Housing is one of the most basic needs, and it is the job of real estate brokers to meet those necessities. Real estate brokers, sometimes also referred to as agents, are professionals who specialize in selling and leasing property. Real estate includes apartments, condominiums, townhouses, and single family homes. Empty land is also considered real estate. There are two types of specialties in the real estate industry, residential and commercial. Residential refers to any type of property that is used strictly for living, while commercial real estate is used by businesses.

In the united states, real estate brokers need to become licensed in order to work legally. A certain amount of education is required, followed by certification exams. The education is not the type that is offered in typical colleges and universities. Real estate courses are often taught in specific seminars that are accredited by a state board. Each state has different educational and certification requirements.

Sometimes, the titles real estate brokers and agents are used interchangeably, however this is not correct. An agent is an entry level position, while a broker is someone who has a certain amount of experience. To become a real estate broker, several years of experience are required as well as additional education and exams. Additionally, in some states brokers are allowed to open their own real estate agencies. Instead of working for giant companies such as Weichert or Remax, a broker can run his or her own local business. This is how some of today's major real estate companies originated, from small local agencies.

Real estate brokers earn their salary based on a commission. The earnings are usually calculated as a percentage of the listing price of a property. The commission percentage is usually between 1 and 10 percent. For example, a home that is sold for $500,000 can give a broker a commission between $5,000 and $50,000. Sometimes, brokers will have to split up their commissions with the agencies they are working for. Brokers with their own agencies can keep the entire earnings.

Real estate brokers must be knowledgeable about the local area they work in, and they must be fluent with finances related to housing such as mortgage rates. Having great communications and interpersonal skills are important qualities since selling or leasing a property is the ultimate goal of any broker. Having a presence online, such as with personal real estate websites, will help brokers get more clients. MLS, which are online listings, are becoming more popular each day, allowing clients to browse properties from the comfort of their homes.