Money and Mansions

Women outnumber men by about 2 to 1 in real estate.

While men sell more houses on average, it’s women who make the biggest sales on more expensive homes. Valerie Fitzgerald is one of those women.

She moved to LA about 25 years ago to work for a cosmetics firm. Four months later, the single mom was broke.

Determined to give her daughter a better life, she started her own real estate business from the ground up. She’s currently a top real estate agent, an author, and star of the HGTV show Selling LA.

“People say: ‘I can’t be like you, I have a sick mother’ or ‘I’m a single parent.’ I already lived through that,” says Fitzgerald.

“When I started,” she continues, “women [in real estate] were mostly married ladies with older kids. It was a hobby.” Fitzgerald says today’s female agents across the country have raised the bar – and found success.

“I started when the market was taking a nosedive. But if you learn the rules of what banks require and don’t get bogged down by naysayers or take things too personally, you can navigate through anything.”

If you’re interested in a career in the field, advisors say crucial steps include assembling a quality team (buyer’s agent, lender, appraiser, etc.), determining which brokerage fits your requirements and keeping all licenses up to date.

Organizations such as WIRE, Skirts in Dirt and CREW Network provide industry news, events and career opportunities geared towards women.

Bonus PINK Link: Get more on women and real estate in our online exclusive.

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By Caroline Cox

“The woman who can create her own job is the woman who will win fame and fortune.” Amelia Earhart