Working in real estate can prove to be a great start to an investing career. By taking a position related to real estate, anyone may expose themselves to, as well as specialize in an area of real estate that can be beneficial when making investment decisions. Real estate offers many different career paths: real estate agent, mortgage broker, appraiser, construction worker, resident manager, property manager, title/escrow agent, and project manager are some examples of career paths.

Forging a relationship with an existing real estate broker or agent is a wise investment when looking to establish a portfolio of properties. Agents typically have expertise on property types in certain cities and neighborhoods. They can often be the most valuable resource for which areas reap the most rewards.

An agent or broker can help an investor establish their investment goals and criteria. There are many different property types, and some investors would prefer to focus on a specific area of real estate – such as multi-family. An agent can determine an investor’s preferences, which could include: town, neighborhood, property size (square footage), lot size, property conditions, unit count, cap rate, cash flow, and appreciation potential. Much of these conditions will come down to your personal preferences, but these are all important factors to keep in mind.