\n<\/p>\n
Are you a nurse who is considering leaving the profession? You aren\u2019t alone. According to the National Council of State Boards of Nursing, 100,000 nurses left the workforce during the pandemic, and by 2027, almost 900,000, or almost one-fifth of registered nurses, intend to leave the workforce. If you are quitting nursing, what do you plan to do next? While you may not think a nurse and real estate agent have much in common, the real estate industry attracts many nurses considering a career pivot \u2014 or a side gig.<\/p>\n
Let\u2019s discuss this transition from nurse to real estate agent. Making the switch is easier than you would think!<\/p>\n
You aren\u2019t alone if you\u2019re a nurse disenchanted with the healthcare industry. Here are some common reasons for a career change from nursing to real estate or another profession unrelated to healthcare.<\/p>\n
According to the 2024 State of Nursing Report from Nurse.org, 66% of nurses said burnout was the top reason nurses are leaving the profession. Staffing shortages often cause burnout. Nurses want to provide excellent patient care but struggle because they\u2019re spread too thin.<\/p>\n
While some nurses can work a regular 9-5 schedule, many work 12-hour shifts, overnight, on weekends, and on holidays. While this type of schedule has benefits, it can affect one\u2019s personal life. This has led many nurses to seek career paths that offer more predictable hours and greater flexibility to achieve a healthier work-life balance.<\/p>\n
According to Indeed, nurses in the U.S. earn an average base salary of $43.90 per hour. This equates to around $91,520 annually. While this is an excellent salary, real estate agents earn an average of $100,282 annually (according to Indeed<\/a>). And statistically, real estate agents aren\u2019t working longer hours than nurses. The National Association of REALTORS\u00ae 2023 member profile reports that REALTORS\u00ae work an average of 35 hours per week.<\/p>\n While this data is the average amount earned for both professions, it\u2019s important to note that a real estate agent\u2019s income can be significantly higher. Many work in real estate as a side gig, which affects their earning potential \u2014 and the national salary data on Indeed. According to Glassdoor, a website that allows users to self-report their income, the median total pay of real estate agents is $242,000.<\/p>\n A nurse\u2019s income is limited by the number of hours they can work. However, a real estate agent\u2019s income is limited only by the number of properties they sell.<\/p>\n Nurses often know their work schedule weeks in advance. However, their shifts are not flexible. They can\u2019t easily run out for dentist appointments or attend their kids\u2019 school events during their shift, as patient care requires full presence and commitment. This lack of flexibility can make managing personal responsibilities and unexpected obligations challenging, prompting some nurses to explore careers that allow for more autonomy over their time.<\/p>\n While people outside of nursing may assume nurses are leaving the profession because they\u2019re tired of working in patient care, national studies don\u2019t support this theory. Nurses want to help others during life\u2019s most vulnerable moments, which is why many enter other \u201cserving\u201d professions, such as real estate.<\/p>\n Why do nurses make good real estate agents?\u202fYou may not think a nurse and real estate agent have the same set of skills. However, the following traits are critical for a nurse\/real estate agent.<\/p>\n Nurses must have excellent oral and written communication skills. After all, they must provide clear and concise patient updates to other medical professionals while also speaking clearly and compassionately to patients and their families.<\/p>\n Real estate agents also must have excellent communication skills. As a real estate agent, you\u2019ll give presentations to prospective clients, negotiate with other agents, and provide updates to anxious buyers and sellers.<\/p>\n Nurses often need to think on their feet and solve problems quickly, sometimes in situations where lives are at stake.<\/p>\n While real estate transactions aren\u2019t life or death, they often require quick action and outside-the-box solutions to problems.<\/p>\n Both nurses and real estate agents must be detail-oriented people. Attention to detail is crucial for nurses to ensure accurate patient care and for real estate agents to effectively manage contracts, property details, and client needs.<\/p>\n Both nurses and real estate agents need strong time management skills to prioritize tasks in fast-paced environments. Additionally, success in these professions requires a solid work ethic, enabling them to make the most of slower periods by staying productive and working toward positive outcomes.<\/p>\n Nurses are known for their empathy, which makes them excellent caregivers. However, many real estate transactions are also emotive. After all, families form emotional attachments to properties and sometimes must buy or sell a home due to death, financial difficulties, or age.<\/p>\n As a nurse\/real estate agent, you may have to emotionally support your clients as they make difficult decisions about their homes. \u202f<\/p>\n While networking may not be a required skill for nurses, the best ones are good at forming relationships with coworkers and patients. You\u2019ll use this ability to connect with others as a real estate agent to grow your client base and establish yourself as a professional within the industry.<\/p>\n Are you considering a career change from nursing to real estate? Here\u2019s a quick guide on the process.<\/p>\n Just as you have a state-specific nursing license, real estate agents must earn a state-specific real estate license. The good news is that you\u2019re not required to get an associate\u2019s or bachelor\u2019s degree to be a real estate agent.<\/p>\n Get started with your real estate career by learning about the licensing requirements in your state<\/a>. You\u2019ll find that you can earn your real estate license within two or three months in most states. \u202f<\/p>\n In addition to researching the licensing requirements, you may also want to prepare for your career transition by connecting with real estate professionals in your area. Most brokerages are on the lookout for new agents, and they\u2019ll be happy to answer your questions about working in the industry and the licensing process. (In fact, some brokerages will pay for your pre-licensing coursework in return for your promise to work for them when you become a licensed agent.)<\/p>\n Sign up for your state\u2019s real estate licensing course. The coursework is required. You can\u2019t simply take the test to become a licensed real estate agent.<\/p>\n Since your work schedule may not accommodate an in-person class, consider selecting an online real estate school. Colibri Real Estate School (formerly Real Estate Express) is known for providing top-notch at-your-own-pace courses and training for beginning and experienced real estate agents. We\u2019ve helped more than half a million people earn their licenses in the U.S., and we can help you, too!<\/p>\n You\u2019ll need to pass a background check and licensing exam to work as a real estate agent in your state. Colibri Real Estate School offers exam-prep materials to help you pass your exam the first time you take it.<\/p>\n Those with an \u201centry-level\u201d real estate license must work under the supervision of an experienced professional. In most states, an experienced agent with an advanced license is called a \u201cbroker.\u201d<\/p>\n As soon as you earn your real estate license, you\u2019ll join a brokerage to work under a broker. This is a unique relationship, as you will essentially be your own boss. However, your work must be overseen by a more experienced real estate professional.<\/p>\n A nurse and a real estate agent must complete continuing education and training to maintain their license. Colibri Real Estate School offers required and optional coursework and professional development to help you keep your license and grow your business.<\/p>\n A survey<\/a> from Nurse.org reports that 29% of nurses supplement their pay with a side hustle. Of those with a side gig, 20% made money outside of the healthcare industry. If you plan to stick it out as a nurse, you may consider using real estate as a side gig to make extra money.<\/p>\n Can you work as a nurse and as a real estate agent?\u202fReal estate can be an extremely lucrative side gig for nurses. Buyer\u2019s and seller\u2019s agents typically earn around 3% of the property sale price as a commission. While you\u2019ll have to share this commission with your brokerage, you can make thousands of dollars for each transaction you oversee.<\/p>\n Here\u2019s how the math works:<\/p>\n The average home price in the U.S. (according to Zillow, January 2025) is $356,585.<\/p>\n $356,585 x 3% = $10,698<\/p>\n Even if you have a 50\/50 split with your brokerage, you\u2019ll earn $5,349 on a typical sale. Is real estate a good side hustle for nurses?\u202fBased on the income you can make from a single transaction, we would say, \u201cYes!\u201d<\/p>\n Here are some tips on how to work in healthcare and real estate simultaneously.<\/p>\n Complete your coursework from an online real estate school. With this flexibility, you\u2019ll get through a section of the material during your lunch break or when you are \u201cwired\u201d after getting home from a busy shift.<\/p>\n After you become licensed, there are tricks to managing both professions. For example, Proptech tools can be used to automate as much as possible. Consider working as a part of a team so that another agent has your back if you can\u2019t respond to a client request because you\u2019re working at the hospital. In fact, you may want to partner with another healthcare professional and work alternating schedules so you can attend to the needs of each other\u2019s real estate clients while still working as a nurse.<\/p>\n Goal setting is common in commission-based careers like real estate. However, it\u2019s easy to become frustrated if all your goals are based on income.<\/p>\n It may take months to earn your first commission check as an agent. To stay motivated, set goals related to marketing your business, such as passing out X number of business cards or posting X times a week on your business Facebook page.<\/p>\n A nurse\u2019s unique schedule may frustrate you most days, especially if you miss social events because you\u2019re working 12-hour shifts or weekends. However, having a typical nurse schedule can be great if you\u2019re starting a business. Utilize your \u201cextra\u201d days off by getting your business off the ground.<\/p>\n Many real estate agents obtain clients from their personal network, such as friends or neighbors who need help buying or selling a property. However, you\u2019ll eventually need to expand beyond these connections to grow your business. This involves strategically marketing your services to reach your target audience within the community and establishing your presence as a trusted local expert. This will take time, so you must be patient with yourself.<\/p>\n Perhaps you have already decided to leave nursing for a real estate career. This is understandable, as it is difficult to respond immediately to your clients\u2019 needs when you\u2019re working part-time in real estate. Here are some tips for making the switch.<\/p>\n It may take two or three months to complete your state\u2019s real estate licensing process. You can\u2019t provide real estate services without being licensed, so you might as well work as a nurse as long as you can until your real estate license is in your hands.<\/p>\n If your household relies on your income, it would be best if you had a significant nest egg before quitting healthcare and transitioning full-time to real estate. It may take months (or a couple of years) to grow your business and earn commissions consistently.<\/p>\n Besides building a client base in your target market, you\u2019ll also need to expand your network of professionals in real estate-related fields. For example, get to know home inspectors, appraisers, mortgage professionals, movers, housecleaners, and handymen\/women in your area.<\/p>\n There are numerous career options for licensed agents. For example, property managers must have a real estate license in most states and often earn a regular income. Consider earning money through other real estate-related jobs as you grow your client base.<\/p>\nFlexibility and control over schedule\u202f<\/h3>\n
Transferable Skills from Nursing to Real Estate\u202f<\/h2>\n
Communication skills\u202f<\/h3>\n
Problem-solving abilities\u202f<\/h3>\n
Attention to detail\u202f<\/h3>\n
Time management\u202f<\/h3>\n
Empathy and emotional intelligence\u202f<\/h3>\n
Networking and relationship building\u202f<\/h3>\n
Steps to Become a Real Estate Agent\u202f<\/h2>\n
Step 1: Research and planning\u202f<\/h3>\n
Step 2: Complete pre-licensing courses\u202f<\/h3>\n
Step 3: Pass the real estate licensing exam\u202f<\/h3>\n
Step 4: Join a brokerage<\/h3>\n
Complete continuing education and training\u202f<\/h3>\n
Balancing Nursing and Real Estate as a Side Hustle\u202f<\/h2>\n
Time management tips\u202f<\/h3>\n
Setting realistic goals\u202f<\/h3>\n
Leveraging flexible nursing schedules\u202f<\/h3>\n
Building a client base gradually\u202f<\/h3>\n
Making a Full-Time Switch to Real Estate\u202f<\/h2>\n
Complete your licensing process while you\u2019re still working in healthcare<\/h3>\n
Have a healthy nest egg before quitting your nursing job<\/h3>\n
Build a strong network<\/h3>\n
Consider earning multiple forms of income in real estate<\/h3>\n