By Jamie Swann, Contributing Writer
For as long as she can remember, Jennifer Hull wanted to have a successful career in real estate.
In March, she set out to making that dream a reality.
She left a steady job in human resources to pursue a career that had no guarantee. She was both excited and nervous.
“This was a huge leap for me,” Hull said.
After passing her licensing exam, her next step was to sign on with a local agency. It was with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty that Hull began her journey among the nearly 3,000 licensed agents in Northeast Florida.
Last year, 28,507 people passed the Florida real estate exam — the most in nine years, according to The Tampa Bay Times.
The newspaper said 42,126 people passed the exam in 2005, which was the peak of the state’s real estate boom, compared to fewer than 12,000 in 2011.
Now, as more agents are in the mix, there are fewer available homes. The dwindling inventory can bring fierce competition among the state’s 221,000 agents.
“This is a hugely competitive market,” said Hull. “To be successful in this career takes a special type of person and I believe I am that person.”
Beverly Herden, a Realtor for 15 years, isn’t surprised by the renewed popularity of her profession.
She knows that with an improving economy comes a sharp increase in real estate agents — each looking to get their piece of the pie.
“When the economy is good, people are buying and selling,” said Herden, of Ion Real Estate and Investments. “It gives the illusion that this business is easy so more people are interested.”
But Herden knows that illusion is a dangerous one.
She believes the lack of planning and continuing education plays a large role in the failure of new agents within the industry.
“Create a business plan and stick with it,” said Herden. “We work for ourselves. Maintaining focus is crucial. Without a solid business plan, we have nothing to focus on.”
For newly licensed Hull, a daily reminder of her plan keeps her steady on her path.
“I try to implement something new and different from day-to-day,” said Hull. “But I always remind myself of my goals and the reasons why I chose to make this career change.”
Herden said another factor to success is being aligned with the right people.
“In my decision of deciding which broker to work with, I had to make sure they were in line with my needs,” said Hull.
The same goes for the mortgage companies and anyone else you may want to work with, Herden said.