Just about everybody lives, shops, and works somewhere. Invariably, somebody owns that property, leases it, or rents it. Real estate professionals are the people who transact business related to property, either by facilitating sales, managing properties, or developing buildings on a piece of land.

Real estate consists of land and the natural resources and permanent buildings on it. Real estate agents, brokers, asset managers, assessors, property managers, and developers perform a wide variety of tasks, from buying, selling, renting, and leasing, to assessing, developing, and managing land.

Brokers and Agents
Agents and brokers bring buyers and sellers together, acting as intermediaries in the sale of properties. Most agents and brokers work with residential properties such as houses or condominiums, though some focus on commercial properties such as office complexes or retail space. Many real estate agents contract their work to brokers, who in turn pay agents a portion of the commission they earn from the sale of a property.

Appraisers
Appraisers make sure that buyers are not overpaying for properties and that lenders lend the correct amount of money. Appraisers who work for local governments may carry out tax assessments and research facts and statistics in order to assign a value to a property. Independent appraisers typically are contracted by banks, governments, businesses, and mortgage lenders to assess property values.

Property Managers
Property managers oversee a property's everyday operations, whether it's a commercial, industrial, or residential building. Property managers work for building owners. Sometimes they live on-site. If not, they visit the property frequently. Real estate asset managers are property managers who act as a property owner's agent and adviser. They focus on long-range financial planning rather than everyday activities. Many asset managers work for pension funds, life insurance companies, real estate investment trusts, and other organizations that invest in real estate.

Developers
Real estate developers specialize in residential or commercial property development, from buying land to constructing the buildings. Corporations also hire managers to locate and develop properties. Franchise and chain businesses, such as fast-food restaurants, grocery stores, and retail chains, often employ in-house real estate specialists to select and develop new properties.