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There are so many ways to invest in yourself as a working professional in real estate. Today, let’s cover five ways to develop professionally, from upskilling to being active in your local real estate association, earning a designation, choosing a mentor in the business world and getting involved in your community.

No. 1: Learn a new skill

Learning new skills is one way to expand your career pathways and demonstrate agility as a working professional. It is also essential to stay relevant in today’s workforce.

According to the 2023 Workplace Learning Trends Report by Udemy, 2022 saw a 49 percent annual increase in time spent learning technical skills. And upskilling has a significant financial impact in real estate. According to the 2022-2023 Income Guide by Colibri Real Estate, real estate professionals who invest in their professional development earn an average of $72,474 more than those who don’t.

With the median amount spent on professional development for real estate agents estimated at $680 a year, investing in your own learning has an impressive return on investment.

No. 2: Get involved in your local real estate association

Did you know that the National Association of Realtors is America’s largest trade association, representing 1.5 million members? You can join on the local level along with other real agents and brokers to access trainings, lobby the government, and obtain market research and MLS listings. But don’t just pay your dues and not participate.

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Mentorship does not have to be formal, either. You can learn a lot from a single coffee meeting with someone. A structured mentorship program is another way to commit to the practice of learning from others and asking for help. There is even a National Mentoring Month program to help people take action in getting a mentor. 

No. 5: Get involved in your community

Real estate isn’t just about buying and selling houses; it is selling communities, too. It is understanding what makes a home valuable as part of a neighborhood and a collective group of people and places.

Every community has areas that it wants and needs to improve, from housing affordability to infrastructure, transportation, the environment, recreation and so much more. In 2022, local government search data showed an increase in searches by residents and employees for things like “electric vehicles,” “water conservation,” “microgrid” and “stormwater infrastructure.”

Major efforts are underway to create better communities for the growing senior population as well as connecting to youth for everything from jobs to public transportation and citizen engagement.

Helping your community helps you gain credibility as an expert in the community to better serve your buyers and sellers. While you are helping all the people around you, you are also developing a great way to find prospective homebuyers and sellers, too.

Whether you are just getting started in real estate or are looking for ways to freshen up your career with a commitment to personal and professional development, investing in yourself is always a good bet.

Tina Lapp is head of local brands for Colibri Real Estate. Connect with her on LinkedIn.

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