Online Real Estate Bachelor’s Degree
A real estate degree prepares you for various career paths in the field, including broker, property manager, and assessor. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) projects employment of real estate brokers and agents to grow by 6% from 2016 to 2026 and employment of appraisers and assessors to grow by 14%. You will qualify for most entry-level jobs in the field upon graduation, and in the case of real estate agents and brokers, you may hold a higher credential than most individuals in the field. Property assessors, however, must hold a bachelor's degree to obtain certification. If you intend to go to law school to become a real estate lawyer or attorney, the first step is earning a four-year real estate degree.
Why Earn a Real Estate Bachelor's Degree Online?
According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), the number of college students enrolled in online learning continues to grow. In 2008, 20% of students took at least one distance-learning course. Seven years later in fall 2015, this number had risen to 29.8%, with nearly 15% of all postsecondary students enrolled in online programs exclusively.
As education continues to make use of technology, online learning will continue expanding. Students who study online benefit from additional convenience, flexibility of schedule, and affordability.
Most online programs today use asynchronous learning, which allows students to work online at a time and place most convenient to them. This option helps students to create their own schedules, which often already include work and family obligations. Most programs also afford students the flexibility to attend part-time, full-time, or on an accelerated or self-paced basis. Also, by learning online, students can eliminate some of the normal college expenses like transportation and room and board.
What Can I Do with a Bachelor's in Real Estate?
A real estate degree is an interdisciplinary degree where you learn about various areas of business and finance. You also develop communication and technical skills, specifically how to use the latest technology to carry out tasks more efficiently. Learning such skills readies you for traditional real estate jobs like agent or assessor, and also qualifies you for roles in other industries like banking, construction, or marketing. A real estate degree online program also serves as a good foundation for graduate school.
Skills and Knowledge Gained
Through an accredited real estate degree online program, you learn the practical skills needed for careers in sales, marketing, and property management. Alternatively, you can use these skills to pursue a job in banking, finance, or construction.
Students can usually choose between earning a real estate degree or a business or finance degree with a concentration in real estate. Through either path, students gain a strong foundation in business and liberal arts, which they can apply to a number of careers and industries. Typical introductory business courses include financial accounting, economics, and statistics. Upper-level courses explore topics like property law, property management, and development/redevelopment.
By the end of a program, students should possess skills in assessing the real estate market and properties; applying real estate law and contract law; and discerning trends in the economy and market which may influence business and opportunity. Within a bachelor's degree program students delve into specific topics. At the associate level, courses are broader, giving students an introduction to the field and qualifying them for entry-level jobs. A bachelor's real estate degree opens door to career advancement and enables you to move on to graduate school, should you choose to do so. With a bachelor's real estate degree, you acquire skills in analysis, research, problem solving, business, math, and customer service.
Careers and Salary Potential
Graduates of a real estate degree online program possess the skill set to enter a variety of career paths and work in various fields, including real estate, banking, and accounting. Degrees in finance, business, and construction management often offer a concentration in real estate. Students learn about the economic and social principles behind the development, sale, financing, and trading of buildings and land. They learn to apply ethics, statistics, research, and business fundamentals to real estate. Those interested in a real estate degree are likely interested in business, finance, and construction. Individuals who aspire to work in real estate tend to be strong communicators, and good with negotiation, problem solving, and working with people.
- Real Estate: While mainly known as an industry that develops, builds, and buys and sells property, the market requires many other professions to operate. These include experts in appraisals, valuation, and investments. The two sides of real estate are development and financial transactions.
- Banking Within the banking industry, those with a real estate degree work on mortgages, specifically for individual home buyers. They also assist real estate developers, investors, and working with companies to secure financing for new development and construction.
- Accounting, Auditing, and Tax Services: A real estate degree online program can prepare graduates for accounting roles, where they help clients make sense of their finances. They help property owners and developers with budgets, strategic planning, and tax reporting.
Real Estate Sales Agent
Annual Median Salary: $47,880
Real estate brokers and agents help clients with property transactions, including the sale, purchase, and rental of a home, building, or land. A real estate degree can be a fast-track to career advancement. A broker can operate their own business, while an agent must work for a company. To become a broker, students need one to three years of experience as an agent as well as formal training, which a bachelor's degree in real estate can waive in some states.
Real Estate Director
Annual Median Salary: $123,074
Directors of real estate select property sites and coordinate land acquisition for future construction. They assess the needs of clients and research property solutions. You will need a bachelor's degree, plus a background in real estate valuation, negotiation, and acquisition, to become a real estate director.
Appraiser or Assessor of Real Estate
Annual Median Salary: $54,010
Cer tified appraisers and assessors provide value estimates on properties, based on the property itself, the surrounding properties, and the location. Appraisers value a single property, while assessors value multiple properties, usually for tax purposes on behalf of local governments. Although requirements vary by state, graduates usually need at least a bachelor's degree to obtain certification.
Property, Real Estate, or Community Association Manager
Annual Median Salary: $58,670
Property managers help maintain a property to preserve its resale or leasing value. While onsite managers tend to have a strong sales background, offsite managers are more skilled in finance. Many employers today prefer candidates who hold an on-campus or an online real estate degree for offsite positions.
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