2016 | Announcing the Baby-Boomers Lifestyles Social Network News-Events-Articles

An estimated 76 million people were born between 1946 and 1964- no wonder they’re dubbed the baby boomer generation. And they’re majorly impacting the economy. For one, nearly 10,000 people retire everyday (Sen. Rob Portman in The Wall Street Journal), and not all of them intend to retire permanently (US News & World Report). Also, very few baby boomers plan on selling off their home to retire in a new country or city (Fannie Mae Housing Insights). Although officially retired, they’d love to retain the mental stimulation and socialization opportunities offered by a job. If you count yourself among this population, here’s why we think a part time career as a realtor makes sense:

You know your town well:

This is a community based business- one where agents are expected to know everything about the market. A good realtor knows his location like the back of his hand. He knows about transport, about schools, and about general life within the community. This is easy if you have lived in the place for a very long time. There will be friends and contacts to offer personal and professional support- all you need is a pleasing demeanor, an honest desire to help people and some sales skill.

The pay is good:

The US News & World Report online magazine listed real estate jobs to be the 4th best among sales and marketing jobs. A typical agent earns an average salary of $40,990 per year. And this excludes other perks like bonus, profit sharing etc.

You have flexible work hours:

Real estate is perfect if you’d like to remain active post retirement yet stay away from the daily 9 to 5 grind. This business offers you the flexibility to work at your convenience. Work for fewer than 20 hours per week, or stretch it to extend up to 80 hours a week- the choice is yours. But, business hours are going to be unconventional, i.e. around weekends and after-work hours during weekdays.

It is relatively easy to enter the profession:

You’ll need to complete a minimum of 90 hours of education and clear a licensing test to be able to practice as a realtor. As for basic requirements for the job, you’ll need a vehicle, a computer, and a phone.

It offers opportunities to sell your own house:

Yes, should you decide to downsize or relocate to another place, you don’t have to be at the mercy of real estate agents to sell your property. Put your contacts into good use and save a fortune.