Real estate broker and real estate agent are closely connected and ofter confused. The difference is a broker is a licensed real estate professional who has furthered their education and is qualified to manage a real estate office with multiple agents.

The life of a commercial real estate agent can include more research than that of a residential agent. A commercial agent helps businesses choose and secure locations that are going to boost their bottom line. While sometimes that means leasing great office space, other times it can be finding the perfect location for the next major coffee chain to build a store. For this reason, commercial agents often must put more emphasis on uncovering statistics and data about the area before they complete a transaction.

There are two types of real estate investors. The first is called an active investor, which is an investor who buys and flips residential properties. A passive investor is someone who puts more money into a real estate project without managing the day-to-day project details.

A residential appraiser collects information on a certain residential property to recommend that property’s worth. Appraisers can work privately to appraise someone’s home before its sold or mortgaged or for the government to determine its value for tax purposes.

A commercial appraiser spends time out assessing properties just like a residential appraiser. A commercial appraiser learns more from an established appraiser teaching them how to determine the value of the property compared to residential appraisers who rely on what they learned in their licensing course.

The job of a property manager is to make sure the property, whether that be residential or commercial, runs smoothly and makes money for whoever owns it.

A leasing consultant makes sure there are tenants in the building. This job usually comes with a certain flexibility, however, that means possibly working evenings and weekends. Leasing consultants often are people who enjoy marketing and negotiating. A leasing consultant needs to get the word out about openings or specials their building is having. They also need to be able to throw promotional events and stay up-to-date on the latest digital marketing tactics

Commercial leasing managers negotiate deals and transactions with businesses. Commercial leasing managers are often assigned to office spaces or storefronts.

A foreclosure specialist reviews the client’s financial statements and process foreclosure cases so that the property can be resold as quickly as possible. A foreclosure specialist may be employed by a bank or private lender and is responsible for all documentation and processes needed to happen when the property is being foreclosed on.

Real estate attorneys could advocate for tenant rights or provide consul before a major real estate purchase.