Real Estate Bank Customer Support Jobs

Like most departments within the corporate banking structure, there are many support positions available. These can include administrative assistants, data entry employees, file clerks, and others.

Most real estate transactions require a great deal of paperwork. Whether the real estate department supports relocating employees or manages the bank’s branches, there will be a fair amount of paperwork, reporting, and written communications which must be sent out or addressed.  In addition, the department may send out its own mailings and there are usually a large number of incoming phone calls to be answered and taken care of. Buildings must stay up to date on permits and inspections, and real estate sales must comply with a number of federal and state regulations.  Real estate support employees are primarily administrative assistants to real estate employees, and they are involved in making sure that all documentation that is needed is bring produced and is accurate.

Real estate support staff members provide much needed administrative services to the real estate banking department. They may be required to make travel arrangements and answer phones. They may also need to do word processing and provide data entry input on spreadsheets.

The goal of real estate support staff members is to assist the department’s employees, so they can focus on their primary tasks rather than be bogged down by the paperwork and details related to their day to day activities. Support staff may be required to serve as liaison between the department and other departments and outside contractors and vendors, such as cleaners, movers, etc.

Support staff members’ work may be light one day, and very heavy the next. The pace of work can be hectic, and staff members should enjoy this kind of challenging environment.

If you are a detail-oriented person who enjoys the challenges of a job that can be quite different from day to day, assisting others, and you have an interest in real estate, this may be a good job for you.

According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of support positions in general (not specifically at banks) is expected to grow as fast as the average of all jobs over the next several years. If this is a career you are especially interested in, you may find it challenging to obtain a position or face a lot of competition.

Educational Requirements

Most employers require administrative assistants to have a high school diploma or GED for entry level positions. More advanced skills and education may be required for assistants working for executives or in departments which require more advanced knowledge. Some employers may look for candidates that have a combination of previous experience in the banking industry along with an associate’s degree in business or a bachelor’s degree in business or related field. Certifications are not required, but can give candidates a competitive edge. Certifications can be obtained through the International Association of Administrative Professionals, National Association of Legal Secretaries (NALS), Inc., Legal Secretaries International, Inc, and International Virtual Assistants Association (IVAA).

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

One of the most important skills administrative/support personnel need to possess is excellent communication skills. The real estate assistant will be interacting with a wide range of people, from sales people calling for appointments, internal customers, and service people, to high level managers, directors, and executives within the bank. Real estate banking support staff members need to be able to communicate well with all of the people he or she encounters.

Administrative/support personnel also need to have very good written communication skills, a very good command of the English language, and have working knowledge of office computer programs, excellent keyboard skills, and very good organizational and time management skills. You will also need to be able to work independently with little supervision. Some real estate banking departments look for support staff members with strong analytical skills as well. Assistants/support staff who work for higher level executives should also be able to demonstrate good judgment and the ability to take initiative to handle issues, problems, or questions as they arise.

Related: Real Estate Jobs

Average Salary

The salaries for real estate banking administrative assistants can be very different, depending on the bank and the bank’s location. The average annual wage for administrative personnel is approximately $30,000. Keep in mind, however, this was for all administrative personnel regardless of where they were working. The middle 50 percent earned between $23,160 and $36,020. The lowest 10 percent earned less than $18,440, and the highest 10 percent earned more than $43,240. Administrative assistants to executives can earn an average of around $50,000 per year.

Potential Career Paths

Most administrative assistants or support personnel advance their careers by obtaining positions with more responsibilities and higher pay. In real estate banking departments, most employees must have real estate management experience, so support personnel are not likely to be promoted to those positions unless they have that experience. Support staff could become office supervisors or managers, supervising other assistants. Another career path for support staff members is to transfer to other departments where there is an increased chance for advancement.