Being a parent isn’t easy. And balancing a career with kids seems nearly impossible at times! But real estate is coming through for parents by offering unmatched flexibility, unlimited income, and exponential growth potential.
In fact, in a recent Instagram survey, Aceable found that nearly half of the respondents were both real estate agents and parents, with 68% of them able to work full-time while raising kids. And every single respondent knew of other parents who were also successful agents!
Here are five reasons why real estate is a strong career option for parents.
1. The Flexible Schedule Allows You to Be There for Your Family
Working a traditional nine-to-five is extremely difficult when you have children. Particularly if neither parent is able to be home when the kids get home from school. When neither parent can be home, you need to either have a close friend or family member who can watch the kids, or you need to make expensive childcare arrangements. And unless your after-school care takes place at the school, you still have the logistical headache of transporting the kids from school to their childcare provider.
With real estate, you get to decide how much you work, and to some extent, when you work. Real estate agents are independent contractors, which means they can work as little or as much as they choose. If you want to work part-time so you can have more time available for the family, you have the option to do so.
In fact, in a 2022 survey, a whopping 98% of people agree that working in real estate offers them good flexibility.
2. Much of the Work Can Be Done from Home
In a traditional job, when your child gets sick, you might have to take a day off work to stay home. But with real estate, most of your tasks can be handled from home, so you can keep working while taking care of your little one.
Some brokers prefer that agents work from the office, but most brokers have no problem with you working remotely. In fact, having agents work from home means lower overhead costs for brokers because they don’t have to pay for large office space.
So if you want to be home with the kids, but still want a professional career, real estate is a solid option. You can handle all your administrative work, marketing activities, appointment setting, and client follow-up from home.
Client meetings, open houses, home previews, and showings are the only tasks that might require you to leave home. But today, even those can be handled virtually in many cases!
3. You Can Complete Your Real Estate Classes Online Quickly and Easily
Switching to a career in real estate won’t require you to get an expensive college degree or complete a year-long training program.
Instead, you’ll just need to complete a state-required real estate class (or set of classes). With Aceable, you can complete your classes entirely online. The online format makes the courses more affordable and allows you to work at your own pace. So if you want to power through your classes in just a month or two, you can! And if you need to take it slow because you’re going to study around your current day job, no problem! You can fit your real estate courses around your existing schedule.
Plus, with Aceable's mobile-first design, your coursework will display just as well on your phone or tablet as it does on your computer. So you can study from your phone while waiting for the kids to finish soccer practice or while waiting in line for your morning coffee!
4. Your Income Potential Is Limitless
Around 65% of agents surveyed reported that their earning potential in real estate was a key factor in their decision to join the industry. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, real estate agents nationwide earned a mean annual wage of $65,850 (as of May 2022). This equates to a respectable hourly rate of $31.66. In high-value markets like Ventura, California, and Boulder, Colorado, the mean annual wage is well over $100,000!
As a real estate agent, you earn a commission on each home you sell. The more homes you sell, the more you make. If you prefer to spend more time with the kids, you can always leverage resources to boost your earnings without spending more of your own time on each deal. For example, you can hire a virtual assistant to handle your data entry or a transaction coordinator to move your deals from contract to closing.
5. You Could Build a Family Business for Future Generations
Having a career in real estate is essentially owning your own business. You’re building a client base, coming up with your own business strategies, and implementing your own administrative systems. As a parent, you have the opportunity to build a business that will be your legacy to future generations.
Many parents get their kids involved in the business early. Kids can help distribute flyers or set up open houses. And in most states, teens can earn a real estate license at 18. A big family business might not be for everyone. But many parents enjoy being able to give their kids valuable experience in a respected industry and having a business they can pass along.
Are you considering a career in real estate? Take the first step by enrolling in your real estate course today!
Updated 5/10/23