Determinants of Real Estate Licensee Income

Abstract

This paper examines the factors that influence the income of real estate licensees. An empirical human capital earnings model is developed from a 1995 survey of Florida real estate brokers and salespeople. In seeking to explain earnings of real estate licensees, this study expands from previous studies by measuring several additional human capital components. A number of factors are seen to positively affect licensee income. These include (a) number of hours worked, (b) experience, (c) franchise affiliation, (d) being an owner/manager, (e) working in a metropolitan area, (f) level of job satisfaction, and (g) having errors and omissions insurance. Variables that have a negative effect on income include (a) being a female, (b) selling primarily residential properties, (c) age of licensee, (d) image perception, and (e) working weekends. Segmenting the data by income into thirds and comparing the means of the variables for the high- and low-income groups, several variable means are significantly different. the high income group has significantly higher means for these variables: (a) hourly income, (b) number of hours worked, (c) working full-time, (d) working on the weekend, (e) utilizing correspondence to satisfy continuing educational requirements, (f) work experience, (g) membership in clubs/professional organizations, (h) holding a broker's license, (i) length of current affiliation, (j) being a manager/owner, (k) holding professional designations, and (l) belonging to the state's Realtor association. The low-income group has a significantly higher variable mean for participation in residential sales.