True story:

I walk into my favorite mom and pop hardware store to get copies of keys to some of my listings.  The owners sees me and sees my jacket with the RE/MAX logo on it (very subdued and tasteful, I might add).

He asks, “How are you holding up, these days?”

I answer, “Well, it’s a whole different life.”

He responds. “I bet it is! Not too many of you guys left.”

What A Difference An Economic Downturn Makes

I remember during the housing bubble (I call it the “frenzy”), people used to come up and rib me about how much money I must be making and could I give to this charity or that event or buy this marketing thing or that. They probably thought I didn’t have a mortgage to pay or gas to keep in my car or insurance to keep up. All that “easy money” was just piling up. So it seemed.

Now, I get the “you poor guy” treatment.  A profession that was once the envy of infomercial con artists and banks is now looked on with a kind of pity. It’s amazing how things change.

I’m Still Here

The thing is, I’m still here.  Still doing the real estate thing.  It is true, a lot of people that got in during the frenzy are gone.  The “easy money” ain’t so easy anymore.  I feel good about it, though.  I like real estate.  I like the people I meet.  I like the houses. The profession has been good to me.

But, hey, if you wanna feel sorry for real estate agents, that’s OK.  I could certainly make time for any referral you’d like to pass my way!