I gave it a try....

[tuto]

    After a year and change, trying to make it as a Real Estate agent I've decided to leave the business and try something else. I couldn't have picked a worst time to get in to it but I thought I would have a chance since I am bi-lingual and very handsome.... : ) My boss told me if I ever wanted to get back in to it I would always have a desk

Comments

[catalana]

Sometimes all the rational answers in the world don't make you feel a damned bit better. I felt that way when trying to get a job out of grad school, which didn't go very well. *hug* You're in my thoughts.

[tuto]

Thank you. Appreciate the hug more than you know.

[jhitchin]

Luis, you have nothing to feel bad about. You tried and due to varying reasons, you failed. That puts you ahead of 95% of the population who never try at all. Trust me, I'm in the 95% a lot.

You don't even have to call it quitting, but just a sabbatical from real estate work until the market improves.

Either way, you had dreams, you went for them. Go you.

[tuto]

Thank you, friend. One of the reasons I don't feel to bad is because of you guys. Thank you for trusting in me and letting me help you. I never went out looking at houses without thinking of you and how you would or not like what I previewed. Gracias por ser mis amigos. Los quiero de gratis. : )

[erinwrites]

Ah, Luis...I'm so sorry. I know that feeling well, if that's any sort of consolation (5 years out of grad school, still without that elusive permanent teaching placement. blah.)

Hang in there--I know it'll get better! :)

[tuto]

Thank you. I'm looking forward to spending time with Alisa and the girls. Also, this will give me more time to work on music with Marc. We're debating on naming our band either "The new bunk fuss" or "Placenta". : )

[egoldberg]

The challenge of entering real estate when you did was like entering the job market for software engineers in 2001 after the bubble hit and 200,000 jobs in Silicon Valley vanished.

I really admire you for pushing through what could be understatedly described as an uphill challenge. I hope you got a lot out of the experience.

P.S. We probably have contract positions open at Microsoft, and you can quit every summer. ;-)

[egoldberg]

P.S. You were interested in the non-NAR side of the story of home pricing in the coming years.

I felt this to be a pretty comprehensive but easily scannable compilation of the data-driven arguments for why housing prices are likely to continue falling for at least 5 years to come (inflation-adjusted):

http://www.valueinvestingcongress.com/downloads/ny08/t2_partners/T2_Partners_presentation_on_the_mortgage_crisis-4-3-09_3.pdf

Personally I expect a median national 60% fall from the peak, but that's my own feeling.

[tuto]

Thanks. A position at MS is tempting. Or maybe is just that a check is tempting....

[artbeco]

*hugs*
You gave it a good shot, dude. And you never know when that new knowledge you've acquired will come in handy, either. I know I admire you. :)
Miss you guys.

[tuto]

Thanks. We miss you too. How long until we see you guys?