How to Write a Resume for a Real Estate Agent

Introduction: Why a Tailored Real Estate Agent Resume Matters

A real estate agent’s success is measured in numbers: listings won, properties sold, and revenue generated. Your resume must showcase these outcomes clearly and convincingly. In a competitive market, brokerages and real estate firms look for agents who can prospect, build relationships, negotiate effectively, and close deals while maintaining exceptional client satisfaction.

A generic, one-size-fits-all resume will not capture your unique value. A tailored real estate agent resume highlights your local market expertise, sales performance, negotiation skills, and client-service mindset. It also demonstrates professionalism and attention to detail—qualities that hiring managers and managing brokers expect from agents who will represent their brand in the marketplace.

Key Skills for a Real Estate Agent Resume

Core Hard Skills

Emphasize technical and role-specific competencies that show you can manage the full real estate transaction lifecycle.

• Residential and/or commercial property sales
• Listing presentations and comparative market analysis (CMA)
• Lead generation and prospecting (cold calling, door-knocking, online leads)
• MLS systems and listing management
• Real estate contracts and documentation
• Negotiation and offer management
• Local market research and pricing strategy
• Open house planning and execution
• Buyer and seller representation
• Real estate CRM software (e.g., Follow Up Boss, kvCORE, Salesforce)
• Digital marketing (social media, email campaigns, paid ads)
• Property staging coordination and vendor management
• Transaction coordination and closing processes
• Real estate regulations and compliance (state and local)

Key Soft Skills

Top-performing agents rely heavily on interpersonal and organizational skills. Highlight these clearly.

• Relationship building and networking
• Persuasion and influence
• Client education and consultation
• Active listening and empathy
• Time management and prioritization
• Resilience and persistence in prospecting
• Problem-solving and conflict resolution
• Attention to detail and accuracy in paperwork
• Adaptability in changing markets
• Professional communication (verbal, written, and presentation skills)

Formatting Tips for a Real Estate Agent Resume

Overall Layout and Length

Use a clean, modern layout that reflects professionalism and clarity—just like a well-designed property listing.

• Length: 1 page for under 5–7 years of experience; 2 pages is acceptable for seasoned agents with extensive production history.
• Margins: 0.5–1 inch for readability.
• Sections: Header, Summary, Skills, Experience, Education, Licenses & Certifications, and optionally Awards & Achievements.

Fonts and Style

Choose fonts that are easy to read and applicant tracking system (ATS) friendly.

• Fonts: Calibri, Arial, Helvetica, Georgia, or similar professional fonts.
• Font size: 10–12 pt for body text; 12–14 pt for headings.
• Use bold and italics sparingly to highlight job titles and key metrics.
• Avoid graphics, images, and complex columns that may confuse ATS software.

Structuring the Header

Your header should make it easy to contact you and quickly signal your market focus.

• Include: Full name, city/state, phone number, professional email, LinkedIn URL, and optionally your real estate website.
• Optionally add: “Licensed Real Estate Agent – [State]” or “Residential Real Estate Agent – [City/Region]” under your name.

Writing a Strong Professional Summary

Replace a generic objective with a concise, results-focused summary of 3–4 lines.

Example:

“Licensed Real Estate Agent with 6+ years of experience in the [City] residential market, closing over $25M in sales volume and consistently ranking in the top 10% of agents at [Brokerage]. Proven track record in winning listings, driving multiple-offer scenarios, and delivering high-touch client service from first contact through closing and beyond.”

Experience Section Basics

List your roles in reverse chronological order. For each position, include:

• Job title (e.g., Real Estate Agent, Buyer’s Agent, Listing Specialist)
• Brokerage name, city, state, and dates
• 3–6 bullet points focusing on measurable achievements, not just duties

Use strong action verbs: “Closed,” “Negotiated,” “Generated,” “Secured,” “Increased,” “Converted,” etc.

Showcasing Sales Performance and Production Metrics

Quantifying Your Real Estate Results

In real estate, numbers tell your story. Hiring managers immediately look for production metrics that demonstrate your effectiveness.

• Total sales volume: “Closed $18M in residential sales in 2023.”
• Number of transactions: “Completed 42 buyer and seller transactions annually.”
• Listing-to-closing ratio: “Maintained 92% listing-to-sold ratio in a competitive market.”
• Average days on market: “Reduced average days on market from 45 to 23 for listings.”
• Price performance: “Achieved an average sale price of 101% of list price.”
• Lead conversion: “Converted 28% of online leads into closed transactions.”

Integrate these metrics directly into your bullet points instead of listing them separately. This keeps your achievements contextual and compelling.

Highlighting Client Satisfaction and Retention

Real estate is a relationship business. Show that you build trust and long-term value.

• Client satisfaction scores: “Maintained a 4.9/5 average client satisfaction rating on post-closing surveys.”
• Referrals: “Generated 60% of new business from client referrals and repeat clients.”
• Testimonials: While full quotes belong on your website or portfolio, you can reference them briefly: “Recognized by clients for responsiveness, market knowledge, and negotiation skills.”
• Reviews: “Over 35 five-star reviews on Google and Zillow.”

Emphasizing Local Market Expertise and Lead Generation

Demonstrating Neighborhood and Market Knowledge

Brokerages value agents who understand their territory. Your resume should reflect your geographic specialization and market insights.

• Specify your primary markets: “Specializing in single-family homes and condos in [Neighborhoods/City].”
• Mention price points and property types: “Experienced in luxury listings ($1M+) and new construction.”
• Include market analysis: “Prepared detailed CMAs and pricing strategies based on local trends and comps.”
• Highlight community involvement: “Active member of [Local Association], sponsor of [Community Event].”

Showcasing Prospecting and Lead-Generation Skills

Without leads, there are no closings. Show that you can reliably generate business.

• Prospecting methods: “Conducted 50–70 outbound calls per day to expired, FSBO, and geographic farm leads.”
• Open houses: “Hosted 4–6 open houses monthly, capturing 20+ new buyer leads per event.”
• Digital marketing: “Launched targeted Facebook and Instagram campaigns, generating 150+ qualified leads annually.”
• Networking: “Built a referral network of lenders, attorneys, and contractors to support clients and cross-refer business.”

These details reassure hiring managers that you can build and maintain a strong pipeline, not just service inbound leads.

Tailoring Strategies for Real Estate Agent Resumes

Aligning with the Brokerage’s Business Model

Study each job posting and the brokerage’s website to understand what they value most—luxury sales, volume transactions, new development, investment properties, or first-time buyers.

• Mirror relevant keywords: If the posting emphasizes “luxury listings,” “investment properties,” or “buyer representation,” use those exact phrases where they truthfully apply.
• Emphasize matching experience: Highlight luxury, investor, or new-construction experience depending on the firm’s niche.
• Adjust your summary: Tailor your summary to reflect the brokerage’s core clientele and market focus.

Customizing Skills and Achievements for Each Role

Prioritize skills and accomplishments that directly address the job description.

• If the role focuses on listings: Emphasize listing presentations, pricing strategy, staging, and days-on-market reductions.
• If the role is buyer-heavy: Highlight neighborhood tours, buyer consultations, and success in winning multiple-offer situations.
• If team-based: Showcase collaboration with transaction coordinators, showing agents, and marketing staff.

Reorder your bullet points so the most relevant achievements appear first for each job you apply to.

Optimizing for Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)

Many larger brokerages use ATS to screen resumes.

• Incorporate key terms from the job description: “lead generation,” “CMA,” “MLS,” “negotiation,” “pipeline management.”
• Avoid images, tables, and unusual file types; submit as a Word document or PDF unless instructed otherwise.
• Use standard section headings (Summary, Experience, Skills, Education) to help ATS parse your information correctly.

Common Mistakes on Real Estate Agent Resumes

Relying on Duties Instead of Results

Listing tasks like “showed homes to buyers” or “managed listings” is not enough. Always aim to quantify results: sales volume, number of transactions, conversion rates, and client satisfaction metrics. Show how well you performed, not just what you did.

Omitting License and Key Certifications

Failing to clearly list your active real estate license and state can get your resume overlooked.

• Include: License type (e.g., Salesperson, Broker), state(s), and “Active” status.
• Add relevant designations: GRI, ABR, SRS, CRS, SRES, or other NAR-recognized credentials.

Using Vague or Overused Language

Phrases like “hard worker,” “self-starter,” and “team player” are weak without evidence. Replace them with specific examples:

• Instead of “Excellent negotiator,” write “Negotiated an average of 3% above asking price for sellers in 2023.”
• Instead of “Great with clients,” write “Generated 65% of business from repeat and referral clients.”

Ignoring Online Presence and Branding

In modern real estate, your digital footprint matters. Not referencing your professional online presence can be a missed opportunity.

• Include links to a professional website, LinkedIn profile, or agent page, ensuring they are updated and consistent with your resume.
• Ensure your online profiles reflect your achievements, listings, and client testimonials.

Cluttered or Unprofessional Formatting

A resume that looks messy or outdated can suggest you will present listings the same way.

• Avoid dense blocks of text; use bullet points for clarity.
• Keep formatting consistent: same date format, bullet style, and font throughout.
• Proofread carefully to avoid spelling and grammar errors—especially in brokerage names and job titles.

Not Updating Recent Performance

Real estate markets change quickly, and so does your production. Outdated metrics can underrepresent your current value.

• Update your resume at least annually with your latest sales volume, transaction count, and notable achievements.
• Highlight recent performance trends, such as year-over-year growth in volume or referrals.

A targeted, metrics-driven real estate agent resume positions you as a proven producer and trusted advisor, not just another license holder. By emphasizing your sales performance, local expertise, and client-focused approach—and tailoring your resume to each brokerage’s needs—you significantly increase your chances of securing interviews and advancing your real estate career.