What is a leasing specialist and how to become one

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read
Quoted Expert
Del Ross
introduction image

Let's say you have a property, a house, that you want to open for rentals, but you do not know where to start. Should you post an advertisement online? But how will you screen potential lessors or tenants? Should you ask around people you know if they would like to rent it? But what if you do not have a big circle, or if no one is interested? One person who can definitely help you out in this is the leasing specialist.

Leasing specialists handle the property on behalf of the owner or the landlord. They represent the owner when talking to potential or even existing tenants. They ensure fair and competitive pricing based on the current market value and competitor value. They assist tenants in filling out the necessary paperwork and may negotiate with them for better prices. Leasing specialists will also assist tenants during their oculars and in making their applications for rentals.

If you have extensive knowledge about property management, this role is for you. You would also need to be approachable and have a friendly demeanor to get the trust of clients.

What general advice would you give to a Leasing Specialist?

D

Del RossDel Ross LinkedIn Profile

Chief Revenue Officer, Hotel Effectiveness

Embrace change. The only certainty about the future is that tomorrow's world will look much different than today's. This applies to the hotel and travel industries and to pretty much everything else. Guest expectations will change. Technology will change. The employer and employee experiences will vary - this may prove difficult, but much of it will be for the better. If you expect to change, you will be better prepared to handle it when it happens.
ScoreLeasing SpecialistUS Average
Salary
3.0

Avg. Salary $37,876

Avg. Salary $59,228

Stability Level
6.4

Growth Rate 5%

Growth Rate 0.3%

Diversity
3.4
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 0.32%

Asian 6.90%

Black or African American 5.33%

Hispanic or Latino 13.30%

Unknown 4.31%

White 69.84%

Gender

female 69.11%

male 30.89%

Age - 50
Race

American Indian and Alaska Native 3.00%

Asian 7.00%

Black or African American 14.00%

Hispanic or Latino 19.00%

White 57.00%

Gender

female 47.00%

male 53.00%

Age - 50
Stress Level
6.4

Stress level is manageable

7.1 - high

Complexity Level
7.0

Complexity Level is challenging

7 - challenging

Work Life Balance
2.5

Work Life balance is poor

6.4 - fair

Leasing Specialist career paths

Key steps to become a leasing specialist

  1. Explore leasing specialist education requirements

    Most common leasing specialist degrees

    Bachelor's

    52.6 %

    Associate

    20.3 %

    High School Diploma

    15.8 %
  2. Start to develop specific leasing specialist skills

    Skills
    ascdesc
    Percentages
    ascdesc
    Customer Service28.80%
    Property Management10.11%
    Yardi8.65%
    Resident Retention6.16%
    Scheduling Appointments6.07%
  3. Complete relevant leasing specialist training and internships

    Accountants spend an average of 6-12 months on post-employment, on-the-job training. New leasing specialists learn the skills and techniques required for their job and employer during this time. The chart below shows how long it takes to gain competency as a leasing specialist based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data and data from real leasing specialist resumes.
  4. Gain additional leasing specialist certifications

    Leasing specialist certifications can show employers you have a baseline of knowledge expected for the position. Certifications can also make you a more competitive candidate. Even if employers don't require a specific leasing specialist certification, having one may help you stand out relative to other applicants.

    The most common certifications for leasing specialists include National Apartment Leasing Professional (NALP) and Certified Billing and Coding Specialist (CBCS).

    More About Certifications
  5. Research leasing specialist duties and responsibilities

    • Lead the operations of a field enforcement office responsible for investigating violations of federal statutes enforce by ATF.
    • Maintain traffic data in YARDI to aide in effective advertisement.
    • Post availability daily on Craigslist.
    • Determine program eligibility for Medicaid, food stamp and cash benefits in accordance with current regulations using the computer-based eligibility system.
  6. Prepare your leasing specialist resume

    When your background is strong enough, you can start writing your leasing specialist resume.

    You can use Zippia's AI resume builder to make the resume writing process easier while also making sure that you include key information that hiring managers expect to see on a leasing specialist resume. You'll find resume tips and examples of skills, responsibilities, and summaries, all provided by Zippi, your career sidekick.

    Choose From 10+ Customizable Leasing Specialist Resume templates

    Build a professional Leasing Specialist resume in minutes. Browse through our resume examples to identify the best way to word your resume. Then choose from 10+ resume templates to create your Leasing Specialist resume.
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  7. Apply for leasing specialist jobs

    Now it's time to start searching for a leasing specialist job. Consider the tips below for a successful job search:

    1. Browse job boards for relevant postings
    2. Consult your professional network
    3. Reach out to companies you're interested in working for directly
    4. Watch out for job scams

How Did You Land Your First Leasing Specialist Job

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Average leasing specialist salary

The average Leasing Specialist salary in the United States is $37,876 per year or $18 per hour. Leasing specialist salaries range between $24,000 and $57,000 per year.

Average Leasing Specialist Salary
$37,876 Yearly
$18.21 hourly

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How do leasing specialists rate their job?

-/5

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Leasing Specialist reviews

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A zippia user wrote a review on Feb 2021
Pros

Helping people, striving for nothing but the best.

Cons

I have yet to discover anything related to this industry that I do not enjoy.


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A zippia user wrote a review on Jun 2020
Pros

Time management and organization. Once you get down how the office conducts their day to day tasks, you will then be comfortable enough set your own way to complete your tasks while managing time. If you have these skills, you will become an ace as a leasing consultant and everything else that comes with it.

Cons

You may work for a company that has one program for everything you need, just run the report and it will go out to residents. Or, you may work for a company that does things the complete opposite which will complicate things and room for error. My suggestion is to work for a company that has been around at least 20 years. This is beneficial because they have been through all their mistakes and learned from them and made them better.


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Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.