Get To Know Your Realtor

There are many misconceptions about who Realtors® are, and what it is that they do. Below is some information gathered by the National Association of Realtors® about Realtors in 2013:

The internet is the primary way buyers look for homes, and most Realtors have tapped into that marketing avenue. 66% of Realtors have their own website, and a little less see the value of social media marketing as 61% utilize it. 12% of Realtors have their own real estate blog. 94% said their preferred primary method of communication was email.

Being a Realtor is not just about putting up a For Sale sign and waiting for the transaction to close. There are many moving parts, and Realtors tend to run into some obstacles. Realtors said that obtaining a mortgage (25%) and finding the right property (33%) were the biggest challenges in completing transactions. Though challenges are faced, most Reators work hard to do right by their clients. In many cases, that is a long-term investment. In 2013, Realtors attributed 21% of their business to repeat clients.

Real Estate is hard work, and the more knowledgeable you are, the better you will do. 50% of Realtors hold a Bachelor’s Degree or higher. 86% own a home themselves, while 39% own one more investment property. Surprisingly, most Realtors don’t start their carreer in Real Estate, but enter the business coming from a previous full-time career. Only 6% of Realtors began their career in Real Estate while 19% had previous business, management, or financial careers. 41% are fluent in other languages, and 96% are registered voters.

So, how much do real estate agents make? All agents vary, but according to NAR’s Survey, the median gross income for a Realtor in 2013 was $47,500, which rose by 9.6% from 2012, and the median number of transactions was 12.