Over one-third of homebuyers in 2004 and 2005, and nearly one-fifth of homebuyers in 2006 were second-home buyers or investors. One out of ten homeowners owns a second property. That's a lot of people who could use some management help. If that's where the work is, why not try property management?

"Career opportunities in real estate management are the best ever, as is indicated by recent reports from respected authorities," said Robert Toothaker, CPM®, president of the Institute of Real Estate Management (IREM). "Consider," said Toothaker:

• "Last year, Money Magazine and Salary.com -- who researched hundreds of jobs based on growth prospects, pay, stress levels and other factors -- ranked real estate management 23rd among the 'Best Jobs in America.,'"

• "The current U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics assessment of high-growth, high-wage occupations ranks real estate management 38th among the top 50 jobs that are growing faster than the average (13.0 percent) and that pay above the median of $28,770."

• "Most recently, the Spring 2007 issue of Selectleaders Job Barometer, the first-ever assessment of the U.S. job market in commercial real estate, highlights the continued strength and forecasted growth of employment across all sectors of commercial real estate. The report notes a 35 percent increase in commercial real estate job postings from February to April 2007, with real estate management second only to finance in postings. It also says that employers in the commercial real estate industry are looking to hire and pay more for real estate talent."

According to Toothaker, IREM is confident that the demand for real estate managers will continue to grow due to the confluence of these two factors: (1) the unstoppable forces of demographics in the work force exacerbated by generational change, and (2) the market dynamics of real estate values as driven by new product development, interest rates, occupancy levels and cap rates.

And then there's that inexperienced second-home or rental property owner.

"Since so many of our colleagues are reaching retirement age in the near future," said Toothaker, "real estate owners and investors must increasingly seek replacements for these qualified professionals they need to manage their properties. All of this -- combined with a management function that is becoming more complex and sophisticated -- has created an almost 'perfect storm' that is boosting demand for real estate managers as never before. Moreover," he explains, "this applies to all classes of properties -- including commercial, residential, retail, military, governmental, educational and industrial. "For our part, we at IREM® continue to foster the highest professional standards as the industry grows by keeping our member designations program on the cutting edge of best practices," Toothaker continued. "As well, we are expanding our college connection program to attract more of the best and brightest students to careers in real estate management."

IREM has developed a variety of easy-to-access resources to stimulate awareness of the increasing demand for real estate managers and of the rewards that come with careers in the field. They include:

• "Careers in Real Estate Management," a 12-page online brochure that describes career opportunities in detail in real estate management as well as steps recommended to enter the profession. The brochure can be downloaded free by clicking here.

• IREMJobs.org, the online job board for the real estate management industry. Job seekers can conduct a nationwide job search or target particular states, create multiple resumes and cover letters to customize job applications, and track their resume submissions online. In addition, they have a personal mailbox through which employers can contact them. Access to the online jobs bank is free once a simple registration process is completed.

Published: August 3, 2007

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Blanche Evans is the award-winning senior editor of Realty Times, the Internet's leading independent real estate news service. She is featured daily on the Realty Times Video Network in the "Realty Viewpoint" segment. Blanche has been named one of the "25 Most Influential People In Real Estate" by REALTOR Magazine, and has been twice recognized as a "notable." In 2005, she was named "Top Reporter Covering the NAR" by Delahaye-Bacon's. Blanche is a renowned author of five real estate books. Her newest, Bubbles, Booms and Busts: Make Money In Any Real Estate Market, McGraw-Hill, was rave-reviewed by The New York Times. She was also selected from hundreds of real estate experts to contribute to Donald Trump's book, Trump: The Best Real Estate Advice I Ever Received: 100 Top Experts Share Their Strategies, Rutledge Hill Press, and is featured on page 68. Order Now Review - Honors In 2006, Blanche was selected among scores of candidates to author two consumer real estate guidebooks for the National Association of Realtors: The NAR Guide to Home Buying, and The NAR Guide to Home Selling, Wiley & Sons. She is currently planning two new books for the NAR and its members.       Known for her keen insight into real estate industry issues and for her ability to make complex subjects easy to understand, Blanche is a sought-after keynote and continuing education speaker. Real estate organizations from MLSs, to brokerages, to franchisors, to associations hire her to provide up-to-the-minute analysis of real estate industry news and advice on how to improve revenues. Her passionate delivery, peppered with stinging wit, is a huge hit with audiences and fans. Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors, Blanche Evans, Richard Courtney, president 2007, GRAR "The GNAR membership meeting last week featured Blanche Evans as the keynote speaker. Her comments and insights resonated extremely well with those in attendance and we have had many requests for copies of her PowerPoint Presentation. She was a terrific part of the membership meeting and convention program!" - Don Klein, CEO Greater Nashville Association of Realtors Coverage from WSMV, Nashville - 8-14-2007 That Interview Guy - Get Inside The Head Of Today's Generation 2007 AE Institute Session - To purchase 2006 AE Institute Session - Parts 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 HouseValues Mastermind call - Parts 1 2 Blanche's fireside chat with Jeremy Conaway, HAR - Click here. To contact Blanche, email her at . For more articles by Blanche, click here.