Why would three professionals leave their jobs to enter into a new career as a real estate agent?
With the downturn in the housing market during the last couple of years, why would people leave well-paying jobs to enter into field where there is a big unknown as far as security and reliability that money can be made.
Could it be the bottom has finally hit a housing market that has been on a steady declne over the last couple years?
Bill Soffel, ERA/Vacation Properties Real Estate president, said he believes the market starting to improve is one reason he has hired three new agents who have left other professions to take a chance selling real estate.
''This is a great time to get into the business because there are so many opportunities,'' Soffel said. ''I don't think anybody launches into a new career if they weren't thinking that there is more opportunity.''
Soffel said the new employees aren't the only indication that the housing market could be turning around, but knows it's a positive sign.
''Right now we're seeing more of an upswing. Most of the buying community knows the market has hit bottom or close to bottom,'' he said.
Soffel said during the downturn in the housing market the number of agents he had lowered, with most of the decrease coming from part-time agents who didn't sell real estate on a full-time basis. Now, Soffel says he is seeing more agents getting into the profession on a full-time basis, making it their only career.
''There is more of an opportunity for new professionals, selling real estate as a full-time career,'' he said. ''Most of the part-time agents either retired or got out because their phone wasn't ringing as much. I'm excited to see that I'm adding new individuals that have the mentality of wanting to make this their only career.''
The three new agents Soffel hired are Colleen Culver, Jeremy Enders and Dale Sandberg.
Ms. Culver said she has always wanted to be a real estate agent, leaving her job as a payroll clerk at SUNY Fredonia after six years to live her dream.
''I always wanted to be in real estate, ever since I was 18,'' she said. ''Finally I had an opportunity and I have been shadowing realtors for about a year now.''
Enders said he had been working for about a decade in Tennessee as a contractor and a housing inspector. Because of his experience in those two fields he believes that he has the necessary skills to sell real estate.
''The housing market is good and I thought it was time for a transition,'' Enders said. ''Using my experience, getting into real estate seemed like an extension from being a contractor and home inspector.''
Sandberg said he was previously the branch manager for the Five Star Bank in Lakewood before deciding he wanted to change careers.
''There is an opportunity here with the market on an upswing. This is an opportunity for me to help people find what they are looking for in today's market. It's a good time to buy,'' he said.
Soffel, who started his business in the 1980s at Chautauqua Institution with vacation rentals, has expanded his business throughout the county and into Cattaraugus County to include both rentals and residential property sales.
Soffel's business has several offices in Chautauqua County. First, with the original office on the grounds of the Chautauqua Institution, the ''North Lake'' office along Route 394 about one mile south of Chautauqua Institution, the Lakewood office along Fairmount Avenue that is shared with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage and the Bemus Point office along Main Street.
