Real estate prices and
Real estate price index, annual changes - Statistics Sweden Find: A-Z Content Search Find more on the website --------------------------- Agriculture, forestry and fishery Business activities Citizen influence Culture and leisure Education and research Energy Environment Financial markets Health and medical care Household finances Housing and construction Information technology Judicial system Labour market Living conditions National accounts Population Prices and Consumption Public finances Social insurance Social services Trade in goods and services Transport and communications --------------------------- Use Sweden's Statistical Database Maps About Sweden's Statistical Database --------------------------- Publication plan Publications About the publications --------------------------- International statistics Information and Library Economic statistics Regional statistics Methodology --------------------------- Information services Statistics Sweden's Business Register SCB International Consulting Order international statistics Order Swedish statistics --------------------------- Swedish Statistics Net Other statistical sources Housing and construction Real estate prices and registrations of title Real estate price index Per cent change from previous year. As a comparison the consumer price development is also shown Download Data and graphs for printing out (101 kb) Comments The graph shows the development of prices for one- and two-dwelling buildings for permanent living, buildings for seasonal and secondary use and multi-dwelling and commercial buildings. For one- or two dwelling buildings and buildings for seasonal and secondary use, the development is expressed as per cent change of real estate price index from the previous year. For multi-dwelling and commercial buildings it is the development of the purchase-price coefficient. The inflation rate has been included in the graph to further illustrate the development of prices. The late 1980s was a period with very rapid price increases. The downturn of the economy in the early 1990s ended this and the price level decreased for three years. During the latter half of the 1990s, price increases have again been considerable. For the whole period, consumer prices have increased at a much slower pace than real estate prices. Press information Statistical Databases More graphs on real estate prices Real estate price index, annually. 1981=100 To Economic statistics To Business cycle indicators Top of page Updated: 2005-06-01
Florida Real Estate
Anchor Vacation Properties, Inc. & Anchor Realty & Mortgage Co. Purveyors of Fine Homes and Estates Real Estate Sales Area Information Vacation Rentals Anchor Realty and Mortgage Co. is a full service real estate brokerage firm with 11 offices in the Forgotten Coast of the Florida Panhandle. Our 90+ professional Realtors have a superb track-record in assisting clients in their search for investment properties, beach front, and/or water front real estate. To best serve you, we have two offices in Apalachicola and one office in each of the following markets: Carrabelle, St. George Island, St. Joe Beach, Gramercy Plantation in Eastpoint, Cape San Blas, Simmons Bayou, Mexico Beach, Tallahassee and Lynn Haven near Panama City Beach. Our professional Realtors specialize in platted subdivisions (new and re-sales), vacant land, historic homes, beach homes, town homes, condominiums and commercial property. Just stop by and meet with a REALTOR® or view our website or simply call us for more information. Telephone Directory Anchor Vacation Properties, Inc. offers approximately 150 beach rental homes and townhomes in St. George Island, the St. George Plantation, Apalachicola and Carrabelle, Florida available by the night, by the week or by the month. Guests may also choose the convenience of our hotel, The St. George Inn. Property locations are: beach front, beach view, bay front, river front and interior. Some rentals feature: swimming pools, elevators and docks. Some of our homes and cottages are pet friendly. The St. George Inn on St. George Island offers rooms and suites from $59 to $169 per night. For more information, to request a free brochure, to book your next family vacation, to schedule a fabulous romantic getaway, or to plan your next fishing trip, click the above Rental link or call 1.800.824.0416 or 1.850.927.2625 Site Map
land for sale has
Land for sale UK 09:14 | Thursday 29 December Land for sale UK * There are interesting land sales available for a variety of different uses, such as caravan parks suitable for motor homes, horticultural use, and farms or fincas. For further details click the E-mail Us button on the left. * Over recent years land for sale has proved to be the most attractive investment in Europe, and expert opinion states that the demand can only increase. * We are happy to advise those seeking land for sale, whether on a deserted part of the coast, a small village, the tranquillity of rural countryside, or in one of the more active holiday resorts. We have opportunities available for all forms of land for sale in Spain, on the Costa del Sol, the province of Malaga, and the region of Andalucia. * The increasing value of land in Spain, and particularly the Costa del Sol, shows no sign of slowing down, and over the last ten years has undoubtedly been the best investment. The ever increasing number of families wanting to live in a warmer climate continues to drive the price upwards. If you are considering looking for investment land on the Costa del Sol, we would be delighted to act on your behalf. * There are tremendous opportunities for investment land both here and abroad, from individual lots or building plots to larger tracts of land suitable for development. Tell us how many acres or hectares of land, is it for farming or a plot or lot of building land? If for a farm what type of earth and soil is important to you, which area? When are you hoping to purchase, by direct negotiation or at an auction? Do you have any existing land to trade? Land for sale UK - Historical Data Fascinating information in The Domesday Book Site Government information at the Land Registry Site Land for sale - Translations for those clients interested in Spanish land Agent - agencia Estate agent - inmobiliaria House - casa Home , of any type - casa Semi-detached house - adosado or adosao Detached house - casa unifamiliar Two floors - duplex Swimming pool - piscina Garden - jardin Town hall taxes - IBI Rubbish taxes - basura Electricity - corriente or la luz Electricity company - Sevillana - pronounced Seveelyarna Land - terreno Land for sale - terreno en venta Land investment in Spain - inversion en terreno Land for camping - terreno para camping Building land on the Costa del Sol - terreno para construir Built area , of property - construido. Floor area is measured in square meters Sq.m. - metros cuadrados or metro cuadrao Costa del Sol - sunny coast Lot or plot - parcela - pronounced par sella Lot for building - solar Town - pueblo Out in the country - en el campo For sale - en venta or se vende Legal document , of ownership - escritura Legal guy that checks legality - Notario Builder - constructor Plumber - fontanero Electrician - electricista Plasterer - escayolista Architect - architecto Camping - camping Build - construir - pronounced con stroo ear Land for sale UK Top : Land Investment UK - Home Home Land for Sale E-mail Us Webmasters Australia Canada Directories International UK USA Building Plots Hotels Insurance Land Development Metric Conversion Mortgage Resources Vacant Land Site Map
Buy House
Amazon.com: House of Sand and Fog [SOUNDTRACK]: Music Your Store Music See All 32 Product Categories Your Account | Cart | Wish List | Help | advanced search | browse styles | classical | top sellers | new & future releases | music you should hear | blowout music | used music | free downloads Search Amazon.com Popular Music - Artist Name - Album Title - Song Title Used Music Classical Music Music Downloads Web Search Join Amazon Prime and ship Two-Day for free and Overnight for $3.99. Already a member? Sign in . MUSIC INFORMATION Explore this album buying info see track listings editorial reviews customer reviews RATE THIS ALBUM I dislike it I love it! 1 2 3 4 5 Edit your ratings Sign in to turn on 1-Click ordering. A9.com users save 1.57% on Amazon. Learn how . 62 used & new from $10.89 Have one to sell? House of Sand and Fog [SOUNDTRACK] James Horner List Price: $17.98 Price: $17.98 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. See details . Availability: Usually ships within 24 hours 62 used & new from $10.89 See more product details Better Together Buy this album with Angels in America [Soundtrack] ~ Thomas Newman (Performer)today! Buy Together Today: $36.96 Customers who bought this title also bought: The Village (Score) [Soundtrack] ~ James Newton Howard (Composer), et al Road to Perdition [Soundtrack] ~ Thomas Newman (Performer), et al Iris (2001 film) [Soundtrack] ~ James Horner, Joshua Bell (Performer) The Horse Whisperer: Original Score [Soundtrack] ~ Thomas Newman Message In A Bottle: Original Motion Picture Score (1999 Film) [Soundtrack] ~ Gabriel Yared (Composer), et al Finding Neverland [Soundtrack] ~ Jan A.P. Kaczmarek (Composer), et al Far from Heaven (Score) [Soundtrack] ~ Elmer Bernstein (Composer) A Beautiful Mind: Original Motion Picture Score [Enhanced] [Soundtrack] ~ James Horner Explore Similar Items : 20 in Music What similar items do customers ultimately buy after viewing this item? 20% buy Searching For Bobby Fischer (1993 Film) ~ James Horner (Composer), James Horner (Conductor) 19% buy The Missing (Score) ~ James Horner (Composer), James Horner (Conductor) 17% buy Beyond Borders ~ James Horner (Composer), et al 12% buy this item(House of Sand and Fog~ James Horner (Composer) 6% buy The Last Castle ~ Jerry Goldsmith (Composer), et al 5% buy The Cell (2000 Film) ~ Howard Shore 3% buy The Game ~ Howard Shore Explore Similar Items : 9 in Music Product Details Essential recordings: James Horner Audio CD (December 9, 2003) Number of Discs: 1 Label: Varese Records Format: Soundtrack ASIN: B0000YEF20 Average Customer Review: Based on 5 reviews. Write a review . Amazon.com Sales Rank: Today: #15,390 in Music Yesterday: #103,294 in Music Customers interested in James Horner (Composer) may also be interested in Sponsored Links ( What's this? ) Feedback James Horner Sheet Music Titanic, Legends of the Fall and more. 387,000 titles. Fast. Go now! www.SheetMusicPlus.com Track Listings 1. An Older Life 2. The Waves of the Caspian Sea 3. Old Photos, New Memories 4. This Is No Longer Your House 5. Two People 6. Kathy's Night 7. Parallel Lives, Parallel Loves 8. Behrani's Thoughts - Long Ago 9. Break-In 10. The Dreams of Kings 11. The Shooting, A Payment for Our Sins 12. We Have Travelled So Far, It Is Time to Return to Our Path 13. A Return to the Caspian, And to the Iran of Old Editorial Reviews Amazon.com A California real estate dispute may hardly seem the foundation for riveting drama, but in director Vadim Perelman's adaptation of Andre Dubus II's novel it becomes an unflinching, yet crucially non-judgmental study of disparate characters caught up in a spiraling conflict where home is considerably more than a place to live. Composer James Horner takes the medium-budget project as an opportunity to break with much of the melodic expectations of his Hollywood fare, coloring the film's more personally-scaled drama with an introspective score that turns on masterful musical evocations of mood and emotion. Horner begins with a deft electronic/orchestral synthesis ("An Older Life") that both recalls some of T-Dream's more evocative cinematic moments and subtly sets up the score's melancholy emotional tone. From there he relies heavily on autumnal, string writing (reminiscent of Copland and Barber) and spare piano flourishes, seasoned with inventive rhythmic touches, to carry its moody tone forward. While it may draw on some of the same minimalist and post-modern influences as A Beautiful Mind , it has a wholly different emotional cast; a dark, but deeply rewarding musical journey. --Jerry McCulley Spotlight Reviews (What's this?) Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 10 of 10 people found the following review helpful: Great return to form for Horner , January 8, 2004 Reviewer: James Luckard (Los Angeles, CA)- See all my reviews I agree with the previous reviewer. I used to be a huge Horner fan and picked up most of his new albums until about five years ago, when I felt he lost his magic. Most of his recent scores have sounded like they were on autopilot, and I still remember my horror at seeing Enemy at the Gates and hearing his main theme, also known as the main theme from Schindler's List. Now, I know, there are a thousand arguments about why film music is not always meant to sound totally original, and that Williams may have even borrowed some of his Schindler's melodies from elsewhere. It's all a matter of personal taste and I just haven't been moved by a Horner score for a while. When I saw this beautifully crafted film, however, I was struck by the simplicity and emotional depth of Horner's work. It reminds me a great deal of his beautiful score for Deep Impact. I was also glad to not hear tunes he'd used previously elsewhere. Although this doesn't have any of the driving, epic, thematic music Horner became a star for, like Titanic, it's a hauntingly beautiful work and is certainly worth picking up, especially for the wrenching final half-hour of the film, which is almost entirely scored. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 16 of 16 people found the following review helpful: James Horner's best work in a long time. , February 15, 2004 Reviewer: Richard Stoehr "Differed From" (Bremerton, WA USA)- See all my reviews Even a diehard James Horner fan (like me) has to admit that, for the past few years, Horner has been skating by. With the scores for "Enemy at the Gates", "Radio", and "A Beautiful Mind", among others, Horner borrows heavily from himself and regurgitates old themes and progressions. Even the score for which he's perhaps best-known -- the Oscar-winning "Titanic" -- is heavily derivative of his own previous work. Finally, with "House of Sand and Fog," Horner has given us something to treasure again: an original, moving score for a great film. Listening to this music, I am reminded why I started following Horner's work so long ago. His subtle touch and avoidance of a "catchy" theme is evident in every track. Among my favorite pieces are "Two People," "The Dreams of Kings," and "Old Photos, New Memories"... but really, every song is a good one, and the album as a whole can be numbered as one of Horner's true masterpieces. What I admired most about it was that Horner was able to abandon the style he has adopted for most of his recent work and just let the spirit of the film take over. Good film music is all about making music which evokes the right emotion for the film it accompanies, and the music for "House of Sand and Fog" does that perfectly, not only going along with but enhancing the feeling of each scene. The fact that the music is a joy to listen to on its own just makes it that much better. Listening to James Horner's score for "House of Sand and Fog" reminds me of when I first listened to "Glory" and "Field of Dreams" and "Sneakers"... not because these scores are similar, but because they are all unique. They all bear the mark of James Horner, but it is Horner at his original and emotional best, and James Horner at the top of his game makes for some wonderful music. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) All Customer Reviews Average Customer Review: Write an online review and share your thoughts with other customers. 5 of 5 people found the following review helpful: Serves the Movie Well , July 16, 2004 Reviewer: Robert Stribley (The Deep South, United States)- See all my reviews I agree with many here who say that much of James Horner's music has sounded the same of late, but that this soundtrack is exceptional. Quiet, elegant, melancholy, moving: not words you'd use to describe a movie soundtrack, especially a wide-release flick like this, these days. I even agree that some of the pieces remind me of Gorecki. "The Waves of the Caspian Sea," for example, sounds remarkably like the Polish composer (one of my favorites, too), to the point that I almost expect to see his name in the credits. Overall, truly haunting and beautiful. Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 6 of 6 people found the following review helpful: One of the best of 2003 , March 26, 2004 Reviewer: A music fan James Horner has never been my favorite composer. I think he borrows heavily from himself without ever stating anything new. This isn't always a problem if the composer takes his "internal themes" and transfers in an invigorating way to new material. But for me, Horner doesn't do that. With this score for THOSF, Horner really hits one home. I actually had to look at the cd just to make sure it really said "music composed by James Horner", this is so beautiful and different for him. As others have said, all of the tracks really are beautiful. This isn't the type of score you put on as background music nor something you listen to to Not think. This score is emotive and heavily melancholic. It reminds me of Gorecki's Symphony No.2, and if you know that piece of music, you know there's no a higher compliment I can pay this score. (BTW, if you're interested in a composer doing new and exciting things check out Danny Elfman's score for The Hulk, his score that should've been nominated over his mediocre one for Big Fish.) Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) 11 of 11 people found the following review helpful: OSCAR CONSTENDER!!!! , December 10, 2003 Reviewer: A music fan (somewheres) This soundtrack is deep in emotion, but extremely subtle and "underplayed"- a beautiful and very relaxing work. Listen to it in the dark! It is come of the most calming music! And for all you Horner fans out there - he does not borrow any real theme or even transitions (until the 15 minute track - "the Shooting, and Payment for our sins" where there is actually one statement from the missing score). Other than that his style is pretty much the same even though a lot less melodic and more like Lisa Gerrard's WHALERIDER, or DRAGONFLY by Debney. The instruments used are piano (there is wonderful piano solo in "TWO PEOPLE", string orchestra with synths and a tiny bit of oboe and flute. Also a neat touch for the tension motif is the plucking of strings along w/ timpani! If you like darker, ambient and personal scores get this today!!!! Was this review helpful to you? ( Report this ) See all 5 customer reviews... 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Real Estate Brokers and
Real estate brokers and sales agents Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2006-07 Edition U.S. Department of Labor | Bureau of Labor Statistics | Bulletin 2600 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 ). Last Modified Date: December 20, 2005 Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics