Real Estate Ranking Raises A Host of Job Questions

Peter G. Miller
OurBroker®

Realty brokers don't like to come in second, so you can imagine that there have been some rumblings with the recent revelation that "real estate agents" -- at least according to one author -- rank 175th among 250 job categories rated best to worst.

At the top of the list, says the latest edition of the Jobs Rated Almanac, are website managers, while coming in dead last at #250 are roustabouts.

The rankings, built in part on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, are based on income, outlook, physical demands, environment, security, and stress.

And the results, to be polite, are curious.

As an example, rabbis rank 140th, while Protestant ministers come in at #51, and Catholic priests show up in spot #102. Yet do not clerics of all faiths share a variety of common benefits and concerns? Do members of the clergy see themselves as "employed" in the ordinary sense or for the usual reasons?

I'm not sure whether the stress value of a particular job can be considered -- after all, does not the ability to handle pressure relate in large measure to personal perspectives? Is it not possible to have two statisticians (#32), one entirely calm and the other with bulging veins?

As to physical demands, perhaps we now have too many jobs which lack the motion and exercise necessary for good health. Should a sedentary job be regarded as desirable?

As I read the book, it appears that undertakers (156) and sewage plant operators (163) have each selected superior employment options when compared with those in real estate. Alternatively, "real estate agents" are doing better than newspaper reporters (176), astronauts (180), mayors (188), senators and representatives (190), and U.S. presidents (229).

I guess that in some way such statistics are entertaining, in part because they suggest an interesting reality: brokerage isn't easy.

Real estate has low barriers to entry which means that virtually everyone has a chance to get a license and compete. But while entry is easy, the level of competition is high. If the book is saying in its own unique way that real estate is a tough profession, perhaps that's a useful message.

I'm not convinced that jobs can be rated from best to worst. I understand that incomes can be compared and data can be weighed, but what about intangibles such as satisfaction and fulfillment?

We are each keenly aware that money is important and would generally not object to more of it -- but most of us understand that money comes at a price. Little wonder that we see people changing careers and leaving the workforce in the search for more satisfaction. And little wonder, as well, that we all know people who have paid a terrible price to obtain "financial success."

People enter real estate, and stay there, because there is an independence, entrepreneurship, and spark not found in many professions. That "works" for a lot of people, including many who could earn as much and perhaps more elsewhere.

As to the Jobs Rated Almanac, you can see what various readers have had to say at both Barnesandnoble.com and Amazon.com.

Question Of The Week

Q Is "private mortgage insurance" the same thing as "mortgage life insurance?"

A No.

Private mortgage insurance (PMI) is required for those financing conventionally with less than 20 percent down. Instead of a huge pile of cash, you can buy with 15, 10, or 5 percent down -- and sometimes less. PMI allows buyers to purchase now, without having to wait years to accumulate cash. Like other forms of insurance, with PMI you pay for coverage by making premium payments.

"Mortgage life insurance" pays off the remaining loan balance owed to a lender if you die. This form of insurance is not required to obtain a loan, and may not be available to those in poor health

Mortgage life insurance pays out less and less over time because loan amounts are reduced with each monthly payment. As an alternative, borrowers may want to consider other forms of life insurance where benefit amounts remain steady.

For details, speak with lenders and insurance brokers.

Weekly Resource

Wonder what's going on in the world? What better place to get the inside scoop than with the CIA's World Factbook. Features include country-by-country assessments as well as an excellent map collection.

Published: March 30, 1999

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Editor's Note: This article reflects the opinions of Peter G. Miller only and not necessarily the views of this or any other publication, organization or Website owner.

Peter G. Miller, also known as OurBroker®, is the author of six real estate books -- including The Common-Sense Mortgage -- and is the original creator and host of America Online's Real Estate Center. Peter's weekly columns appear in more than 100 newspapers nationwide, he is also published in a variety of other media outlets and he is a frequent speaker at national events and conventions. Peter welcomes your questions, comments, and news releases via e-mail at .