Jobless real estate veterans flock to networking group

When they formed to help jobless real estate workers get back on their feet, the people behind Real Estate Lives couldn't have imagined how big it would grow.

Today, the Tampa-based networking group has 550 members on its mailing list and takes at least partial credit for nearly 200 members finding new jobs.

Real Estate Lives was formed in late 2008 by a group of real estate veterans under the auspices of the NAIOP, a commercial real estate trade group. It was intended to help hard-hit agents, brokers and other industry types find work, retrain in other industries if they desire and cope with financial difficulties.

However, it's caught on so much that people from all lines of work have started attending its twice-monthly job skills and networking events. About 120 people show up to pass job leads, learn resume-building skills and other tips.

Real Estate Lives holds its meetings at the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors, at 2918 W. Kennedy Blvd. in Tampa. More information is available at www.realestatelives.org.

Having finished its first complete year, Real Estate Lives just issued its first annual report. Among the highlights, 192 members have found work either in real estate or other industries. Ron Weaver, a local real estate attorney and the group's chairman, can't be sure all of them found work through the group, but believes it played a big role in many of the cases. Weaver estimates up to 75 percent are staying in real estate or related industries.

The group now counts 550 people on its mailing list, at least 334 of whom are active members. And, it counts 70 volunteers and another 280 people in the community who contribute in some way.

For now, the financial and emotional needs in the real estate community are still great, but Real Estate Lives is seeing some signs of life in the industry lately.

"We are seeing a distinct improvement in the last few weeks," Weaver said.