Leasing Consultant

Leasing is a numbers game and a people game at the same time. A property's occupancy depends on someone who can turn a curious phone call into a signed lease, and then make that new resident feel good about the decision months later. That's the core of what this role does at Stephens Pointe, a Hawthorne Residential Partners community in Wilmington, NC.

What the Job Actually Looks Like

You're the first person a prospect meets, whether that's on the phone, through an email inquiry, or walking through the door. Your day moves between responding to leads, conducting personalized tours, processing applications, and completing move-in paperwork accurately. You'll also help coordinate resident events and keep the office and common areas presentable. The leasing office runs Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 6 PM, and Saturdays from 10 AM to 4 PM. You get one weekday off each week to keep the schedule at 40 hours. Occasional evenings may come up for community events.

Beyond traffic and tours, you're also expected to track competitor properties and stay current on what the local market is doing. Wilmington's rental market has seen real demand pressure in recent years, with coastal proximity driving both renter interest and turnover. Knowing how Stephens Pointe fits into that picture helps you make a sharper case to prospects who are cross-shopping.

Commission is part of the compensation here. Hawthorne offers monthly leasing and renewal commissions on top of hourly pay, plus leasing incentive programs. Renewals matter as much as new leases, so building genuine relationships with current residents directly affects your earnings.

What Hawthorne Wants to See

• At least one year in customer service, sales, or apartment leasing (preferred, not required)
• Strong communication skills across phone, email, and in-person interactions
• Comfort with objection handling and moving a prospect toward a decision
• Ability to complete leasing paperwork and application verifications accurately
• Valid driver's license
• CALP certification is a plus but not expected

What separates strong candidates here isn't a long resume. It's follow-through. The prospects who don't lease on the first visit are the ones who require consistent, non-pushy follow-up. Consultants who treat that follow-up as relationship-building rather than pestering tend to close more leases and see better renewal numbers.

Hawthorne also has a formal career path program. Leasing Consultant to Assistant Community Manager is a common next step, and the company invests in that progression through its learning and development team. If you want to move into property operations, this role is a direct entry point.