Breaking into the real estate industry is no walk in the park. Just ask the new wave of young property practitioners trying to get a foothold. While this career path is full of opportunity, the early days can be tough, especially when you're armed with ambition but short on experience, funding, or mentorship. To find out more, Prop Data ran a poll to uncover whether young property practitioners are getting the support they need to succeed. We also spoke with Greyam Moorcroft, a young candidate property practitioner at Harcourts Dunn, to get some on-the-ground insights.
Unpacking the poll results
To recognise Youth Month, in June 2025, Prop Data polled property practitioners to find out whether enough to nurture young talent within the property industry. The results found 58.7% believe much more could be done, a clear message that there’s a gap in support and development for new entrants.
Following up, Prop Data also asked respondents to name the biggest challenge young people face in the industry. Here are the results:
54.8% said financial instability early in their career
19.2% said a lack of mentorship
14.4% said competition from experienced practitioners
7.7% said regulatory hurdles
3.8% said said having a work-life balance
Money woes, mentorship gaps and fierce competition are the big three roadblocks. In response, Prop Data reached out to a young property practitioner to see how these challenges can be navigated based on their experience in the field.
A chat with Greyam Moorcroft
Moorcroft took his first step into real estate straight out of high school, starting as an intern. “I was invited to join and see if the industry was something I would be happy in,” he says. “I do feel the person who trained me had a big influence, but I fell in love with the industry very quickly.”
Although he left briefly to study full-time, he found his way back. “After a few years of trying different jobs, I realised real estate is where my heart lies.”
So, what do young property practitioners bring to the table? “We see the industry in a new light with knowledge from today’s world, not one gone by,” says Moorcroft. “Young property practitioners are also more technologically inclined, so they can use better tools to prospect, market, and sell properties compared to older property practitioners who tend to still rely on the traditional methods.”
As part of his marketing toolkit, Moorcroft makes use of modern platforms like Prop Data, Virtual Agent, Lightstone, and other in-house platforms to stay ahead.
When asked why young property practitioners can grapple with this career choice, Moorcroft lays it out clearly: “There is a steep learning curve, as well as it being a rather saturated industry. It’s hard to 'break in', so to speak. There also isn’t a guarantee that it will work out in the end, be it from overbearing competition or financial restraints.”
Overcoming the main pain points
Moorcroft offers practical advice for fellow young property practitioners dealing with the top three struggles:
1. Financial instability
“Spend enough to get started and to be able to do what you need to, but spend wisely. Don’t pay for unnecessary expenses or marketing tools that won’t pay off in the long run.”
2. Lack of mentorship
“If the company you’re working for doesn’t provide proper mentorship, don’t be ashamed or scared to switch to one who does. Having proper support from the office is vital to learning correctly and making it in the industry. If all else fails, approach a well-known practitioner in the area and ask them if you can shadow them or join them for mentorship.”
3. Competition from experienced practitioners
“Take note of the properties currently listed by them, and market around them. Use existing properties and do your prospecting based on those: typically, if one person sells in a street, several others will soon follow. Let their work guide you.”
Moorcroft’s grounded approach shows that while the industry can be daunting, it’s far from impossible with the right mindset and support.
Passion for profession
Despite these challenges, what keeps Moorcroft invested in real estate as a career choice? “The hard work pays off in multiple ways, not just in commission terms,” he says. “Helping owners move on to better futures, the happiness from buyers when you tell them their dream house is officially theirs, and having people be happy and willing to work with you is all worth the struggles of the industry. It’s hard, but it’s worth it.”
For young practitioners like Moorcroft, success isn’t instant, but it is possible. With resilience, the right in-house support, and smart marketing tools, the next generation of practitioners is already making their mark. Here’s hoping the industry listens and invests a little more into nurturing tomorrow’s top practitioners today.