Patricia: I have yet to see a retirement party for a Realtor, either. In fact, I think most of us will be showing property with our walkers...  

Old agents don't retire they just go listless :)  They have forgotten more than most of us will ever know

I know of a few myself. It might just be love. :)

We have had a few retirement parties for agents in my office surprisingly enough. Most have been because the agents have moved on to others states. But alas we have those that are 'up there' in age and hang in for whatever reason as well. I guess its the nature of the business we are in. There is no pne to say we are pass retirement age and booting us out the door :)

I pray that they just retire.

One thing about being a Realtor is you can do this even when you are old and gray.

I thought being in Real Estate you were retired work when you want and make lots of money. Thats what my first broker told me.

Some of the most successful agents I know are over 60!  My broker is on the other side of 70 and says she'll never retire--loves it too much.

We don't retire, we just fade away - not! I love what I'm doing. Some agents decide to split their business - in a warm state in the winter, a cooler one in the summer; others go into the referral end; others continue to work but only with their friends and past clients; some do a deal or two a year. 

More prevalent in the last year or two are agents (generally BELOW retirement age) who have taken day jobs. 

Pat, you're right -- they don't retire, they just move to Florida, Arizona, or some other retirement area and continue selling homes there.

Quick question. In reference to your name and location.., are you related to the kennedy's (the political ones)?

Yep I'm with you Pat, I think I'll be one of those geezer agents. I think I'll still run marathons too.

Kathy, I actually showed a property in one of Washington's old coops.  It was "agent must accompany" and yes, the agent got off the elevator with her walker! 

Oh, gosh, Don!  I am occasionally listless these days! 

Keith & Robin, I think that most of the time, it is love!

And Martha, I'll bet those sneaky Petes picked up real estate licenses wherever they went!

HoHo...you said...I hung up my lockbox keypad, I'd really miss it. ...I'm saying Ho-Ho because..so would I!!!

 Good luck with your knees...and thanks for great posts that make me glad I'm here.

Ronell, we've had a lot retire to heaven, but they were really, really old when it happened.  And their young colleagues sent them off with fabulous parties.  Um. or Irish wakes?

John, at least when we're old.  Technology has made gray optional.

Terry, there are a lot of agents here who took early retirement from other jobs.  They got retirement parties at their old jobs.

And Norma, I have no idea how old my broker is, but I'm hoping she way outlasts me!  She's amazing.

Okay--that cracked me up. :)

We've had Realtors retire, party and all. Two years ago, we had two founding members of our board retire. It was a very emotional time.

Well, we all know it has been proven, that when many people retire, they have no life, so their life ends short. But if they keep on working and are involved with meaningful activities they live much happier and longer. I will never retire from helping others, maybe just the forms that it happens in. 

I've always joked that I'll be 95 years old and showing property....I think real estate is in many an agent's blood...and if they don't poop out after the first few years they will work until death.

Patricia, I got married 8 years ago.  My husband is 7 years younger than me, cradlerobber :) - Anyway, I told my husband HE is my retirement plan!

Patricia, How funny, we were just talking about that tonight.  I LOVE TEXAS and the beauty of living here is we could retire anywhere in the state but just keep on selling real estate.  I can't imagine ever quitting.  I think staying busy is what keeps you young.  My parents are 82 and 90 and in such incredible health and I attribute it to their busy lifestyle.  I have been wondering about an older agent that I met when I first started real estate and as I was looking for a rental property for someone today I ran across one of her listings.  I also noticed she now has her own business.  It doesn't get much better than that.

I love this post Pat. I'll probably be an old Geezer agent along with you...I guess we'll be here blogging for years to come deary!  

I'll geezer along with you, Pat.  I may slow down, but quit?  I never did know when to quit!

I guess Eddie and I wiould have a hard time retiring...but we do take some vacations :)

We have an agetn in our ofcie that has to be 85 and still does part time business with a higher end price point!

I think when an old person gives up working or doing something they truly love - they just shrivel-up.  Doing work that makes you feel good and gives you a sense of accomplishment - will keep you kicking for many years to come.

On the other hand.... How nice it would be to not have "THOSE" phone calls from clients at all hours of that day?  Oh - who are we kidding - we love those!

Who can retire??!!! I work as an agent because it's the only job I know of that won't retire me after I'm 65. The way SS is going I may not be able to retire....EVER!!! Good thought.

Nonsense.  Many agents and brokers "retired" many years ago from jobs.  We are now enjoying life.

Patricia, here in Dallas 97 yr old Ebby Halliday still heads up her company. Kudos to her. I guess they never do retire. If you have your health, do what interests you.

Great post.  I know several agents who are past "retirement age", but they are all at the top of their game!

So true. Some of the best agents I know are in their 70's.

I have been selling Real Estate in my town now for 18 years. There was one retirement party about 2 maybe 3 years ago for what was the top agent Her name is Silke Printz she sold for a little over 20 years for the same broker here in town, which for the last 12 years has been the Coldwell Banker office. It was a big party at the new golf course clubhouse. I believe just about every realtor, mortgage, title person e.t.c. in town came to the party. A part from that no other parties that I know of. Maybe in anothe 10 to 15 I'll have one?

I think if you are a good agent and you have a large network of customers, and you can do it on a part time basis, earning full time income, it is definitely worth in staying int he business. Plus, I believe the people that are good at it, they love it, so they have no need to retire. 

Have an agent in my office who is 85 and can afford to retire but doesn't want to even though he is slowing down, Only has 3 sales this month.

Hi Patricia,

Good question, actually I think very few Realtors ever do retire, I've only known a few myself. And I had no idea you're a vet of 25 years. I'm a geezer-ette myself. At this point I'm still not ready to hang if up, I love what I do and work with great people.

And I agree with your statement, "I love what I'm doing and have gotten pretty good at it.  I've learned to work smarter and take vacations...". Ditto!

BTW, 2 memorials this year, my very first broker and my former business partner, we're all about the same age, ugh!

I had a wonderful agent in my office retire last year. It was sad because I think he really didn't want to give it up, but there comes a point I think where the business can interfere with quality of life. Too many people work until they die, I think, because they fail to plan and have don't have a retire policy in place.

I went to a memorial last week. The Realtor that passed away was 80 years old. He was still working every day and had a great sense of humor. I hardly knew him but we had a nice time at a Christmas Party at my office. His partner commented at the memorial that he had been showing properties to a client the same day he had a stroke and died. Many other Realtors in my town go to see new homes on Caravan Day walking with canes and still selling and listing. I believe that many of them could retire if they wanted to, but many of them don't seem to want to do it.  

Isaac Bensussen www.besthomesinlajolla.com 

Real estate is a away of life. Plain and simple. That's one of the main reasons after 22 years i still do it.

I have no intentions of retiring but am aggressively making certain that I have the choice in case I change my mind.  I suppose if I intend to keep going, I need to master the art of taking time off. 

Great post!

I think Virtual Assistants might be the same way.  I can't imagine not doing what I'm doing.  I love it too much.  I love it so much that I hate it sometimes! hahahahaha  I've never heard of a VA retiring either.  Maybe it is a real estate thing...

~Renae

We are honoring one of our "mature" Realtors -- she is 90ish -- going on 40!  She is a state representative.  I have helped her in the last 3 campaign.  She WILL NOT FADE AWAY!  NO WAY!

Maybe i'll get a trailer for my Segway... I could tow buyers to listings. 

I began my career in real estate in 1969 and cannot imagine retiring.  I believe that with age comes knowledge, with time experience and I am always learning.  I have loved every new transition in this business and embrace the technology that we now have at our disposal.  I look for what is new on the horizon and delight in being one of the first in my office to master it.  I will be selling homes to the children of those I sold homes to in the past.  How lucky we are to be in this business.  Don't count on coming to a retirement party for me, sorry.  :)

I think that successful agents as they age probably choose to stay in the business but work a little less.  It is a great boost to their retirement income and they have the flexibility to travel and pursue other interests.

Real Estate is a super career.  It is certainly one that you can slow down on not just fade away.

People who don't like their jobs retire.  All realtors like their jobs, don't they?  I do and hope to never have to quit.  It'a a challenge to try to keep up with all the new things and new people.

I look forward to retiring, but never quitting.  Retiring for me means different things.  For example, I look forward to retiring from being a residential agent, and focusing strictly on training and coaching.  I want to move to the seventh level in my business, so I can step out and do those other things that I love.

This comes from the guy who said if he won the powerball lottery, he'd take a job at Wal-mart as the greeter just to get out and chat with people!

Just think of all the past clients and the huge SPO they have built relationships with.  I'd hate to give that up.  I'll most likely be a geezer too. <g>

People continue to work for many reasons

a. They love their career.

b. It keeps them active and in shape.

c. They love interacting with people and helping them.

d. They are good at what they do.

e. Their career has made them rich and still bringing them good money ( I love to close on a $8 million property one day - It's coming soon )

These are the only reasons that I can come up with. Great post Pat.

We'll end up being geezers along with you. Why stop when you can sell a $8 million property when you are 90 years old!

Why give this up, it is a great profession!  I will also probably be old and in a walker showing properties!  Great post!

Real estate is one professsion that you can keep doing even into retirement.

I would love to reitre now...but then what would I do for excitement....I'll probably go to my grave selling RE:)

Patricia...

This post made me feel like a rare breed. A rare breed indeed.

I retired 7 years ago. I was 43. I planned it. I worked towards that goal. I couldn't wait for the day when our business would become big enough not to need my ongoing loving care. 

Although I am retired...As the owner of our Company...I am not completely retired. BB and I sleep, eat and drink Real Estate.

But just so you know...I love being able to wake up and say "Nope. No Real Estate for me today"...I also love not having BB bossing me around. He has control issues :) 

Ooops. I disgressed a bit. Sorry. Anyway retirement is only sweet when it's planned and you know exactly what you're doing and why. 

By the way, no one threw me a party but then again I am nowhere near geezer hood :) 

Hmmm...I think I'll go throw myself a party and celebrate the fact that I get to choose, choose and choose some more :) 

TLW...ROAR!

I guess there will be no retirement party for me. The longer we are in business, the more referral clients we will have. We can choose to work just with referred clients . Great post.

Retire?  I would be bored to death!

I've been to one retirement party for an agent in the last five years.  The rest just seem to close up shop and you occassionally see them at lunch.  Some agents seem to be ready to hold on until their last breath without a plan for how to "sell" their business.  They could retire now and have the benefits for another 3 years if they thought it through. 

We have a number of agents in our office over 70 and they're not showing any signs of slowing down.  And talk about experience!  Like someone already said, they've forgotten more than I know.  They're a great resource when you have challenges.  Though, I confess, I hope by 70, my lockbox key will be collecting dust in the nightstand drawer.

My dad sort of retired.  His license was still active, he just did not do a deal for the last couple of years.  But, he had no party and still offered advice.

One of the reasons my husband and I opened our real estate business was because it was something we could do together and do as long as we wanted.  It's a great business.  I never plan on retiring.  Taking more time off and taking more vacations maybe.  But I would definitely miss the everyday interaction and helping clients find their perfect home.

I'm starting to think that memorial services are the retirement parties for Realtors. This business really gets into your blood and it is almost impossible to get rid of it.

HAHA....once real estate is in your blood, you can't shake it. Who needs retirement? Certainly not us! 

When we retire, we will have a party and you're ALL invited!

Patricia - in this business you can continue working as long as you want. that is the beauty of it!