How to become a property manager

How to become a property manager

Join in Australia’s thriving real estate sector with a people-focused career that’s always in demand.

Real estate has been called Australia’s national obsession, and there are plenty of roles available for people who want to become property managers. So what’s the best way to make a success of yourself in Australia’s biggest employment sector?

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Becoming a property manager

As with many roles, you can move into something like housing property management without requiring a degree. But if you want to thrive in this career, it’s more than worth your time to undertake some tertiary study. 

“Having done the degree at RMIT,” explains RMIT Senior Lecturer Callum Logan, “you would be able to walk into either a real estate agency or work directly for one of the big superannuation or investment fund managers, the likes of Charter Hall and Cbus. We cover off asset management at that professional level.”

Naomi talking on her phone wearing a high-vis vest on a construction site

Bachelor of Property Development, Investment and Valuation (Honours)

In this degree, you will gain the ability to understand all the factors around property ownership, management, investment, valuation and development so you are readily employable in Australia’s largest industry. You'll also learn how to communicate effectively with other built environment professionals, while developing your knowledge of related professions, such as project management, construction and urban planning.

RMIT student, Mia

Graduate Certificate in Property

The Graduate Certificate in Property has been designed to help you develop the essential knowledge and concepts to build a successful career in the property industry. You will acquire and apply critical knowledge of management theories and property concepts across the property sectors, including valuation.

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Graduate Diploma in Property

Through this diploma, you will learn to apply knowledge of property theory and concepts to the local and global professional arena, demonstrating evidenced-based judgement and ethical decision-making. You will develop the ability to respond to emerging trends and organisational needs across the sector, and you will learn to analyse property data and information from diverse sources, think critically, conduct research, and apply investment and valuation techniques.

Antai Su - Master of Property

Master of Property

This Masters has been designed to enable you to critically engage with contemporary property theory, apply your knowledge and skills to creatively address industry problems, and to realise business opportunities across the corporate and residential sectors. You will develop the skills to apply your teamwork and management skills to formulate industry solutions, and provide informed, evidence-based decision-making.

What does a property manager do?

If you’ve ever been a tenant or a landlord, you will have dealt with a property manager. They’re the person who manages rental properties and takes care of the landlord’s obligations as the first point of contact. As you’d imagine, this involves many day-to-day responsibilities, which can include:

  • Listing properties and conducting inspections
  • Organising maintenance and repairs when needed
  • Negotiating lease terms
  • Assessing tenant needs, and locating properties for their perusal
  • Monitoring compliance with tenancy terms and conditions.

“One of the hardest things about the job is keeping your head above water with everything that needs to happen day to day. You might have rent reviews due, leases expiring, renewals, the sale of a business with new tenants coming in,” explains Callum. 

“It’s often said property managers need to be a bit of every other profession. They need to understand law, facilities management – which is more aligned to engineering, architecture, finance and accounting, understand how value is added to buildings, and when to apply all these skills while managing of the whole life cycle of the asset.”

What skills does a successful property manager need?

Communication, organisation, the ability to multitask and time management: these are all vital baseline skills to succeed in this career. You’ll also want to be on top of the latest technology solutions, pay attention to detail and know how to manage conflict when it arises.

“It's a combination of a bit of office work and a bit of getting out and checking your sites and talking to your tenants so you do need to be good at the relationship management stuff,” says Callum. “And also be a good negotiator. Sometimes those two things don't go together!

“If you're a bad negotiator, you're going to end up with less rent, and other clauses within a commercial lease are going to be more favourable to the tenant than the landlord. So it's going to generate less cash flow, but also less value.”

Property market

What's it like to be a property manager?

Real estate is a core part of Australia’s economy, whether we’re talking about residential, commercial or industrial areas. Property is also the base for almost every activity in our lives, including living, working, entertainment, sport and transportation.

Where do property managers work?

Residential property managers generally look after the rental process for homes through an agency or sole trader, while commercial property managers use their skills to manage places like hotels, restaurants, petrol stations and offices. As a property manager, you can also find work as a body corporate manager, or in related fields.

“Oh, it's a fairly big area,” says Callum, “and we haven't even talked about the types of assets apart from commercial – industrial, retail, retirement villages… Then there's also this division between types of owners, so you could end up working in the private sector for your entire career and funds management or whatever, but you could work for a government – federal or state – you could manage international embassies, sport stadiums, airports. There are all sorts of different avenues that it can take you.

“There’s certainly demand for property graduates and not enough of them.”

How much do property managers earn?

The median weekly earnings for a property manager in Australia are $1,320*. 

Learn more about your property study options

Whether you're a Year 12 student weighing up your options or thinking about switching careers, RMIT has a range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses that will provide you with a the knowledge and skills you need to become a successful property manager.

Source: www.jobsandskills.gov.au 2023

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Sentient' by Hollie Johnson, Gunaikurnai and Monero Ngarigo.

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aboriginal flag
torres strait flag

Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business.

More information