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Unlike careers that require years of formal tertiary study followed by structured pathways, real estate offers a unique entry point for people from all backgrounds, including those switching from other industries. It’s one of the few careers where you can start building your own business from day one. But just like any entrepreneurial journey, the payoff comes to those who stick with it.
An analysis of over 35,000 actively listing agents across the Australian market in 2024 shows that the top 20 per cent listed over 60 per cent of all properties nationally. What they have in common is time in the market, with a median tenure of 10 years. These are the agents who treat real estate as a long-term business, investing not just in their own performance, but in building lasting relationships and delivering consistent service to their clients year after year.
At the other end of the market, many agents remain in the industry for 3-5+ years without scaling up, proving that while entry is easy, building a business that lasts takes real drive and commitment.
Compared to careers that require four years at university and years more climbing the corporate ladder, real estate offers a different kind of opportunity. It’s a build-your-own business pathway, where those with persistence, ambition, and a drive to succeed can create their own momentum much earlier.
Methodology
This analysis draws on over 10 years of publicly available sales listing data from Australia’s major online property portals, covering tens of thousands of producing agents nationally.
Agents were ranked by their 2024 listing activity, and their career tenure was measured by tracking the time between their first and most recent recorded listings available, providing a broad national view of agent longevity and performance.
