Is Real Estate a Good Career in Australia? Is Now a Good Time to Become an Agent?

If you’re considering a career in real estate, you may be wondering whether now is a good time to become a real estate agent.

When property prices are rising and homes are selling quickly, real estate can look like an attractive industry to enter. When the Australian property market slows, interest rates rise or property prices begin to fall, prospective agents can understandably become more cautious.

You might start wondering: Is real estate still a good career when the property market slows down?

The answer isn’t as simple as whether property prices are going up or down.

There is no perfect property market for starting a real estate career. Every market creates opportunities — and every market creates challenges.

A booming property market doesn’t necessarily make being a real estate agent easy. Likewise, a slower property market doesn’t mean people stop buying and selling homes or that there are no opportunities for new agents.

What changes is the work required to succeed.

Australian property market → Real Estate Trends Australia 2026

Do People Still Buy and Sell Property in a Slow Market?

Yes. Property transactions aren’t driven solely by whether house prices are rising or falling.

People need or want to move for many different reasons. They may:

• relocate for a new job
• move closer to family
• change locations for their children’s schooling
• need more space as their family grows
• downsize later in life
• separate or combine households
• move interstate or overseas
• purchase or sell an investment property
• move for lifestyle reasons
• simply decide it’s time for something different.

Those life events don’t stop because property prices have fallen or interest rates have increased.

Market conditions can influence how much people pay, how long a property takes to sell and how buyers and sellers negotiate, but they don’t remove the underlying reasons people need to transact.

That’s an important distinction for anyone considering becoming a real estate agent.

What Happens When Property Prices Fall?

One misconception about a falling property market is that everyone who sells loses.

In reality, many homeowners are both sellers and buyers.

Consider someone who owns a home worth $700,000 and wants to upgrade to a property worth $1 million.

The difference between the two properties is $300,000.

If both properties theoretically fell by 10%, the $700,000 property would fall to $630,000 — a reduction of $70,000.

But the $1 million property would fall to $900,000 — a reduction of $100,000.

The gap between the two properties would actually decrease from $300,000 to $270,000.

This is a simplified example. Individual properties and markets don’t necessarily move at the same rate, and there are many other financial considerations involved in buying and selling.

However, it demonstrates an important point:

Property market movements don’t occur in isolation.

For homeowners upgrading within the same market, softer property conditions can sometimes create opportunities as well as challenges.

For real estate agents, understanding these different motivations is much more important than simply assuming a rising market is “good” and a falling market is “bad”.

Is a Booming Property Market Better for Real Estate Agents?

Not necessarily.

When the property market is booming, real estate can look deceptively easy.

Homes may attract multiple offers. Auctions can be highly competitive. Properties may sell within days of being listed.

From the outside, it can look like an agent simply lists a property, holds an open home and collects a commission.

This perception can attract people to a career in real estate believing that a booming property market automatically means easy money.

But there’s one major problem:

You can’t sell a property you haven’t listed.

Getting Listings in a Hot Property Market

When properties are selling quickly and available stock is limited, listings can become highly sought after by agents.

Established real estate agents may already have:

• relationships with local homeowners
• large buyer and seller databases
• years of prospecting behind them
• repeat and referral business
• a recognised personal brand
• an established reputation within their local area.

A new real estate agent entering that market has to compete with those established agents for listings.

So while a property might sell quickly once you’ve secured the listing, winning the opportunity to sell it can be extremely competitive.

For a new agent without an established database or reputation, this can be one of the biggest challenges of entering real estate during a booming property market.

Is a Slow Property Market Bad for Real Estate Agents?

A slower market presents different challenges — but it doesn’t necessarily mean there are fewer opportunities for new agents.

Properties may take longer to sell. Buyers can become more cautious. There may be fewer competing offers and sellers may need to adjust their expectations.

This can be particularly noticeable when the market has recently transitioned from a period of rapid growth.

A homeowner may have watched neighbouring properties achieve increasingly high prices and formed an expectation about what their own property is worth.

When conditions change, seller expectations don’t always change at the same speed.

This is when an agent’s skills become particularly important.

Real estate agents may need to:

• provide sellers with realistic market evidence
• communicate regularly about buyer feedback
• actively follow up prospective buyers
• prospect consistently
• build and maintain their database
• negotiate between buyers and sellers
• manage price expectations
• adapt property marketing strategies
• maintain relationships when a property takes longer to sell.

A slower market can require considerably more work to bring a transaction together.

But that work also develops the skills required to build a successful real estate career.

Can a Slow Property Market Be Good for New Real Estate Agents?

It can create opportunities.

One of the challenges of a booming property market — limited stock — can begin to ease when market conditions change.

There may be more properties available for agents to compete for.

That doesn’t mean becoming a successful real estate agent suddenly becomes easy. The challenge simply changes from getting something to sell to successfully getting it sold.

For someone new to the real estate industry, this can provide valuable experience.

Rather than beginning their career in an environment where properties virtually sell themselves, a new agent may have the opportunity to develop practical skills in:

• prospecting
• buyer follow-up
• vendor communication
• negotiation
• objection handling
• database management
• property marketing
• local market analysis.

These are skills that remain valuable throughout different property cycles.

If you’re still deciding whether the profession suits your personality, goals and working style, read Is a Real Estate Career Right for You?

 

Building a Real Estate Career Through Different Property Cycles

Property markets move in cycles.

Strong markets eventually slow. Slower markets eventually change again.

For someone considering a long-term career in real estate, this matters.

Imagine an agent enters the industry during a slower market and spends the next few years consistently prospecting their local area, meeting property owners, conducting appraisals, building a database, following up buyers and maintaining relationships.

During that time, they’re also developing local market knowledge, improving their negotiation skills and building a reputation.

When stronger market conditions eventually return, that person isn’t entering the next property cycle as a brand-new agent.

They may now have years of relationships behind them.

They have people in their database who know their name. They have previous clients who may refer friends and family. They have sales experience and local knowledge.

Most importantly, they’ve demonstrated that they can work when conditions aren’t easy.

That can put them in a very different position from someone who decides to become a real estate agent only after seeing headlines about rapidly rising property prices.

Is Real Estate an Easy Career?

No — and that’s important to understand before entering the industry.

A booming property market does not automatically make someone a successful real estate agent.

Neither does completing the qualification required to enter the industry.

Real estate is a relationship and service-based profession.

Successful agents generally need to be prepared to prospect, follow up, communicate, negotiate, solve problems and consistently build relationships within their local market.

There will be times when listings are difficult to secure.

There will be times when buyers are difficult to secure.

There will be sellers with unrealistic expectations and buyers who change their minds.

There will also be transactions that come together quickly and clients who return or refer their friends and family years later.

The property market changes.

The need to build relationships and provide professional service doesn’t.

Is Real Estate a Good Career in Australia?

For the right person, real estate can offer a long-term career with opportunities across different areas of the property industry.

The real estate profession includes more than residential sales. Career pathways can include property management, real estate sales, business broking and eventually agency management or ownership, subject to the licensing and regulatory requirements that apply.

Jobs and Skills Australia reports that 79% of people within the Real Estate Sales Agents occupational group work full-time, compared with 69% across all occupations. The occupational group includes real estate agents, representatives, property managers, business brokers and real estate agency principals.

But deciding whether real estate is a good career for you should involve more than looking at property prices or assuming the industry offers easy money.

Consider whether you’re comfortable with:

• building relationships with new people
• prospecting and generating business
• following up consistently
• negotiating
• working towards targets
• managing difficult conversations
• continuing to learn about your local property market
• adapting when market conditions change.

The agents who build these skills can apply them through very different stages of the property cycle.

So, Is Now a Good Time to Become a Real Estate Agent?

There may be a better question to ask:

Are you prepared to build a real estate career rather than wait for an easy property market?

If the answer is yes, there may be little benefit in waiting for property headlines to tell you the market is booming.

People continue to buy, sell, lease and manage property through different stages of the property cycle.

What changes is the challenge.

In a hot market, the challenge may be securing the listing.

In a slower market, the challenge may be securing the buyer and getting the property sold.

Agents who develop the skills to operate through both are building something more valuable than success during one favourable market cycle.

They’re building a career.

How Do You Start a Career in Real Estate?

The training, registration and licensing requirements for working in real estate vary between Australian states and territories.

If you’ve decided a career in property could be right for you, the next step is understanding the requirements where you intend to work.

REAA offers entry-level real estate courses for students looking to begin working in the property industry across Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia.

Explore our Entry-Level Real Estate Registration courses to find the training pathway for your state.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

Is real estate a good career in Australia?

Real estate can be a rewarding career for people who enjoy working with others, building relationships, negotiating and working towards results. However, success isn’t guaranteed by market conditions. Agents generally need to consistently prospect, follow up, develop local market knowledge and provide professional service.

Is it hard to become a real estate agent?

The education and registration requirements vary depending on the Australian state or territory in which you intend to work. Completing the required training is only the first step. Building a successful career also requires practical skills, experience, relationships and consistent business development.

Can I become a real estate agent with no experience?

Yes. Many people enter real estate without previous industry experience. You will need to meet the relevant training, registration or licensing requirements for your state or territory, and working alongside experienced industry professionals can help you develop practical skills once you enter the industry.

Is real estate a good career in a slow property market?

A slower market presents different challenges from a booming market. Properties may take longer to sell and agents may need to work harder with buyers and sellers. However, slower markets can also provide new agents with opportunities to develop prospecting, negotiation, follow-up and relationship-building skills.

Is a booming property market better for new real estate agents?

Not always. Properties may sell more quickly in a booming market, but listings can also become highly competitive. Established agents with strong databases and local reputations may have an advantage when property owners choose an agent to sell their home.

What skills do you need to be a successful real estate agent?

Communication, negotiation, prospecting, organisation, follow-up, relationship building and local market knowledge are all valuable skills in real estate. Successful agents also need to be able to adapt as market conditions and legislation change.

How do I know if a real estate career is right for me?

Consider whether you enjoy working with people, building relationships, solving problems, negotiating and working in an environment where your results can depend heavily on your own activity. For a more detailed look at this question, read Is a Real Estate Career Right for You?

 

Ready to Start Your Real Estate Career?

If you’ve decided real estate could be the career for you, the next step is finding out what training you need in your state.

REAA provides online real estate training designed to help students meet the educational requirements for entering the property industry.

Explore our entry-level real estate courses and find the pathway for where you want your real estate career to begin.