How To Become a Property, Real Estate and Community Association Manager

What degree do you need

One of the most common questions that we always get is what major or degree do I need to become Property and Real Estate Managers or what courses do I need to take.

We also asked Property and Real Estate Managers what did they major in college or university and here are the top 5 most popular majors that came up.

Many employers prefer to hire college graduates for Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers positions, particularly for offsite positions dealing with a property’s finances or contract management. Employers also prefer to hire college graduates to manage residential and commercial properties. A bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration, accounting, finance, real estate, or public administration is preferred for commercial management positions. Managers of commercial properties and those dealing with a property’s finances and contract management increasingly are finding that they need a bachelor’s or master’s degree in business administration, accounting, finance, or real estate management, especially if they do not have much practical experience.

How hard is it

You will need a considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge or experience to be a Property, Real Estate and Community Association Manager. For example, an accountant must complete 4 years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Careers in this difficulty category will usually need several years of work-related experience, on-the-job training, and/or vocational training. These careers usually involve coordinating, supervising, managing, or training others. Similar careers include sales managers, database administrators, chemists, and art directors.

License and certifications

In a few states, Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers must also have a real estate license. Managers of public housing subsidized by the federal government must hold certifications.

Skills required

We asked other Property and Real Estate Managers if they could only have 5 skills, what would they be. Here is what they said.

Knowledge required

Just like any other job, you will need certain know-hows to excel at your job. Property and Real Estate Managers are generally very knowledgeable in these 5 key areas.

Explore other careers