How to be a Real Estate Developer in 2015 by Gennady Barsky

Becoming a Real Estate Developer: A HowTo Guide

Real estate developers have the potential to take home big paychecks every year hence it has become an attractive industry for aspiring businessmen who wish to become professionally independent. To be a successful real estate developer, however, requires more than just ambition. A good developer must have the skills, knowledge, and experience to effectively handle the assortment of projects in the field.

What Is It?

Real estate development is the business of buying properties, improving the said properties, and then reselling it with markup. The markup profits are sometimes so large that it takes only one project to obtain a year's worth in paycheck.

How to Achieve Success?

For starters, people aspiring to become real estate developers should earn a relevant degree, such as finance, business administration, or construction management. Then, start looking for required classes.

The classroom-based experience will be necessary when taking the examinations for your state's real estate license.

New developers can gain a lot from a mentor in his/her field. It is ideal to work for an employer in the business to get a feel of how it operates. Try to absorb as much data about the business as you can while working for an employer. At this point in your career, try to save up for your business and work on a high credit score. This will make it easier for you to finance your own real estate development company in the future.

Start networking as soon as you get your license. Third-party construction firms or professional contractors will play vital roles in your future projects. Construct new buildings or make home modifications in partnership with them.

Research is another important branch of the real estate development business. Market trends can continue for decades or change overnight. A good real estate developer can easily identify turning points that can bring the best potential gains. A rule of thumb is to buy properties when prices are low and sell them when prices are high. Use specialized tools and services you can find online to get the latest data surrounding the real estate market.

Consider getting a Master's degree in real estate development. It will teach you the common problems that real estate developers commonly stumble upon, including design, finance, architecture, urban and regional planning, and environmental policies. Furthermore, having a higher education in real estate can bring in more partners and clients while also giving you a competitive edge against similar businesses.

Gennady Barsky is the Vice Chairman and Chief Financial Officer at JetSmarter