Most of the work that you are referring to pertains to real estate sales. I believe the original comment regarding the $3K and NYC brokers has to do with leasing agents/rental brokers.
I was a leasing agent before; there's really nothing to the job.
True, I realized that it was rent-centric after I posted this comment. However, I felt it was worth leaving up because it highlights that there are a lot more activities involved than people imagine. I will agree though that more than half of the items above are real estate centric. On top of that NYC and SF agents have to do less than anyone else insofar as actual tedium work is concerned. Apartments practically sell themselves in those markets, so agents really only have to work to stay "in the know" to be able to show you the best apartments before it goes on the market.
