Is it possible to retire from real estate?
No surprise at all. When you're good at something and have a track record it's not always easy to slip away without a hitch. As a retired general contractor and developer I continue getting calls even after 5 years. But I just dish them off to my successful sons who are also successful contractors.
Out of boredom a few years ago I obtained my RE brokers license. Motive being just to try to learn a little more about the industry since I was starting to invest in rental and portfolio properties. But that soon escalated by default and I started acquiring some clients.
However, I'm not the least bit interested in working listings, sitting open houses or showing properties so I just dish them off to my nephew and daughter in law who earned their RE license's and hung them with me.
But when you are good at what you do folks have a tendency not to just let you slip away too soon. All that stated do enjoy your retirement.
It's been a long time coming, but my husband and I decided last September to leave the community where we had lived for 43 years and move to "lower slower" Delaware. We contracted on a new home to be built in September, put our Crofton home on the market the day after Christmas, and moved into our beautiful new Plantation Lakes home in March.
I made a decision, at least for now, to not get a Delaware real estate license and have to learn new state laws and new forms, but to enjoy walks on nearby beaches, to play the piano again, and to finally try out those new golf clubs I purchased a few years ago. If any repeat and referral business should happen to come my way, I would take care of it - perhaps with some assistance from my Long & Foster colleagues in Crofton - at least until my license expires again in August 2016.
Funny thing... my Maryland real estate business absolutely exploded with new listings that have sold quickly, repeat clients that have purchased homes or are planning to this Spring or Summer and even new clients coming out of the woodwork after reading my old blog posts. As a result, I'm now commuting two hours each way nearly every day to maintain my real estate business in Crofton and other communities on the Western Shore of the Chesapeake Bay.
I guess this could have been expected... When you're in real estate for 42 years, you're gonna have repeat, referral, and even new business, right? All this has certainly been good for my ego and self-confidence, not to mention the shopping list for my new home, and I'm actually enjoying the drive.
Is it possible to retire from real estate? For me, the answer apparently is "not yet" - so don't overlook me for referrals in Maryland just because I live in Delaware!
Margaret Woda - Real Estate The Woda Way
As a licensed Associate Broker in the D.C. - Baltimore - Annapolis area, I specialize in Anne Arundel and nearby Prince George's Counties, Maryland, including Fort Meade, Joint Base Andrews, and the U.S. Naval Academy. If you enjoyed reading this post and want to learn more about Real Estate the Woda Way, please visit my website at Margaret Woda.com or contact me today.
Margaret Woda, Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. (410)451-6245|MWoda@mris.com
I enjoyed your blog, thank you for sharing. I think your just to good at what you obviously enjoy doing, no one wants to let you go. I look forward to reading more of your blogs. I hope you have a great day
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