Clarence Boyce is thankful he took his father’s advice.
“My father used to tell me never to look at an obstacle
without seeing an opportunity,” he says.
Clarence worked as a carpenter and helped his uncle build
houses when he got out of high school. When his uncle moved
to Florida and the work slowed down, Clarence decided to
look for a better job. When he moved to Chicago, he had
a hard time finding an affordable apartment. Everything
was so expensive, so he got a roommate to save money.
He remembered his father’s advice. Why not find a
way to make money through real estate? He talked to a career
counselor and found out about real estate appraisers. They
work as independent contractors. They visit and inspect
property, research local real estate information, and figure
out how much property is worth for potential buyers and
sellers.
Clarence took a class at his local community college. When
he passed his exam, he became an associate appraiser. His
teacher put him in touch with a private appraiser who agreed
to hire him as an apprentice. Clarence worked there for
three years, until he passed the exam to become a certified
appraiser.
Now Clarence is his own boss. He makes good money –
enough to become a first-time homeowner. “I spend
all day, every day looking at real estate,” he says.
“You better believe I got a good deal!”
Clarence
Boyce
