Humans have owned, traded, and invested in real estate for centuries. Even in today's fast-paced digital marketplace, investors worldwide seek ways to earn a profit from the real estate market. Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to approach the challenge. Working as a licensed real estate agent is one of the more traditional paths, but others have equal profit potential and represent reliable, exciting ways to earn a living. Consider working as a professional staging agent, buying up rental real estate shares, getting an appraiser's license, or starting a painting business specializing in residential homes. Depending on your income needs, talents, and personal preferences, consider the possibilities listed below.

Sell Staging Services

Professional staging agents are in high demand. Real estate professionals don't have the time to attend to details on every property in their portfolio. Typically, they hire a staging agent they trust to make homes look their best for the next sale. If you have an eye for detail, are handy with tools, know how to paint, and enjoy performing light landscaping chores, staging could be a profitable way to earn a living during good times and bad.

Buy Rental Property Shares

Not long ago, if you wanted to earn income in the rental home market, you had to buy at least one property and manage it yourself. Now, virtually anyone can participate in profits and appreciation of rental houses by buying shares. If you don't want to plunk down a large sum to purchase a house for rent and wish to avoid all the hassles that come with day-to-day management, consider acquiring shares of any value that suits your budget. People who opt for this approach like the fact that they can choose from hundreds of rentals in a matter of minutes. It's easy to browse through online profiles and photos of properties before deciding which ones are right for you.

Get an Appraiser's License

Appraisers work for themselves, banks, and real estate firms. Most independent appraisers establish a relationship with one or more local agents and get paid a flat fee per job. It takes about three months to study for the examination and get licensed. After that, you can work as much or as little as you wish. Appraising is an ideal part-time job for retired adults and students who enjoy learning about property and making price estimates. The appraisal process is also an integral part of the timeline for how long it takes to close on a house, so this can be quite lucrative if you want to work quick, and often. 

Earn a Real Estate License

In less than six months, you can earn a real estate license and go to work for yourself or an agency. Most new agents work on full commission and spend a few weeks learning the ropes before their first sale. However, for those willing to put in the time to understand local markets, the job represents an excellent career path for people of all ages and backgrounds.

Start a Painting Service

As the owner of a painting service, you can specialize in working only with real estate agents who need quick work on for sale homes. If you aren't a painting pro, consider outsourcing the work to one or two people you trust. If you do the work yourself, be sure to set aside time each week for developing new leads on work and building relationships with agents.