[ HAWAII AT WORK ]
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
Realtor goes
back to rootsCorinda Wong finds that she
likes best the job that she helped
her father with as a girlWith the housing market booming, people are always asking me how I became a Realtor and if it's worth it.
In some ways, real estate is in my blood. My father was a part-time Realtor. Because his secretarial skills were a little shaky, I would often help by typing his contracts. While contracts themselves aren't exactly exciting, the ins and outs of the real estate business were.
When I entered the University of Hawaii, I became an accounting major. However, I didn't forget my days working with my father or my interest in what he was doing. I enrolled in a real estate class UH offered, joined the Real Estate Fraternity and even got a job with the UH Real Estate Center.
However, as so often happens, life leads us in another direction only to bring us back to where we began. With a degree in accounting, what could be more natural than joining an accounting firm like Arthur Young? While my work there was enjoyable -- yes, I like accounting -- I missed the excitement of the real estate world.
Fortunately, Arthur Young was hired by JMB Realty, which was to build Waikele. At the time, Waikele was all sugar cane and pineapple. This was to be a massive project needing expert help. Because of my background at the UH Real Estate Center and my contacts within my father's firm, Prudential Locations, I was asked to assist. It isn't often that tax accountants are to help on such consulting projects, and for me it was life-changing.
For the project, I enlisted the help of the Prudential Locations research department. Working with such knowledgeable professionals on such an exciting project reminded me of how much I loved real estate. Three months later, I was getting my license and changing my career. Today, I am a Realtor with Prudential Locations.
For those wondering if becoming a Realtor was worth it, I would say "definitely." I've had the satisfaction of helping families find their dream homes as well as helping others move on when the home they are in no longer meets their needs. I have had the reward of being able to juggle my career with a wonderful family. And, I've had the opportunity to serve my community through my church, various nonprofit organizations and as the president of the Prudential Locations Foundation.
My job is often challenging, especially in such a tight housing market, but I am very thankful that I made that career change and became a Realtor.
"Hawaii at Work" features tell what people do for a living in their own words. Send submissions to business@starbulletin.com
