The number of individuals who will earn their real estate license and start a career in real estate is expected to rise to the highest level seen in recent years. In Phoenix, there was a 4.7-percent increase in agent count from November 2016 to November 2017. It’s predicted the market could see an increase of another 5 to 6 percent in 2018. That growth could result in Arizona reaching the 80,000 mark for the number of licensed agents and brokers by the end of the year.
Two converging factors contribute to this: Real estate is an industry ideal for second-career professionals (only 4 percent of licensed agents reported real estate as a first career, according to the National Association of Realtors®), and Arizona is a popular destination for people looking for a change in lifestyle. These people often have had successful careers in other fields and their skills translate well to the real estate profession. Self-motivation, strong social skills and good negotiation skills do very well in the industry. These are likely some of the reasons that a licensed Realtor® was listed in a LinkedIn study as one of the top-20 emerging jobs.
Choosing the right real estate broker is a critical choice for new licensees. A company needs to have the right systems and processes in place to successfully onboard new agents — particularly in a growing market where several new agents are likely to be joining a company each month. New agents require training, support, technology and marketing plans to get them up and running and servicing buyers and sellers.
Wendy Forsythe is COO at HomeSmart International and recognized in 2017 as one of the Swanepoel Power 200 and a 2017 Inman Real Estate Influencer
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