APU Careers Careers & Learning

Career Options in Real Estate Shown through the Mortgage Process

careers-real-estateBy Kevin A. Forehand
Program Director, Real Estate Studies Program at American Public University

The mortgage process is already quite involved and is evolving to become even more regulated. Every person that helps you in the process of obtaining a mortgage plays an important role in the home buying and selling process. So, when we think of the real estate industry we generally think of real estate agents or realtors, there are many more career options in the real estate business.

A real estate agent or realtor plays an important role in helping you to find the right property, in the right area, for the right price. They are instrumental in guiding you through the home buying process.

The home inspector plays the next vital role. The home inspector will inspect all aspects of the home, from the foundation to the roof and everything in between in order to provide the buyer with the most thorough report possible. The home inspector will point out any and all areas of concern and answer any questions you may have about the property. This inspection allows you to make an informed decision about the home you wish to buy.

Another person who plays a key role in the home buying process is the real estate appraiser. This person is hired as a third party to review the home you wish to purchase and determine its appraised value. The real estate appraiser does this by touring the property and then researching comparable sales data on similar homes in the given market. The real estate appraiser produces a report called a real estate appraisal, which acts as his or her professional opinion on the true value of the home. The real estate appraiser is required to support this opinion with the comparable sales data found during the research process. Once complete, the real estate appraisal is sent to the mortgage consultant and he or she will provide you with a copy of the report.

When it comes to obtaining a mortgage, the mortgage consultant guides you through the process of obtaining your mortgage loan. There are many other people who work with the mortgage consultant to ensure a smooth transaction. The home loan processor helps gather all of the paperwork and documentation needed for your mortgage loan. All of the roles or jobs mentioned above are options to students who wish to pursue a career in real estate. As a student in the Real Estate Studies program at American Public University, you gain subject knowledge and some insight into the real estate industry from experienced industry professionals. From there you can decide which career path may be right for you.

About the Author:

Kevin Forehand is the Program Director of the Real Estate Studies Program at American Public University. He earned an MBA from Thomas University and is currently working on his Doctorate at Northcentral University. He has worked in the real estate industry for more than 15 years remodeling homes for resale and developing small tracts of land for single family homes.

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