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Tides are now shifting in the once male-dominated real estate industry, as data showed that more women are becoming the captains of their own ships.
The Real Estate Buyers Agent Association (REBAA) revealed that 37 per cent of its membership are female buyer’s agency principals.
According to Property Mavens chief executive Miriam Sandkuhler, an increasing number of women are now eying a career in the real estate sector, particularly in buyers' advocacy, due to the prospect of better work/life balance and the chance to “run their own race”.
While she acknowledged that more males than females are working as buyer’s agents and advocates in the sector, there are ways to close this gender gap.
She believes that the right tool and training — along with a supportive environment — are key to empowering women who choose to make their own mark in the real industry.
Further raising the case for increased female representation in the sector, Ms Sandkuhler expressed her belief that women are innately equipped for the real estate business due to their “built-in empathy and ability to read people and situations”.
She added that instead of focusing on the gender divide, the industry must learn to be aware of gender dynamics and how it can be strategically incorporated into how the sector operates.
“Women think and work differently to men, and I believe there is a real opportunity to capitalise on the inherent qualities of women, such as empathy, strong communication, multitasking, strong organisational skills and often higher levels of emotional intelligence and insight,” she said.
By helping to create a new generation of empowered and positive women, Ms Sandkuhler said that it could mark the advent of a new era in the industry.
“I truly believe that fostering genuine and authentic relationships with one another ensures we remain part of a connected and supportive community,” she added.
Jenny Jia, a buyer’s agent and vendor advocate operating in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs, is one of the women who have chosen to make real estate their career arena.
Ms Jia, who also works under the Property Mavens brand, said that the switch towards a career in the real estate industry came after finding success in property investing.
“My career before becoming a buyer’s agent was a spatial scientist. I have done a lot of research and developed algorithms in the field. I had also been running my own remote-sensing technological solution company for several years.
“Investing in property for my own property portfolio became such a passion that I decided to change careers and become a buyers’ agent,” she stated.
But even before her stint as a spatial scientist, Ms Jia said that property — and everything involving it — has always been in her field of interest and specialty.
“I graduated with a master’s of property from the University of Melbourne, and also developed a solid understanding of property development during those three years,” she said.
The switch was also motivated by Ms Jia recognising that certain skills, attributes and insights she accumulated could be valuable and could even be a game changer in the real estate profession.
“I think I bring unique attributes because of my former research and development experience and my property investment experience, as well as all the data analysis skills,” she reflected.
On a personal level, Ms Jia also believed that she was equipped with an “inherent good instinct” that enabled her to identify great investment-grade properties.
“I also have that persistence to hold on to the investments for long term, which are essential to the buying profession,” she added.
Taking her real estate career to the next level, Ms Jia decided to become a franchisee with an established brand instead of going her own way.
“I always like to be my own boss — to have better flexibility in my work days and the potential to earn more money as well.
“However, I also need someone to partner with, to accelerate my business growth and so that we can help each other whenever needed. That’s the reason I wanted to be a franchisee,” she stated.
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