What can you do with a real estate license in North Carolina? While most high-profile real estate career opportunities involve assisting clients with buying and selling residential properties, there are tons of other jobs you can get with a broker license in North Carolina. Here are some ideas for those considering a career switch into the industry.
Key Takeaways
- A real estate license in North Carolina opens up traditional roles like brokers and property managers, as well as alternative paths such as real estate investors, appraisers, and consultants.
- Licensed professionals can earn significant income, with the average salary for brokers in North Carolina reaching $91,460, far exceeding the state income average.
- Beyond selling homes, career opportunities include becoming a marketing specialist, content creator, educator, or entering real estate technology and innovation fields.
- Earning a real estate license equips individuals with valuable industry knowledge, benefiting personal investments and career advancement across various real estate niches.
Benefits of Having a Real Estate License
A real estate license is beneficial even if you don’t plan on working as a full-time commissioned broker. Here are some reasons one might earn a broker license in North Carolina.
Increased earning potential
Real estate brokers in North Carolina typically work solely on commission. Real estate commissions are negotiable and usually a percentage of the transaction amount. The more you sell, the more you earn.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average mean wage in North Carolina is $59,730. However, the average salary of real estate brokers in NC is $91,460. Real estate can be extremely lucrative.
Enhanced industry knowledge
You might be surprised to learn that some who attend real estate school do not intend to work as a real estate broker. Some get their licenses because they want to learn more about the industry and gain insights into the local market so that they can make good decisions about their own real estate investments.
Flexible career options
Contrary to what you might think, a real estate license offers flexible career options, as there are many real estate-adjacent fields. Let’s discuss traditional and alternative career paths for those licensed in North Carolina.
Traditional Career Paths
Before we discuss job ideas in real estate that you may have never considered, let’s review the traditional real estate jobs in North Carolina.
1. Real Estate Agent (Called a Real Estate Broker in NC)
Most people seeking a real estate license plan to use it to help clients buy, sell, or rent properties. In most states, this professional is called a real estate agent. However, the entry-level license in North Carolina is the “broker” license.
Brokers must work under the supervision of a broker-in-charge and must share a part of their income with their brokerages.
(It’s worth noting that a REALTOR® is a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS®.)
Some real estate brokers never earn the broker-in-charge license and still earn a healthy income. However, brokers-in-charge often have alternative income streams from holding leadership positions within their brokerages. They may also oversee more lucrative deals and be able to keep a larger portion of their commissions because their work doesn’t need as much scrutiny.
2. Real Estate Broker-in-Charge
The difference between a broker-in-charge and a broker is that a broker-in-charge is a licensed real estate professional who has taken further education and is qualified to manage a real estate office with multiple brokers.
A real estate broker-in-charge may be a career path to set your sights on if you want to move into management.
Related Article: How to Become a Broker-in-Charge in North Carolina
3. Property Manager
A property manager oversees a residential or commercial property for a property owner. The roles and responsibilities of a property manager include the following:
- Collects rent
- Sources maintenance requests
- Ensures the property is up-to-code and safe
- Screens new tenant applications
- Markets and showcases vacant units or buildings
- Supervises other employees (i.e., maintenance workers, security guards, etc.)
- Tracks expenses
As you can see from the varied list of tasks a property manager performs, a lot goes into the profession. A good property manager has excellent communication and interpersonal skills to work with owners and renters. In addition, they need to be versed in conflict management. Property managers need to work well in emergencies and be great problem solvers. Property managers must also have excellent organizational and time management skills and be able to maintain a budget.
In North Carolina, property managers must have a broker license.
Alternative Career Paths
What can you do with a real estate broker license besides being a broker, broker-in-charge, or property manager? Here are some additional careers related to real estate to consider.
4. Real Estate Investor
A real estate investor uses their license, knowledge, and contacts to build wealth by buying and selling properties. They may generate rental income or profit from appreciation by analyzing market trends and property values to make strategic investment decisions for themselves or an employer.
Here are some of the most common real estate investments:
- Residential properties
- Vacation rentals
- Commercial properties
- Industrial properties
- Vacant land
- Fix & flip properties
- Real estate developments
There are two ways to think about being a real estate investor—active and passive. You can think of an active investor as your classic “house flipper.” This person buys, fixes, and flips residential properties or buys properties for rentals (or vacation rentals.) A passive investor puts money into a real estate project without much involvement in the day-to-day management. (Even if you don’t have much money to invest, you can still become an investor in crowdfunded real estate investing.)
While you don’t have to have a broker license in North Carolina to become a real estate investor, having one helps as it gives you access to contacts and information needed to find suitable properties.
5. Residential or Commercial Real Estate Appraiser
A real estate appraiser is a licensed and certified real estate professional who provides an unbiased estimate of a property’s value. They inspect properties, stay current on sales of comparable properties in an area, and prepare appraisal reports. Appraisers can work privately or publicly. In the private sector, appraisers determine a home’s value before it’s sold or mortgaged. In the public sector, appraisers work for the government and banks.
Appraisers must complete a training course and pass a licensing exam before becoming a trainee appraiser.
6. Real Estate Consultant
A real estate consultant is a licensed real estate broker who offers clients specialized knowledge and strategic advice on real estate matters. They may develop an investment strategy, assess and mitigate risks associated with real estate transactions, and guide development projects. Investors, developers, property owners, businesses, and government agencies typically hire real estate consultants.
Niche Roles within Real Estate
Some enter real estate knowing they want to focus on a particular niche. Others may fall into roles they hadn’t considered when earning their license. Here are a few other real estate jobs for someone with a license.
7. Commercial Real Estate Broker
When you think about real estate brokers, you probably think of residential real estate brokers. After all, most real estate reality TV shows are about buying, fixing, and flipping homes. However, commercial development can be just as (if not more) rewarding and financially lucrative as residential sales and development. You might even find that it’s a better fit for you.
A commercial broker helps businesses choose and secure locations. While sometimes that means leasing office space, other times it can mean finding the perfect location for the next major coffee chain to build a store. For this reason, commercial brokers focus on an area’s statistics and data before they complete a transaction. That isn’t to say, of course, that residential real estate brokers don’t uncover statistics about an area before making a sale, but the statistics certainly have a different focus. A barbershop owner, for instance, doesn’t care much about the quality of the local school district—he wants to know whether the location will bring him business.
You don’t need an additional or different license to focus on commercial or industrial real estate transactions in North Carolina, but having additional training in negotiations or continuing education in commercial real estate subjects would be helpful.
8. Real Estate Marketing Specialist
Marketing knowledge is critical when working in the real estate industry. Not only do brokers need to market their clients’ properties that are for sale or rent, but they also need to market their own businesses to maintain their sales funnels.
Knowledge of marketing techniques is crucial and includes the following:
- Digital marketing
- Content marketing
- Traditional marketing
- Networking
- Staging and photography
9. Real Estate Trainer or Educator
You may not have entered the real estate industry to become a teacher. However, you might find that you enjoy mentoring new brokers and training new brokerage employees.
Real estate schools also hire instructors to develop curricula or teach in-person or livestream classes. You may also tutor those preparing for their state’s real estate exam or offer real estate training to new brokers.
Non-Traditional Opportunities
Here are a few other real estate career opportunities you may have never considered.
10. Real Estate Content Creator/Influencer
If you are highly skilled in social media, you may work for a real estate-related company to produce content to build a brand. Of course, some develop and monetize their own brand and earn a living as an influencer.
11. Real estate tech and innovation roles
Proptech is the underlying technology real estate professionals use to manage and improve real estate transactions. As a licensed real estate broker, you’ll have insight into how technology can be improved to best serve brokers, and you can leverage this knowledge as a consultant or salesperson in this field.
Steps to Obtain a Real Estate License in NC
Are you excited to work as a real estate salesperson? Or perhaps you know you aren’t cut out for a commission-only job and are ready to work in one of these other roles. Regardless, you need to earn your broker license to get started. Here’s a quick summary of the steps to become a real estate broker in North Carolina.
Step 1: Complete the 75-hour pre-licensing course
Enroll in real estate license classes. Some real estate schools offer in-person, livestreaming, or online courses. Choose a program that emphasizes student success.
Step 2: Submit your license application
Apply to the North Carolina Real Estate Commission, pay the application fee, and provide the required documentation. Once approved, you’ll receive an exam eligibility notice to schedule your test with Pearson Vue.
Step 3: Pass the broker’s exam
Prepare by reviewing course materials, taking practice exams, and utilizing exam prep resources. Passing the exam is crucial for licensure.
Step 4: Receive Your provisional license
Upon passing the exam, the North Carolina Real Estate Commission issues a Provisional Broker’s License. To upgrade to a full Broker’s License, complete three 30-hour post-licensing courses within 18 months.
The real estate industry is so much more than simply residential real estate. This industry encompasses a wide variety of career opportunities in North Carolina, each requiring different skills. Many job opportunities are available if you’re willing to get the training you need and learn from those already in the profession.
