This is a subject that pops into my mind every once in a while, usually after a deal falls through or some other realty drama unfolds. Never one to be discouraged I always kept moving forward but don't think I ever thought about answering the question until now. My best and simplest answer would be that real estate actually chose me with the help of two women and I think I am going to stick to it!
Some of my most fondest memories started with my mothers mother, my grandmother. She was the last born child to a railroad baron at the turn of the last century. When her parents died she kept the family estate and invited my newly wed parents to move in with her. Very soon after I was born and brought home to this fine house. I had an instant fascination for the architecture of this grand Victorian styled home. From the beautiful curved grand staircase that once I was old enough I would slide down the railing half the day with my friends, to the many ornate fireplaces throughout the home. This photo is of my young grandmother with the homestead where she was born as well as my mother in the background.
My grandmother loved to take drives on Sunday afternoons and visit open houses in new developments in these places called suburbs which were becoming the rage at the time. She decided one Sunday with me in tow that it was time for my parents to have their own home in one of these new fangled suburban developments. I can remember her taking me to the basement of one house and being able to see through the stairs to the sky above. This would be our future new home. I quietly sat with her and the realtor whilst they negotiated and she signed papers and handed him a check. Such an easy transaction!
She also owned a hotel in downtown where I would spend time and she would treat me to Schraft's for lunch and explain to me about all the different styles of buildings en route. I was very curious and very interested so I enjoyed these times immensely.
Lets fast forward to the early 1970's, Daytona Beach Florida family holiday. I was a teen by then and walking down the beach I spied a huge orange billboard on the Pier touting a new development called Palm Coast by ITT, I was intrigued. I think I had a flash back to grandmother buying my parents a home and I wanted to do the same thing. I hopped on the bus for what ended up being a two hour trip, meanwhile my folks had no idea where I had disappeared to.
Our group was shuttled around the place and given a very long presentation but I has eating it up and I wanted a piece of the Florida sunshine. I signed a contract to buy a lot on a greenway just minutes from the beach. The realtor never asked me for ID or my age which was 16 and I promised to send a check for the total when I got back to NY. Less than two weeks later I was a landowner and man I now had the real estate bug!
After college I beelined it to Florida where I started out my new career. After a couple years of hard work and hard beaching I came across an add for a house for sale with owner financing. I met the dear older woman who owned the place and signed on the dotted line. This house also contained 4 rental properties in the converted coach house. Not only was I now a home owner but a landlord. Old Rosie the woman I bought the house from was a retired realtor and she loved my energy and thought I would be an excellent realtor myself. That had not occurred to me as I was following my prescribed career path. She then told me that she also owned several apartment buildings and asked if I would like to manage them for her. I said yes but then she said I would have to get my real estate license to do so. That tricky woman, I had no idea what she was up to and fell right into her grand plan she had set for me. So to end my tale I would have to say that it was two very strong women in my life that got me to chose real estate and I thank them everyday of my life. I love you Grandmother and Rosie. The rest is history.
Notice who's hand grandma is holding on Easter Sunday 1960,dad,sister Cheri and mom.
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