How to hire real estate brokers
A job description you can copy, interview questions tied to the real work, and what to pay. Free.
Job description template
Copy it, fill in the brackets, and remove anything that does not fit your job. Keep only must-haves you would really turn someone away for.
[Job title] at [Company name] [City, State] · [Full-time / Part-time] · [Pay range] About the role [Two or three sentences about your team, the work and why it matters.] What you will do • Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers over property prices and settlement details and during the closing of sales. • Compare a property with similar properties that have recently sold to determine its competitive market price. • Generate lists of properties for sale, their locations, descriptions, and available financing options, using computers. • Maintain knowledge of real estate law, local economies, fair housing laws, types of available mortgages, financing options, and government programs. • Monitor fulfillment of purchase contract terms to ensure that they are handled in a timely manner. • Obtain agreements from property owners to place properties for sale with real estate firms. • Rent properties or manage rental properties. • Sell, for a fee, real estate owned by others. What you bring • [Required license, certification or years of experience, if any] • [Education, only if you truly need it. Typical to start in this job: High school diploma or equivalent] • Strong active learning, active listening, reading comprehension, speaking, critical thinking and writing skills • Working knowledge of sales and marketing, English Language, economics and accounting and customer and personal service • [Anything else you would really turn someone away for] Pay and benefits [Pay range]. For reference, the U.S. median for this job is $35.20 an hour ($73,220 a year). [Benefits, schedule and anything else candidates should know.] How to apply [Apply on JAI Bot. Every applicant hears back.]
Interview questions for real estate brokers
Ask every candidate the same questions, in the same order, and write down what they say. Questions about past work show what someone has actually done.
- Tell me about a time you had to act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers over property prices and settlement details and during the closing of sales. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to compare a property with similar properties that have recently sold to determine its competitive market price. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to generate lists of properties for sale, their locations, descriptions, and available financing options, using computers. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about a time you had to maintain knowledge of real estate law, local economies, fair housing laws, types of available mortgages, financing options, and government programs. What did you do, and how did it turn out?
- Tell me about something new you had to learn quickly for work. How did you learn it?
- Tell me about a time you had to understand a request or problem that was explained poorly. How did you make sure you got it right?
- Tell me about written instructions, a policy or a manual you had to follow closely. How did you make sure you followed it correctly?
- Why this job, and why now? What would make you stay here for the long term?
Good answers name a real situation, what the person did themselves and what happened. Avoid questions about age, family plans, religion, health, national origin or anything else unrelated to the job.
What real estate brokers do
- Act as an intermediary in negotiations between buyers and sellers over property prices and settlement details and during the closing of sales.
- Compare a property with similar properties that have recently sold to determine its competitive market price.
- Generate lists of properties for sale, their locations, descriptions, and available financing options, using computers.
- Maintain knowledge of real estate law, local economies, fair housing laws, types of available mortgages, financing options, and government programs.
- Monitor fulfillment of purchase contract terms to ensure that they are handled in a timely manner.
- Obtain agreements from property owners to place properties for sale with real estate firms.
- Rent properties or manage rental properties.
- Sell, for a fee, real estate owned by others.
Skills that matter most
Education, experience and outlook for real estate brokers
- Typical education to start: High school diploma or equivalent (BLS)
- Related work experience most have: 6 months to 1 year (O*NET)
- Experience usually needed to start: Less than 5 years (BLS)
- Job outlook: +0.8% over ten years, little or no change · about 7,800 openings a year (BLS)
What to pay real estate brokers
Pay depends a lot on where the job is. Highest and lowest median yearly pay by state:
| State | Median yearly pay |
|---|---|
| New Jersey | $111,390 |
| Michigan | $82,510 |
| California | $80,450 |
| Colorado | $79,970 |
| Virginia | $77,270 |
| Missouri | $62,280 |
| Tennessee | $60,150 |
| North Carolina | $52,830 |
See real estate brokers pay in every state
Related hiring guides
- Real Estate Sales Agents
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- Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents
- Financial and Investment Analysts
- Loan Officers
- Sales Managers
- Insurance Sales Agents
- Demonstrators and Product Promoters
- Models
- Sales Engineers
Post this job on JAI Bot. Free to start: JAI Bot reads every applicant against your must-haves, shows the resume evidence behind each one, and helps you reply to everyone. People make every decision.
Post a job freePay by areaJob duties and skills: O*NET 31.0 Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license; O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. JAI Bot has modified this information; USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Pay: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics OEWS, May 2025. Interview questions and the job description template: JAI Bot, based on the duties and skills above.