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Time to Say Goodbye.....

I have thoroughly enjoyed being a Realtor and never could have asked for a better career, but the time has come to call it quits.

With the cost of daycare being $2000+ dollars per month, gas at $4.00 per gallon, and fuel oil to heat our home around $400 per month... We have to say enough is enough.

I sincerely hope that someday the cost of living will come back down to earth, but until that day comes, I will be staying at home with our 4 children.

Mike is starting his own Plumbing company, and I am sure that together we will make it quite successful.

I wish you all the best!

Sara Lee

Posted by Michael La Fay & Sara Edwards on 04/27/2008 12:38 AM

Comments (40)

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40 Comments on Time to Say Goodbye.....

APR

2008

Hey Sara Lee~ It takes a big person to know when to make a change for the better for yourself and your family. I wish you and yours all the best.

Sara, I am sure that it is tough to be in real estate in Alaska. I'm sure it is tough to live in Alaska and pay the bills, Please stay in touch on AR. We all wish you the best.

Sara Lee - You know, I don't know how folks pay for day care these days. The cost is just crazy. I will certainy say a prayer that the plumbing business goes gangbusters for you and Mike.

Sara-I wish you the best of luck with your husbands new venture! I appreciate the info you gave me on the Lance Lockard case.

Take care,

Good luck Sara. Sometimes a change will do you good. Enjoy being with your children.

Sara Lee - I wish you success with your decision to stay home with your children. Children NEED their parents, and you are making a wise decision...40 years from now you'll wish you had spent more time with them. I know, been there/done that! Keep your license active...when the economy gets better it will be easier for you to start back up again.

Sara - I don't know whether to say I'm sorry........or not? I've thought about the same move myself sometimes.......its a tough call........but I do wish you the very best and much success in your new ventures.

Sara.....sorry to see you go. Best of luck in you husbands new career and to your family.

Best of luck. Time with the kids are very important. Enjoy it.

Hi Sara Lee: My dear, I wish you the absolute best. But, with the costs you describe... you are starting your new (old) job as stay-at-home-Mommy with a $2,000 a month raise. Way to go ! How many people today can brag about getting a $2,000 a month raise ? Perhaps with all your real estate skills you could come up with some sort of real estate-related service you could perform at home ? Take care... huggs to you and your family...

Good luck Sara! I have also given it a lot of thought re whether or not to quit real estate. You can check out my blog if you'd like. Right now, I'm a mobile notary/loan signing agent which I enjoy and I can make my own hours. I don't know about your area, but it may be something you could look into as a side job if you ever needed the extra income. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact me by phone or email.

It is so true... children are precious gifts and they grow so fast so enjoy them while you can. Things will work out I'm sure. All the best to you!

Sara Lee: I might also suggest that you leave your blog up... on Active Rain, and continue to post every once in awhile... letting us know how things are going, and just sort of become a "real estate columnist" keeping us updated on your ideas on real estate happenings. I see you are leaving with being in the number 4 spot on the Alaska page of Active Rainers. Congratulations on that, too. Again, take care...

Good luck, change is always difficult at first but often leads to oppornities we never expected.

Sara, I'm sorry to hear this, but understand completely. It's a frustrating time. Hope Mike and your life takes you where you want it to be.

if you can keep your license active you can always pull in referrals - or maybe do some virtual assitant stuff - I am sorry you had to make the decision but your kids will love you at home more

Sara - I wish you and your family the very best. We hope you will rejoin us again at some point....

Sara - This is a decision that is being forced on more and more Realtors as this market recession drags on and the cost of living continues to soar. Many of us are hanging by a thread. I think Karen-Anne offers very sound advice, perhaps you can become a real estate "blogger" that talks about market conditions in the area and find a way to actually make some money blogging.

The same decision may be facing me soon. Health insurance is what is bringing me to my knees. $700 a month and I can't seem to find anything that offers decent coverage for less. (This is NY problem particularly.) I'm looking for part-time work, but it has to PAY something - otherwise its a waste of gasoline. I'm finding these crappy PT things that pay $7.00 an hour. I made that 13 years ago working PT in a bookstore for God's sake. These are very hard times. I had PT gig going that tanked the same time the market did. I had been counting on that to keep me afloat during any market downturns and it let me down when I needed it the most.

Sara,

Spending your time with your most valuable assets (your children) and having the time to support your husband in his new business will be a rewarding. I envy you the time with your children....mine is 20

SARA- You can have your cake and eat it too! There is no job more noble than that of being a Mother. (I have 3 kids) and none more difficult. Referrals pay very well- I would be willing to work with you anyday!

Sara, we all wish you the best. Sometimes the hard decisions are the best. We wish you and your family nothing but good times!

Sara, the best of luck. Staying home with your kids is the best thing you can do. They are only little once and now you will not miss out on lots of things! Have fun with those little ones. You can always go back to being a Realtor!

Sara,

Good luck to you and the plumber. The kids will benefit, stay in touch as everyone else has said. Is there a way to have an "inactive license" in Alaska, so you can keep your hand in it? Just a thought.

List and Sell (and enjoy the kids) Gary @ RentonHomeFinder

Wow! Thank you all for your warm wishes :0) I didn't expect such a response.

I think we will do well with our plumbing company, and the more I think about it, My children and I will grow so much closer.

Sara, Best wishes in your new project. Hopefully you will return to real estate on day in the future when things in the market and world get in better shape. It is always best to put family first.

Sara, I wish you the best with the next chapter in your life as a full time Mom. I think the kids are getting the best of the deal, and like Karen Ann said if you can keep you license Active, or minimally Inactive, you can always come back to Real Estate when it is not so challenging with the costs. Thanks for being so honest with your story. And good luck to your family with the new Plumbing business. That always looks like a lucrative field. Great song by the way.

Sara: You will never regret spending this time with your children. Real estate will be here whenever you decide the time is right.

Best of luck to you, your children, your husband and your new business!!

Sara Lee, I wish you the best with your family's new venture. It will be good for both you and your children to be at home with them. I hope you will still be here on AR to keep us updated on how it is going for you. Maybe you can find a referral company to hang your license. Good luck!!

Sara - All my best to you and your family. Your children will love having more mommy time. Are you able to keep your license in referral status so you can keep up with your referral business? You never know who will run into you that you can refer someone to and you can recoup some of the overhead you have spent in real estate.

Enjoy your family and stay active here on AR. The market is constantly changing and you never know when you will want to get back into it!

Sara Lee - best of luck to you. We look forward to seeing some great "plumbing tips" from you and your husband on a|R!!!!!!

Tina in Virginia

Sara: I so understand....and I wish you all the best!!!

Sara Lee, you are a great lady to give up a career to stay home and take care of your family. Good luck to you and don't forget to drop by and say hello once in a while.

APR

2008

Good luck. You are leaving one business to build another business. So instead of promoting listings you will be promoting plumbing. The skills you use to promote yourself and listings all apply to any business.

Use your contacts and promote the Company to other Realtors for inspections, buyer packets etc. Your SOI will need a plumber once in a while, keep in touch with them . Find him the clients so he can plumb and keep them coming!

Good Luck. Hope you continue to stay actact in the rain.

Sara Lee, good luck in your new business. I'm sure that many of the skills you obtained as a realtor can be applied to your new venture. I wish you continued success!

MAY

2008

Sara - you gots to do what you gots to do...sorry i missed this post. blessings to you and the family, and i wish your hubby well with his business.

Don't leave us, Sara. Retire or inactivate the license until your ready to pick up where you left off, but don't let it expire. You've worked and studied too hard to give up your license. If there's anything I can do to help, let me know. Best wishes this day, and everyday, for you.

JUL

2008

Sara

I wish you both a lot of luck. Here in AZ agents are leaving the business in droves as the cost are simply to much. Our MLS fees just went up 50% as they need to make up for lost subscribers.

Sara, best of luck to you and your husband. I'm sure you will be very successful.

Keep your license for a while - you never know when you may need it. Don't give it up just yet. You never know what the future holds.

Good luck and enjoy your children.

JUL

2008

Wow did not see this coming, best of luck to you and your family and your husbands career, hopefully a lot of pipe bursts will keep him busy and get u back in the game

Sara, My best wishes to you and your family. I think your video clip is a classic. Take care and be well. Joe

Sara, change is good. Good luck with the transition.

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