For my huge readership (there's an echo in here, hello?), so much has happened since Independence Day:

Two Broker exam crash courses. A real estate broker exam. 8 painful days of waiting for results followed by 11 days of even more painful waiting for official licensing by the state. The wife and kids went to Pennsylvania without me and I'm out of clean t-shirts and undies (okay TMI). Tax Id #. Check. Fictitious biz name statement. Check. Business license. Check. Department of Real Estate broker licensing fees. Check. Paid everyone with a check. Check...

So I'm one of California's newest real estate brokers, big whoopee. Well, to me it's huge and if you're a broker, old or new, you might have had the same feelings of accomplishment followed by the sound of crickets and the question, "now what?". I promptly started asking a ton of questions of my local broker brethren. Everyone had different answers, some had words of encouragement while others were wondering if their short sales would ever close. Some didn't have time to talk since their new motto is "What recession?" - they're pretty damn busy with bank owned properties or some other unknown niche (Mona Vie? Send Out Cards? Goji Juice...?).

Then there was this one old friend, Jason G. Two years ago he was exactly where I am right now. New broker, confetti and ticker tape needing a serious picking up, and the "now what?" question staring him in the face with his new broker's license in hand. At the time I had no idea what he was thinking but then again I never asked. He was (and continues to be) a great salesman, only back then it was residential resale homes, primarily listings. But now it's property management for Jason. And after a small metric ton of hard work, he's quite successful as a one man outfit.

He was gracious enough to answer my basic broker / new company set up questions and of course we discussed property management. I hadn't considered property management until now. One thing led to another, Jason offered me a position to help build his company's presence since he was the only licensee in the office. But I knew what he was doing, he was offering me an opportunity to succeed. It made so much sense to me - in order succeed I had to broaden my horizons, to add another act to my real estate repertoire, an item to my menu of services or rather, another feather in my cap.

To make a long story short, I'm a property manager now. I'm a broker associate working in a small independent office where the only way to go is up. I'll still sell homes. But in this market and in this economy, this change in direction is a welcome change. I'm excited and anxious at the same time. I will keep you updated.

Cheers.

Marvin