Real Estate Writers

Employers

Real estate writers can find employment with all types of media—print, broadcast, and online. The most obvious sources of employment are with newspapers and industry journals, but don’t count out industry associations, educational publications, law firms specializing in real estate law, and the government.

The major newspaper, magazine, and book publishers and broadcasting companies account for the concentration of journalistic writers in large cities such as New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Boston, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Opportunities with small publishers and broadcasting companies can be found throughout the country. Freelance writers can work from a home base and report on topics per assignment.

Starting Out

A fair amount of experience is required to gain a high-level position in the field. Most real estate writers start out in entry-level positions such as junior staff writer, or editorial assistant. Don’t be discouraged if your first writing job is not related to real estate. It is more important to get solid writing experience under your belt, and then move the direction of your writing to real estate-related topics.

Entry-level jobs may be listed with college career services offices, or obtained by applying directly to the employment departments of individual publishers or broadcasting companies. Graduates who previously served internships with these companies often have the advantage of knowing someone who can give them a personal recommendation. Want ads in newspapers and trade journals are another source for jobs. Because of the competition for positions, however, few vacancies are listed with public or private employment agencies. Don’t forget to check association Web sites, which often post job openings, dates of upcoming job fairs, and other networking opportunities. The NAREE, for example, holds an annual conference giving editors, reporters, columnists, freelancers, and authors who cover the real estate industry a chance to discuss trends and network with their peers.

Get your clippings in order, especially those that are real estate related. Employers usually are interested in samples of published writing. These may be assembled in an organized portfolio or scrapbook, or maintained as a series of links or PDF files in a digital or online portfolio. Bylined or signed articles are more credible (and, as a result, more useful) than stories whose source is not identified.

Beginning positions as junior staff writers usually involve library research, preparation of rough drafts for part or all of a report, cataloging, and other related writing tasks. At times, they may be given an assignment to complete independently. Such tasks are generally carried on under the supervision of a senior writer.