Who is a real estate manager?

A real estate manager is a professional trained in real estate management or closely related field. Real estate refers to the land and other immovable structures affixed to it such as buildings, natural resources and structures both above and below the earth surface.

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Real estate management entails overall operation and control of real estate to ensure it is in good condition for rent, sale or any other intended use. Real estate managers oversee daily activities and administrative functions of commercial, residential, industrial and agricultural real estate (properties) such as; office buildings, apartments, retail stores and warehouses among others to ensure they are in good condition for rent or sale.

What is real estate manager’s work environment?

Real estate managers work in offices as well as in the field carrying out various activities such as showing premises/ properties to clients, inspecting the grounds, or meeting with property owners.

What are some real estate manager’s career opportunities?

Real estate managers are employed by Government, academia, the private sector and Non-Governmental Organizations among other areas.

Real estate jobs in Kenya can be found in various Government ministries, real estate fund management, real estate development consultancies, urban planning firms, real estate finance and investment, Corporate Real Estate management, insurance companies, training institutions, valuation firms, facilities and estate management, estate agency, land and property development and administration and insurance companies among other areas.

These professionals can also start their own businesses/ self-employment.

How to become a real estate manager in Kenya

Subject’s selection plays a significant role in determining ones future career choice. It is therefore vital for young people to become aware of the various subjects combination required for various career options.

High school subject selection

To pursue a real estate career in Kenya, you will require good performance in the following cluster subjects.

1. SUBJECT 1: MAT A,
2. SUBJECT 2: any GROUP II,
3. SUBJECT 3: any GROUP III,
4. SUBJECT 4: 2nd GROUP II or 2nd GROUP III or a GROUP IV or any GROUP V (subject’s source); JAB/ Kuccps.

Education and Training Routes

If you work hard and score good grades in the above subject’s combination with a good overall grade, KCSE mean grade C+ (plus) and above, you can pursue this career directly in the university (academic route).

However, if you do not qualify for direct university admission for this career option, you can still pursue it through a different route (technical route). Under the technical route, you will pursue a diploma course that can help you further your education and become a real estate manager.

So what course(s) can you pursue in either route and eventually become a real estate manager?

Academic route

Bachelor of Science in Real Estate Management or similar course(s). At least KCSE mean grade C+ (plus) and above.

Technical route

1. Diploma in Real estate
2. Diploma in Building Construction,
3. Diploma in Architectural Studies,
4. Diploma in Civil engineering
5. Diploma in Land surveying or other relevant course(s); these diploma courses require at least KCSE mean grade C- (minus).

It is worthy to note that, with a diploma in any of the above fields, you can either choose to look for a job in line with your training or further your education to your desired career option.

Important skills to have

To work successfully as a real estate manager, you will be required to possess important skills some of which are listed below.

1. Communication skills,
2. Customer service skills
3. Interpersonal skills
4. Listening skills
5. Organizational skills
6. Problem solving  skills
7. Creativity skills
8. Planning and organizational skills
9. Presentation skills
10. Leadership skills
11. Business skills among others

Throughout your education and training, these skills will be emphasized. However, it’s your responsibility to make sure before you enter the job market; you possess much of these skills.

How to Join College and or university
There are two ways you can follow to join training institution(s) in pursuit of your career of choice. The majority way is applying through the Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (Kuccps). This is a state owned agency that admits/ places government sponsored students to colleges and universities. One of the advantages of applying through Kuccps is that, upon successful placement, you will pay subsidized fee as a government sponsored student.

To be placed through Kuccps you must have attained a certain pass mark required for various education levels for (degrees/diplomas/certificates etc.) For more details on placement criteria, visit Kuccps website. The second approach is applying directly to training institution of your choice. Students who opt to apply this way do not get government fee subsidy and are therefore self-sponsored.

How to fund your post-secondary education.
If you are a needy student, upon application, you can get education loan from Higher Education Loans Board (HELB), a state owned institution that gives education loans to students joining technical colleges and universities. You can also access education bursaries from your local Member of Parliament (MP) or the County Government among other sources.

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