How Much Money Can I Make In Luxury Real Estate

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If you're considering switching careers to real estate, you might be wondering, "How much does the average real estate agent make?" Planning ahead to know how much you can expect to earn before starting a new career will help you understand how much to save and how to adjust your budget during the career transition period. We surveyed real estate agents across the country to learn what their annual earnings are, and what factors impact how much money they make.

Average real estate income depends on many factors

A real estate agent's income is highly dependent on many different elements such as niche, years of experience, how many hours they work a week, and even their happiness. The answer to "How much does the average real estate agent make?" isn't as simple as giving one dollar figure. To get an accurate number, you need to take into account where they fall on the spectrum for a variety of different metrics.

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1. Income increases with longer hours

How much does the average real estate agent make? One way to figure that out is to look at what agents who put in an average amount of hours are earning. In real estate, longer hours usually mean higher earnings. Agents putting in 40 to 50 hours a week can expect to make around $68,000, according to our survey. Agents who work between 51 to 59 hours a week can expect to earn around $85,000. It's important to note that these are only estimates and many factors can influence these numbers.

longer hours pay off

2. Being satisfied can help a real estate agent earn more

You might not think that job satisfaction has a big impact on how much a real estate agent makes, but research shows that happy agents make over three times more than those who are unsatisfied in their career.

income by career satisfaction

3. Experienced agents earn top dollar

In real estate, having more experience typically means a real estate agent will earn more. A real estate agent in the middle of their career might earn somewhere between $60,000 to $80,000 dollars. Again, this number is dependent on other factors which influence the average real estate agent's earnings.

agent income rises with experience

4. Niche can play a huge role in determining income

What an average real estate agent makes varies by niche. The average residential real estate agent might earn less than a commercial real estate agent. In general, average real estate incomes tend to fall in the $70,000 range, while some niches, like property management or affordable housing, have notably lower incomes and others, like commercial or relocation, have markedly higher earnings.

income by real estate niche

5. Income varies by brokerage type

Another variable that can influence the average real estate agent's salary is what brokerage you choose to work for. For example, an average real estate agent working at a national franchise can expect to pull in an average of $52,064 annually. On the other hand, real estate agents who report being self-employed earn an average of $77,559 per year. Earnings can be wildly different depending on the brokerage type or employment status.

average income by brokerage type

How can a real estate agent rise above the average income?

Your earnings don't have to be defined by what's "average" for your niche, experience level, or the amount of time you put into your job. There are always ways to beat the odds and rise above the median level of earnings. We've found that agents who are earning more typically excel at managing their marketing dollars, finding quality leads, winning real estate listings, and staying updated on best practices.