Real Estate
Industry Overview
The industry involves the buying, selling, renting, leasing, and management of commercial, residential, agricultural, and other kinds of property, including all the functions that support such activity, such as appraising and financing. The successful realtor is necessarily a shrewd salesperson with a deep knowledge of real estate markets and a broad understanding of the contracts, laws, and tax regulations that apply to real estate transactions.
Thinking big is part and parcel of the real estate industry, and grandiose speculation has created some of America's greatest fortunes. The thrill of deal making, the promise of financial reward, the potential to have a lasting impact on cities and communities, and the sociability make real estate a rewarding profession.
The real estate market has undergone dramatic changes in recent years. Real estate investment trusts (REITs) have become major sources of financing for property acquisition and development. The total market capitalization of public REITs has grown from $10 billion in 1991 to more than $218 billion in 171 funds today, causing a revolution in real estate financing, similar to the rise of the individual investor in the stock market. In either case, InternZoo offers positions in both large and small real estate firms.