Skip to Main Content

Real Estate Agents and Brokers

Experience, Skills, and Personality Traits

No experience is needed to become a real estate agent, but sales experience is a definite plus. Brokers typically need one to three years of experience as a licensed sales agent to be eligible for licensing.

Successful brokers and agents must be willing to study the changing trends of the industry to keep their skills updated. Residential real estate agents must keep up with the latest trends in mortgage financing, construction, and community development. They must have a thorough knowledge of the housing market in their assigned communities so they can identify which neighborhoods will best fit their clients' needs and budgets, and they must be familiar with local zoning and tax laws. Agents and brokers must also be good negotiators to act as go-betweens between buyers and sellers.

In most cases, educational experience is less important than the right personality. Brokers want agents who possess a pleasant personality, exude honesty, and maintain a neat appearance. Agents must work with many different types of people and inspire their trust and confidence. They need to express themselves well and show enthusiasm to motivate customers. They should also be well organized and detail oriented, and have a good memory for names, faces, and business details.