What to Expect

Students of real estate focus on the relationship component of the real estate industry.

"I got into it because I really like the industry, everything about it," says Tristan Tams, who took real estate at the University of Cincinnati. "I like the relationships you build and having a tangible product."

Tams did an internship as part of his training. He attended classes part of the day and worked the other part. He spent about an hour per night on homework.

"It was never a lot," Tams says. "Three to four hours at the most."

The field is diverse, he says. "Real estate is huge. People say real estate and they think selling houses, but it's so dynamic...I think it's an integral part of society and the economy."

How to Prepare

Tams says math is an important part of real estate. But that's not all. "English is pretty important, and good vocabulary is vital to be able to talk with people. Basically, a good solid rounded education is what you need."

Tams says people skills are also key. "Get involved in the community, meet people, maybe be a mentor for someone."

William Wong is a graduate of a community college real estate program. He says accounting, math and English are good classes to take.

"Students could also get involved in the debating society or sporting teams," Wong says. He encourages students to try anything that will help them develop communication and leadership skills.

Wong stresses that real estate is not all fun and games. "You have to be prepared for very long hours. You need to like to work with people," he says. "There is a lot of money to be made, but it takes a lot of hard work."