When Margarita Lopez got out of high school, she got a
retail job. She worked retail for 10 years, but she dreamed
of doing something better. "I was good at the job
and the customers always liked me," Margarita says.
"The money was just enough to keep me there, especially
around the holidays when we got overtime."
But she knew this wasn't enough. She finally left
her retail job and signed up for a business administration
class at the local community college. That's when
she learned about real estate brokers.
"I never knew anyone who bought a house before,"
she says. "After my girlfriend got married, I went
with her to look for a house. We met with a woman who showed
us nice houses and asked my friend lots of questions. She
was really interested in helping my friend find the right
place."
Margarita realized she had all the right interests and
abilities for a job as a real estate broker. She was good
with people, she knew the city very well, and her years
of experience in sales would definitely help her. She switched
to a real estate broker program at school and passed the
sales test a year later.
She spent 6 years working as a rental associate, showing
apartments and occasionally helping brokers with home sales.
The money was good and the hours were flexible, so she was
able to pick her daughter up from school in the afternoons.
Margarita really wanted to get her broker's license.
First, she got her license as a real estate sales agent.
It took longer than she expected, but she was on her way.
Three years later, she took the broker's exam. It
was hard, but she passed.
Today, Margarita is a licensed real estate broker. She
works for a small office and sells houses and apartments.
"It's not retail, but it's still a sales
job," she says. "I use lots of the same skills.
If you're friendly, work hard, and know how to listen
to people, real estate can be a great career."
Margarita
Lopez
