Property, Real Estate, and Community Association Managers

Career Overview

Plan, direct, or coordinate the selling, buying, leasing, or governance activities of commercial, industrial, or residential real estate properties. Includes managers of homeowner and condominium associations, rented or leased housing units, buildings, or land (including rights-of-way).

Also Known As

  • Apartment Manager
  • Community Manager
  • Property Manager
  • Resident Manager

Alternate Job Titles

  • Apartment Community Manager
  • Apartment House Manager
  • Apartment Manager
  • Apartment Property Manager
  • Building Rental Manager
  • Building Rental Superintendent
  • Building Superintendent
  • Cemetery Manager
  • Commercial Property Manager
  • Community Association Manager
  • Community Director
  • Community Manager
  • Condominium Association Manager
  • Condominium Manager
  • Cooperative Manager

What You'll Do

In this role, your typical responsibilities include:

  • Prepare detailed budgets and financial reports for properties.
  • Manage and oversee operations, maintenance, administration, and improvement of commercial, industrial, or residential properties.
  • Plan, schedule, and coordinate general maintenance, major repairs, and remodeling or construction projects for commercial or residential properties.
  • Direct collection of monthly assessments, rental fees, and deposits and payment of insurance premiums, mortgage, taxes, and incurred operating expenses.
  • Meet with clients to negotiate management and service contracts, determine priorities, and discuss the financial and operational status of properties.
  • Direct and coordinate the activities of staff and contract personnel and evaluate their performance.
  • Prepare and administer contracts for provision of property services, such as cleaning, maintenance, and security services.

Knowledge You'll Use

You'll need solid knowledge in these areas:

  • Customer and Personal Service
  • Administration and Management
  • Economics and Accounting
  • English Language
  • Law and Government
  • Public Safety and Security
  • Mathematics
  • Personnel and Human Resources

Essential Skills

Success in this career requires strong skills in:

  1. Speaking
  2. Reading Comprehension
  3. Active Listening
  4. Writing
  5. Coordination

Key Abilities

This career requires key abilities in:

  • Oral Comprehension
  • Oral Expression
  • Written Comprehension
  • Written Expression
  • Inductive Reasoning
  • Speech Recognition
  • Speech Clarity
  • Problem Sensitivity
  • Deductive Reasoning
  • Information Ordering

Work Style

People who excel in this career typically demonstrate:

  • Dependability
  • Leadership Orientation
  • Attention to Detail
  • Integrity
  • Social Orientation

What Matters in This Career

This career tends to satisfy these work values:

  • Independence
  • Achievement
  • Working Conditions
  • Recognition
  • Relationships

Education & Preparation

Typical Education: Bachelor's Degree

Related Work Experience Needed: Over 4 years, up to and including 6 years

On-the-Job Training: Over 3 months, up to and including 6 months

Education Details: Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.

Experience Required: A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.

Technology You'll Use

Popular Technologies & Software

  • Facebook
  • Google Analytics
  • Google Docs
  • Hypertext markup language HTML
  • Intuit QuickBooks
  • Microsoft Access
  • Microsoft Excel
  • Microsoft Office software
  • Microsoft Outlook
  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Tools & Equipment

  • 10-key calculators
  • Computer laser printers
  • Desktop computers
  • Digital cameras
  • Golf carts
  • Handheld calculators
  • Laptop computers
  • Laser facsimile machines
  • Lenel Onguard
  • Multi-line telephone systems
  • Personal computers
  • Photocopiers
  • Scanners
  • Smartphones
  • Step ladders

Work Environment

  • Telephone Conversations
  • E-Mail
  • Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
  • Contact With Others
  • Written Letters and Memos

Salary & Job Market

Salary PercentileAnnual Wage
Entry-Level (10th percentile)$39,360
Median$66,700
Top Earners (90th percentile)$141,040

Workers Employed Nationally: 296,640

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Occupational data sourced from the O*NET OnLine database, developed by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration. Wage data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Employment and Wage Statistics (OEWS), 2024.

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