Las Vegas Real Estate
Spotlight: Las Vegas Real Estate Lawyers on Las Vegas Citysearch 7 BOC Spa & Beauty: 7 days till voting begins -- New to Citysearch? Sign In · Help · Dec 29 2005 Home Restaurants & Bars Hotels Shopping Spa & Beauty Movies Events See More Categories » Search Business name, category, and/or keyword Search by name only Address, city & state, or zip Address, city & state, or zip | Neighborhood Address, city & state, or zip | Airport Address, city & state, or zip | Attraction Select a Las Vegas Neighborhood Select an Las Vegas Airport Select an Las Vegas Attraction My Locations Add/edit locations Recent Locations Clear recent locations Spotlight: Las Vegas Real Estate Lawyers Find top real estate lawyers in Las Vegas. Citysearch has recommendations, ratings, tips and more for real estate lawyers in and around Las Vegas. On This Page: Real Estate Lawyers Real Estate Lawyers Back to Top Wood, Smith, Henning & Berman LLP 4175 S. Riley Street, Suite 204, Las Vegas, NV Bullivant Houser Bailey PC 3980 Howard Hughes Parkway, Suite 550, Las Vegas, NV Jones Vargas 3773 Howard Hughes Parkway Third Floor South, Las Vegas, NV Jones, J Randall - Harrison Kemp & Jones 3800 Howard Hughes Pkwy Ste 1700, Las Vegas, NV Rice, Stephen M. - Rice Silbey Reuther & Sullivan, LLP 3960 Howard Hughes Parkway Suite 700, Las Vegas, NV McCormick, Barstow, Sheppard, Wayte & Carruth LLP 3900 Paradise Road, Suite 201, Las Vegas, NV Lerner, Glen - Glen J Lerner & Associates 4795 S Durango Dr Ste C, Las Vegas, NV Go to Website Jolley Urga Wirth Woodbury & Standish 3800 Howard Hughes Parkway Suite 1600, Las Vegas, NV Berkley, Gordon & Goldstein, LLP 8330 West Sahara Avenue, Suite 290, Las Vegas, NV Robison, Belaustegui, Sharp & Low, A Professional Corporation 3800 Howard Hughes Parkway, Sixteenth Floor, Las Vegas, NV Greene, A Kent - Clark Greene & Associates Limited 3770 Howard Hughes Pkwy Ste 195, Las Vegas, NV Go to Website Bunin, Daniel M - Bunin & Bunin 626 S 3RD St, Las Vegas, NV Garcia-Mendoza, Eva - Garcia-Mendoza & Snavely 501 S 7TH St, Las Vegas, NV Go to Website Thompson, Ronald J - Santoro Driggs Walch Kearney 400 S 4TH St, Las Vegas, NV Go to Website Gordon & Silver, Ltd. 3960 Howard Hughes Parkway, Las Vegas, NV O'Reilly Law Group, LLC 325 South Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV Fitzsimmons, Laura - Fitzsimmons Laura 509 S 7TH St, Las Vegas, NV Lane, Steve - Hale Lane Peek Dennison Howard 2300 W Sahara Ave Ste 800, Las Vegas, NV Go to Website Patti, Dean R - Dean R Patti & Associates 300 E Charleston Blvd Ste 105, Las Vegas, NV Gordon, Gerald M - Gordon & Silver Limited 3960 Howard Hughes Pkwy Ste 900, Las Vegas, NV Go to Website Related links: Search anything in Las Vegas · Search Yellow Pages in Las Vegas · Search other Cities · Browse Other Las Vegas Editorial Lists About Us | Advertise with Us | Contact Us | Press Center | Site Guide | List Your Business on Citysearch | Become an Affiliate | Job Opportunities | Other Cities | Get a Business Website | Submit an Event | Privacy Policy | Terms of Use | Las Vegas Yellow Pages Citysearch is a registered trademark of 720619 Ontario Inc. and is used under license (C) 2005 Citysearch.com All rights reserved. partner sites: Evite - Entertainment.com - Gifts.com - TripAdvisor - ServiceMagic - Ticketmaster - Expedia - Hotels.com - Hotwire - HSN - LendingTree - Match.com - RealEstate.com - ReserveAmerica - Zerodegrees - CondoSaver - ClassicVacations - Ballard Designs - Frontgate - Garnet Hill - Smith+Noble - The Territory Ahead - Travel Smith
Buy Property
Buying Property in Europe - Help with Real Estate Purchase for Foreigners You are here: About > Travel > Europe for Visitors > Lodging - Hotels and More > Buying Property Travel Go Europe Essentials European Vacation Planning Map Europe Travel 101 - Before you Go European Distances The Best of Europe European Photo Gallery Articles & Resources Europe Travel Planning What to do In Europe Lodging - Hotels and More European Travel Maps Sex and Nudism Travel Photography Transportation Benelux Countries France Germany Austria Switzerland Greece Italy and Malta Travel Info Scandinavian Travel Spain and Portugal United Kingdom and Ireland Buyer's Guide Before You Buy Top Picks Italy Travel Guidebooks Europe Travel Guidebooks German Travel Guidebooks Product Reviews Forums Help FREE Newsletter Sign Up Now for the Europe for Visitors newsletter! See Online Courses Search Europe for Visitors Buying Property in Europe Help with buying property in Europe. European real estate agents, property finders, relocation help, and information for English speakers wanting to buy real estate in Europe. Articles & Resources Sort By : Guide Picks | Alphabetical | Recent Up a category Andalucia Country Houses Huge variety of country houses in Spain are available. El Sol de Espana - Spain Properties Find property in the south of Spain (UK based) Hola Spain Get assistance in finding a property in Spain. Offers viewing trips to see representative properties available. Good General Information page for prospective buyers of Spanish property. (UK based) Home Finder - Italy Have someone help you find a home or villa to buy in central Italy, mostly in Tuscany and the Lunigiana. (USA based). Italy House Scout A US based house finding service for Tuscany, Umbria, Lazio, Liguria, and Le Marche. 2 more Articles & Resources below Articles & Resources more from your guide Move to France Property in France for sale: Brittany and Normandy. (UK based) Overseas Property Online Find property all over Europe. Topic Index | Email to a Friend Our Story | Be a Guide | Advertising Info | Work at About | Site Map | Icons | Help User Agreement | Ethics Policy | Patent Info. | Privacy Policy | Kids' Privacy Policy ©2005 About, Inc., A part of the New York Times Company . All rights reserved. Around About New Video iPod - Review POLL: Must-Have Gadgets VIDEO: Portable Gaming VIDEO: Choosing a TV Hugh Hefner's Life What's Hot Noord-Holland - Delights of North Holland Travel Power Adapters Off Season Europe Europe for Visitors - GuideReviews Portugal Picture Galleries Headlines Valentine's Day in Britain and Grappa Europe Daily Travel News has collected some very interesting short... Antwerp Pictures Antwerp is a fashion and diamond center for Belgium and... Like to Travel Well? Follow the CIA! I really should have paid attention when the CIA came... Tapas from Cans? Ok, so you wander into one of Barcelona's most celebrated...
Colorado Real Estate :
Colorado Springs Real Estate agriculture antiques & collectibles art automotive beauty and fashion business to business computer & internet construction dining education employment entertainment featured sites film & video gifts government graphic arts greeting cards health & fitness home improvement hotels insurance jewelry kid stuff legal services money music new sites non-profit pets products real estate religion relocation senior citizens services shopping sports & recreation teen sites travel & tourism weddings & events Colorado Springs Real Estate Colorado Springs Mortgage Services Sub-categories in Real Estate : Agents and Agencies | Apartments and Townhomes | Appraisal and Inspections | Development | Home Warranty | Listings | Mortgage | Office Space | Planned Communities | Property Management | Relocation Services | Timeshares | Title Insurance More Colorado Real Estate : Aurora | Boulder | Canon City | Castle Rock | Denver | Englewood | Fort Collins | Grand Junction | Highlands Ranch | Lakewood | Littleton | Longmont | Manitou Springs | Monument | Parker | Pueblo | Thornton | Westminster | Wheat Ridge | Woodland Park real_estate page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 Found in Real Estate: Mortgage in Colorado Springs CO Colorado Springs Mortgage Services Featured link! Colorado Springs Mortgage Services has the experience to handle your mortgage needs. CSMS provides state-of-the-art processing services, the most complete range of competitive programs and hassle-free funding. By assisting you in prequalifying, CSMS can help you determine the right price home and make you a cash buyer. CSMS provides financing options for all credit grades serving our customers, REALTORS® and homebuilders. 24/7 online loan approval! Now serving 48 states, not just Colorado Springs real estate. Colorado Springs Mortgage Services PAGE STATUS: 9.13 FIRST LISTED: 10/21/2003 TOP Found in Real Estate: Agents and Agencies in Colorado Springs CO Choice REALTORS® Featured link! Find the home you want! Rely on a proven REALTOR® who is qualified to guide you in buying or selling your next home. Use our experience in finance, contracts, negotiating, and marketing to your best Colorado Springs real estate advantage. Choice REALTORS® PAGE STATUS: 9.12 FIRST LISTED: 9/1/2002 TOP Found in Real Estate: Property Management in Colorado Springs CO Sunflower Management Featured link! Property management is all we do, from resident screening to move out cleaning. Sunflower Management dedicates itself to providing the highest quality services to all our clients. We provide full property management services, including comprehensive resident screening and leasing, advertising, property evaluation, lease enforcement, investment analysis, and capital project planning. Let us prepare a review and comparison of our Colorado Springs real estate management services for your property. We will show you how we can put your investment to work for you. PAGE STATUS: 9.01 FIRST LISTED: 9/7/2005 TOP Found in Real Estate: Relocation Services in Colorado Springs CO Colorado Springs Real Estate Featured link! Use this site to explore El Paso County communities and find the neighborhood that fits your likes and priorities. This site has extensive community information, consumer links, school information, free reports , real estate answers, Colorado Springs info and more. Colorado Springs Real Estate PAGE STATUS: 9.00 FIRST LISTED: 9/1/2001 TOP Found in Real Estate: Agents and Agencies in Canon City CO Homes of Southern Colorado Featured link! For BUYERS and SELLERS in Canon City, Florence, Penrose, and Mountain Areas. Complete set of online search tools and calculators. KEYWORDS: Canon City Real Estate, Florence Real Estate, Penrose Real Estate, Fremont County, El Paso County, Royal Gorge Country. Homes of Southern Colorado PAGE STATUS: 8.00 FIRST LISTED: 5/15/2005 TOP Found in Real Estate in Woodland Park CO Woodland Park, Colorado Springs Realtor Featured link! The most comprehensive web site available for real estate in the Woodland Park, Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Colorado area. If you are looking to buy or sell a home, you have come to the right place. Homes For Sale, Real Estate, Realtor, Agent, Real Estate Agent, Brian Lloyd, Real Estate Broker, Relocation. KEYWORDS: WOODLAND PARK COLORADO WOODLAND PARK Homes Real Estate For Sale Woodland Park Colorado Springs Colorado Realtor Teller County Divide Pikes Peak Colorado Springs Real Estate Woodland Park, Colorado Springs Realtor PAGE STATUS: 8.00 FIRST LISTED: 1/20/2005 TOP Found in Real Estate: Timeshares in Hampton NH Timeshares Sell rent or buy timeshares on the timeshare resale market at prices far below vacation resort prices! Click for timeshare news . KEYWORDS: timeshares - timeshare - time share - time shares - timeshare resales - timeshare resale - sell timeshare - buy timeshare - vacation - resorts - rentals Timeshares PAGE STATUS: 7.10 FIRST LISTED: 10/11/2005 TOP Found in Real Estate: Listings in Colorado Springs CO Colorado Springs Townhomes Choice REALTORS® provides listings including all of the available town homes in Colorado Springs. Sherry Romero CRS, GRI Colorado Springs Townhomes PAGE STATUS: 7.01 FIRST LISTED: 1/18/2004 TOP Found in Real Estate in Colorado Springs CO Top Producer Amy Secundy Can Help Dedicated to assisting you with one of the most important steps in your life! Call today - 719-238-2255 Top Producer Amy Secundy Can Help PAGE STATUS: 7.01 FIRST LISTED: 2/3/2005 TOP Found in Real Estate: Listings in Colorado Springs CO 35 Ravenglass Way This property is set against the magnificent beauty of Cheyenne Mountain and surrounded by both natural and manicured landscaping. This Acuff & Rhodes Columbine model boasts 5355 sq. ft., 5 bedrooms, three bathrooms & a 3-car garage. 35 Ravenglass Way PAGE STATUS: 7.00 FIRST LISTED: 1/8/2003 TOP Found in Real Estate: Development in Colorado Springs CO Acuff Homes High quality - well designed homes. KEYWORDS: home builders - construction - new homes Acuff Homes PAGE STATUS: 7.00 FIRST LISTED: 3/2/1999 TOP Please_send_comments_&_suggestions_to: citystar_support search | site_map | add_your_site | about_us
Rental Property Stocks and
How to Buy Rental Property - eHow.com Clear Instructions on How To Do (just about) Everything Web eHow.com Home Finance & Business Center Real Estate How to Buy Rental Property Stocks and bonds aren't the only money-making investment in town. Consider rental property if you're prepared for extensive research, a fair amount of financial commitment and, depending on how you set things up, a significant role in maintaining the property. Steps: 1. Assess your financial requirements and goals. Do you need a steady stream of income from your rental or do you plan on selling it for a profit in a couple of years? If it's the latter, look for lower priced property that you can fix up as you rent it out. 2. Consider being a resident landlord by purchasing a multiunit property and living in one apartment. In many cases, the income from the other unit(s) will cover your mortgage payment, allowing you to effectively live for free. Being on-site has other advantages, including ensuring that the property is well-maintained. 3. Decide if you want to do maintenance yourself. If you have the skills, equipment and temperament to deal with upset tenants and a backed up toilet at 2 a.m., fine. If you plan on hiring a property manager, add about 5 percent of gross income into your calculations. 4. Choose the kind of property you want. Single-family houses are generally less expensive than apartment complexes because of pure size, but generate less income. Apartments, on the other hand, can require more upkeep. 5. Get preapproved for a mortgage (see How to Shop for a Mortgage ). Financing investment property is different from residential property in that it requires a much larger down payment. 6. Start shopping: Check out classified ads in the newspaper and online. Find a real estate agent who specializes in commercial or income-generating properties. 7. Choose property where people want to live, close to shops, parks and decent schools, and in a well-kept neighborhood. There's nothing worse than owning a rental property without any renters. In addition, check out any restrictions on renting with the home owners association, which, if there is one, can have a say in any rental agreements. 8. Consider what improvements, if any, you may be willing to make. Buying a fixer-upper will be less expensive than a property in pristine condition, but you can go broke bringing a property up to rentable condition. Before you buy, get cost estimates for all necessary fixes. See How to Buy and Sell a Fixer-Upper . 9. Have the property inspected. You may also want to order an appraisal to get a fair market value. 10. Search past records for vacancy rates over the last five to ten years as well as at present. If the building is occupied, find out how long the tenants have lived at the property. Long-term residents are valuable, but may also have been signed on at a lower rental rate. 11. Plan on spending time and money advertising for and interviewing potential renters. Have a contingency plan in place if a unit remains vacant for a few months. 12. Determine what a competitive rental rate is for your property by asking rental agents what they would expect to charge, by reviewing area apartment listings, and by personally visiting units available in the neighborhood. 13. Run the numbers. Make certain that whatever income you derive covers your costs of owning the property, plus a profit. 14. Work with an attorney to draw up and review any necessary papers relevant to the purchase. 15. Negotiate the terms of the sale. Some sellers may be willing to pick up a share of closing costs and other expenses. The eventual price will also be affected by prevailing market conditions--keep these in mind when negotiating. Overall Tips: Check to see whether the value of other area properties have increased or decreased in the past five years. Try to buy in an area that's on the way up. Pay attention to when improvements were made to a property, which aids in the estimate of the building's value. Recent renovations are worth more than upgrades done a decade or more ago. Be on the lookout for any hazards common to older properties, such as asbestos, lead-based paint and electrical systems that are not up to code. Budget in reconciling these problems. Some cities offer low interest financing to property owners needing to make renovations. Look into such programs if you know you'll need to have the property painted, windows replaced or similar exterior repairs made. Discuss any tax benefits with a tax specialist. There may be local tax incentives for renovating your property as well as advantageous approaches to declaring your expenses. What to look for: Income produced meets financial goals Suitable property Appealing location Vacancy rates Neighborhood rental rates Please Share Your Tips with Us More Resources: Contribute to eHow: Write an eHow Article Suggest a Topic Give Us Feedback on This Article Related eHows: Advertise Your Rental Property Evaluate Prospective Tenants for Your Rental Property Buy and Sell a Fixer-Upper Rent Your Home for a Movie or Catalog Shoot Buy a House Project Details: Skill Advisory: Challenging New! -- Related eHows: Advertise Your Rental Property Evaluate Prospective Tenants for Your Rental Property Buy and Sell a Fixer-Upper Rent Your Home for a Movie or Catalog Shoot Buy a House Check out Thousands of How-To Solutions in eHow's Centers Automotive Careers & Education Computers & Home Electronics Family & Relationships Finance & Business Food & Entertaining Health Hobbies & Games Holidays & Traditions Home & Garden Personal Care & Style Pets Sports & Fitness Travel How to: --? 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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