What are the best paying jobs in real estate investment trusts? REITs have been quite popular over the past few years. Many job seekers are interested in open positions in the real estate industry, and since REITs are in high demand. Many professionals consider a job in REITS a promising career path.
The industry is growing by the day, offering many profitable opportunities to earn high ROI through REITs. Let’s delve deeper into job opportunities in the industry and discuss the best paying jobs in real estate investment trusts in 2023.
What are the best real estate investment trust jobs?
The United States is home to over 225 REITs that bring in over $1 trillion in market capitalization. A REIT is a public investment asset listed on a Stock Exchange. REITs give investors flexible investment opportunities to accumulate their investments by buying various real estate asset classes, such as REIT ETFs.
The REIT assets provide security and revenue through long-term contracts and agreements, allowing investors to reap substantial profits without exposing their funds to risks associated with investing in property. REIT companies own income-generating assets such as real estate, ranging from resorts, hotels, and offices to commercial and residential buildings.
They generate income by including different real estate assets in their investment portfolios. Instead of reselling REITs, investors can use them for development to ensure steady income streams. Since the REIT sector is so diverse and ever-expanding, the industry offers many employment opportunities for interested job seekers and future investors.
REIT jobs include many different positions, such as:
- Brokers
- Developers
- Property appraisers
- Mortgage loan officers
- Real estate lawyers
- Asset managers
- Acquisition managers
- Portfolio managers
- Real estate agents
- Real estate investors
- REIT analysts
- Accountants
- Leasing consultants
Let’s move on to the job opportunities you can expect.
Finding a job in REITs
With around 2.9 million full-time jobs in the REIT industry, finding a REIT job sounds like an excellent career path. REIT business organizations manage every aspect of ongoing real estate projects, from investment management and maintenance to property development.
In other words, these companies provide numerous available employment positions for real estate professionals, investors, accountants, lawyers, agents, project managers, etc. Since the industry offers many career options, REIT employees have the best chances of earning a higher income.
If you’re looking for a REIT job, we recommend visiting online job search portals such as:
- Ziprecruiter
- AdventureSincre
- Career Building Communities
- Indeed
- Fundrise.com
According to recent statistics from the United States Department of Labor, REIT companies are increasingly looking for sales agents, real estate brokers, and property managers. In fact, the latest reports indicate that the average wages in the REITs industry range from $50K to $140K+.
Working at a REIT company could be an excellent career choice for many reasons:
- Compensation – aside from your regular salary, REIT companies offer incentives, such as compensation packages, quarterly and annual bonuses, etc. They often base these rewards on net income, revenue growth, and other relevant year-end performance metrics.
- Stock options – REIT employees can access various stock options through their employers. Most of these options allow employees to earn their shares or hold onto them to wait for their value to increase.
- Work environment – REIT companies provide flexible workspaces with employee-friendly work arrangements that include remote work or work from home. In addition, some employers offer office expense reimbursements as additional employee benefits.
Now that we have looked at the different jobs, let’s review some of the companies in this field.
Which companies operate in this field?
Different types of real estate investment trusts require different business models. Let’s break down available REIT types to understand which business organizations operate in the industry.
Equity REIT
Equity REITs are traditional real estate companies that generate income from possessing properties. Hence, operators and full-stack business owners hire property managers and real estate brokers to manage both property and assets.
Mortgage REIT
Companies in the Mortgage REIT niche deal with mortgage-related investments instead of owning physical properties. Mortgage REIT professionals work with investment factors, finances, mortgage loans, various investment vehicles, and other asset classes.
Industrial and residential REITs
Industrial or logistics REIT companies operate in the industrial sector and possess commercial properties such as distribution centers, warehouses, storage units, factories, etc. On the other hand, residential REIT companies own rental properties like condominiums and apartment buildings.
Office REITs
Office REIT business organizations invest in commercial properties in specific locations. Furthermore, these companies own and manage commercial real estate, typically business offices, and lease them to companies, individuals, etc.
Retail REITs
Retail REIT companies rent out spaces to retail establishments such as shopping centers, stores, malls, shops, and other stand-alone assets.
Healthcare REITs
Healthcare REITs own and rent out medical care facilities such as hospitals, senior housing, nursing homes, medical stores, healthcare offices, etc.
Hospitality REITs
Hospitality REITs typically generate income from resorts, motels, and hotels in their possession. They also own various tourist and hospitality facilities such as stores, bars, spa centers, and restaurants.
13 best-paying jobs in real estate investment trusts
If you’re considering starting a career in REIT, here’s our list of the 13 best-paying jobs in real estate investment trusts.
1. REIT analysts
REIT analysts cooperate with financial experts and realtor professionals to find, market, sell, and invest in various real estate asset types. Moreover, they help investors and enterprises monitor market and realtor trends and gather insights for analysis and research.
Additionally, REIT analysts assist companies with making informed investment decisions by using various technologies and tools to develop forecast models for measuring a company’s investment potential based on current acquisitions, assets, and possessions.
In addition to computer literacy, financial expertise, and real estate knowledge, REIT analysis must meet the following hiring criteria:
- A bachelor’s degree in real estate, economics, finance, and other related fields;
- Extensive experience with micro/macro investment trends and local real estate markets;
- Analytical skills;
- Organizational and research abilities.
On average, REIT analysts can earn up to $82K+.
2. Accountants
Accounting is the process of gathering, analyzing, processing, and calculating finances. Generally, accountants manage financial transactions and summarize business expenses for companies of all sizes.
In fact, their role is vital for the economy and financial industries as accountants help businesses pay taxes and stay compliant and profitable. This is not one of the best paying jobs in Real Estate Investment Trusts on this list but it’s in high demand.
A REIT accountant manages the finances of the company, and performs various tasks such as:
- Preparing financial statements;
- Handling financial transactions;
- Filing tax returns;
- Recording transactions;
- Processing and analyzing financial and investment data to fuel decision-making and strategic planning.
REIT accountants should possess the following skills:
- Teamwork;
- Strong communication skills;
- Analytical expertise;
- Ability to make swift decisions based on acquired data;
- Knowledge of financial, accounting, and realtor standards and practices.
Accountants can earn up to $75K a year, with some room for additional bonuses.
3. Leasing consultants
Leasing consultants are professional realtors who work for business owners of commercial properties. For instance, they work as REIT employees and manage leasing processes and procedures on behalf of their employers. Additionally, they help investors find housing options and property within their preferences and budgets.
Leasing consultants are also in charge of maintaining relationships between landlords and tenants. Consequently, their responsibilities include negotiating leases, providing professional consultations to landlords and tenants, marketing vacancies within their employer’s real estate, assessing landing risks, etc.
Leasing consultants must meet the following requirements to work in REIT:
- A bachelor’s degree in real estate, economics, finance, or business;
- Sales experience;
- Communication, marketing, and promotional skills;
- Real estate knowledge, including various loan types;
- Knowledge of local real estate markets;
- Familiarity with compliance regulations.
Landlords hire leasing consultants to ascertain whether a tenant is financially stable enough to pay for the leased property in the owner’s building. Leasing consultants earn around $46K per year on average, but there is also room for bonuses and commissions.
4. Asset managers
Asset managers are professionals in charge of property management for REIT companies. As a matter of fact, they manage property portfolios of real estate investment trusts and provide consultations on the best practices for driving the portfolios’ value. Their services can include assistance with investment decisions, disposition management, acquisition consultations, property management, etc.
The area of expertise of an asset manager will depend on the complexity and size of the REIT’s portfolio. Large companies hire several asset managers to cover different areas, such as decision-making, dispositions, or acquisitions.
Asset managers can expect an average pay of $100K per year, although this number can jump to $160K depending on location, skill, experience, etc.
5. Acquisition managers
Acquisition refers to the process of acquiring new investment options for real estate investment trusts. Generally, these positions entail locating new properties for investment and completing financial transactions. Acquisition managers acquire real estate for REIT companies by finding properties, negotiating with current owners, and making purchasing agreements.
Furthermore, as an acquisition specialist, your duties include cooperating with other team members, planning the company budget for each deal, and negotiating loan terms with investors, financial institutions, and banks.
Acquisition managers must also ensure legal compliance for each transaction, create contracts, and review legal documents for lien and title searches. Their responsibilities encompass negotiating prices with sellers, identifying the most profitable investment opportunities, and monitoring real estate trends. They can expect to earn as much as $139K per year.
6. Portfolio managers
Portfolio managers work for REIT companies and are in charge of investment management. They manage the company’s investment funds, make decisions, and acquire investable assets.
REIT companies hire portfolio managers for different reasons:
- Helping investors with money management;
- Providing insights into the most profitable investment types;
- Improving overall company performance by making informed investment decisions;
- Staying ahead of investor relations.
These are all important tasks that require both technical knowledge and experience, so portfolio managers earn as much as $126K per year.
7. Real estate agents
The real estate agent job description includes assisting potential investors with buying or selling a property. A realtor’s job may vary depending on the company they work for and the type of service they provide.
For example, a real estate agent could assist sellers with finding interested investors, or they could help buyers discover the best investment opportunities. Realtors can specialize in commercial or residential properties.
Depending on their expertise, agents can perform various tasks such as:
- Posting real estate properties for sale, such as vacation homes, condos, luxury apartments, single-family houses, apartment buildings, etc.;
- Connecting buyers and sellers of residential properties and negotiating transaction terms;
- Making deals with investors and connecting sellers of commercial properties with interested buyers;
- Preparing documentation and ensuring compliance for purchasing commercial real estate properties such as hotels, rental apartments, warehouses, shopping malls, office buildings, etc.
Real estate agents work with various financial data, such as capitalization rates, gross rent multipliers, and internal return rates. Their salary ranges from around $77K to $109K per year.
8. Real estate investors
Real estate investors earn some of the highest salaries in the REIT industry. We’re talking about the most lucrative career path in the sector. As a realtor investor, you’re responsible for discovering real estate assets for sale, evaluating the property’s value, and adding to it to sell it for a higher price.
However, turning investment opportunities into top revenues requires experience, skill, and knowledge. You must pick the right investment type and buy it at the right moment, and you must also choose the best moment to sell. In other words, you’ll have to thoroughly research the market to avoid risks and losses.
Here are some of the primary requirements for finding a job as a realtor investor:
- Real estate investment budget;
- Familiarity with various asset types and investment strategies;
- Risk mitigation methods;
- Experience with REIT trades.
Realtor investors can earn up to $120K+ per year on average.
9. Brokers
Real estate brokers perform similar duties to realtor agent responsibilities – they provide connections for buyers and sellers to allow them to buy or sell a property.
The main difference between the two is in the business model. While agents typically work for realtor agencies and brokerage companies, brokers can work independently and own their own brokerage organizations.
If you don’t want to have a boss, becoming a real estate broker could turn you into a full-time business owner. Basically, US Real estate brokers earn an annual salary of around $73K and even a lot more with the right experience and location.
10. Developers
Property developers are companies or professionals that buy land, build commercial or residential structures, and sell the property to the public. Furthermore, they can build apartment buildings, condominiums, or office complexes and rent them out to commercial or residential tenants.
Although their primary responsibility is facilitating property purchases and sales, they can also manage post-purchase real estate development projects. In fact, a property developer is in charge of planning, funding, and constructing residential or commercial properties for rent or sale.
Thanks to their profound knowledge of land use for development, developers can finance real estate projects. Generally, the main skills developers must employ range from marketing, public relationships, and law to engineering, architecture, construction, urban planning, and real estate development.
Commercial real estate developers have an average annual salary of $81K and up to $97K.
11. Property appraisers
A real estate property appraiser ascertains the value of commercial or residential properties. Basically, they estimate the worth of real estate by evaluating various economic, financial, and market metrics.
A professional realtor appraiser tracks all the driving factors to evaluate the property’s value and provides clients with insightful reports.
Consequently, the requirements for becoming a property appraiser include the following:
- Background in economics, finance, and real estate;
- A license to work as a realtor appraiser;
- A certificate of completion of an appraiser training course;
- Advanced knowledge of statistics and factors like market pricing rates and current bids on certain property types.
As you can see, it is not an easy field to break into, but it is worth the effort. In fact, property appraisers in real estate earn around $76K a year.
12. Mortgage loan officers
Independent lenders and financial institutions like banks hire mortgage loan officers to help clients find the best mortgage deals and loan types. Therefore, these professionals are vital to the REIT industry as they help lenders and borrowers maintain healthy relationships.
When a borrower turns to a lender for a loan, the company hires a mortgage loan officer to handle the client’s inquiries and help them find an arrangement that matches their needs and finances.
On average, mortgage loan officers earn up to $215K+ a year. The main requirements for the job include an active mortgage loan originator license and a bachelor’s degree in accounting, finance, or economy.
13. Real estate lawyers
A realtor attorney oversees the legality of real estate transactions. Hence, they manage all legal requirements for property transactions, contracts, deals, and arrangements.
Their responsibilities vary from mitigating disputes and property searches to handling legal issues, preparing legal paperwork, and reviewing purchasing agreements and real estate contracts. Naturally, this means higher pay, and realtor lawyers can earn up to $160K+.
Conclusion on Best Paying Jobs in Real Estate Investment Trusts
The REIT industry is rapidly expanding, reaching new heights, and showing no signs of slowing down. It encompasses several sectors and provides millions of new job openings for professionals with various backgrounds. Whether you’re looking for a job or new investment opportunities, tapping into REIT might be the most effective way to accomplish your goal.
The biggest benefit of REIT is the opportunity to score one of the best-paying jobs in the world. Moreover, aside from earning a high income, REIT gives you access to the hottest investment opportunities worldwide.
