In 1991 when I hated real estate, I took a class on buyer brokerage. 

The students were rude and hateful to the teacher...I could not understand why because it made sense.  It made perfect sense!

That was when I decided that I would open a buyer brokerage office, and have never regretted it. I love it.

Eve

I thought I did before I got into RE - our agent was selling condos on the beach knee deep in water - we said "That's for me" - still waiting for that to happen LOL

long before the first check.... it was my first listing.... grossly overpriced.... but I did sell it after 4 months of playing with it!!! it was a learning experience...no training available then.... on a wing and a prayer and loving every minute of it....

More like a WTF moment. LOL

People, people, people. Real Estate is a people business 

My aha moment was when I realized how much better I do when I get out of my comfort zone...

Plenty of things that I am talented in, and plenty of successes, not sure which one is my final destination.

Sharon,

Ron was in real estate first.  He got so busy, he wanted someone trustworthy to work with him  AHA, Took the course, passed, and the rest is history.  

It is always about the people for me.  The people are why I love what I do and the people are why I don't love it so much. Thankfully the GOOD far outweighs the not so good.  All in all ... life is good. I am blessed.

When I was little girl going to the office with my dad. Writing contracts for my teddy bear or my cows. I would always ask the other brokers if they would do the closing. Also spent a lot of time answering the phones. I thought it was great then and I still do! 

I sure did. I'm not sure of the exact moment probably when everything started to come together with clients and listings.

When an agent botched a transaction for me when I was the purchaser, and I realized I could do this business much better.

I meet a lot of interesting people and see amazing properties through this profession. I do not think I had my ''aha'' moment, it just grew on me. 

  Yes.  When I got my Broker's license.

No, it's been a culmination.  Every time I see successes or reap a benefit from being where I am, it's a reminder that I'm in the right place.

Can't say that I have. Not much of an "aha moment" kind of person in general.

An aha moment no, I can't say that I think its just something that fit well from the start.

When I was going to school, and about half way through I thought this was the industry for me, and was correct.

aha,  I don't remember but know I did.

Not yet.  My "aha" moment was more along the lines of being self-employed and not working for "the man" any more.

No, never have.

I opened my first real estate office when I finished law school. It was an alternative to practicing law.

Not really. I was forced as part of my dowery I received after the shotgun wedding

When I realized it would not require 2 or 3 round trips per week!! 

Sharon Altier, SFR - sometimes that 'aha' becomes 'oooooh'!

But I love Real Estate industry.

Yep, it was Summer 1997 when I completed Michael E. Gerber's E-Myth Academy. I realized then, the Mobile DJ/MC Business I was operating had a shelf life that Real Estate did not. Grey hairs were great for Realtors, not so much for DJs.

Yes, when i set up my first week of classes

I've known it was the industry for me long before I got licensed. Just had to wait for the timing to be right!!!

That moment when I realized that I could make a difference in clients' lives: Helping my first buyer think through the buying process and landing in a community that was absolutely perfect for them. I stopped by to visit them about 3 months later and they couldn't stop talking about their neighbors, their location, their lifestyle! 

I realized that buying a home wasn't just finding the perfect '4-walls' but, matching their lifestyle to the right community, THEN a home!  I understood at that moment that my passion for helping others work through their challenges (the nurse in me!), had helped segue me perfectly into my new career!

My first sale was my first week. I knew this was for me. I was assigned to working open houses in a new condo developement. My first customer has come back to me 5 times in 31 years with 5 sales and 5 new homes. 

I was too young to know

I can't remember one moment but know there have been several periods of time where I have had a wonderful time and couldn't wait until the next day.

It wasn't as much an "aha" as a calculated career move.  I was in a high paying career with little flexibility in my schedule.  My husband traveled a lot in his job, so I wanted a career that I didn't have to ask for time off without eye brows being raised.   I was interested in real estate and went for it.  The rest, as they say, is history.

I've had a bunch of them however none are about the money. It's when your customer pursues their dream against all odds and you're able to facilitate that effort all the way to closing. I have seen some of the biggest smiles when home ownership becomes a reality. That's priceless!

It was the very first house I sold.  The husband had met his wife in China and they needed to own a home in order for her daughter to be able to move to America!

No, it happened when I was offered a job out of law school. One salary to be an attorney and a bigger salary plus overrides to be the sales manager! AHA!

We all have to work hard on our first check.

Immediately.

Yes, when I was studying for my ABR and the instructor was explaining about agency. Putting my clients interests ahead of my own. I knew then this was for me.

The second check was bigger than three weeks of selling cars!

Yes in my youth...it was 2 weeks after I was hired & then told sorry, this isn't working out. I asked (begged) for another two weeks to prove myself & it turned into 12 years of success. In the very moment I begged for the second chance,, I knew this was the way for me. Results followed

I knew before I got into it, having bought and sold a number of homes

I knew real estate was my passion very young age - always reading, studying and started rehabbing home in college

Checks at closing very nice

Sharon Altier, SFR Yes, when I received my first commission check.