Real Estate Opportunities for Investors and Professionals

Have you decided that real estate is the field in which you want to work, invest, or both? Many discover that in inflationary times, there is often no better way to build a solid portfolio or earn a living than in real estate. Luckily, there are plenty of work and investing opportunities for real estate-minded adults. Step one is to make a plan and decide how you intend to find a job or invest. A common step for many is to take coursework and pass a test to become a licensed real estate agent. In a few months, you can earn income as a professional in the field you love. Others prefer to invest in real estate to maximize their returns. One of the most efficient techniques is to invest in rental homes via a self-directed IRA.

Those who prefer the independence of working alone can study to pass an appraiser’s test and offer their services to banks, real estate agents, homeowners, and others. Related jobs in the niche include getting into the house flipping business, which has been an active market for several decades no matter how well the economy is performing. Here are pertinent details about some of the most popular ways working people earn money in the real estate field.

Licensed Agent

Generally, coursework to become a licensed real estate professional takes about six weeks and includes a challenging, comprehensive exam at the end. In most states, you must work for a registered agency for at least one year before going into business for yourself. However, once you learn the basics, it’s a self-directed career, even when you are working for someone else. Long-term income potential is high for hard-working agents who are willing to work evenings and weekends.

Invest in Rental Homes

It’s easy to buy shares of rental homes and place them directly into your IRA. For these types of self-directed retirement accounts, investors get the benefits of not only property appreciation but also rental income. Luckily, there are several types of accounts that can hold these versatile, high-yield investments and get tax advantages, like standard IRAs and employer-based 401(k) arrangements. The central benefit for most investors is ownership of a retirement account that allows for tax deferments or deductions, or both. The goal of setting up a self-directed IRA is the chance to add assets other than cash, like investment rental properties, stocks, bonds, and precious metals.

Working as an Independent Appraiser

Appraisers also take courses and challenging exams but don’t sell the property. Their main task is to accurately estimate the current market value of homes and other properties. They’re typically paid per job by whoever hires them. Their clients are most often banks and real estate agents.

Flipping Houses and Staging

If you have the funds to buy one or more small homes, fix them up, and sell them for a profit, you could become a house flipper. Those who flip work full-time and part-time, for themselves or as agents for larger flipping firms, and tend to earn high but uneven incomes. Stagers are independent workers who prepare homes for showing. They are paid by real estate agents and banks on a per-home basis, much as appraisers are.