1. As an Agent / Broker 

The term real estate or "real property," refers to the interests and ownership of land. 

REAL estate agents are matchmakers, bringing buyers, sellers and homes together. He  works for a real estate firm and represents one of the involved parties interests during the sales process.

Most real estate agents are independent salespeople who provide their services on behalf of a licensed real estate broker. The broker pays him a portion of commission earned from the agent's sale of property. Earnings are based on commission.

Good real estate agents understand the local market very well. They help house- seeking clients, find neighborhoods and homes offering the best balance between their lifestyles, concerns and budgets.

Qualifications & skills

The agents also act as intermediaries in price negotiations between buyers and sellers. It requires the ability to search for clients and close deals.

This is a relationship business. Resourceful and hardworking men can have a good  career and success in this line of work. They must be able to interact effectively with various types of people, Flexibility is essential as there are no fixed working hours nor a fixed monthly income.

Licensing is helpful for this business. An MBA degree is useful to have, though not essential, as is a degree or a diploma in architecture, development and design.

Courses in real estate are not generally offered in India. If you have studied any related concepts like laws and property management, it will help.

2. As Property Developer  / Asset Manager

Developers handle complete projects. They buy land, persuade govt officials for approvals and manage the materials and labour to build a commercial or residential project within the budget. There can be choice of  residential or commercial projects.

An acquisitions expert generates property leads, negotiates purchase contracts and works with government officials before handing the property over to a project manager.

If you're more analytical and have a head for numbers, an asset manager who handles budgets, forecasting, cash flow, accounting, operations, and long and short-term financing, could be just your cup of tea. 

If you've some capital, you can start your own firm buying distressed property and renovating for sale. you can tie up with a developer and work your way up. No formal education is necessary though it is desirable. Gaining practical experience by trying to do a few deals of your own is important. Education helps as you'll need to know how to use spreadsheets, databases, graphical analysis and geographic information.

You can also go into real estate business part-time. An important attribute of a good real estate career is not  the amount of time you put into it, but the quality of time you invest.

It is important to choose a reputable company  that provides a good work atmosphere. Later, with experience, you can make a shift from selling real estate to managing others selling real estate by becoming a branch manager.