Real Estate Agent Māngai Hoko Whare/Whenua

Real estate agents arrange property and house sales for clients.

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Real estate agents must be licensed with the Real Estate Authority (REA).

Real estate agents may also choose to register with the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand.

Real estate agents may do some or all of the following:

  • advertise and market properties
  • arrange and host open homes
  • build relationships with sellers and buyers
  • complete sales and negotiate contracts
  • research the housing market and property values
  • organise building inspections and reports.

Branch manager

To become a branch manager you need to:

  • complete the New Zealand Certificate in Real Estate (Branch Manager) (Level 5) after you have been working for three years.
  • apply for a branch manager’s licence from the Real Estate Authority to legally work in New Zealand.

Real estate agent

To become a real estate agent you need to:

  • complete the New Zealand Diploma in Business (Level 6) with the real estate strand after you have been working for three years.
  • apply for an agent’s licence from the Real Estate Authority to legally work in New Zealand.

Useful Experience

Useful experience for real estate agents includes:

  • sales work
  • public relations
  • customer service.

Personal Qualities

Real estate agents need to be:

  • self-motivated and hardworking
  • skilled communicators and negotiators
  • honest and trustworthy.

Skills

Real estate agents need to have knowledge of:

  • sales and marketing techniques
  • networking and relationship building
  • real estate market trends, nationally and in their area
  • property laws and regulations
  • mortgage financing, basic accounting, and business contracts.

Conditions

Real estate agents:

  • may work long and irregular hours, including weekends and evenings
  • are based in offices
  • travel to local homes or commercial properties that are for sale.

Subject Recommendations

There are no specific secondary education requirements to become a real estate agent. Useful subjects include accounting, business studies, digital technologies, economics, and mathematics.

With further training, real estate salespeople may progress to become real estate agents or branch managers.

Real estate agents may specialise in selling residential, commercial, or rural properties.

Years Of Training

<1 year of training usually required.

To become a real estate salesperson you need to have a New Zealand Certificate in Real Estate (Salesperson) (Level 4). You will also need to apply for a salesperson's licence from the Real Estate Authority to legally work in New Zealand.

You can become a real estate agent or branch manager after at least three years' experience as a salesperson, and completion of the relevant qualification. You will also need to apply for the relevant licence from the Real Estate Authority to legally work in New Zealand.

Licensed real estate professionals must also:

  • be over 18 years old
  • be able to pass a criminal history check
  • have a driver's licence and their own car.

 You can also apply for a salesperson’s licence if you have a relevant Bachelor’s degree.

Real Estate Agent