Masters and Millennials

Why We Started Our Real Estate Business
Posted by Elsa Oakley on Tuesday, February 12, 2019 at 8:30 AM By Elsa Oakley / February 12, 2019 Comment

Jessica DeMuth

I think the number one reason we started our business is opportunity and flexibility. Having two young kids and working in the corporate world, we wanted something where we would be able to take better advantage of our time and have something where you have the opportunity to earn more money. In real estate, the harder you work the more you earn versus, at least me at my corporate job where I was a salaried employee, the harder I worked, I still had the same outcome at the end of the day. And I think that was a big key factor for both of us. 

Stephen DeMuth

Yeah, I would agree. Being a salaried employee myself as well, putting in the extra hours and not reaping any reward, it just... after a while it just got old. So I'm all about reaping what I sow and putting in the time and effort to work with a certain person, knowing there is a direct benefit at the end. And building relationships. I've always liked interacting with people so getting the chance to meet a variety of people at the variety of not only income levels, but situations that they've come across, and working with them through that is something that's always been appealing. And it's only been... what am I trying to say... It's only grown since getting to see how this played out. 

Bette Thieneman

Actually, I kind of started learning about real estate back in the early '50s when my father started building so I kind of grew up around it but never really had an interest in it. And then when I got out of school, I went right into food...

Introducing Jamie Pilon
Posted by Elsa Oakley on Thursday, November 30, 2017 at 12:00 PM By Elsa Oakley / November 30, 2017 Comment

Happy Holidays! It’s finally the holiday season which means it’s also the season of families reconnecting. We know quite a bit about family here at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Parks and Weisberg, Realtors®. Family is an important aspect of our company. Multiple generations of the Parks and Weisberg families have worked here for years and many of our agents are attracted to our company because of our family atmosphere. 

Family tradition is exactly what drew Jamie Pilon to real estate. Ellen Shaikun, a real estate agent with 25 years of experience and Jamie’s mom, had been asking her to join her in the business for nearly 13 years. The timing had never been right for Jamie. She had been busy working in sales for the past 13 years until she decided it was the time for a change.

Pursuing real estate as her second career would allow her to support her family and fulfill her desire to help others. It only took a short time for Jamie to jump into her new career. She immediately began working as an unlicensed assistant for Ellen while she focused on studying for her real estate license. Soon after gaining her license, she established herself as an agent and continues to work with Ellen to learn the tips and tricks of the real estate business. 

Jamie may be newer to the real estate scene than some but her background in sales elevates her and makes her a force to be reckoned...

An Innovator's Perspective
Posted by Elsa Oakley on Thursday, November 16, 2017 at 12:00 PM By Elsa Oakley / November 16, 2017 Comment

For some, the attraction of the home industry starts young. Maybe their family was a part of it and they grew up around it, like for Alex Hart. Or maybe they naturally had the desire for it. The interests for each person diversifies into interior design, construction, remodeling, real estate and more, giving us an ever-changing industry full of innovation.

Kyle Roth is one of these people. A driven innovator who only recently came on to the real estate scene. In only his second year as an agent, he has developed quickly into one of the up and coming agents. How exactly did he get his start in real estate?

“Prior to getting into real estate, I was in the cosmetic industry. I loved the creativity but I wanted something new, different and exciting. I had always wanted to break into real estate but never knew how. I decided to take a chance… and enrolled in real estate classes.”

After working 50 hours a week plus taking real estate classes, he passed with flying colors. The next decision? Finding a broker that worked with him to help him succeed in all ways. 

“There were many reasons I chose Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Parks and Weisberg, Realtors...

Graphic Designer Turned Real Estate Agent?
Posted by Elsa Oakley on Thursday, November 2, 2017 at 12:00 PM By Elsa Oakley / November 2, 2017 Comment

Real estate agents are an interesting kind of people. Take a random sampling of agents in a room and they won’t share the same pathway to become an agent. Their different and diverse backgrounds gives each agent individualized challenges and strengths. We’ve discussed only a few of our agents, yet each has their own story.

One of our Master Realtors®, Louise Miller, shared her story of struggling to decide her career path while dealing with a move, subbing and her two children. Another Millennial Realtor®, Jacob Suell, spoke of his realization that real estate was the right choice for him, rather than continuing in college. 

Molly Korfhage’s story is also unique.

Molly started her professional career as a graphic designer. After 20+ years in the business, she decided that she wanted to combine her two passions; graphics and everything about homes. Becoming a Realtor® was the logical next step. She enrolled into a real estate school and eventually passed her exams. She left her job as a Senior Art Director at a marketing and design firm in Louisville to pursue her second career as a Realtor® at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Parks and Weisberg, Realtors®. 

Her best real estate tip for new agents? 

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He Took a Chance on Real Estate and Found Success
Posted by Elsa Oakley on Thursday, September 28, 2017 at 12:00 PM By Elsa Oakley / September 28, 2017 Comment

Have you taken ever taken a leap of faith? Something so big that you put everything into making your leap a success? Taking a chance is scary but the potential reward makes the leap worth taking. Jacob Suell knows exactly how taking chances can lead to big rewards.

Before becoming a real estate agent, Jacob graduated from Trinity High School and enrolled at the University of Louisville. He studied finance and marketing for a year before realizing this wasn’t exactly what he wanted to do. His inspiration for a career in real estate? Both of his parents owned their own construction companies when he was growing up. 

At the age of 19, he took his leap of faith. He left school to pursue a career in real estate and hasn’t looked back since. He’s been an agent for about five months now at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Parks and Weisberg, Realtors® and was originally taken under the wing of one of our Master Realtors®, Ellen Shaikun. She helped introduce him to the world of real estate and all of its intricacies by giving Jacob a chance to hold open houses. Even today, Ellen continues to help Jacob by showing him the ropes of real estate. 

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Meet Alex Hart: Building Her Business
Posted by Elsa Oakley on Thursday, September 14, 2017 at 12:00 PM By Elsa Oakley / September 14, 2017 Comment

When you think of the word ‘career’ what comes to mind? Most likely you think of your current career path – where you are and where you want to go. It could be that you are thinking of changing your career. If you are considering Real Estate as a new career, you aren’t alone. According to research done by the National Association of Realtors® in 2017, only 4% of Realtors® describe real estate as their first career. For many agents, this means they have had some experience in a field related to real estate even before they are licensed.  

Enter Alex Hart, a new licensee who’s first career as a Veterinary Assistant lasted for 7 years. Her interest in real estate started as a child. Growing up with a father who had his own business as a general contractor, she began learning everything about the housing business from the ground up. 

 When Alex began to consider a new career, becoming a Real Estate Agent was obviously the next step. She enrolled in Century Real Estate School and soon after completing the coursework, she passed her exam to become a licensed Realtor®. Then she picked her brokerage, Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Parks and Weisberg, Realtors®...