May 16, 2008 11:44 pm US/Eastern
Out Of The Blues And Into The Pit
WEST MIAMI-DADE (CBS4) ―
The housing crisis here in South Florida is doing more than forcing people out of their homes. The people who sell those homes are starting to lose their jobs, and more are just abandoning their careers in order to make ends meet.
Where 8th Street is referred to as the Tamiami Trail, you'll find a South Florida landmark, with perhaps the most unlikely owners.
"We're exhausted," said Sonya Gonzalez. "We don't have a weekend off but it's very rewarding."
It was five months—over a weekend—that Sonya and Mike Gonzalez decided to leave their day jobs as realtors, to take over The Pit Bar-B-Q.
"I don't use my tie anymore," said Mike Gonzalez. "I come here in shorts."
When the real estate market took a nose dive, they decided to eject— closing down their South Dade office and serving up pulled pork.
"It was a way out," said Sonya. "It was like this was the opportunity. We know the business. The place is great; it's a landmark. Everybody knows it. Half of our work was cut out for us."
Realtors leaving the business is now becoming a trend. In 2007 there were 310,156 licensed realtors and brokers in Florida. This year that number has dropped to around 283,577 meaning more than 26,579 realtors and brokers are doing something else.
The career changes are not necessarily bad news. Ana Sainz, a broker who was in the take-out-line tonight, couldn't be happier.
"There is some of us, I'm sorry to say, that will benefit from those realtors," said Sainz. "We had a lot of realtors. Some of those have left and definitely we are going to be benefiting with."
The Gonzalez's couldn't be happier either, closing every night.
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