A real estate consultant provides expert advice and recommendations to clients looking to purchase or develop property. Real estate consultants generally work with commercial real estate investors rather than residential buyers and sellers. They are also referred to as “real estate counselors” or “real estate advisors.” Real estate consultants typically have a real estate license and may hold a Counselors of Real Estate (CRE) designation.

Think of real estate consultants as “behind the scenes” experts. They perform extensive research in order to help guide clients’ decision-making during every step of a project. Rather than focusing on a transaction, their job is to ensure overall investment success for the client.2

A real estate consultant typically works for a large consulting firm or as an independent consultant. Their compensation depends on the type of work they do, but most real estate consultants are paid a flat or hourly fee.

Real estate consultants guide client decisions based on extensive research and industry expertise. The first step is to have an initial meeting with the client to discuss primary and secondary objectives. When the objectives are defined, a real estate consultant formulates a plan to achieve them in the most cost-effective way.

What Does a Real Estate Consultant Do?

A real estate consultant’s exact role depends on the type of client with whom they work. For example, consultants working on a property development project are often hired before the land is even secured. The client relies on the real estate consultant to confirm the viability of the investment. The consultant does this by visiting the proposed job site, meeting with local real estate professionals, and analyzing market trends.