Real estate managers plan and direct the purchase, development and disposal of real estate for businesses. The majority of real estate managers work in the office buildings, retail and industrial properties or condominiums. Real estate managers who work for land development companies acquire land and plan the construction of shopping centers, houses and apartments, office buildings or industrial parks. They negotiate with representatives of local government, other businesses, community and public utilities to eliminate obstacles to the development of the land and gain support for the planned project.
Most employers prefer to hire college graduates for real estate management positions.
Degrees in business administration, finance, real estate, public administration or related fields are preferred, but persons with degrees in liberal arts are often accepted. Most persons enter real estate management as on-site apartment or community association managers or as assistants to property managers. Many real estate managers attend short-term formal training programs conducted by various professional and trade associations active in the real estate field. Projected to increase faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2005. Opportunities are expected to be the best for persons with college degrees in business administration and related fields.