Real Estate Agent

Duties and Responsibilities: Present purchase offers to sellers for consideration. Confer with escrow companies, lenders, home inspectors, and pest control operators to ensure that terms and conditions of purchase agreements are met before closing dates. Interview clients to determine what kinds of properties they are seeking.  Prepare documents such as representation contracts, purchase agreements, closing statements, deeds and leases.  Coordinate property closings, overseeing signing of documents and disbursement of funds.  Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers, generally representing one or the other.

Salary: Real estate agents earned a median salary of $39,800 in 2013. The best-paid earned about $98,090, while the lowest-paid earned approximately $21,240.

Education: Real estate brokers and sales agents need at least a high school diploma. Both brokers and sales agents must be licensed. To become licensed, candidates must complete a number of real estate courses and pass a licensing exam.