Real estate in South Australia is a dynamic industry, offering far more than just selling houses. 

While sales roles are often the first that come to mind, there’s a wide range of career opportunities across residential, commercial, property management and support services. 

Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow your career, understanding the options - and what it takes to get there - is the first step.

The Core Roles in Residential Real Estate

Residential Sales Consultant: The most visible role in real estate, sales consultants help clients buy and sell homes. Strong people skills, local market knowledge and resilience are key. It’s commission-driven, which can be rewarding for motivated performers.

Property Manager: Property managers are the bridge between landlords and tenants, overseeing rentals, maintenance and compliance. With South Australia’s tight rental market, property management skills are in high demand.

Property Management Assistant: Often the first step into a property management career, this role supports senior property managers with day-to-day tasks like arranging inspections, managing maintenance requests, preparing leases and liaising with tenants and trades. It’s a fast-paced, hands-on position that builds practical knowledge of how portfolios are run and provides an excellent pathway into a full Property Manager role.

Sales Administrator/Team Manager: Behind every high-performing sales team is a skilled Sales Administrator or Team Manager keeping things on track. This role coordinates listings, prepares marketing materials and contracts, manages databases, and ensures compliance with legislation and office procedures. In larger agencies, Team Managers often supervise admin staff and provide essential support to sales agents. It’s ideal for organised, detail-oriented professionals who enjoy a mix of administration, communication and leadership — and it offers a strong career pathway into operations, office management, or even sales itself.

Real Estate Agency Principal/Business Owner: For those with experience and leadership drive, becoming a principal or running your own agency is a natural progression. This role blends sales, business management and people leadership.

The Core Roles in Commercial Real Estate

Commercial Sales & Leasing Agent: Focusing on office, retail and industrial property, this role requires strong business acumen and the ability to build long-term client relationships. Deals are often more complex but can be highly rewarding.

Commercial Property Manager: Commercial Property Managers oversee office, retail, and industrial properties on behalf of landlords and investors. Their role includes managing leases, coordinating maintenance, handling tenant relationships, and ensuring compliance with commercial property regulations. They also monitor market trends, negotiate renewals, and help maximise the financial performance of each asset. It’s a fast-paced, relationship-driven role that suits professionals with strong communication, negotiation, and business skills — and offers diverse opportunities across corporate, retail, and industrial real estate.

Valuer: Registered property valuers provide professional assessments of property values for lenders, investors and government. It requires formal qualifications but opens doors to banking, advisory and consulting roles.

Facilities Manager: Facilities Managers oversee the day-to-day operation and maintenance of commercial, residential or mixed-use buildings — ensuring everything from safety systems and repairs to cleaning and contractor management runs smoothly. They’re the link between property owners, tenants and service providers, balancing budgets, compliance, and tenant satisfaction. It’s a highly practical role suited to those with strong organisational and problem-solving skills and offers great career potential within asset management or corporate real estate.

Asset Manager: Asset Managers take a strategic approach to property ownership — focusing on maximising the value, performance, and return of a portfolio over time. They analyse financial performance, oversee capital improvements, and develop long-term plans for maintenance, leasing, and investment. It’s a role that blends property knowledge with business strategy, making it ideal for professionals with strong analytical skills and an interest in the financial side of real estate.

Roles You Might Not Have Considered

Real estate careers aren’t limited to sales and property management. Many roles operate behind the scenes or in niche markets, providing essential skills that keep the industry moving.

Buyer’s Agent: Representing the buyer, not the seller, this role is growing in South Australia as more clients seek expert guidance in competitive markets.

Business Development Manager (BDM): Business Development Managers focus on growth — building relationships, identifying new clients, and bringing fresh managements or listings into the business. This role combines marketing, communication, and negotiation, and rewards professionals who are confident, proactive, client-focused and thrive in a target-driven environment.

Inspection Manager/Leasing Partner: This is a crucial role in the rental process, conducting open inspections, routine property checks, and ingoing or outgoing reports. They’re often the first point of contact for prospective tenants, handling enquiries, applications, and lease sign-ups with professionalism and attention to detail. The role suits people who enjoy being out and about, have strong communication and organisational skills, and like the balance of customer service and property knowledge. It’s also a great entry point into a long-term career in property management.

Copywriter, Marketing & Social Media Creator: Agencies increasingly rely on skilled marketers to create campaigns, manage online listings, run social media and build brand presence. This role is perfect for creative professionals who want to combine property and marketing.

Strata/Community Title Manager: These specialists manage shared properties like apartments and townhouses. It’s a career path often overlooked but offers strong stability and demand in Adelaide’s growing multi-unit developments.

Trust Account Administrator: Trust Account Administrators manage the financial side of real estate operations, ensuring all client funds are handled accurately and in line with legislative requirements. This role is ideal for detail-oriented professionals with strong numerical and organisational skills.

Navigating a Property or Real Estate Career in South Australia

If you’re considering entering the industry, here are some steps to help you get started and grow:

1. Get qualified: Most real estate roles require formal training and registration through Consumer and Business Services (CBS). Entry-level qualifications, such as the Certificate IV in Real Estate Practice, are essential if you want to become a registered Sales Representative or Property Manager. For those aiming higher, the Diploma of Property (Agency Management) can open doors to becoming a Licensed Land Agent or Agency Principal. Courses are offered by a range of Registered Training Organisations (RTOs) — many provide online, part-time, or classroom-based options to suit your schedule.
   
   
2. Work where you live: In real estate, local knowledge is everything. Choosing to work in an area you know well gives you a natural advantage — you’ll understand the streets, schools, lifestyle and community that buyers, sellers and tenants care about most. Travelling too far from home can make it harder to stay connected to your core market, so aim to build your career close to where you live and know the area inside out.
   
   
3. Build local knowledge: South Australian property markets are diverse, from Adelaide’s fast-paced metro suburbs to regional towns and lifestyle hotspots like the Fleurieu Peninsula. Understanding your local area gives you a competitive edge.
   
   
4. Choose your pathway: Decide whether you’re drawn to sales, management, support or specialist roles. Think about your strengths — are you more client-facing, analytical, or operational?
   
   
5. Gain experience: Entry-level opportunities such as administration or assistant property manager roles can provide valuable industry exposure and a stepping stone to other positions.
   
   
6. Keep developing: The industry is changing rapidly with technology, marketing and compliance requirements. Ongoing professional development and networking will help you stay ahead.

A career in property or real estate is as diverse as the properties themselves. Whether you thrive on the excitement of sales, the structure of property management, or the behind-the-scenes impact of marketing and support, there’s a role that could be your perfect fit.

At Edge, we’ve been connecting people with property, real estate and administration careers for over 27 years. If you’re ready to explore your options (or even discover a role you didn’t know existed until now!) we’re here to help you take the next step.