Real estate brokers operate real estate office, or work for commercial real estate firm, overseeing real estate transactions. Other duties usually include selling real estate or renting properties and arranging loans.

  • Sell, for a fee, real estate owned by others.
  • Obtain agreements from property owners to place properties for sale with real estate firms.
  • Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers over property prices and settlement details and during the closing of sales.
  • Generate lists of properties for sale, their locations, descriptions, and available financing options, using computers.
  • Manage or operate real estate offices, handling associated business details.
  • Compare a property with similar properties that have recently sold to determine its competitive market price.
  • Maintain knowledge of real estate law, local economies, fair housing laws, types of available mortgages, financing options, and government programs.
  • Monitor fulfillment of purchase contract terms to ensure that they are handled in a timely manner.
  • Check work completed by loan officers, attorneys, or other professionals to ensure that it is performed properly.
  • Rent properties or manage rental properties.
  • Maintain awareness of current income tax regulations, local zoning, building and tax laws, and growth possibilities of the area where a property is located.
  • Arrange for title searches of properties being sold.
  • Appraise property values, assessing income potential when relevant.
  • Supervise agents who handle real estate transactions.
  • Arrange for financing of property purchases.
  • Develop, sell, or lease property used for industry or manufacturing.
  • Give buyers virtual tours of properties in which they are interested, using computers.
  • Review property details to ensure that environmental regulations are met.
  • Maintain working knowledge of various factors that determine a farm's capacity to produce, such as agricultural variables and proximity to market centers and transportation facilities.
Work Context
  • Telephone — 100% responded "Every day".
  • Electronic Mail — 100% responded "Every day".
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 89% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Structured versus Unstructured Work — 92% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 82% responded "Every day".
  • Indoors, Environmentally Controlled — 85% responded "Every day".
  • Contact With Others — 82% responded "Constant contact with others".
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Work Activities
  • Getting Information — Observing, receiving, and otherwise obtaining information from all relevant sources.
  • Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships — Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Interacting With Computers — Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
  • Organizing, Planning, and Prioritizing Work — Developing specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work.
  • Performing Administrative Activities — Performing day-to-day administrative tasks such as maintaining information files and processing paperwork.
  • Communicating with Persons Outside Organization — Communicating with people outside the organization, representing the organization to customers, the public, government, and other external sources. This information can be exchanged in person, in writing, or by telephone or e-mail.
  • Selling or Influencing Others — Convincing others to buy merchandise/goods or to otherwise change their minds or actions.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Contract real estate to clients.
  • Prepare sales or other contracts.
  • Review accuracy of sales or other transactions.
  • Appraise property values.
  • Negotiate prices or other sales terms.
  • Obtain property information.
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Knowledge

Sales and Marketing
  • Knowledge of principles and methods for showing, promoting, and selling products or services. This includes marketing strategy and tactics, product demonstration, sales techniques, and sales control systems.
Customer and Personal Service
  • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
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Skills

Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Reading Comprehension
  • Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
Active Listening
  • Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Critical Thinking
  • Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
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Abilities

Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
Written Comprehension
  • The ability to read and understand information and ideas presented in writing.
Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Speech Recognition
  • The ability to identify and understand the speech of another person.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Graphics or photo imaging software
  • Adobe Systems Adobe Photoshop Hot Technology
Word processing software
  • Microsoft Word Hot Technology
Presentation software
  • Microsoft PowerPoint Hot Technology
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