There’s one key factor that separates the wealthy and successful realtors from the rest: location.

The best places to be a real estate agent are going to have one or all of the same qualities: rising employment and population double that of the US average growth, home values increasing at 50% value, and yet, the cost of living will remain equivalent or less than the national median.

If you’re interested in having a successful realtor career, these are the best places to be a real estate agent in 2019.

Atlanta

Georgia’s capital continues to grow larger every year. Its affordability, beauty, and low rent-to-household-income ratio attract new residents from around the country. With a year-over-year home price growth doubled the national average, it’s no wonder Atlanta’s one of the best places to be a real estate agent.

Austin

This Texas city is boasting with residents taking advantage of a cost of living below the US median. The projected growth is 3x the rest of the country’s rate, which translates to more money for realtors. Austin is where you can enjoy the profit of the higher than average year-over-year rent growth.

Boise

Idaho’s state capital has a growing population but still feels small. The cost of living is well below the national average making it more appealing to buyers. If that doesn’t sound like a good reason to invest in your career move to live here, then the year-over-year home sale growth being higher than average might persuade you.

Charlotte

This North Carolina city is booming with over 850k residents. The projected increase is double the national average, but the cost of living remains well below the US median. Realtors looking for family-friendly neighborhoods should have this city on their short list.

Chicago

Since the housing prices have increased in the windy city, agents have been benefiting with high wages. Move here and you’ll enjoy being amongst some of the highest earning realtors in the states. On average, real estate agents are known to earn over 80k in Chicago.

Clearwater

Retirees flock to the state of Florida to benefit from the sunny days and low cost of living. The high demand makes Clearwater one of the best cities to be a real estate agent. You can look forward to consistent rent and home sales price growth when you sell here.

Columbus

With the population being as flourished as it is, it’s surprising that this Ohio city is still surpassing the US’s average projected growth rate. Although it’s a popular spot, the cost of living has managed to stay below the rest of the country.

Dallas

Over a million people agree that Dallas is a livable place. Realtors living here stay busy with the high projected population growth rate and homes that practically sell themselves. Since the cost of living is below the national average, you can invest more time forming habits of a successful real estate agent.

Denver

Colorado’s chilly capital is the most populated municipal city in the state with no signs of decreasing in size. Even though the cost of living is above average, the high employment rate brings news residents from all over. In fact, the projected population growth is double the average.

Fort Worth

They say everything’s bigger in Texas, and that includes the population. It’s already above average and it’s continuing to grow at a rate double everyone else’s. Even the savings are bigger when the cost of living is as low as it is here.

Las Vegas       

According to a study, Las Vegas is the best place for a realtor, in terms of salary. It’s a hot market due to the low cost of living and above-average employment growth. Productive realtors will enjoy the benefit of a high turnover rate in the housing market, providing plenty of career opportunities.

Los Angeles

Los Angeles is almost central HQ for real estate agents. This is where the top dogs come to play and make their mark. Average sales prices range from the high $200k’s all the way up to multiple, multiple millions of dollars. So there is literally room for every type of agent whether you want to work with first time homebuyers, investors, luxury buyers, commercial - You name it, you can do it in Los Angeles! The wide range of opportunities and chance to make bank in commission income is another reason to consider joining a 100% commission real estate brokerage in Los Angeles.

Nashville

Living amongst country legends has its perks for realtors. The cost of living is extremely low, and the employment rates are high. While rent is declining, realtors will be happy to know home sales are increasing.

Orlando

Another place in Florida where realtors are almost guaranteed to have high sales is Orlando. With world-renown attractions and a low cost of living, there are numerous amenities that attract potential buyers. Use them to your advantage and enjoy living in a vacation zone.

Phoenix

This Arizona city may be hot, but so is the real estate. If you’re a realtor in this area, you’re likely enjoying the benefit of population increases due to the low cost of living. Not to mention, it’s easy to sell when the rent-to-income ratio is almost 10% less than the national average.

Sacramento

Although the cost of living is equivalent to the national average, Sacramento’s old charm gives every house curb appeal. Being the state capital, there’s an abundance of employment opportunities to keep the population – and your client list – growing. Since the rent-to-income ration is below average, you can look forward to keeping more of your money too.

Salt Lake City

It’s easy to sell a home when the setting looks like a painted backdrop. Utah’s state capital provides multiple listings with a serene location at an affordable price. It’s no wonder the projected population rates are double the average.

San Antonio

This southern Texas city is home of multiple attractions to draw in future home buyers. Realtors living here have plenty of residents to work with and those numbers are growing. The best part is that the cost of living is low enough to spend more time with your family.

San Diego

This big city comes with a big price tag. While this may keep the growth rate average, there are over a million people who call this California coastal city home. The expensive homes mean a realtor here could earn top dollar in commissions.

San Jose

According to a study, realtors living in this California city are known to receive salaries in the high 60s. That’s because a single-family home is worth 1.3 million on average here. Combine that price tag with the high cost of living, and you’re likely to sell a million-dollar home or two.

St. Petersburg

One of the fastest growing mid-size cities, this Florida city is one of the best places to be a real estate agent. The projected employment growth combined with the low cost of living can guarantee real estate will continue to move. Currently, homes here are selling a little more than the national average.

Tampa

Whether you’re selling to investors or families, Tampa provides Florida realtors with everything they need to close the deal. The pristine beaches nearby, low cost of living and employment growth are the amenities you need to make the sale. These are only some of the reasons it’s one of the best places to be a real estate agent.

2019 Best Places to Be a Real Estate Agent Predictions

Not every city can make the top list, but it doesn’t mean they’re not worth checking out. Some of the cities to watch are:

• Anaheim, CA

• Arlington, TX

• Henderson, NV

• Raleigh, NC

• Reno, NV

• Scottsdale, AZ

• Seattle, WA

These cities are growing faster than most others while remaining affordable enough for residents to stay. What predicts them to be some of the best places to be a real estate agent is that the home prices in these locations are also growing faster than the rest of the country. If you're trying to boost your salary, these places could work for you.

Cities to Avoid

If you want to be a successful real estate agent, you’re going to want to avoid cities with slow moving markets. Jersey City, NJ, Miami, FL, and New York, NY are all examples of cities with houses with the most days on the market. When you’re paid off commission, an empty listing means no payday.

Other places you should avoid if you want to be successful are those with the lowest annual median wage. Winston-Salem, NC, Modesto, CA, El Paso, TX, and Fort Smith, AK are known to have low pay for realtors. If you’re looking to be successful, you’ll need to find a city with higher pay.

Cities you should be wary of won’t have the best real estate employment opportunities. A few you should research the specific neighborhoods first are Cape Coral, FL, Norfolk, VA and Tulsa, OK. None of them are known for being popular amongst realtors.

Are You Ready?

Now that you know the best places to be a real estate agent, you can go where you’ll grow. Pick one of the many cities featured today and decide which one is best for you. The more you like where you live, the easier it’ll be to sell it to others.

If you’re new to the real estate agent and want to learn more about how to become a realtor, learn the steps here.