Retail salesperson has become the most common job in the United States. A real estate agent is a salesperson, too, and it helps to be good at sales. But that’s not the only attribute agents need to succeed in the industry. 

According to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), there were nearly 1.6 million real estate agents in the U.S. as of October 2021. The number of agents has increased 26 percent since 2016. 

But only 18 percent of Realtors are under 39 years old. The median age is 54. The typical Realtor is a white female who attended college and is a homeowner.

The are more than 29,000 active Realtors in Colorado — an 18 percent increase since 2019. According to the Grand Junction Area Realtor Association, 914 active Realtors work in Mesa County. That’s a 40 percent increase since 2016.

It’s possible to assume the recent increase of Realtors in the Grand Junction area came from the ease of the market. The market brought a great power into listing a house because of all the offers it attracted. Now, however, the market is slowing down — as we have seen in past real estate cycles.

Younger generations have been encouraged to own their own businesses. Social media has influenced people to be their own boss, which is exactly what a Realtor is. There’s a passion for the freedom that comes from being self-employed.

 As a Realtor, you can determine how much you want to make and how hard you want to work. If someone wants to work hard for several months and then take a long vacation, they can do so.

Although it’s appealing to have that freedom, the real estate profession still requires hard work and dedication. To become a good Realtor, you have to prove yourself to those around you. 

Being a Realtor is more than just selling a product or service like a retail salesperson. You’re also a marketer and involved in the community and government. You have to know Colorado laws and how to read and fill out binding contracts.

And just like other businesses, becoming a successful Realtor is all about building relationships.