents create a customized marketing plan to sell your property. List your Property » View Our Seller Service Pledge » View Mortgage Rates View current mortgage rates, apply for a home equity loan, crunch numbers with home mortgage calculators and more! Apply for a Mortgage Now» Use Our Mortgage Calculators » Find an Office or Agent Find and contact a CENTURY 21 Office or Agent to handle your real estate needs. Find an Office or Agent » Quick Vote! Your vote counts! Let us Know Where do you spend the most time? Bedroom Living Room Kitchen Bathroom Dining Room ©2005 Century 21 Real Estate LLC. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each CENTURY 21 Office Is Independently Owned And Operated. All rights reserved. Information appearing on this site has been produced by or obtained primarily from Century 21 Real Estate LLC and its representatives and from CENTURY 21 franchisees. Century 21 Real Estate LLC is not responsible for the accuracy or completeness of the broker information, sales associate information, listing information or other information provided by our franchisees appearing on or through this site. Such information has been provided by independent third parties who are solely responsible for such content. Certain conditions and restrictions apply to System promotions. Terms and Conditions of Use.

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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Breaking World News: CBSNews.com CBSNews.com The Web Home | U.S. | World | Politics | SciTech | Health | Entertainment | Business | Opinion | NEW --Strange News | Sports | Public Eye | Interactives | FREE CBS News Video The Early Show | CBS Evening News | 48 Hours | 60 Minutes The Saturday Early Show -- | CBS Sunday Morning | Face The Nation | Up To The Minute | Build Your Own Newscast SPECIAL REPORT ----- Year-End Section Photo Galleries Video Archive MP3 Features Timeline Of Events Passings The Year Ahead Quiz: How's Your Nose For News? Quiz: So You Want To Be A Star ... ONLY ON THE WEB -- COURTWATCH Legal Winners & Losers CBS legal analyst Andrew Cohen says who came out on top -- or not -- in the coutroom this year. THE EARLY SHOW One Tough Mother Hattie Kauffman reports on Gert Boyle, the 81-year-old Columbia Sportwear CEO whose motto is "born to nag." 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Hear Silicon Valley Analyst Tim Bajarin PHOTOS Sunrise, Sunset A look at the ups and downs of nature's daily doses of beauty. MARKETS | BUSINESS NEWS Advertisement DOW NSDQ S&P 500 DJIA NSDQ S&P 500 DJIA 10785.70 -10.56 NSDQ 2219.35 -9.59 S&P 500 1254.59 -3.58 © FinancialContent.com Delayed 20 mins. Check Your Stocks: Detailed News Charts SEC Filings Company Profile Historical Quotes Symbol Lookup GO LOCAL Local Weather (Enter Zip or City): Powered by Weather.com Week In Photos Check out the week's most compelling pictures. -- CBSNEWS.COM EXTRA Photo Essay Sunrise, Sunset A look at the ups and downs of nature's daily doses of beauty Who's Who TV New Year's Eve Looking for a party that won't get out of hand? It might not be as far away as you think. Photo Essay Celebrity Circuit Carmen Electra on MTV, a holiday party for the stars and Jennifer Love Hewitt as Santa's helper. News Tools Dry Country Here's a map that shows just how dry the U.S. Midwest has become and why it's ripe for wildfires. Photo Essay Star Splits Breaking up is hard to do, even when you're a celebrity. Officials Fear More Wildfires Updated While winds eased after the outbreak of fires ravaged parts of Texas and Okla., forecasters predict a return of the hazardous conditions by the weekend, plus fireworks celebrating the new year prompting fears of another round of fires. More... Photo Essay: Deadly Wildfires Watch: Brush Fires Turn Deadly Photo: AP Photo/The Daily Oklahoman TOP STORIES West Coast Braces For More Floods Watch N. Calif. Rivers At Highest Levels In 7 Years, More Rain On Way Israeli Checkpoint Stops Bomber Palestinian Blew Himself Up At West Bank Roadblock Set Up After Tip Existing Home Sales Decline Watch Nov. 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U.S. | VIDEO | SECTION PAGE Thief Turned In By Sons Sentenced • 9/11 Loans Went To Unqualified • Friends Feud Over Lottery Claim • Americans Split On Domestic Spying • More Stories World | VIDEO | SECTION PAGE Al Qaeda Threatens Sudan Hostages • Envoys Haggle For Yemen Captives • China Says 300M Drink Unsafe Water • Israeli Checkpoint Stops Bomber • More Stories Health | VIDEO | SECTION PAGE Health Customs Migrate To U.S. • Vitamin D As Cancer Crusher • Newer Cancer Drugs Beat Tamoxifen • Playing The Pain Away • More Stories SciTech | VIDEO | SECTION PAGE Greens Also Feed At Public Trough • Technology Blossoms In 2005 • A Sneak Peek At Consumer Labs • Vitamin D As Cancer Crusher • More Stories Entertainment | VIDEO | SECTION PAGE New: Marsalis New Year's Guest Of Honor • No Charge In Lohan Crash • Jail For Will Smith Identity Thief • Dunkin' Donuts Ad Actor Dies • More Stories Opinion | SECTION PAGE Jive And Thrive In '05 • New: Turning Point In Military Strategy • Good Gifts • Rough Year For Bush In Polls • More Stories Politics | VIDEO | SECTION PAGE DeLay Gets Hearing On Speedy Trial • Dems Charge Homeland Failures • Rough Year For Bush In Polls • More Early Alito Memos Released • More Stories Business | VIDEO | SECTION PAGE 2006 Economy Looks Solid • Hilton Reunites, 40 Years Later • Existing Home Sales Decline • Weekly Jobless Claims Rise • More Stories STRANGE NEWS | SECTION PAGE Doggie Insurance Now Required in Vienna • Austrian Artists Pull Offending Billboards • Pay Up: Billions Sought in Bill Mixup • Jamaican Police Officer Becomes Rap Artist • More Stories SPORTS | VIDEO | SECTION PAGE Secondary concerns • Last year's applicants have good shot at Cooperstown • Don't look now, but Ravens' Boller has 'found himself' • More Stories CBS NEWS BROADCASTS The Early Show Start The Year With An Open House Watch One approach would be a Mediterranean-style New Year's Day bash, and cooking teacher and cookbook author Tori Ritchie has some ideas and recipes sure to earn you raves. She shares them on The Early Show . More... The Early Show CEO Is 'One Tough Mother' Watch Columbia Sportswear is a billion-dollar company with a CEO whose motto is "Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and advertise." At 81, Gert Boyle is young at heart. More... CBS Evening News The Art Of Verbal Judo Watch Former police officer George Thompson teaches other cops how to avoid conflict and gain compliance from suspects with a technique he calls verbal judo, Richard Schlesinger reports. More... The Early Show A Sneak Peek At Consumer Labs Watch When Consumer Reports magazine publishes test results, the world listens. But how do they evaluate all those products? WCBS-TV technology editor Brett Larson got a look inside the lab and filed a report for The Early Show . More... The Early Show Amputee An Inspiration To Others Watch A horrific train accident cost Cameron Clapp both legs and one arm. But as Dave Price reports, the young man is determined to make the most of his situation and serves as an inspiration to others. More... The Early Show Nervous Flyers Catch Security Eye Watch The next time you fly, security personnel may spend more time looking at you than at your bags. Behavior observation programs are being tested at some U.S. airports. The Early Show 's Tracy Smith reports. More... Back To Top Advertisement Fullscreen | Help All Videos Iraqi Election Turmoil | E-Mail West: Rain, Snow & Mudslides | E-Mail Crawling While Intoxicated? | E-Mail Teen Amputee's New Life | E-Mail Take the CRIMINAL MINDS profiler quiz Fantasy Football: Roster Trends Play along with CSI Interactive. Take our CRIMINAL MINDS quiz to find out if you're FBI agent material. | Thu. Dec. 29, 2005 CBS.com 8:00 Criminal Minds: When the daughter of a District Attorney is kidnapped. 9:00 CSI: One cult member turns up missing at a mass suicide crime scene. 10:00 Without a Trace: Jack endures a brutal deposition by his wife's divorce attorney. CBS SportsLine NFL Films: Charles Haley Peach Bowl Preview: LSU-Miami Check out the SPiN On Sports POP QUESTION Vote for your top five news stories of 2005 Iraq Pope Dies/ New Pope Plamegate Katrina / Hurricanes Rosa Parks Dies Supreme Court Vacancies Bush's Domestic Spying Tsunami Relief Bird Flu Spreads Charles Marries Camilla Brad / Jen / Angelina Tom & Katie Natalie Holloway / Aruba Pakistan Earthquake Shuttle Relaunch Deep Throat Revealed -- -- Advertisement Enter Moens Show Us Your Style Sweepstakes Would you like a two hour consultation from celebrity designer Vern Yip plus $5000 in cash and Moen products? 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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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