What Personality Types Are Best for Real Estate (2024)

When considering a career in real estate, the first thing that probably comes to your mind is, “Am I really cut out for this?”

Your pre-conceived ideas about real estate agents have likely been influenced by what you’ve seen on TV, Netflix, or the big screen. But are those beliefs based in reality?

Probably not.

Extrovert vs. Introvert

The popular notion is that the successful real estate agent will be a hard-charging extrovert. And, conversely, that introverts will have a tougher go at it because of the social nature of the position.

There’s a little bit of truth in both statements, but each type could succeed or fail, depending on other factors and personality traits they might have.

Additionally, while extroverts might fare better in front of large groups, introverts can be very comfortable and effective when interacting with people in small groups or one-on-one settings, which is how most real estate relationships are built.

The Real Estate Personality Profile

Let’s look at some of the primary traits of successful real estate agents. The key terms used here are not as important as the general traits they represent.

Personable

So, while being an extrovert isn’t necessarily a key trait of successful agents, being personable is. People who make a personal connection, are engaging, and get along with everyone are well-suited for a career in real estate.

If you’re the type of person with whom others are comfortable and like being around, it will help you grow your business.

Influential

An essential personality trait in real estate is persuasiveness. Highly influential people are personable AND persuasive. After all, in real estate, you have to sell yourself before you can sell a property. (You did know this was a sales job, right?)

While there is no one, “right” way to be persuasive, we do know that influential people are generally friendly, enthusiastic, and positive.

Trustworthy

Given the high-dollar amount involved in real estate transactions, it’s understandable that trustworthiness would rise to the top of the list of desirable attributes for real estate agents.

This trait can be viewed as a combination of competency and integrity.

Prospective clients want to have confidence that you are a professional expert in all things real estate, that you can be trusted with their sensitive financial information, that you can be counted on to perform as promised, and that you will carry out their business in an ethical manner.

Independent

Success comes easier to those whose careers align with their personal style.

If you prefer the structure of a nine-to-five workday inside a Monday-through-Friday workweek with a predictable paycheck, real estate might not be your thing.

On the other hand, if your independent streak values having control over the hours and days you work and you’ll happily pay for that privilege by tying your income directly to your success in sales, then the risk/reward analysis will probably justify this as a career choice for you.

The real estate agent personality type looks at the variable nature of commission-based income as a plus — and an opportunity to set motivational targets for themselves.

Real Estate Personality Type Tests

By this point, you might be wondering if there is any way to be sure your personality is a fit. What you’ve read here is promising, but maybe you’re not the best one to make that assessment?

Not to fear — there are tests designed especially for this purpose.

DISC

There are several personality type tests to choose from, many offering tests for specific career choices. One of the more highly respected and popular personality tests available is the DISC test. Its approach is based on the behavioral theory of psychologist William Moulton Marston.

DISC is an acronym for the key terms chosen to represent the four primary personality types:

• D (Dominance)

• I (Influence)

• S (Steadiness)

  See Also

  How to Stay Organized as a Real Estate Agent

• C (Compliance)

D personalities are confident and results-oriented.
I personalities place a high value on relationships and the power of persuasion.
S personalities are steady, dependable, and sincere.
C personalities are focused on accuracy and competency.

It’s important to note that most careers require a mix of all personality types — which is a good thing since most of us have a little of each type in our personality makeup. It’s the blend or mix of personality types that distinguishes one person from another and makes us more aligned with one career path over another.

The folks at HR Profiling Solutions have described what they consider to be the best DISC personality type blend for a real estate agent this way:

D - Moderately Dominant, decisive and persistent without being pushy.

I - Highly Influential, people oriented, enthusiastic, sociable and optimistic.

S - High Stability, enables Agents to gain trust and be patient with clients.

C - Low Compliance, preferring an independent environment and willing to take risks.

The Aceable Real Estate Career Quiz

If you want to start with a slightly less-academic but definitely more fun quiz, give our Aceable Real Estate Career Quiz a go!

Not only will our fast and fun quiz give you a feel as to how well your personality, work style, and life goals match up with a career in real estate, but it will serve as a practice run for questions to come.

What do we mean by that?

Many nationally known real estate franchises rely on online personality tests in their recruitment efforts, including Keller Williams, Century 21, and Berkshire Hathaway. The same is true for some of the larger brokerages you’re liable to connect with.

So, while we might not be able answer the question, “Which Friends character are you?,” our Real Estate Career Quiz should shed some light on your compatibility with a possible real estate career path.

And if you’re ready to learn more about a career in real estate, we’ve got you covered too!