3 answers
Chloe
Student
Baltimore, Maryland
1
Question
Asked
2360 views
Does real estate or architecture have better money and opportunity?
I’m considering both real estate and architecture, which one do you think has better opportunities?
I enjoy architecture but I also am unsure about where I want to attend college.
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3 answers
Marlon Smith Jr.
Student
9
Answers
Oak Park, Illinois
Updated
Marlon’s Answer
I am majoring in architecture so I would say being an architect makes you make a lot of money.
Robert McAdams
Software Engineer
30
Answers
Roseville, California
Updated
Robert’s Answer
Short answer: real estate agent will likely not exist as a career option in 15-30 years, it is being replaced with apps and websites. Architects can make very good money, but that is also an extremely difficult degree and license to earn, and work is not guaranteed in the field.
Long answer: It REALLY matters what you mean by "real estate". If you mean "real estate agent" -- my predication is that, just like travel agents, that profession will mostly cease to exist in roughly 15-30 years. The transition away from humans walking people around to properties to show, toward shopping and buying properties online is already well under way. Additionally, with the work-from-home movement not slowing down at all, that also means commercial properties are losing their values, and people are also moving less right now due to insane prices -- which means real estate agents have even less property to sell than they used to have (they also just lost their court case regarding the fees they used to charge the buyer to pay a buyer's real estate agent from the closing costs -- which means that practice is going to have to end soon). If you meant OWNING real estate yes, that is, buy far, the fastest and best way to build wealth in most countries (with exceptions, see today's commercial real estate owners for example).
Architects of buildings (lead engineers call themselves architects too) can be lucrative. However, unlike a real estate agent, which requires very little training, and a simple test to get a license, architects have to go through basically all of the courses a structural engineer would need to take + all of the courses a mechanical engineer would need to take (there is a significant amount of overlap) + art and design courses, then pass an (extremely tough) licensing exam. It's brutal. Many people list architecture as taking roughly the same amount of time, and having roughly the same level of difficulty as becoming a medical doctor.
Architects are, at the end of the day, responsible for a building design that will safely hold people, withstand extreme weather and extreme events (like earthquakes) -- all while making a design which is pleasing to the eye, and which will fit into the aesthetics of the area chosen.
UNLIKE a medical doctor, there are zero guarantees that a licensed architect will be able to land jobs. The odds of an individual architect ever getting a chance to add a large building to a city skyline are very low. Most architectural jobs are designing new building "hats" to put on fast food huts, and simple residential and basic (rectangular cube) office buildings. The salary for an architect can also fluctuate wildly between extreme lows near ~$50K for fast food hut hat designer in a small town, to extreme highs of > $5M for a blueprint by Frank Lloyd Wright (and that's probably lowballing what a newly found blueprint by the legendary architect would fetch at auction today).
Long answer: It REALLY matters what you mean by "real estate". If you mean "real estate agent" -- my predication is that, just like travel agents, that profession will mostly cease to exist in roughly 15-30 years. The transition away from humans walking people around to properties to show, toward shopping and buying properties online is already well under way. Additionally, with the work-from-home movement not slowing down at all, that also means commercial properties are losing their values, and people are also moving less right now due to insane prices -- which means real estate agents have even less property to sell than they used to have (they also just lost their court case regarding the fees they used to charge the buyer to pay a buyer's real estate agent from the closing costs -- which means that practice is going to have to end soon). If you meant OWNING real estate yes, that is, buy far, the fastest and best way to build wealth in most countries (with exceptions, see today's commercial real estate owners for example).
Architects of buildings (lead engineers call themselves architects too) can be lucrative. However, unlike a real estate agent, which requires very little training, and a simple test to get a license, architects have to go through basically all of the courses a structural engineer would need to take + all of the courses a mechanical engineer would need to take (there is a significant amount of overlap) + art and design courses, then pass an (extremely tough) licensing exam. It's brutal. Many people list architecture as taking roughly the same amount of time, and having roughly the same level of difficulty as becoming a medical doctor.
Architects are, at the end of the day, responsible for a building design that will safely hold people, withstand extreme weather and extreme events (like earthquakes) -- all while making a design which is pleasing to the eye, and which will fit into the aesthetics of the area chosen.
UNLIKE a medical doctor, there are zero guarantees that a licensed architect will be able to land jobs. The odds of an individual architect ever getting a chance to add a large building to a city skyline are very low. Most architectural jobs are designing new building "hats" to put on fast food huts, and simple residential and basic (rectangular cube) office buildings. The salary for an architect can also fluctuate wildly between extreme lows near ~$50K for fast food hut hat designer in a small town, to extreme highs of > $5M for a blueprint by Frank Lloyd Wright (and that's probably lowballing what a newly found blueprint by the legendary architect would fetch at auction today).
Flora Frangoudis, NJ CPA
Accounting
33
Answers
Morristown, New Jersey
Updated
Flora’s Answer
Chloe, it's fantastic that you've started to envision your future career in architecture and/or real estate. It's absolutely feasible to merge both of your preferred careers. Keep in mind that certain professions, including these, necessitate a formal education to secure the necessary licenses to practice.
Indeed, it can be challenging at a young age to pinpoint the exact career path you want to tread. However, don't let this deter you. Begin by investigating the prerequisites for each profession. Then, evaluate your own skills and knowledge.
For a more hands-on approach, consider shadowing or interning with companies in these fields, even if it's an unpaid position. This practical experience will provide you with a tangible understanding of the demands and rewards of each profession. Learn from the experts, understand the pros and cons, and then form your own perspective.
One piece of advice I'd like to share is to look beyond the financial rewards. If you have a genuine love for what you're doing and invest time in laying a solid foundation for your career, the financial rewards will naturally follow.
I believe in your potential to become a successful individual who will inspire others to build their own careers. Keep pushing forward, Chloe!
Indeed, it can be challenging at a young age to pinpoint the exact career path you want to tread. However, don't let this deter you. Begin by investigating the prerequisites for each profession. Then, evaluate your own skills and knowledge.
For a more hands-on approach, consider shadowing or interning with companies in these fields, even if it's an unpaid position. This practical experience will provide you with a tangible understanding of the demands and rewards of each profession. Learn from the experts, understand the pros and cons, and then form your own perspective.
One piece of advice I'd like to share is to look beyond the financial rewards. If you have a genuine love for what you're doing and invest time in laying a solid foundation for your career, the financial rewards will naturally follow.
I believe in your potential to become a successful individual who will inspire others to build their own careers. Keep pushing forward, Chloe!