Real Estate Broker: What is the cost of hiring?

What is a real estate broker?

A real estate broker is a licensed professional who facilitates property transactions and can operate independently or manage a team of agents. They oversee legal compliance, negotiate deals and ensure smooth closing, making them especially valuable for complex or high-value real estate decisions. Brokers often hold advanced credentials and can supervise agents, making them ideal for companies with frequent or strategic property needs.

Why hire a real estate broker?

A real estate broker is a licensed professional who facilitates property transactions and oversees legal, financial and compliance aspects of buying, selling or leasing real estate. Unlike agents, brokers can work independently, manage other agents and handle complex deals, making them valuable when a company is expanding, investing in commercial property or navigating high-stakes negotiations. Signs you may need one include frequent transactions, regulatory challenges or the need for strategic property guidance.

Contributions of a great real estate broker:

• oversees complex property transactions with deep legal and regulatory knowledge
• leads and mentors real estate agents to ensure quality service and ethical standards
• provides strategic market insights to help clients maximize property value and investment potential

Defining your hiring needs for a real estate broker

To define your hiring needs for a real estate broker, start by assessing the scope of your property transactions. Consider volume, complexity and whether you need someone to manage agents or operate independently. Review your budget to determine if you can support a full-time broker or if a freelance or part-time arrangement is more practical. Choose the correct title (e.g. broker vs. agent) based on licensing requirements and responsibilities. Brokers typically hold higher credentials and can supervise agents.

What are the types of real estate brokers?

When writing your real estate broker job description, consider including some or all of the following keywords to improve the visibility of your job posting. These are the most popular search terms leading to clicks on real estate broker jobs, according to Indeed data:

• real estate
• real estate agent
• sales
• real estate broker
• administrative assistant

Want more hiring insights for your real estate broker role? Sign in or create your free Indeed account.

Where to find a real estate broker

To find the right real estate broker for your business, consider trying out a few different recruiting strategies:

• Networking: Networking at local property expos, Chamber of Commerce mixers or open houses is an effective recruiting strategy.
• Trade associations: Trade associations, such as the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) or provincial bodies like the Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO), also maintain searchable registries.
• National directories: These directories allow you to search by location, specialty and language to identify top-tier candidates.
• Adjacent fields: If you’re hiring for a leasing or property management role, consider adjacent fields such as hospitality or commercial development, where professionals may possess transferable skills.

Post your job online. Try posting your real estate agent job on Indeed to find and attract quality real estate broker candidates.

Skills to look for in a real estate broker

A successful real estate broker candidate will typically have the following skills and competencies, which may be gained through a variety of experiences, training or education:

• regulatory compliance and risk management expertise to ensure all transactions meet legal standards, manage trust accounts and mitigate liability through policy oversight and training
• ability to lead brokerage operations, mentor agents and set performance goals aligned with business growth
• advanced negotiation and deal structuring skills to navigate complex property deals with empathy and precision and secure favourable outcomes for clients
• ability to oversee budgets, compensation plans and trust fund management with accuracy and transparency
• expertise in market analysis to interpret market trends and anticipate zoning or infrastructure changes to guide investment decisions
• technical abilities to use digital tools like MLS platforms, virtual tour software and CRM systems to streamline workflow

Writing a real estate broker job description

Now that you know the key skills, salary expectations, popular job-seeker search terms and hiring insights for a real estate broker, you’re ready to write a job description.

A real estate broker job description typically includes a compelling summary of the role, a detailed list of duties and responsibilities, and the required and preferred skills for the position. You may also want to include information about your company culture, benefits and perks to attract candidates to your open role.

Ready to get started? See our full guide for writing real estate broker job descriptions.

Interviewing real estate broker candidates

Strong candidates for real estate broker positions will be confident answering questions regarding:

• handling complex client needs, building trust and resolving conflicts
• navigating high-stakes transactions and balancing buyer/seller expectations
• understanding legal obligations, disclosures and ethical decision-making
• managing agents, setting performance goals and fostering collaboration
• interpreting trends, pricing strategies and guiding clients on property investments

Need help coming up with interview questions? See our list of real estate broker interview questions for examples (with sample answers).